A Week In Beauty
Kamala Harris, Black Opal and the latest beauty community drama.
BEAUTY IRL is a newsletter publication run by @darian that covers beauty at the intersection of politics and pop culture. If you’re passionate about this world (and value journalism!), consider a yearly or monthly subscription 🧠⚡️💄
bb doll filter on Instagram by @batalova_v, frequented by Lori Harvey, although she doesn’t look much different with it.
Ever since I was little, I’ve always tried to “make sense” of everything. “Make sense.” I don’t recommend it, as it’s not possible! Still, every day the internet sends me little signals and I try my best to figure out what they actually mean. Not all of them, of course. That would be insane. Just the ones I suspect may be the most important. It doesn't matter if the message is good or bad or even correct. It's about making sure I am paying attention. So this week, when I wasn’t thinking about inauguration safety, terrorist groups, pandemic TikTok content, or being helpful and staying safe, I actually spent a lot of time thinking about Lori Harvey, dating, Hollywood, Instagram filters, and wealth from, you know, a bird’s eye view. Anyway! This past week in beauty…
VOGUE X KAMALA HARRIS
Self-presentation x aesthetics
So, how do I feel now about the print cover that leaked ahead of Vice-President elect Kamala Harris for Vogue magazine? This essay by WashPo senior critic-at-large Robin Givhan, Vogue got too familiar, too fast, helped me to sort out what I think. Looking ahead: this moment happened so early in Harris’ new spotlight as soon to be Madam Vice President, and I wonder how this moment will affect the way both people on Harris’ team and in the editorial world will cover her. It’s a blatant reminder that the way Black women are covered in the media needs to be examined rigorously, and often.
BLACK OPAL
Beauty, Black culture, and music
Yesterday, WWD announced that recording artist Ryan Destiny will be Black Opal’s first ambassador. The company will launch a new line of products in Ulta. Coming from a brand that’s been around since 1994, but is rarely mentioned among impactful names that created shades for women of color, this is exciting news. I mostly care that Ryan Destiny will be the face because more Black women in R&B and Hip-Hop should have beauty collaboration deals. See here. In 2019, Black Opal became Black-owned when Desiree Rogers became CEO, and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack became president.
WORLD’S CLASHING
Internet culture
For my beauty community drama addicts, this week’s latest drama: Youtuber James Charles vs. rapper Asian Doll.
Black stan Twitter came for Charles because they don’t believe he has any business addressing Asian Doll as a white gay male with a messy track record. But they came for Asian Doll, too. The exchange kind of puts some attention on a bigger conversation: How much should Black and Brown be paid for their labor and services? And why is that number so attached to their current economic status (versus the market), and keeping them there? Sit with that.
BORING BRAND NEWS, BUT GOOD FYI
Yall know the drill. Another day, another celeb beauty brand drop! This week: It was announced that hairstylist Jonathan Van Ness, known for their role on Queer Eye, is releasing a haircare line. Which makes me giggle because THEY makes me giggle. Halsey announced that her 90’s inspired makeup line is coming.
COOLA is expanding into non-SPF skincare.
Natural deodorant brand NATIVE collaborated with designer Justina Blakeney, who is the founder of Jungalow, the popular home decor line.
MEDIA DROPS
Kamala Harris, Zendaya, Pat McGrath, and JLo (who launched a new makeup and skincare line) all had magazine cover drops this week.
Photography by Richard Burbridge for Allure Magazine, February 2021
Why aren’t we talking about Sephora’s massive layoffs and generally, the decisions they made during the pandemic? Reporter Arabelle Sicardi on The Finance of Corporate Caring.
Reporter Kim Kelly talks about going to the nail salon with missing fingers for Allure’s Beauty of Accessibility package.
Published in December, but worth a mention: Hawaii’s natural beauty scene.