This Week In Beauty: Jonah Hill For The Boys
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 🧠⚡️💄
I’m keeping it high level this week; I’m working on some stories (for this newsletter!) and it’s all a balancing act. I might go on Clubhouse 🥴 later to talk further about beauty news. (Or Twitter Spaces (beta)? They have auto-captions!) If you have an iPhone and would like an invite, reply to this email.
Here’s what you need to know about this past week in beauty:
Last week BECCA Cosmetics’ announced that its 20 year run under the Estée Lauder umbrella was coming to an end. The brand will close in September 2021. A day earlier, Estée Lauder announced its increase its investment in Deciem (The Ordinary, Niod) from 29% to 76%, and plans to buy the rest of the company in three years.
Two Black beauty conferences took place during the last weekend of Black History Month.
On Saturday, 25 Black Women in Beauty held a day on Black Women And The Future Of Beauty. Covered by WWD, Black Opal CEO Desirée Rogers’ was one of many hosts of the event. “Times are changing, and we are here as leaders in the beauty industry. I would ask yourself, are you in it? Or are you on the sidelines? This is one of the rare shifts in the trajectory of the world.”
On Sunday, the Black Beauty Roster had its first summit. Actors such as Gabriele Union and Monique Coleman, Black women in Hollywood who have talked about hairstyling on set and their experiences, spoke during the day.
I am very glad both of these events happened
Jonah Hill fended off media shade with insights about his personal journey with body image “that any guy could relate to,” according to my brother. “This isn’t a “good for me” post . And it’s definitely not a “feel bad for me post,” Hill said. “It’s for the kids who don’t take their shirt off at the pool. Have fun.” So, I actually love an earnest media moment 🤷🏽♀️. Gives me ambitions that we may start to think more expansively about how we write about and portray all body types — but especially bodies that don’t squarely fall under “skinny.” It’s important to keep in mind that right now, marketing toward cisgender men in the beauty and wellness space is only starting to ramp up. I woudn’t be surprised if Hill’s agents are fielding some odd brand deal offers right now.
Caroline Hirons, one of the most reputable and highly respected beauty YouTubers, is leaving the platform. Here’s why you should care.
There are a lot of reasons why Hirons is leaving, but here’s what it boils down to: ageism, the rising popularity of "unqualified experts," and sexism. She’s not exactly bitter about it, and she not leaving the internet altogether. Hirons appears to just have a keen eye as to the direction the beauty influencer world is going and wants to be in control of how she navigates it. She speaks further on it with INSIDER. Honestly, after watching the video, I had to take a smoke break because everything she said hit me in my gut. No lies detected! And to be honest, her exit should have all of us reflecting on the current and future state of “beauty content,” I guess you could say.
Sephora announced they are opening 20 brick-and-mortar stores and 200 small shops within Kohls in 2021.
On Monday, Anastasia Beverly Hills launched a mobile app aimed at giving users a personalized eyebrows look using AI-driven tools. I downloaded the app, if you try it out, let me know.
Indian Ayurvedic brand SoulTree is turning a corner with the opening of its first brick and mortar store in Gurugram, Indian. It’s an all solar-powered store, the first of its kind in India.
Beauty YouTuber James Charles is denying recent allegations that he’s attempted to groom underage boys.
ON SOCIAL 📲
You can tell Lizzo’s creative team has a certain kind of collective magic. Here, hairstylist Shelby Swain creative directs this concept and a few others, and they keep outdoing themselves.
Demi Lovato having her “these filters are not okay!!!” moment:
MEDIA DROPS
This is our Asian American experience: 23 Asian American editors and influencers on representation, pride, and self-love. — Faith Xue
A great profile on a true influencer of beauty Jackie Aina, and her vision for the future. — Ama Kwarteng
As life has shifted to indoors and online for many, it’s no surprise our search for wellness has taken the same route. Most find the peace they’re looking for within an app and the rise has surged — but there’s one thing apps can’t seem to solve. — BEAUTY IRL subscriber <3 Jenna Wortham
How WandaVision travels the decades through hair and makeup — Emma Fraser speaks with the makeup and hair teams of the hit Marvel show.
Early to mid-2000’s trends continue to roll in whether generation to generation agrees or not! Welcome back smudgy black eyeliner. This edgy and messy look has been sweeping this season's runway in a non-contentious way. — Devon Abelman
For my French readers/speakers/Le Monde subscribers: a profile on Washington Post fashion critic, and a guiding light to many up and coming fashion reporters and culture critics, Robin Givhan. — Stéphanie Le Bars
Why is Black hair still (still!) an afterthought in Hollywood? Shama Nasinde explains.
I came across this photo of Ildjima by Mélissa De araujo on Tumblr, and it led to discovering the entire spread for November Magazine: The Pleasure Of Solitude And Other Deep Attachments With Mélissa De Araujo And Samia Giobellina. — Full team credits
