Beauty

Beautycon Made a Soft Comeback at Essence Fest — Here’s What Went Down

A peek inside the ultimate Black experience in the city of New Orleans, baby.

By
1,476 Hypes

Beautycon Made a Soft Comeback at Essence Fest — Here’s What Went Down

A peek inside the ultimate Black experience in the city of New Orleans, baby.

After a two-year break, Beautycon made a soft reemergence at the 2023 Essence Festival in New Orleans before its September comeback in Los Angeles. Hitting the scene in 2011, the must-attend event featured legendary brands such as MAC Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown, and Glossier and celebrity appearances from the likes of Cardi B, Lizzo and more. However, what set this year’s event apart is that the affair had one focus in mind: Serving the needs of Black women.

Beautycon has been revamped and reimaged with a new owner, Essence Ventures, the Black-Owned private equity firm founded by serial entrepreneur Richelieu Dennis — which also owns Essence, a lifestyle magazine dedicated to the Black experience. Many Black and Brown women-owned brands were showcased, including SheaMoisture, with its “Great Day In Harlem” experiential, Mielle Organics, who received massive foot traffic the entire three days, The Honey Pot Co. and NYX Cosmetics, who partnered with artist Coco Jones and reality star Reginae Carter. L’Oreal‘s brands that cater specifically to the Black woman experience were also featured.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Hypebae (@hypebae)

Essence Fest x Beautycon did an excellent job of holding space for men in the beauty industry and the LGBTQIA+ community. I had the opportunity to attend panels that discussed the importance of men embracing skincare and makeup, led by none other than celebrity makeup artist Theo Turner. Additionally, I was fortunate enough to participate in a “sista talk” with Trans activist Amiyah Scott on the state of the Black transwoman. It’s refreshing to see Black LGBTQIA+ intersections being represented and acknowledged, as they are often overlooked in mainstream society.

Although Beautycon may take some time to rebuild entirely, it’s essential to recognize the value of the Black economic dollar in the beauty industry. I think it was a smart move for Essence Ventures to win buy-in from Black women before sharing with the masses. My hope is that Essence Ventures continues to hold a space for Black-owned brands at Essence Fest, as there is strength in a like-minded community.

Take a closer look ahead to see what went down during the three-day rendezvous and stay tuned as we bring you updates from the September Beautycon in Los Angeles.

Read Full Article
Share this article

What to Read Next

Here’s What Went Down at New Balance’s Berlin Community Football Event
Events

Here’s What Went Down at New Balance’s Berlin Community Football Event

A celebration of grassroots teams, sporting initiatives and the come-up of women’s football.
1,672 Hypes

Here’s What Went Down During the UGG Feel House Launch at HBX New York
Events

Here’s What Went Down During the UGG Feel House Launch at HBX New York

The winterized weeklong experience kicked off with a high energy experience and an appearance from Cardi B and Offset.
6,359 Hypes

Gen Z Is Rewriting the Rules of Marriage — Here’s How
Sex & Dating

Gen Z Is Rewriting the Rules of Marriage — Here’s How

A new article coins it the “Golden Age of Marriage.”
9,668 Hypes


Yes, Ariana Grande Is Dating SpongeBob — Here’s How They Met
Sex & Dating

Yes, Ariana Grande Is Dating SpongeBob — Here’s How They Met

Following her recent divorce from Dalton Gomez.
3,572 Hypes

Keke Palmer's Boyfriend Publicly Slut Shamed Her... And Her Response Is Golden
Sex & Dating

Keke Palmer's Boyfriend Publicly Slut Shamed Her... And Her Response Is Golden

This is how you deal with a toxic boyfriend.
14,333 Hypes

Hai Unveils Its First Bridal Collection
Fashion

Hai Unveils Its First Bridal Collection

For the cool brides.
2,218 Hypes

Catch Your Zzzzs With 6LACK's New Soundscape Album
Music

Catch Your Zzzzs With 6LACK's New Soundscape Album

The first drop arrives on July 8.
670 Hypes

Rihanna Took All of the Water From Barbados and Put It Into Her Flowing "Waterfall" Fringe
Beauty

Rihanna Took All of the Water From Barbados and Put It Into Her Flowing "Waterfall" Fringe

Giving us nothing but summer hair goals.
5,506 Hypes



Barbican Art Gallery Unveils New Exhibition, "RE/SISTERS: A Lens on Gender and Ecology"
Art & Design

Barbican Art Gallery Unveils New Exhibition, "RE/SISTERS: A Lens on Gender and Ecology"

An exploration of the relationship between the oppression of women and the degradation of the planet.
6,159 Hypes


Rapha and Shrimps Collaborate on First Cycling Capsule
Fashion

Rapha and Shrimps Collaborate on First Cycling Capsule

Seeking to inspire more women to live life by bike.
3,959 Hypes

Lip Piercings Are Back — And "Shark Bites" Are the Center of Attention
Beauty

Lip Piercings Are Back — And "Shark Bites" Are the Center of Attention

Here’s everything to know.
1,327 Hypes

More ▾
 
Subscribe to our Newsletter

Keep updated on the latest news.

By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Looks like you’re using an ad-blocker

We charge advertisers instead of our readers. Support us by whitelisting our site.

Whitelist Us

How to Whitelist Us

screenshot
  1. Click the AdBlock icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Under “Pause on this site” click “Always”.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the AdBlock Plus icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Block ads on – This website” switch off the toggle to turn it from blue to gray.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the AdBlocker Ultimate icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Switch off the toggle to turn it from “Enabled on this site” to “Disabled on this site”.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the Ghostery icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Click on the “Ad-Blocking” button at the bottom. It will turn gray and the text above will go from “ON” to “OFF”.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the UBlock Origin icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Click on the large blue power icon at the top.
  3. When it turns gray, click the refresh icon that has appeared next to it or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the icon of the ad-blocker extension installed on your browser.You’ll usually find this icon in the upper right-hand corner of your screen. You may have more than one ad-blocker installed.
  2. Follow the instructions for disabling the ad blocker on the site you’re viewing.You may have to select a menu option or click a button.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.