Author: Akili King

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By India Espy-Jones ·

The post Rihanna Sported A Silky Black Hairstyle At A$AP Rocky’s Album Release Party appeared first on Essence.

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By Nandi Howard ·Updated January 16, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

R&B songstress Aaliyah’s birthday would’ve been today and out of all of the great performers we have lost, Aaliyah’s music anddecoding=”async” src=”https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/GettyImages-778880.jpg” alt=”10 Of Our Favorite Fashion Moments From Aaliyah” width=”400″ height=”792″ /> 0210 Of Our Favorite Fashion Moments From Aaliyah 0310 Of Our Favorite Fashion Moments From Aaliyah 0410 Of Our Favorite

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Paras Griffin/Getty Images By India Espy-Jones ·Updated January 16, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

Pounds of contour. Boxy brows. Cut creases. Whether you love it or hate it, the “more is better” makeup from YouTube’s tutorial era had us in a chokehold in 2016. 

With everyone talking about 2016 nostalgia right now, TikTok currently has the hashtag #2016makeup reaching over 65,000 videos of creators reviving the makeup trends YouTubers

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@edensgardenva / TikTok By Cierra Black ·Updated January 15, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

Every year, October gives beauty and horror lovers alike another excuse to fully indulge in the theatric side of glam (as if we needed another excuse). At the same time, extra layers of glam may present additional skin concerns. Luckily, Brooklyn-Eden, a creator who specializes in all things fantasy and beauty, and Dr. Sophia

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By India Espy-Jones ·Updated January 15, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

With every new year comes the urge to try something, well, new. But, unlike a typical “resolution,” 2026 is all about low pressure beauty and wellness trends that feel as right as they look.

It could be a fresh hair color, trying out trending wellness tools, actually wearing sunscreen, or even consciously taking more time away from your

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The Good Brigade / Getty Images By India Espy-Jones ·Updated January 14, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

Contrary to popular belief, you can work out more than just your body.Face yoga, for example, “is basically a workout class for your face,” Dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology Dr. Helyn Alvarez tells ESSENCE. “Instead of squats and lunges, you are lifting your cheeks, tightening your jawline, widening your eyes and smoothing

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Composite by India Espy-Jones By Akili King ·Updated January 14, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

In the ‘By Us Beauty’ series, our Senior Beauty Editor, Akili King, discusses the hottest Black-owned products in the beauty sphere that you should know about. In this iteration, she discusses her favorite Black, celebrity-owned launches from 2025.

Celebrity-owned beauty brands get people talking—to say the least. People want to know if these founders

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Composite by India Espy-Jones By Ayeshah Plummer ·Updated January 13, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

“In The Chair” spotlights the incredible hairstylists and makeup artists in our community who are giving us major inspiration. Each week, they discuss their personal beauty and career journeys, what they’ve learned from their clients, and their top glam tips. 

Growing up, the youngest of nine siblings, Danessa Myricks was raised in humble beginnings.

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Composite by India Espy-Jones By Akili King ·Updated January 13, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

In an industry where there is an overwhelming amount of product launches daily, Product Of The Week helps you cut through the noise. To help you find your new beauty and wellness favorites, this series highlights the tried-and-true products that our writers can’t live without.

During the winter, I’m always more precious about how