Events

Held in New York City at the Dream Hotel, Essence magazine's Best In Black Beauty Awards party, which was sponsored by Motions, paid homage to today's top leaders and innovators within cosmetics, hair and nails with aplomb. The honorees included: Janis Smith-Gomez, vice president of marketing for Johnson & Johnson; Balanda Atis and Janine Cherette, group leader and color cosmetic scientist at L'Oréal USA Research and Innovation; Lisa Logan, celebrity manicurist; and Ted Gibson, celebrity hairstylist and head stylist on the TLC network show "What Not To Wear."

Co-hosted by celebrity fashion stylist June Ambrose and Essence's Beauty Director, Corynne Corbett, the two delved into real truths about our beauty between presenting each honoree with their award. "African American women spent upwards of 2.2 billion dollars on cosmetics, beauty and hair," shared Corynne to the room filled with bloggers, beauty editors, tastemakers, marketeers and celebrities. "Beauty is the finishing, it's our second layer, our armor and truly what gives us confidence," June added. The evening was a celebration of those behind the scenes of beauty, and capped off Essence's annual Best In Black Beauty Awards, which honored more than 60 beauty products (makeup, skin care, nail, fragrance and hair) chosen by the editorial team and featured inside Essence's May 2012 issue. And attendees got the opportunity to see exactly why those products won from a "live gifting wall." 

Singer Chrisette Michelle attends Essence magazine's First Annual Best In Black Beauty Awards.

106 & Park co-host Rosi Diaz attends Essence magazine's First Annual Best In Black Beauty Awards.

Honorees Balanda Atis, Group Leader, and Janine Cherette, Color Cosmetic Scientist, of the L'Oréal USA Research and Innovation team pose with Mikki Taylor, Editor-at-Large for Essence. The two was honored for their seven-year makeup research that ended with Lancôme creating 11 new shades specifically targeting brown beauties.

Janelle Monae presented the award for hair to Ted Gibson.

Ursula Stephen, celebrity hairstylist and Motions spokesperson poses with Corynne Corbett, Beauty Director, Essence.

Essence magazine's First Annual Best In Black Beauty Awards honoree, celebrity manicurist Lisa Logan.

Essence magazine's First Annual Best In Black Beauty Awards honoree, Janis Smith-Gomez.