LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

As a Black woman, working in the beauty industry is both exciting and exhausting. Some brands and stories celebrate melanated skin—others still cling to exclusivity. We’ve seen progress, like expanded foundation shade ranges, only to watch that expansion take bizarre turns—like foundations the color black. There’s relief and there’s rage, and it’s happening all at once.

In a time when the world feels uncertain and chaotic, caring about beauty can seem trivial. But it isn’t. Not to me. Working in this industry is as important as any other job. Why? Because there’s power in our hands: the power to push products, spotlight stories, and champion people. That kind of authority is something I don’t take lightly.

Since the beginning of time, there’s been strength in words and resilience in writing. Most days, I’m crafting roundups, writing quick hits about a star’s makeover, or interviewing celebrity glam squads. But moments like this—this issue—remind me why the work matters. As a kid who loved magazines but rarely saw herself reflected in the glossy pages, I made a promise: if I ever got the chance to shape what gets published, I’d make sure it reflects the world around me—both inside the office and beyond.

In this special issue, you’ll find stories rooted in the beauty experiences of Black women—like our radiant cover star, Coco Jones—but written for all women—for all people. Because that’s what my world, and the world, is made of. While putting this together, I even learned something new: about mascaras formulated specifically for Asian lashes, shampoos tailored to blondes, and why there’s no reason to feel embarrassed about a widow’s peak. We couldn’t cover everything we wanted, but I hope this issue makes you feel seen, informed, or even just a little entertained.

Beauty is what you make it. It’s personal, it’s powerful—and it’s not silly to care about looking and feeling your best. Sometimes, that’s all you have. And that’s more than enough.

— Robyn Merrett, Style & Beauty Editor