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Introducing Beauty Beat, The UK’s First Luxury Beauty Event For Women Of Colour

Founder Donna Dia shares her go-to brands and what to expect from the two-day beauty event.

by Justine Knight

November 13, 2022

Introducing Beauty Beat, The UK’s First Luxury Beauty Event For Women Of Colour

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When it comes to discovering exciting beauty buys, browsing digital beauty aisles and scrolling through BeautyTok score ultimate points for speediness. However, if there’s anything that lockdown has taught Donna Dia it’s that beauty works best when experienced IRL. That experience is what she is creating with the launch of The Beauty Beat, a first-of-its-kind luxury beauty event celebrating women of colour specifically.

“Attending beauty events is such an exciting way to find inspiration, but despite attending some of the industry’s most exquisitely executed events nothing ever felt like it was designed for me,” Dia tell me. Instead of waiting to find a beauty event that represented her, she has drawn on her 20-years of experience organising high-profile fashion, art, and media events to create something entirely new.

“My aim was to create a beauty event that feels luxurious, premium, and thoughtfully curated,” she tells me. “Somehwere where women of colour can explore an abundance of shades, tones, and textures within gorgeous settings.” This, she adds, is particularly important given the findings of The Black Pound Report 2022, which found that multi-ethnic consumers spend 25% more on beauty than any other customers.

Backed by Instagram and the British Beauty Council, the two-day event, hosted in London on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4, will include live demonstrations and panel discussions, featuring some of the industry’s most influential voices sharing their thoughts and expertise on everything from hyperpigmentation and foundation undertones, to curl patterns, and the rise of tweakments.

There’s also the opportunity to engage with pioneering content creators, and bag a bargain. (Did I mention all your fave prestige brands – the likes of NARS, Laura Mercier, BareMinerals, and retail giant Boots – will all be present?) Plus, there will be amazing goodie bags, loaded with full-sized products, on offer too.

Below, Dia shares her own personal beauty recommendations and offers up a taste of what you can expect at The Beauty Beat.

NARS Light Reflecting Foundation

“I’m obsessed with everything NARS, so the brand was on the top of my list when approaching partners for The Beauty Beat and it was a dream come true when they agreed to become our beauty headliner. NARS has a true understanding of the undertones within darker complexions and never leaves skin looking ashy, which makes them the perfect hosts for our ‘Ace That Base’ panel talks. I’m looking forward to getting tips on applying my NARS Light Reflecting Foundation which smooths imperfections and leaves me looking radiant despite the gloomy weather.”

Pattern Beauty Heavy Conditioner

“There was a time when it was impossible to find excellent products for afro hair on the high street, so it’s amazing that you can go into almost any branch of Boots and find such a high-quality brand. Pattern Beauty’s founder, Tracee Ellis Ross, has set a really high standard with everything from the stylish packaging to the hardworking ingredients within this range and her entrepreneurial journey has been so inspiring. My hair loves Pattern Beauty Heavy Conditioner and Styling cream which make wash days easy, and makes my curl’s pop.”

£16.66

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

“An impressive shade range, phenomenal products that are staples for women of colour, and a world of expertise when it comes to darker complexions makes this brand the perfect partner for Beauty Beat. I love that you don’t have to be a makeup artist to get the most from professional standard products like Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder which deserves cult status in my eyes. I use it to keep my complexion smooth and matte for hours.”

Crème of Nature Argan Shine Foaming Mousse

“I discovered this brand whilst at Notting Hill Carnival. One of my friends was sporting gorgeous twists outs which – thanks to the brand’s hardworking Argan Oil Style & Shine Foaming Mousse – didn’t come loose despite dancing the whole day away. I was instantly converted and have been obsessed ever since. When it came to partnering with hair brands, it made sense to include a familiar heritage brand that is both affordable and effective.”

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer 8ml

“Who isn’t a huge fan of Rihanna’s? She just gets it right every single time! When Fenty Beauty launched it was a game-changing moment for the beauty industry and a real godsend for women of colour who had been overlooked by beauty brands for years. As a business woman and mother to a one-year-old, late nights are a reality, so my brightening and blurring PRO Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer remains on constant standby. Thankfully, stockpiling its simple now it’s so easily available at Boots.”

bareMinerals Original Loose Mineral Foundation SPF15

“I spent years avoiding mineral makeup which seemed like a sea of beige, beige, and more beige! Thankfully, Bare Minerals introduced me to the hydrating, protecting, and soothing benefits of minerals, which Black skin can so benefit from. I’m looking forward to visitors to The Beauty Beat discovering the brand’s spectrum-spanning shades and exploring textures which they may never have tried before.”