Here at The Cosmo Black Beauty Hub we absolutely do not gatekeep, so when we get a chance to quiz some of our favourite Black women about their go-to beauty products tips and treatments we don't hold back– after all, that's how our Little Black Beauty Book Franchise was born. All the tea on our favourite star's life in beauty, served hot.
This week we caught up with House of Dragon star, Bethany Antonia...
What does Black beauty mean to you?
Black beauty to me means being able to be yourself 100 per cent authentically, in a space that welcomes you and everything that comes with being a Black woman. That means looking and feeling your best, in a space that feels safe, in an environment that feels encouraging and supporting, and where women can look all different shapes, sizes, skin tones and see themselves reflected.
What's your favourite beauty treatment?
My fave beauty treatment is doing a double cleanse at the end of the day. I love to do a really extensive 20-minute routine with music on. I double cleanse with the Inkey List Oat Cleanser followed by a cream cleanser and then I slather my face in moisturiser.
And do you have any aesthetic treatment recs?
My favourite aesthetic treatment if I'm feeling extra boujee is KICHI in London with Natasha Clancy. She does the most incredible facials – I normally get the 'Baby Face' facial or the 'Sculpt and Glaze'. It's the best place to go if you've got an event because she makes you feel like one million pounds!
She also has so many different treatments. She offers laser treatments, hot stone treatments, massage treatments and more.
What does your wash-day routine look like?
My hair wash-day routine when I'm in the 'fro (not braided) starts off with a castor oil mask, which an auntie told me to do once. I don't really know why, but I still do it and I think it makes a difference. That stays on for around 20 minutes and after I wash it off, I use the Olaplex Shampoo and Conditioner.
Then I'll use a curly hair product like a wash and go from Flora and Curl – their whole range is beautiful – or Camille Rose, which I've used for years. I love their jellies and their twisting mousses.
Do you have a go-to salon?
My go-to hair salon is Ama's hair salon in Tottenham. I love them so much because they have such a big team – you can get anything done and be in and out in a few hours! But they're all so thorough and immaculate, too.
They also offer really good natural hair treatments. So, you can go there to get braids, wash and gos, deep conditioning treatments or natural hair twist-outs. I always leave with my hair feeling amazing.
Worst hair experience?
Sadly, I have had some really, really bad hair experiences. Most of them have been on sets where I've turned up and nobody in the team has been able to do Black hair – or even has had the desire to learn how to do it. I've been told, 'Oh, you look great as is' when it's 5am, I've literally just walked out of bed and it looks awful. In those cases, I've had to do my hair myself and do my own checks throughout the filming day, too. It's just heartbreaking.
I turned up to my first-ever job, barefaced, hair undone and green with excitement, expecting to be done up as I'd always imagined would happen on a TV set. I quickly learned that that's not always the case. Now I always have my guard up, ready to do my hair myself in case it happens again.
It's isolating and debilitating; you feel like you're a completely different band from all of your castmates.
But it's not every set and it's certainly been a lot better in recent years.
Skincare product you can’t live without?
The product that I can't live without is organic rose water. It's so simple and you can buy it everywhere. It's my favourite because it gives you zhuzh, no matter where you are. I use it as a toner in the mornings but I use it throughout the day if I'm feeling tired, too. I always have a little bottle of it in my bag wherever I go.
What about body treatment?
My favourite body treatment is a body seaweed wrap – I had one recently at AIRE Ancient Baths in London and I've not been able to think about anything else since. It was so moisturising for the skin.
My favourite body moisturiser is Palmer's Cocoa Butter – it has been from Day Dot!
What is your biggest beauty splurge?
My biggest beauty splurge is on perfume. I love Penhaligon's Halfeti or The Favourite. They both smell so good and make you feel luxurious and sexy. But they're really expensive...
Penhaligon's Halfeti
Penhaligon's The Favourite
What about your cheapest beauty obsession?
My most affordable beauty obsession is e.l.f. Cosmetics' 24 HR Camo Concealer. It's my go to and lasts all day.
Any makeup mishaps?
I've had a few makeup mishaps but one that comes to mind is the result of having done my makeup in a funky LED blue light mirror. One night, I did a full face of my makeup, thinking I looked great. I went out and when I got to the event they took the photo, and my face was a completely different shade to the rest of me. It was because of the blue lights – they completely messed up my face! But, we've all been there.
What would your makeup bag not be the same without?
My makeup bag would not be the same without the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Hot Chocolit. It goes with me everywhere – I even wear it on non-makeup days.
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
