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 Esthetician, content creator and Head of NPD & Education at Supernova Body, Alicia Lartey, to deep dive into her little Black beauty book...
What does Black beauty mean to you?
Black beauty for me is a celebration of all the different black cultural beauty practices across the world with a modern and innovative twist. It's seeing people that look like me celebrated, included and championed in the beauty space, because beauty simply does not exist without us.
Favourite skin/beauty treatment?
I will always love microneedling, it’s incredible for dealing with fine lines, skin texture and hyperpigmentation. The best part is that the downtime isn’t too crazy and you can combine this with other treatments.
Any recs for places for aesthetic procedures?
I always say do what makes you happy (within reason), I think you have to have a level of acceptance with your face and body before getting into treatments. I love a bit of Botox, especially in my forehead, I’ve also had under-eye filler and I loved the results so much. The important thing to remember is that you need to find a practitioner that works with ethnic faces and also understands what it means to say no to certain treatments.
What’s you wash-day routine?
I’m so proud of my current wash-day! It’s now only 1 hour long with 30 mins for styling and heavily rooted in science. I do have some scalp issues so my routine goes quite heavy on the cleansing portion.
Go to hair salon/hairdresser?
My hair styling is definitely a network, so I go to different salons and stylists for different things. For all my wigs and weaves (the base for any install is always gentle on my scalp) I go to The Lush Lab. For natural hair (I always feel welcome and cared for) I love Shag!London and then for braids, I finally found someone who shares the vision that I do with Braidsnthat.
Have you had any bad hair experiences and if so how did that feel?
Gosh, I’ve been through so much, I remember when I had a breast reduction I tried this blow-dry bar because I couldn’t get an appointment anywhere and I couldn't lift up my arms to wash my hair myself. The stylist had no idea how to wash my natural hair, couldn’t really detangle it and when I got home, I touched my scalp and found a thick layer of conditioner and build up still there. So bad.
Skincare product you can’t live without?
This is hard but Youth to the People’s new Superfruit Cleanser! I’ve had to ween myself off of it at the moment and force myself to try something else. I’ve also become really obsessed with the Harharu Black Rice Airfyt Sunscreen, even my boyfriend loves it.
Body treatment you love?
I love body treatments so much that I now make body products! I feel like in the UK we’ve only now started to wake up to our body skin needs. I made Smooth Operator which is kind of like putting an esthetician in a bottle, I have quite severe KP and uneven skin tone from breakouts so I like to keep things smooth and bright.
Your biggest beauty splurge?
Laser hair removal – I don’t even want to check how much money I’ve spent.
Cheapest beauty obsession?
I hate to say it, but a pore strip...
Makeup mishap memories?
I remember when I had my makeup done and my eyebrows were filled in with gel eyeliner… NEVER again truly a mess, my eyebrows are too thick for that.
Your makeup bag wouldn’t be the same without…
One size setting spray, holding me down since it launched. My makeup wouldn’t last without it.
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.
