Beautycon 2024 Day Two Was All About The Details

By Cierra Black · Updated November 4, 2024

Beautycon Day Two brought out all the science-backed, technique intrigued beauty lovers to the front. “In the Lab” drew a packed crowd first thing in the morning to discuss the keys to proper, effective, and ethical product formulation. For the opening panel, ESSENCE Senior Beauty Editor Akili King sat down with Sabrina Elba, founder of S’able Labs skincare, cosmetic chemist Javon Ford and founder of Javon Ford Beauty, and Isabel Alysa founder of Dolce Glow, sunless tan products. As a bonus, Alysa took to the Beauty School stage later in the morning for an IRL demo of achieving a radiant, self tan glow. 

As the day continued, beauty attendees explored the various activities at their disposal. Staple beauty and skincare brands such as Anastasia Beverly Hills, Shea Moisture, PDC Brands, and more displayed individual pop ups to inform visitors about their products and conduct IRL applications. 

Meanwhile, the Beauty Museum installation provided an in-depth lesson on beauty representation through the ages and identities, while the SOKO MRKT platformed incredible emerging beauty brands including Kreyòl Essence and Stratia. Attendees also received an in-person tutorial on the art of braid styling with celebrity hairstylist Susy Oludele. 

Esthetician and MUA Jadé Marie Chapman exposed beauty enthusiasts to her immersive and signature 180 Facial, and Jonathan Van Ness of JVN Hair conducted a live shopping event and hair demo.

Refinery29 Global Beauty Director Sara Tan talked about transforming passions into profit with founders of successful beauty brands Tower 28, Naturium, Kosas, and Live Tinted. The beauty experts discussed brand strategies in the digital age and gushed about their favorite products from each others’ lines. Then, Anastasia Soare of Anastasia Beverly Hills, Danessa Myricks of her eponymous brand, and Donni Davy of Half Magic Beauty offered refreshing takes on the importance of technological advances in the beauty industry.

Sophia Dennis, Beautycon Head of Programming, led the last founder-featured panel by discussing the impact of TikTok on the evolving beauty space with perfume content creator Paul Reactts, CANVAS CEO and Founder Stormi Steele, and Made By Mitchell’s Mitchell Halliday. “TikTok Shop changed my life,” Stormi Steele revealed, as the three innovators detailed the transformative nature of social commerce and digital communities. 

Sir John’s masterclass offered beauties an interactive lesson on dopamine glam and how you use makeup to enhance mood, self-perception, and overall energy. He spoke with the crowd about favorite products and blending tools, as well as moments about his professional journey. In Kelli Anne Sewell’s masterclass, makeup lovers walked away with tips on how to achieve the classic soft glam look. “It’s gonna look crazy before it looks amazing, so just trust the process,” she said. 

The undeniable highlight of the day for beauty goers was the live taping of Unbothered’s Go Off Sis Podcast, featuring Love Island breakout stars Serena Page and JaNa Craig. The girlies flocked to the main stage, letting nobody—not even doting boyfriends Kenny and Kordell— stand in their way of getting a view of their favorite duo. The conversation focused on the representation of Black women in the reality TV space, the sisterhood they formed, and their journeys since. 

Continuing with the star studded appearances, Law Roach, Saweetie, and Sloane Stephens spoke to the art of defining beauty by your own terms, led by Unbothered’s Chelsea Sanders. These forces of beauty reflected on the differences and overlaps between the music, sports, and fashion industries. 

Texture on the Runway served audiences fierce chromatic fashions with artfully sculpted hair to close out Beautycon weekend in style. Presented by NaturallyCurly, the models— thanks to the help of fashion stylist Amiraa Vee, hairstylist Monae Everett, and host Kiyah Wright—showcased how to merge high fashion with diverse textured hair looks. 

From Nashville to Seattle, beauties around the U.S. and even across the pond came out to share in the all-embracing forms beauty takes on. As Sir John repeated during his masterclass, the word of the day was community—and the Beautycon community is diverse, dynamic, and ever-evolving.