Last week saw a wave of Black celebrities making bold beauty statements, proving their power to set trends and turn heads. It all began with stunning Instagram reveals and quickly escalated into a full-blown spectacle, thanks to the New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2025 shows and the 2025 Critics Choice Awards. If there’s one takeaway from these awe-inspiring looks, it’s that beauty knows no boundaries—especially when Black women are leading the charge.
The Looks
Makeup
At the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, the beauty moments were nothing short of spectacular, but one star stole the show: Cynthia Erivo. The Wicked actress embraced her signature bald look with a flawlessly subtle yet striking glam. Despite forgoing brows, she commanded attention with sultry smokey eyes and glossy, soft-brown lips that exuded sophistication. Add in her witchy lashes and claw-like nails, and the result was an effortlessly bold and enchanting beauty statement.
Barely-there makeup is having a major moment in 2025, and the red carpets are proving it in full force. At the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, Zoe Saldana embodied this beauty trend effortlessly. The actress stunned in a sleek red maxi dress, pairing it with the soft, understated beauty look. Her lightly filled brows took center stage, while subtly lined eyes and glossy lips provided the perfect supporting touch. The result? A delicate, ethereal glow that was impossible to overlook.
Hair
Ayo Edebiri was an absolute vision on the red carpet at the 2025 Directors Guild of America Awards. Embracing warm, earthy tones, the actress stunned in a flattering brown dress and carried the theme through to her beauty look. Her rich, wavy brown hair, styled in a chic half-up, half-down fashion, cascaded to bra length, with loose tendrils framing her face and accentuating her striking high cheekbones. The result was a seamless blend of elegance and effortless charm.
Check out the best beauty looks at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards and other events from last week…
Mary J Blige
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Sheryl Lee Ralph
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Keke Palmer
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Zoe Saldana
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Cynthia Erivo
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Lupita Nyong’o
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Coco Jones
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Skye Marshall
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Ayo Edebiri
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Danielle Deadwyler
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