Courtesy of Alexandra Toy 
By India Espy-Jones ·Updated April 2, 2026 < /> Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… In an industry full of insiders, this new cultural beauty series is unlocking the gate-kept door. The Beauty Breakdown, a live series spotlighting emerging artists and industry transparency, found its home in the creative sanctuary HEVN Studios over the weekend in an intimate space led exclusively by Black women.
The series is the brainchild of HEVN Studios founder Imary Mezquita, Mind Candy Beauty founder Lyric Christian, and Nyala “Lala” Chamberlain, the makeup artist behind celebrities like Lala Anthony, Aweng Chuol, and Simone Biles. But, it wasn’t an idea that took much thought at all.
“This idea actually started organically,” Christian tells ESSENCE. When Chamberlain and Mezquita first approached her about hosting a masterclass, Christian immediately saw their idea as more than just a single event. Instead, “I worked closely with them to shape the vision into what became The Beauty Breakdown” a long-standing series platforming Black women across beauty and creative industries.
For Christian, that meant thinking through not just the demonstration, but the storytelling, the structure, the audience, the brand and product partners, and how to create a space that felt both elevated and accessible. “I wanted attendees to walk away not only creatively inspired, but with real insight, tangible takeaways, and a sense of belonging within this industry,” she says. Then, it all came together on Saturday night.
For their first iteration, the evening began with a light cocktail hour drinking The Pale rosé and pecking at sweet treats from the Black-owned bakery Love London Sweets. After guests mingled and found comfort in the space, they transitioned to the heart of the event: Chamberlain’s makeup masterclass.
As the evening’s featured artist, the makeup artist—who’s venturing more into luxury bridal and celebrity beauty— demo’d a softer, more romantic version of her signature glam, which she says is perfect for weddings and date nights. This is especially relevant now with Black women starring in recent romcoms from
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