The following is an excerpt of "The Cheating Chronicles" feature in the May 2014 issue of ESSENCE.

From sublime lotions to skin-perfecting potions, these 52 winners get our seal of approval. Read on, rip out, and use the next time you hit the beauty aisle.

In an exclusive excerpt from Sheryl Sandberg’s newbook, Lean In: For Graduates, Ariel Investments President Mellody Hobson shares key lessons on how embracing your authentic identity can provide a foundation for professional success and personal growth.

New York-based brand manager Gessie Thompson was determined to be a mom. With a fighting, faithful spirit, she went to war against dramatic health problems—and won.

With reproductive rights under attack, Black women should be contributing to the abortion debate. Here’s why we need to be on the front lines demanding autonomy over our bodies.