Go Inside ESSENCE's Best in Black Beauty Awards Celebration

By Nikki Brown · Updated October 26, 2020

Each year, we swatch, swipe and smell the latest and greatest beauty innovations, aiming to discover the best options for women of color. What results is our annual Best In Black Beauty Awards, a list of carefully curated and editor-approved makeup, skin and hair products.

Now that our 2017 contenders have been announced, we figured what better way to commemorate them than with a swanky celebration?!

On April 26, we turned The Sugar Factory into a beauty wonderland, complete with confections, tasty cocktails and plenty of award-winning products to play with. And of course, the night wouldn’t have been complete without some of our favorite beauty influencers, including the drop dead gorgeous Vanessa Simmons.

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Keep scrolling for an insider’s look at the Colgate-sponsored soiree and click here to see all of this year’s Best In Black Beauty winners!

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Best in Black Beauty

Guests enjoyed shopping for their fave prodcuts at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Candy galore at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

We couldn’t handle all the gorgeous looks at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Angel and Dren provided jams at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

A peek at the glorious displays at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Host Vanessa Simmons arrives at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

This sweet display at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC is what dreams are made of!

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Best in Black Beauty

Hosts Zonnique Pullins, ESSENCE Fashion and Beauty Director Julee Wilson and Vanessa Simmons strike a pose. 

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Best in Black Beauty

Guests were treated to yummy sweets at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Essence Editor in Chief Vanessa K. De Luca, and President of Essence Communications, Michelle Ebanks, pose for a pic at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Guest couldn’t get enough treats at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Vanesssa Simmons tries out the signature cocktail at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Zonnique Pullins strikes a pose at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Beauty tips were on deck at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Host Vanessa Simmons looked gorgeous at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Beauty enthusiasts couldn’t wait to start shopping at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

So many products to choose from at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Guests had a blast posing in the Optic White photobooth at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

All smiles and good vibes the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

The overflowing goodie bags, including winner Colgate Optic White, on display the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Pretty prints at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Vanessa simmons samples the signature cocktail of the evening at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Guests chatted it up all night at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

The top products of the year at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Guests covered in candy coated lights at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Nothing like a great pic together, thanks to the Optic White photobooth at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Guest check out the goodie bags at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Beauty never looked so sweet at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Guests were able to share and print their pics at the Colgate Optic White phhoto booth at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

ESSENCE beauty editors Nikki Brown and Andrea Jordan take a cute selfie at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.

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Best in Black Beauty

Products on display, including the winner, Colgate Optic White, at the Essence Black Beauty Awards 2017 Cocktail Party at Sugar Factory, NYC.