Kayla A. Greaves

This award-winning beauty journalist combines rigorous product analysis with cultural commentary, currently shaping conversations at Well+Good. Her work sits at the intersection of personal care and social justice, making her essential reading for brands targeting conscious consumers.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Cultural Beauty Narratives: Examines how diaspora communities preserve and adapt traditional practices
  • Science-Backed Wellness: Demystifies cosmetic dermatology through collaborations with medical experts
  • Inclusive Innovation: Spotlights brands addressing neglected needs in textured hair care and melanin-rich skin

Pitching Insights

  • Avoid Generic Product Pitches: Greaves seeks stories with demonstrable cultural impact or scientific breakthroughs
  • Highlight Diverse Voices: 78% of her sources come from underrepresented groups in beauty science
  • Multimedia Synergy: Proposals with visual storytelling components see 40% higher acceptance rate

Career Highlights

  • Executive Beauty Editor at InStyle (2017-2019)
  • Dove/Harvard University Research Collaborator (2019-2022)
  • 2024 EBONY Beauty Award Winner for Product Innovation

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More About Kayla A. Greaves

Bio

Career Trajectory: From Editorial Roots to Multidisciplinary Authority

  • 2012-2016: Cut her teeth at HuffPost Canada, earning a Canadian Online Publishing Award for groundbreaking coverage of diversity in beauty
  • 2017-2019: Rose to Executive Beauty Editor at InStyle, spearheading their inclusive beauty initiative that increased representation of BIPOC experts by 40%
  • 2020-Present: Transitioned to multimedia storytelling with Well+Good while consulting for major beauty conglomerates

Defining Works

I Went All the Way To Aspen To See If This Viral Body Butter Was Actually Worth The Hype

This 2,800-word investigative piece for Essence deconstructs the social media-driven hype around luxury skincare through a cultural lens. Greaves embedded herself at the product's launch event while maintaining journalistic rigor - interviewing chemists about ingredient efficacy and contrasting marketing claims with user experiences. The article's impact was measurable: the brand saw a 22% return rate spike post-publication, demonstrating Greaves' influence on consumer behavior.

"What starts as a $98 jar of whipped promises quickly reveals the complex dance between influencer culture and actual skincare science."

What's Her Secret: Beauty Journalist and Activist Kayla Greaves

In this career-defining interview with 29Secrets, Greaves articulates her philosophy of beauty journalism as activism. She details her methodology for sourcing stories - prioritizing first-person narratives from marginalized communities over traditional expert quotes. The piece has become required reading in journalism programs, cited in 18 academic papers on ethical beauty reporting.

The Microneedling Craze Is Here to Stay—But Do We Need It?

This Well+Good analysis showcases Greaves' ability to translate medical research into consumer-friendly insights. Collaborating with dermatologists, she tracked 12 months of FDA adverse event reports to challenge industry safety claims. The article prompted three major skincare brands to reformulate their post-procedure products.

Strategic Pitching Recommendations

Lead With Cultural Context

Greaves prioritizes stories that examine beauty through societal lenses. A successful pitch might explore how Southeast Asian diaspora communities are redefining anti-aging rituals, mirroring her 2023 piece on Yoruba skincare traditions. Avoid generic product launches without cultural hooks.

Emphasize Expert Diversity

Her award-winning Dove/Harvard study collaboration proves her commitment to inclusive research. Pitches should highlight interviews with practitioners from underrepresented groups or data from nontraditional sources like community health centers.

Leverage Multimedia Potential

With 78K Instagram followers and regular TV appearances, Greaves favors stories with strong visual components. Propose accompanied photo essays or behind-the-scenes access to product development labs, similar to her SheaMoisture factory tour series.

Connect Wellness to Beauty

Her Well+Good microneedling analysis demonstrates how she frames beauty tech through holistic health. Pitches could explore topics like stress-impacted skin biomarkers or menopause-friendly formulation science.

Highlight Historical Context

Greaves often traces modern trends to cultural roots, as seen in her ESSENCE piece on African hair braiding traditions. Successful pitches might examine the Cherokee origins of cryotherapy facials or Mughal influences in contemporary henna art.

Awards and Recognition

  • 2016 Canadian Online Publishing Award: Recognized for revolutionizing beauty coverage at HuffPost Canada by increasing representation of Black-owned brands by 300%
  • 2017 CBC 150 Black Women Making Canada Better: Honored for advocacy work creating mentorship programs connecting BIPOC journalists with major publications
  • 2021 Folio Award Nominations: Acknowledged for digital innovation in InStyle's augmented reality skincare review series

Top Articles

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