Nerisha Penrose is ELLE’s Beauty Commerce Editor, specializing in skincare science, fragrance culture, and Black beauty innovation. With a career spanning Nylon, Billboard, and her award-winning franchise The State of Black Beauty, she combines rigorous product testing with cultural analysis.
“Penrose’s work redefines beauty journalism as both laboratory and living room conversation.” – Folio Awards Jury Statement, 2021
Penrose’s 2024 investigation into hormonal acne solutions revolutionized mainstream beauty reporting by bridging medical research and consumer needs. The article synthesizes interviews with eight dermatologists with clinical trial data on ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide. Unlike typical listicles, it contextualizes treatment options within menstrual cycles and stress factors, reflecting her signature approach of blending science with lived experience. The piece remains ELLE’s most-shared acne guide, cited by Allure and Byrdie for its nuanced take on adult skincare.
This 2025 seasonal roundup exemplifies Penrose’s mastery of olfactory storytelling. She profiles 15 fragrances through geographic and sensory lenses, pairing technical analysis of notes like Sicilian bergamot with cultural commentary on post-pandemic travel trends. The article’s structure—grouping scents by “mood” rather than price points—showcases her consumer-first philosophy. Industry response was immediate: three featured perfumes sold out within 72 hours of publication.
As co-creator of this franchise, Penrose redefined how mainstream media covers Black beauty. The inaugural 2020 piece combined historical analysis (tracing beauty standards from the Harlem Renaissance to TikTok) with market data on Black spending power. Later installments addressed topics like texture discrimination in workplaces and the rise of Black-owned indie brands. The series earned a 2021 Folio Award nomination for Best Editorial Series and has been referenced in academic papers on beauty sociology.
Penrose prioritizes products addressing specific demographic needs, particularly those overlooked by mainstream brands. Her coverage of hormonal acne solutions for women of color demonstrates interest in intersectional dermatology. Successful pitches should highlight clinical research and diverse tester panels.
She transcends basic scent profiles by exploring fragrance’s role in identity and memory. The 2025 spring fragrance guide wove personal anecdotes about post-lockdown social reconnection into product critiques. Pitches should pair new launches with anthropological angles or unexpected usage contexts (e.g., bedtime perfumes for sleep enhancement).
As architect of The State of Black Beauty, Penrose spotlights brands challenging industry norms. Her interview with Camille Rose CEO Janell Stephens emphasized grassroots formulation processes over corporate narratives. PR professionals should focus on founders with unique R&D stories or community impact metrics.
Penrose’s The State of Black Beauty earned recognition in the Editorial Series category, competing against legacy publications like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. The Folio Awards jury noted its “unprecedented depth in examining beauty as both personal practice and social currency.”
As curator of ELLE’s 12-member expert panel, she bridges academia and consumer journalism. The board—including dermatologists Dr. Caroline Robinson and Dr. Alexis Stephens—informs testing methodologies for annual awards like the Beauty Grand Prix.
Her essay on the decline of “clean girl” aesthetics was republished in Allure’s anthology, highlighting her influence beyond product journalism. The piece critiqued minimalist beauty trends through labor economics and post-COVID self-expression.
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