31 of the biggest beauty moments and controversies that happened in 2020

Amanda KrauseDec 28, 2020, 22:58 IST

NikkieTutorials (Nikkie de Jager) came out as transgender on January 13, 2020.NikkieTutorials/YouTube

2020 was a big year for the cosmetics industry and beauty influencers.
Celebrities embraced their acne and gray hair in Instagram posts, and they even brought back the controversial mullet trend.
Beauty influencers, on the other hand, found themselves facing scandals, feuds, and more.
Jeffree Star, for example, was accused of sexual assault and making hush-money payments, James Charles feuded with two celebrities, and Kat Von D sold her namesake brand.

2020 was a big year for the beauty industry.

New trends emerged - like the controversial mullet comeback - and beauty enthusiasts rose to fame on TikTok. Celebrities also opened up about their acne, gray hair, and natural beauty while staying home.

Of course, there were scandals, feuds, and surprising moments, too. James Charles publicly argued with celebrities, Jeffree Star was accused of sexual assault, and Kat Von D shocked the internet when she said influencers were part of the reason she sold her beauty brand. Earlier in the year, YouTuber NikkieTutorials was blackmailed and robbed at gunpoint.

Here's a deeper look into those events and other major beauty moments that occurred throughout 2020.

Jeffree Star broke up with his longtime boyfriend Nathan Schwandt, who often appeared in the YouTuber's makeup videos.

Nathan Schwandt and Jeffree Star at RuPaul's DragCon in California on April 30, 2017. Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage

People tried to blackmail NikkieTutorials into coming out as transgender.

NikkieTutorials (Nikkie de Jager) came out as transgender on January 13, 2020. NikkieTutorials / YouTube

The Kat Von D makeup brand was renamed to KVD Vegan Beauty after Von D sold her shares in the company.

Kat Von D shared this message on Instagram in January. Kat Von D/Instagram

Shane Dawson attempted to enter the online beauty space after releasing a makeup collection with Jeffree Star Cosmetics.

Shane Dawson made this face in a YouTube video after talking about Kat Von D. ShaneGlossin/YouTube

Star wore dreadlocks and laid edges while promoting his Blood Lust makeup collection in February.

Jeffree Star shared photos of himself wearing dreadlocks in February 2020. Jeffree Star Cosmetics

Kat Von D infuriated people when she said influencers played a role in her leaving the beauty industry.

Many people disagreed with Kat Von D's stance on influencers and the beauty industry. Phillip Faraone/Stringer/Getty Images

A woman said in a YouTube video that she beat her child over a Jeffree Star Cosmetics eye-shadow palette - and the makeup mogul responded.

Jeffree Star seemingly referenced Michelle Grace's video in a tweet to a different mom. Michelle Grace/YouTube and Santiago Felipe/Getty Images

Beauty professionals faced new challenges at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Sephora store in Orlando, Florida, on September 27, 2020. Jeff Greenberg/Getty Images

Celebrities opened up about their acne, gray hair, and natural beauty while staying home and social distancing.

Keke Palmer showed how she conceals her acne, which she spoke about throughout 2020. Keke Palmer/Instagram

Fans of Bretman Rock attempted to visit the beauty influencer at his home, despite COVID-19 concerns.

Bretman Rock in his Instagram videos from mid-April. Bretman Rock/Instagram

Beauty influencers like James Charles participated in April's mugshot trend.

Influencers James Charles and Corinna Kopf participate in the mugshot trend. Screenshot Twitter/@jamescharles, @CorinnaKopf

Star attempted to reignite a former feud with Charles while appearing on a podcast that month.

Jeffree Star and James Charles were seemingly friends until approximately 2019. James Charles / YouTube

In early June, beauty influencers spoke out against makeup looks inspired by George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Some of the beauty creators who posted Black Lives Matter looks later apologized. Screenshot TikTok/@catharinas_beauty, Instagram/@sbeautyx_

Sharon Chuter, the founder of Uoma Beauty, created the #PullUpOrShutUp campaign to show the "under-representation of Black people in corporate America, especially in leadership roles."

Sharon Chuter of Uoma Beauty and the #PullUpOrShutUp campaign. Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images

Sharon Chuter, the founder of Uoma Beauty, created the #PullUpOrShutUp campaign to show the "under-representation of Black people in corporate America, especially in leadership roles."

Dawson responded to speculation that he and Star pressured Westbrook to release her explosive video about Charles in 2019 with a lengthy rant on Twitter.

Shane Dawson defended Jeffree Star throughout his four-page rant in June. Jeffree Star/YouTube

The drama between Dawson, Westbrook, Star, and Charles didn't stop there.

Tati Westbrook uploaded this video to YouTube on June 30, 2020. Screen shot of Tati/YouTube

In July, Morphe cut ties with Jeffree Star and his namesake beauty brand.

Morphe shared this tweet on July 10, 2020. Morphe/Twitter

Skin-care brand Clarisonic announced in July that it'd be shutting down after more than 10 years in business.

Clarisonic permanently shut down its business operations in September 2020. Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images

Alicia Keys announced that she'd be releasing a beauty brand - much to the dismay of some influencers.

Alicia Keys launched her first Keys Soulcare products towards the end of 2020. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

NikkieTutorials and her fiancé Dylan Drossaers were robbed at gunpoint in August.

According to NikkieTutorials, the robbers have since been arrested. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Charles found himself in another feud when he criticized Lauren Conrad's beauty brand.

Lauren Conrad said she accidentally sent James Charles the empty products. Instagram/@jamescharles, Rachel Murray/GettyImages

Star faced allegations of sexual assault, physical violence, and hush-money offers in October.

Jeffree Star has not publicly addressed the allegations. Santiago Felipe/Getty Images

Nikita Dragun faced backlash after asking fans "what race" she should be.

Nikita Dragun in a photo from May 2020, and one from September 2020. Instagram/@nikitadragun

Leaked text messages revealed that YouTuber Glam&Gore previously said BIPOC and LGBTQ YouTubers are "handed" their success.

Glam&Gore later apologized for her past actions via an Instagram story. YouTube/Jeffree Star

Westbrook and her husband were sued by their Halo Beauty co-founder in October.

Both Tati Westbrook and her husband are being sued by their former business partner. Gregg DeGuire/Stringer/Getty Images

Mullets and shag haircuts came back into style thanks to celebrities.

Rihanna and Miley Cyrus both rocked versions of the haircuts this year. Dominique Charriau/ Alo Ceballos/Steve Granitz/Getty Images

Influencers visited a hair salon in the middle of the pandemic.

A view of the Habit Salon in Los Angeles, California, in October 2020. Trevor Caron/TikTok

Influencers were criticized when they posed with monkeys outside of their homes to promote a fashion brand.

Jeffree Star poses with a capuchin monkey to promote Bananas Monkey. Jeffree Star/Instagram

Lisa Frank collaborated with Morphe on a '90s-inspired makeup line, but some beauty enthusiasts weren't pleased with the collection.

Lisa Frank's collaboration with Morphe. Morphe

Influencers began a boycott of Hourglass cosmetics over the brand's limited shade ranges.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was named the first Hourglass Cosmetics ambassador. Craig Barritt/Getty Images

Beauty enthusiasts rose to fame on TikTok and started to take the place of major influencers.

TikTok has become home to an active beauty community. Mikayla Nogueira/TikTok

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31 of the biggest beauty moments and controversies that happened in 2020

Jeffree Star broke up with his longtime boyfriend Nathan Schwandt, who often appeared in the YouTuber's makeup videos.

People tried to blackmail NikkieTutorials into coming out as transgender.

The Kat Von D makeup brand was renamed to KVD Vegan Beauty after Von D sold her shares in the company.

Shane Dawson attempted to enter the online beauty space after releasing a makeup collection with Jeffree Star Cosmetics.

Star wore dreadlocks and laid edges while promoting his Blood Lust makeup collection in February.

Kat Von D infuriated people when she said influencers played a role in her leaving the beauty industry.

A woman said in a YouTube video that she beat her child over a Jeffree Star Cosmetics eye-shadow palette - and the makeup mogul responded.

Beauty professionals faced new challenges at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Celebrities opened up about their acne, gray hair, and natural beauty while staying home and social distancing.

Fans of Bretman Rock attempted to visit the beauty influencer at his home, despite COVID-19 concerns.

Beauty influencers like James Charles participated in April's mugshot trend.

Star attempted to reignite a former feud with Charles while appearing on a podcast that month.

In early June, beauty influencers spoke out against makeup looks inspired by George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Sharon Chuter, the founder of Uoma Beauty, created the #PullUpOrShutUp campaign to show the "under-representation of Black people in corporate America, especially in leadership roles."

Dawson responded to speculation that he and Star pressured Westbrook to release her explosive video about Charles in 2019 with a lengthy rant on Twitter.

The drama between Dawson, Westbrook, Star, and Charles didn't stop there.

In July, Morphe cut ties with Jeffree Star and his namesake beauty brand.

Skin-care brand Clarisonic announced in July that it'd be shutting down after more than 10 years in business.

Alicia Keys announced that she'd be releasing a beauty brand - much to the dismay of some influencers.

NikkieTutorials and her fiancé Dylan Drossaers were robbed at gunpoint in August.

Charles found himself in another feud when he criticized Lauren Conrad's beauty brand.

Star faced allegations of sexual assault, physical violence, and hush-money offers in October.

Nikita Dragun faced backlash after asking fans "what race" she should be.

Leaked text messages revealed that YouTuber Glam&Gore previously said BIPOC and LGBTQ YouTubers are "handed" their success.

Westbrook and her husband were sued by their Halo Beauty co-founder in October.

Mullets and shag haircuts came back into style thanks to celebrities.

Influencers visited a hair salon in the middle of the pandemic.

Influencers were criticized when they posed with monkeys outside of their homes to promote a fashion brand.

Lisa Frank collaborated with Morphe on a '90s-inspired makeup line, but some beauty enthusiasts weren't pleased with the collection.

Influencers began a boycott of Hourglass cosmetics over the brand's limited shade ranges.

Beauty enthusiasts rose to fame on TikTok and started to take the place of major influencers.