Alicia Keys Swears By These Beauty & Wellness Commandments—Now So Do We!
It's no secret that Alicia Keys exudes inner peace and bares the succulent skin of our youth that we're spending $$ in adulthood trying to re-capture. So when sis listed her commandments to balanced beauty and wellness in Elle, you better believe we took notes. Adding to her credibility as a skincare guru, the star launched a wellness brand—Keys Soulcare—in the midst of the pandemic that included a line of facial products.
Now, the 40-year-young mom of two is launching an equally soothing body care line we're deeming essential. The newbies to Keys Soulcare include a Renewing Hand and Body Wash, Rich Nourishing Body Cream, and Sacred Body Oil.
First Things First, Rituals and Affirmations Are a Must
According to Alicia, affirmations have the "ability to remind ourselves how incredible we are." She believes this so much so that each product under Keys Soulcare comes branded with an affirmation. The idea is that even taking just a moment for yourself by reciting one of these affirmations while using your fave product creates a ritual that brings you one step closer to inner peace.
One of her most popular face products was the Golden Cleanser, which she reformulated for use all over as the Renewing Body + Handwash. "The mantra of this product is, 'I love myself as I am.'" She also shared her thoughts on her personal fave, the Sacred Body Oil. "When you get out of the shower, put some drops on your damp skin and say the mantra is 'Everything I do is an act of creation,' which is powerful. Think of that as you're creating this moment for yourself and your day."
Be Kind to the Skin and Body You’re In—It’s the Only Set You Have
Alicia says she suffered from "skin issues for a long time" and classified herself as having been a thicker girl. "I had a lot of curves early," she explained while adding the added attention was an insecurity of hers in her younger years. But she says it's important to note that the body and skin are ever-evolving. As she got older she had a new set of insecurities to embrace.
"When I had kids, I felt like, 'Oh, my gosh, I'll never look the same ever again.' And that creates insecurity. It fluctuates and flows, but I feel like today, right now, I feel really good about my body. Every day, what your body does is a miracle. We're like the walking embodiments of miracles, and I like to remember that."
Her point? Beauty is not only skin-deep, and finding things that bring a healthy beauty perspective is important. She shared, "I feel really beautiful after a hard hike. My strength and ability is sexy and sensual. Or laying on a beach chair with some sun beating down on me. And I feel beautiful when I'm just with my family and my sweatpants on a couch, and we're all just cuddled up and hugging, watching a movie—that feeling of pure bliss and love."
Always Be Gracious and Always Celebrate
Don't forget to thank yourself for how far you've come, which is a practice that Alicia enforces with herself regularly. "I'd have never thought 20 years ago [when I released my first album] that I'd be here flourishing and more creative than ever and creating the best music of my life, making the best connections of my life. When I look back [at my 20-year-old self], I'm just profoundly appreciating her because she helped to create me now," says the singer.
She adds, "The advice I would give my 20-year-old self is, you already have it right. You don't have to change anything. You don't have to fix anything, you don't have to try to fit in anything or be whatever people want you to be. All you have to do is keep doing you."
Featured image by Rich Fury/Getty Images for dcp
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Jazmine A. Ortiz is a creative born and raised in Bushwick, Brooklyn and currently living in Staten Island, NY. She started in the entertainment industry in 2012 and now works as a Lifestyle Editor where she explores everything from mental health to vegan foodie trends. For more on what she's doing in the digital space follow her on Instagram at @liddle_bitt.
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
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Is Jazz Too Good For Hillary? Simone Joy Jones And Jordan L. Jones Of ‘Bel-Air’ Weigh In
Bel-Air is back, and with it the two troubled relationships that have been at the center of the predominantly teen drama for the past two seasons: Will (Jabari Banks) and Lisa (Simone Joy Jones) and Hillary (Coco Jones) and Jazz (Jordan L. Jones).
In the first three episodes of season three, which premiered on Peacock on August 15, Hillary and Jazz initially struggle to remain just friends after ending things, stealing a kiss despite Hillary now being reunited with her ex LeMarcus. Eventually, even remaining cordial with one another proves difficult when Jazz calls Hillary out as a coward for running from her feelings for him which results in another blow-up.
Asked at Peacock’s Bel-AirBBQ kicking off season three of the series whether Jazz is too good for Hillary, Jordan says, “I don't think that necessarily, I just think that we have different goals and what we believe in is different.”
“Sometimes in life, you can really love somebody, you really have fun with somebody, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty, it's like, do I believe in what you believe in at all times, and also, can I deal with that?” he tells xoNecole. “Does Jazz think that she's a coward? Of course, he does. But Jazz has a lot of flaws as well. I think [him thinking she’s a coward] also comes from his insecurities of like, ‘Oh, you don't want to be with me. You want to be with that guy. Oh yeah, you're a coward.’”
xoNecole caught up with the cast of #Belair to talk season 3!
Jordan was mum on where things might end up with the pair as the season goes on, much like Simone when it comes to Will and Lisa who struggle to make time for the relationship that they say they want to have again with Lisa in swim training and Will working at the country club while pursuing entrepreneurial efforts with Carlton (Olly Sholotan) over the summer.
“That first time you light up and you see somebody, it's hard to let go of, no matter if you are the best for each other or not,” says Simone of the effect Will and Lisa have on one another. “You learn a bulk of your lessons from that, whether they're good or bad, or it's the hard way or the easy way. I think that's kind of what they capture, a spark, and this is the first time that they line up in that way.”
While each of their characters may struggle with alignment, Simone and Jordan are clear on what they hope to see happen in future episodes of Bel-Air. With Joseph Marcell, a.k.a. Geoffrey from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, set to make a cameo this season after appearances from other cast members of the original sitcom, Tatyana Ali (Ashley) and Daphne Maxwell Reid (Aunt Viv), in seasons one and two, the pair hopes the actors who first portrayed their characters– Nia Long and DJ Jazzy Jeff—will guest star one day in the reboot as well.
“They're just great people, a great family,” says Jordan of DJ Jazzy Jeff. “[Jazz’s] son has chopped up with me before, like, ‘yo, man, I really mess with you, bro. Make the family proud.’ I was like, ‘Yes, I got you, bro. I got you.’ I would love to see him. I don't know where they would place him, but that would probably be a great dynamic between me and him.”
Adds Simone, “Nia Long always has a place. Wherever she wants to be.”
“Literally!” confirms Jordan.
Watch the full interview with Simone and Jordan in the video above.
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