A few days ago, while hanging out with one of my favorite people, she said to me, "Ooo, I love your eyeshadow." Here's what's cool about what she said—I didn't have any on. I can't even remember the last time I've worn eyeshadow. When I told her that and she said, "Your eyelids have a natural golden glow to them", I know I was grinning from ear to ear because that means all of the water, witch hazel (which I'll get into in just a sec), and sweet almond oil is truly paying off. How cool. How very cool.
That got me to thinking about a few all-natural beauty trends that I will be incorporating throughout 2019 and beyond. Whether you like a bare face like I do, you prefer to switch up between a naked face and a full face of make-up, or you want to know some ways to care for your skin underneath your glam face, there are gonna be at least 3-4 things on here that you will totally fall in love with. I'm willing to bet my annual lipstick and lip gloss budget on it (and that's really saying something)!
1.Bakuchiol
I already know that some of you read that word and was like, "What the heck is that?!" It's kind of a long story, but the short of it is bakuchiol is a meroterpene (chemical compound) that mimics retinol (a vitamin A-based drug that treats fine lines and slows down the appearance of aging). Thanks to it being plant-based, it's a whole lot gentler with fewer side effects than retinol.
Although it's not guaranteed that bakuchiol will work super-effectively for everyone, if you have super-sensitive skin (especially), it's worth giving a shot. As far as where to buy it, Sephora carries products with bakuchiol in them. However, it's not the cheapest stuff on the planet, so you might want to opt to cop some Whish cosmetics with bakuchiol in it on eBay.
2.Grey Hair
A few years back, teenagers were dyeing their hair grey and silver on purpose. This year, natural grey is totally what's in. So, if you've been noticing a couple of grey hairs popping up and you're tempted to color them, consider letting them shine through instead. You can do this by purchasing shampoos and conditioners that are specifically-designed for grey tresses, wearing neutral-colored clothing more often and rockin' a really dope haircut. Something that is modern and super striking.
By the way, there's an actual scripture that celebrates grey hair—"The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness." (Proverbs 16:31—NKJV) See, you've even got the good book's stamp of approval to let your natural glory shine through. Let it.
3.Oil as Mascara
Although I personally don't wear a ton of make-up, something that I don't go without is mascara. I try and stay on top of the fact that if I don't get a fresh tube every 2-3 months, not only does it become a breeding ground for bacteria, it also can inhibit the growth of my eyelashes over time.
An alternative? Using oil on my lashes instead. Castor and olive oil work really well. So does petroleum jelly, vitamin E, and shea butter. They all have fewer chemicals in them and can help all of our lashes to grow as they also help to make them appear longer and fuller every time we use them. (FYI—with all of these options, less is more. Otherwise, you could get oil in your eyes.)
4.Witch Hazel
Something else that is a current beauty trend is liquid exfoliants. Something that's a natural form of one is witch hazel. When it comes to achieving beautiful skin, there aren't too many things that are more effective and affordable than witch hazel.
It's an awesome toner, that helps to speed the healing process of breakouts, contains tannins that slow down the aging process, and even aids in treating the inflammation and flare-ups associated with psoriasis and eczema. It's also great for getting rid of any cold sores that you might have along your lip line too.
5.DIY Stain
There's nothing like a bit of color to make your skin look youthful and glowing. Something that can give your cheeks, lips, and even eyelids (if you want) a pop of pink or bronze is DIY stain. It's not as hard to make as you might think either.
If you want a pink color, mix two teaspoons of rose mica powder with kaolin clay and a half-teaspoon of shea butter. If you'd prefer a sun-kissed look, go with some 2 ½ teaspoons of cocoa powder, three-fourths of a teaspoon of rose mica powder and 2 ½ teaspoons of shea butter. Mix everything together and apply. You'll achieve beautiful results sans any of the chemicals that are in commercialized stains.
(Plus, if you store your DIY stains in ounce tins, their shelf-life will be 12-14 months!)
6.Thick Eyebrows
I'm totally digging the fact that the kind of eyebrows that look like they are on their last leg are a thing of the past (at least for now). These days, the thicker and more natural your brows appear to be, the better! If you need to grow your eyebrows out, one way to do that is to apply some Jamaican Black Castor Oil on them at night. And, if you want to keep them tame during the day, some clear eyebrow gel will do that for you.
There are some eyebrow gels that you can purchase at cosmetic counters, but how about you save yourself some money and gas by putting a pea-size amount of Aloe Vera gel on an eyebrow brush and gently brushing your brows in the direction that they naturally grow? The gel will keep them in place while nourishing them all day long.
7.CBD Oil
I'm pretty sure you don't feel like a science class right now, so I'll be brief in the breakdown of what CBD oil is. It stands for Cannabidiol and it's one of the 104 chemical compounds that's found in cannabis. While Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is responsible for marijuana making us feel high, CBD is not. It still has some great benefits thought and is usually added to a carrier oil like coconut, avocado, grapeseed, or hemp seed oil.
Why is CBD oil currently all the rage? Aside from reducing pain, relieving anxiety, and even combating certain symptoms that are cancer-related, it's also the kind of oil that slows down the over-production of sebum in the skin while healing a lot of the inflammation that's associated with pimples.
Now here's the bad news. You can only use this oil in the states where medical marijuana is legal. But since that's currently 32 states (with more on the way, I'm sure), chances are, you're living someplace where you can get your fill.
8.Fades with Designs
Getty Images
When I read about this particular all-natural trend, I couldn't help but reminisce back to the days when I rocked a fade. There really is nothing like getting a fresh cut, going to bed, waking up, and needing to do nothing to your hair but run a brush through it. It cuts down the morning routine by at least 15 minutes!
So, if you've been thinking about undergoing the Big Chop in a very major way, there's no time like 2019 to do it. Take it to the next level by getting some bold artistic designs into it too. You won't just by fly as all get out—you'll be super on-trend too!
Featured image by Getty Images
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So, we handpicked one hundred It Girls who embody that palpable It Factor moving through us as young Black women, the kind of motion lighting up the world both IRL and across the internet.
It Girl 100 became xoNecole’s most successful program, with the hashtag organically reaching more than forty million impressions on Instagram in just twenty-four hours. Yes, it caught on like wildfire because we celebrated some of the most brilliant and influential GenZennial women of color setting trends and shaping culture. But more than that, it resonated because the women we celebrated felt seen.
Many were already known in their industries for keeping this generation fly and lit, but rarely received recognition or flowers. It Girl 100 became a safe space to be uplifted, and for us as Black women to bask in what felt like an era of our brilliance, beauty, and boundless influence on full display.
And then, almost overnight, it was as if the rug was pulled from under us as Black women, as the It Girls of the world.
Our much-needed, much-deserved season of ease and soft living quickly metamorphosed into a time of self-preservation and survival. Our motion and economic progression seemed strategically slowed, our light under siege.
The air feels heavier now. The headlines colder. Our Black girl magic is being picked apart and politicized for simply existing.
With that climate shift, as we prepare to launch our second annual It Girl 100 honoree list, our team has had to dig deep on the purpose and intention behind this year’s list. Knowing the spirit of It Girl 100 is about motion, sauce, strides, and progression, how do we celebrate amid uncertainty and collective grief when the juice feels like it is being squeezed out of us?
As we wrestled with that question, we were reminded that this tension isn’t new. Black women have always had to find joy in the midst of struggle, to create light even in the darkest corners. We have carried the weight of scrutiny for generations, expected to be strong, to serve, to smile through the sting. But this moment feels different. It feels deeply personal.
We are living at the intersection of liberation and backlash. We are learning to take off our capes, to say no when we are tired, to embrace softness without apology.
And somehow, the world has found new ways to punish us for it.
In lifestyle, women like Kayla Nicole and Ayesha Curry have been ridiculed for daring to choose themselves. Tracee Ellis Ross was labeled bitter for speaking her truth about love. Meghan Markle, still, cannot breathe without critique.
In politics, Kamala Harris, Letitia James, and Jasmine Crockett are dragged through the mud for standing tall in rooms not built for them.
In sports, Angel Reese, Coco Gauff, and Taylor Townsend have been reminded that even excellence will not shield you from racism or judgment.
In business, visionaries like Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye and Melissa Butler are fighting to keep their dreams alive in an economy that too often forgets us first.
Even our icons, Beyoncé, Serena, and SZA, have faced criticism simply for evolving beyond the boxes society tried to keep them in.
From everyday women to cultural phenoms, the pattern is the same. Our light is being tested.
And yet, somehow, through it all, we are still showing up as that girl, and that deserves to be celebrated.
Because while the world debates our worth, we keep raising our value. And that proof is all around us.
This year alone, Naomi Osaka returned from motherhood and mental health challenges to reach the semifinals of the US Open. A’ja Wilson claimed another MVP, reminding us that beauty and dominance can coexist. Brandy and Monica are snatching our edges on tour. Kahlana Barfield Brown sold out her new line in the face of a retailer that had been canceled. And Melissa Butler’s company, The Lip Bar, is projecting a forty percent surge in sales.
We are no longer defining strength by how much pain we can endure. We are defining it by the unbreakable light we continue to radiate.
We are the women walking our daily steps and also continuing to run solid businesses. We are growing in love, taking solo trips, laughing until it hurts, raising babies and ideas, drinking our green juice, and praying our peace back into existence.
We are rediscovering the joy of rest and realizing that softness is not weakness, it is strategy.
And through it all, we continue to lift one another. Emma Grede is creating seats at the table. Valeisha Butterfield has started a fund for jobless Black women. Arian Simone is leading in media with fearless conviction. We are pouring into each other in ways the world rarely sees but always feels.
So yes, we are in the midst of societal warfare. Yes, we are being tested. Yes, we are facing economic strain, political targeting, and public scrutiny. But even war cannot dim a light that is divinely ours.
And we are still shining.
And we are still softening.
And we are still creating.
And we are still It.
That is the quiet magic of Black womanhood, our ability to hold both truth and triumph in the same breath, to say yes, and to life’s contradictions.
It is no coincidence that this year, as SheaMoisture embraces the message “Yes, And,” they stand beside us as partners in celebrating this class of It Girls. Because that phrase, those two simple words, capture the very essence of this moment.
Yes, we are tired. And we are still rising.
Yes, we are questioned. And we are the answer.
Yes, we are bruised. And we are still beautiful.
This year’s It Girl 100 is more than a list. It is a love letter to every Black woman who dares to live out loud in a world that would rather she whisper. This year’s class is living proof of “Yes, And,” women who are finding ways to thrive and to heal, to build and to rest, to lead and to love, all at once.
It is proof that our joy is not naive, our success not accidental. It is the reminder that our light has never needed permission.
So without further ado, we celebrate the It Girl 100 Class of 2025–2026.
We celebrate the millions of us who keep doing it with grace, grit, and glory.
Because despite it all, we still shine.
Because we are still her.
Because we are still IT, girl.
Meet all 100 women shaping culture in the It Girl 100 Class of 2025. View the complete list of honorees here.
Featured image by xoStaff
Then there were those who gave up their zip code altogether and found a permanent home in the skies. After years spent recruiting students for a university, Lisa-Gaye Shakespeare became a full-time travel influencer and founded her travel company, Shakespeare Agency. And she's not alone.
These stories mirror the experiences of women across the world. For millions, the pandemic induced a seismic shift in priorities and desires. Corporate careers that were once hailed as the ultimate “I made it” moment in one's career were pushed to the back burner as women quit their jobs in search of a more self-fulfilling purpose.
xoNecole spoke to these three Black women who used the pandemic as a springboard to make their wildest dreams a reality, the lessons they learned, and posed the question of whether they’ll ever return to cubicle life.
Answers have been edited for context and length.
xoNecole: How did the pandemic lead to you leaving the cubicle?
Randi: I was becoming stagnant. I was working in mortgage and banking but I felt like my personality was too big for that job! From there, I transitioned to radio but was laid off during the pandemic. That’s what made me go full throttle with entrepreneurship.
Gabrielle: I moved around a lot for work. Five times over a span of seven years. I knew I needed a break because I had experienced so much. So, I just quit one day. Effective immediately. I didn’t know what I was going to do, I just knew I needed a break and to just regroup.
Lisa-Gaye: I was working in recruiting at a university and my dream job just kind of fell into my lap! But, I never got to fully enjoy it before the world shut down in March [2020] and I was laid off. On top of that, I was stuck in Miami because Jamaica had closed its borders due to the pandemic before I was able to return.
Randi O
xoN: Tell us about your journey after leaving Corporate America.
Randi: I do it all now! I have a podcast, I’m an on-air talent, I act, and I own a public relations company that focuses on social media engagement. It’s all from my network. When you go out and start a business, you can’t just say, “Okay I’m done with Corporate America,” and “Let me do my own thing.” If you don’t build community, if you don’t build a network it's going to be very hard to sustain.
Gabrielle: I realized in New York, there was not a lot to do for Black lesbians and queer folks. We don’t really have dedicated bars and spaces so I started doing events and it took off. I started focusing on my brand, Raw Honey. I opened a co-working space, and I was able to host an NYC Pride event in front of 100,000 people. I hit the ground running with Raw Honey. My events were all women coming to find community and come together with other lesbians and queer folks. I found my purpose in that.
Lisa-Gaye: After being laid off, I wrote out all of my passions and that’s how I came up with [my company] Shakespeare Agency. It was all of the things that I loved to do under one umbrella. The pandemic pulled that out of me. I had a very large social media following, so I pitched to hotels that I would feature them on my blog and social media. This reignited my passion for travel. I took the rest of the year to refocus my brand to focus solely on being a content creator within the travel space.
Gabrielle
xoN: What have you learned about yourself during your time as an entrepreneur?
Randi: [I learned] the importance of my network and community that I created. When I was laid off I was still keeping those relationships with people that I used to work with. So it was easy for me to transition into social media management and I didn’t have to start from scratch.
Gabrielle: The biggest thing I learned about myself was my own personal identity as a Black lesbian and how much I had assimilated into straight and corporate culture and not being myself. Now, I feel comfortable and confident being my authentic self. Now, I'm not sacrificing anything else for my career. I have a full life. I have friends. I have a social life. And when you are happy and have a full quality of life, I feel like [I] can have more longevity in my career.
Lisa-Gaye: [I'm doing] the best that I've ever done. The discipline that I’m building within myself. Nobody is saying, ‘Oh you have to be at work at this time.’ There’s no boss saying, ‘Why are you late?’ But, if I’m laying in bed at 10 a.m. then it's me saying [to myself], 'Okay, Lisa, get up, it's time for you to start working!’ That’s all on me.
xoNecole: What mistakes do you want to help people avoid when leaving Corporate America?
Randi: You have to learn about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. You have a fast season and a slow season and I started to learn that when you're self-employed the latter season hits hard. Don't get caught up on the lows, just keep going and don't stop. I’m glad I did.
Gabrielle: I think everyone should quit their job and just figure it out for a second. You will discover so much about yourself when you take a second to just focus on you. Your skill set will always be there. You can’t be afraid of what will happen when you bet on yourself.
Lisa-Gaye: When it comes to being an influencer the field is saturated and a lot of people suffer from imposter syndrome. There is nothing wrong with being an imposter but find out how to make it yours, how to make it better. If you go to the store, you see 10 million different brands of bread! But you are choosing the brand that you like because you like that particular flavor.
So be an imposter, but be the best imposter of yourself and add your own flair, your own flavor. Make the better bread. The bread that you want.
Lisa-Gaye Shakespeare
xoNecole: Will you ever return to your 9 to 5?
Randi: I wouldn’t go back to Corporate America. But I don’t mind working under someone. A lot of people try to get into this business saying, “I can't work under anyone.” That’s not necessarily the reason to start a business because you're always going to answer to somebody. Clients, brands, there’s always someone else involved.
Gabrielle: I went back! I really needed a break and I gave myself that. But, I realized I’m a corporate girl, [and] I enjoy the work that I do. I’m good at it and I really missed that side of myself. I have different sides of me and my whole identity is not Raw Honey or my queerness. A big side of me is business and that’s why I love having my career. Now I feel like my best self.
Lisa-Gaye: I really don’t. For right now, I love working for myself. It's gratifying, it's challenging, it's exciting. It’s a big deal for me to say I own my own business. That I am my own boss, and I'm a Black woman doing it.
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Featured image courtesy of Lisa-Gaye Shakespeare
Originally published on February 6, 2023