While we solemnly vow to get the bag by any means necessary (hustle, save, bargain, invest, and so on), a lot of other areas in your life can suffer in the process. In fact, if you're really after the bag, you'll know that getting money sometimes means adding the actual bag we've been coveting to a wishlist instead of to our shopping cart.
Unfortunately for many of us, that goes double to our routine Sephora hauls, hair appointments, and nail fill-ins. Trust me, playing the "Which One Can You Live Without?" game is only fun when it's hypothetical. Nonetheless, that's the big question that requires the big girl panties when being realistic about your money goals at times.
Although it might not seem like anything short of being a responsible adult, it actually is for a lot of us. I mean, I'd be lying if I didn't say that the way we carry ourselves has a great impact on our esteem, and hate it or love it, these luxuries (or what I prefer to see as "self-care habits") have the ability to make or break us if they aren't consistently taken care of -- ultimately leaving us feeling as though we're not our best selves.
But if there's one thing I've learned since joining the money budgeting/financial support group, "The Broke Black Girl," founded by Dasha Kennedy, it's that getting the bag doesn't have to mean sacrificing your beautification process... Not completely. And certainly not with a little creativity and resourcefulness.
That said, I'd like to believe that these 12 alternatives won't feel as sacrificial, allowing us to tend to our business with all our confidence intact to go out and get money. Click through the gallery below!
1.Prime Nails
pink, red, and white nail polish bottlesPhoto by Element5 Digital on UnsplashI'm sure you've heard time and time again to do your own nails instead of going to the salon. However, for those of us who prefer acrylics, it can be difficult or limiting trying to achieve that look at home. Difficult because the stick on nails that are typically recommended don't hold, and limiting because the colors and designs are minimal depending on your preferences.
However, through BBG, I unburied this hidden treasure--$8 press on nails that come in fabulous shapes (stiletto, ballerina, and coffin)! The ladies of BBG recommend taping the nails to popsicle sticks to paint them and then gluing them on.
2.Makeup Mashup
Some of my most crushing moments have been those when my makeup self-destructs, mostly because it typically happens when I'm working to achieve a certain look. That time my Ruby Woo decided to fall off as if it were suffering from gangrene; or when I struggled to get the lid of my eyeshadow open and instead it fell to the ground, instantly shattering (and still unopened, by the way) -- soul crushing. In the moment of panic, I thoughtlessly tossed these products out but little did I know there were alternatives. Don't be like me, instead, take your broken makeup and repurpose them.
You can do so with broken lipstick by placing a chunk of the lipstick in a spoon, and hovering it over a lit candle. Afterwards, you can store it in a lip gloss container. If you have multiple broken sticks and are in the mood for something new, try a mashup by mixing the colors.
Have any crumbled eye shadows? You can create a lip gloss by adding a little Vaseline to the mix. Simply, add the two ingredients into a dish so that you can mix it in and then transfer to a gloss container. You can use this hack when you're craving a new color as well by scaping a little shadow off of the palette.
3.Off The Scent
clear glass perfume bottle on brown wooden tablePhoto by deanna alys on UnsplashIt's hard to find a perfume that isn't overkill and even more difficult to skimp on your scent once you have finally found one that compliments your fly. But perfume is not cheap, which is why I have personally stuck with the nice fragrance of whatever bar soap I'm in the mood for that week.
However, for those of you not feeling my admission of basic-ness and believe it's simply not an option, I have a sweet-smelling hack for you. Once you're running dangerously low on your favorite perfume, grab a bottle of unscented lotion and dump the rest in there to make it last longer. That way when you moisturize, you take your a bit of your signature scent with you.
4.Beauty School Bargain
Go to your local cosmetology school for discounted salon services. The caveat is that your service will be conducted by a trained student. The idea of being a guinea pig may seem less than appealing if you're used to professionals, so maybe start by just walking in and getting a feel for the employees before allowing them to tamper with the hair that sits on your crown. If you're not sure what beauty school schools are in your community, Empire Beauty School covers a lot of territory in the United States.
5.Make Room For The New
one cowboy hat and five jackets hanged on clothes rackPhoto by Amanda Vick on UnsplashIf you absolutely have your heart set on being able to go shopping (maybe it's your therapy), then I would suggest clearing out the old to make room in your budget and closet for the new. You can do this by selling clothes you want to get rid of.
If you haven't heard by now, you can always opt to sell your gently used and fashionably relevant clothes on sites such as Poshmark, or going into stores such as Plato's Closet, or Buffalo Exchange. Use the money you make here as your shopping budget and treat yourself.
6.Spring To Life
There are ways to create a serene element in your home pedicure that can make it more enjoyable than a regular schemegular experience at your salon. Try soaking your feet in a citrus milk bath with all the fixings (lemon and orange zest and slice, mint sprig, etc) and Epsom salt for a different type of experience. If citrus is not your thing, then Pinterest has a world full of milk baths and all you really need is your base -- a box of powdered whole milk and any essential oil you'd like. Furthermore, consider the other elements you enjoy about having your pedicure done in the shop (hot towels, anyone?) and look to Pinterest to help you recreate that. Voila, a spa day from the comforts of your home.
7.On Sleek
woman standing near white wallPhoto by Leighann Blackwood on UnsplashThe price you pay to have natural hair gets pricey at times -- natural stylist, natural products, etcetera, etcetera. And still, you can't be positive that what you're putting in your head is all that good for it. You can cut down on the steep price of beauty by trying out a recipe for DIY flaxseed gel/edge control. YouTuber, The Test Diva delivers a basic recipe for beginners that yields a Gorilla Glue texture. The resources and tutorials are endless.
8.Pearly Whites
In the age of Instagram, we're all double checking up on our dental hygiene. The bigger picture is ensuring that our pictures aren't standing out because of our stained teeth, but realistically teeth whiteners can be expensive. No worries though, you can hack it with a little hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Colgate recommends using less baking soda than peroxide, mixing up two tablespoons of peroxide and one tablespoon of baking soda to achieve a paste-like texture.
9.Sugar, Sugar
person holding white and gray concrete wallPhoto by The Creative Exchange on UnsplashAfter #NoShaveNovember, I pretty much keep the ball rolling and don't shave anything that isn't visible until it's absolutely necessary. Basically when wearing long sleeves outside becomes unbearable. Furthermore, razors are a damn luxury and most days, I'd prefer spending the money on a meal. And truthfully, if you've had any taste of the wax life (also hard on your coin), you know how hard it can be to go back to shaving after venturing out.
However, with ingredients from your kitchen pantry, you can create your own sugar wax to make staying silky smooth easier than ever. You will need fabric strips, 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and 1/4 cup water for a soft wax or two cups of sugar if you prefer hard wax. Lastly, you'll need YouTuber Katrinosity to give you the play-by-play (be sure to see her Q&A in the description). Oh and don't forget to breathe.
10. Silky Smooth
There's nothing cute about dead skin, but it certainly doesn't cease to exist because of its faux pas nature. Keep it fresh and make an exfoliator with a little lemon juice, olive oil, honey, and brown sugar or white granulated sugar. Stir and add more or less of the desired ingredients until you achieve the desired exfoliating texture. Exfoliating also helps prevent ingrown hairs after shaving or waxing.
11.Lip Service
selective focus photography of a brown powderPhoto by Luísa Schetinger on UnsplashIt's been said that peppermint oil can naturally plump your lips, but you may also want to try mixing up this little concoction:
- ⅓ teaspoon ginger powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ⅓ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 drop peppermint oil
- 1 teaspoon of vitamin oil
Rub the mixture into your lips for 30 seconds and leave it on for 3-5 minutes for the best results.
12. Puff Be Gone
As a child, I always wondered what was relaxing about wearing cucumbers over your eyes, now I realize it has nothing at all to do with relaxation and everything to do with losing those puffy bags under your eyes that are proof that you're anything but relaxed (unfortunately many of us busy girls are low on sleep).
Another solution to getting rid of these bags are actual bags -- well caffeinated green tea bags, specifically. You can do this by steeping two tea bags in warm water for no longer than five minutes, placing the bags on a plate, and refrigerating them for 20 minutes. Once you remove the cool bags from the fridge, cut off the tags, squeeze out excess water, and place on your eyes for 15 minutes.
Want more stories like this? Check out these xoNecole related reads:
I Tried 9 Budget-Friendly Drugstore Mascaras And Here's My Review
6 Life Hacks To Feel Like Money While You Save It
5 Drugstore Cleansers Your Skin Will Love You For
I Tried 10 Budget-Friendly Drugstore Lipsticks And Here's My Review
Featured image by The Creative Exchange on Unsplash
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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
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