There are two types of people in the world: those who do everything in their power to prevent breakouts and still manage to get them, and those who can do just about any damnable things in the book of skin care and still manage to wake up with baby smooth skin. Trust me, I know how frustrating it can be, but you can't help the hand we've been dealt if you have acne-prone skin.
The reason behind why certain skin types are more genetically predisposed to inflammation and breakout than others is still unclear in the world of dermatology, but specialists have narrowed it down to one theory: TLR's (toll-like receptors). Their job is to alert your body of any proposed threats and how to handle them, which means that night you fell asleep in your makeup might just cause your body to fight back by producing a pesky pimple the next morning.
Thankfully, brands all over the beauty world are formulating products just for blemish-prone babes to rid their skin of impurities from the inside out. Special ingredients in the newest skin care lines unclog pores, correct dull complexions, and leave the skin glowing. Get your hands on the latest and greatest products just for your acne-prone skin from these Black woman-owned and woman-owned businesses, here:
Beija Flor Naturals Honey Cinnamon Detox Cleansing Bar, $9.
This facial cleanser is overflowing with natural and organically derived ingredients like olive oil, cocoa butter, and coconut oil. The cinnamon and honey add anti-fungal/anti-bacterial properties to soothe inflammation due to acne or skin blemishes.
Kaike Green Tea Mask + Scrub, $20.
This all-natural detoxifying mask is perfect for oily and acne-prone skin by absorbing oils and impurities from the skin. With key ingredients like French green clay and matcha, this cleanser is sure to reduce blemished and tone the skin.
Base Butter Radiate Face Jelly, $21.
Try this lightweight moisturizer to rejuvenate, restore, and protect your skin. The lavender, tea tree oil, and Aloe Vera in the formula are key players in keeping the skin fresh, balanced, and glowing!
Bolden Skin Clarifying Cleanser, $16.50.
This cleanser is a gentle PH-balanced formulation that addresses all key issues that contribute to congested and breakout-prone skin. The cleanser's anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties fight breakouts, while powerful antioxidants renew and protect skin from free radical damage and premature aging.
Specific Beauty Daily Gentle Cleanser, $24.
In need of a product that removes dirt and pore-clogging impurities? This cleaner is formulated to do just that, leaving skin radiantly renewed. Perfect for all skin types, especially sensitive skin.
Three Notes Charcoal & Tea Tree Cleanser, $25.95.
This Black woman-owned business provides deep-cleansing products with all natural ingredients leaving skin moisturized and refreshed.
Elements of Aliel Joy Cleanser, $29.
This organic African Black soap based cleanser is packed with the anti-bacterial and antifungal properties, lavender and infused with green tea to clear and prevent breakouts.
JACQ’s Plantain & Activated Charcoal Cleansing Bar, $6.
This Black woman-owned business believes in following nature's lead. This cleansing bar is formulated with plantain peel and activated bamboo charcoal, perfect for rejuvenating oily and acne-prone skin.
Urban Skin Rx Clean and Glow Cleanser, $32.
Urban Skin Rx is all about providing solutions for ethnic skin. Their Clean and Glow Cleanser is a gel-based formula infused with papaya enzymes and salicylic acid that gently exfoliates dead skin while unclogging pores; leaving your skin vibrant and fresh.
SDOT Beauty DETOX Charcoal + Seaweed Cleansing Bar, $12.
Detoxify your skin with this mixture of magnetizing, powerful activated bamboo charcoal and purifying essence of seaweed. This cleansing bar draws out impurities and heals blemishes, nourishing the skin with tea tree, grapefruit, and avocado oil that's sure to leave your skin with a healthy glow!
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Now, with more than 20 years of experience in professional aviation, starting with American Eagle Airlines and then on to becoming a captain at American Airlines, she has continued to pay it forward. In 2022, she made history as the first commercial airline captain to lead an all-Black, women-led flight crew. She has also written a biography on Bessie Coleman, the first African-American and Native-American woman to earn a pilot’s license, and produced and directed, Discovering Bessie Coleman, working alongside the family to get the project completed. Add to that her role as a founder of consulting firm LadyAv8rBeth, which offers a guide of pathways into aviation, and as a podcast host covering all things aviation.
For Women’s History Month, xoNecole caught up with the busy pilot, in between flights, to talk about her career journey, her role in a Bessie Coleman documentary and book, how she balances self-care and safety, and how other Black women can add to the aviation legacy:
xoNecole: You’ve built an successful career in aviation. And you were only 15 and already had your first flight. Were you afraid at all, or did it feel like second nature to you?
Beth Powell: It felt completely natural. There was no fear, just excitement and curiosity.
Now, it’s what they call STEM, and my teacher at the time thought that I was really good at numbers. He recommended three career paths, and I tried the first one.
I didn't understand why it made sense back then at 15, but as I grew up and met other pilots, I recognized that the reason I liked math and physics was that we were technical learners. So we like to break things apart and put them back together. We like to check procedures. We like to write manuals. We were technical artists.
xoN: That’s such an important message. Many young women and girls are often discouraged from pursuing careers in STEM or aviation, so it’s incredible to hear your story. Now, fast forward a bit—how did you transition into your corporate career with larger airlines?
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BP: After that first discovery flight, I quickly finished my high school classes and graduated at 16. By 17, I had earned my private pilot’s license, and by 18, my commercial license. Then, I moved to the U.S. to attend flight school in Florida. While working on my degree in professional aeronautics, I began working for American Eagle Airlines at just 21. Over the years, I’ve built my career and have now spent 25 years in the airline industry, including 14 years at American Eagle and 11 years at American Airlines. In terms of leadership, being a captain is key.
As a captain, I’m responsible for the aircraft, the crew, and the passengers. It’s a huge responsibility, and you learn a lot about leadership when you’re in charge of so much.
Being a captain definitely teaches you leadership. You’re in charge of every aspect of the flight from the moment you sign in to the moment you sign out. From overseeing the crew to managing the safety and well-being of passengers, you have to make quick decisions and take responsibility. Even when you’re starting out as a first officer, you’re learning vital leadership skills that prepare you for the captain role.
xoN: There's a lot going on with airlines right now that might make someone feel afraid in terms of some of the tragedies that have recently happened. How do you sustain your self-care balance and your resilience in the aviation industry when those sorts of things happen?
BP: I truly believe that aviation is still the safest and the No. 1 safest means of transportation. I say that proudly. For any airline, any pilot, any air traffic controller—anyone who works in the industry—safety is our number one priority. However, of course, we see things happening in the news, and it is concerning to passengers.
What I'm telling everybody to do right now, including myself, is that it's very important to have your source of strength. I'm a Christian, and one of my sources of strength is prayers. I go deep within my prayers every morning, and I pray to God, giving things that I can't control to him, and the rest— I can do my best to deal with.
No. 2 is meditation on the Deepak Chopra app. Ever since COVID happened, that was the first time I thought that I needed something more than just my prayers to help me go through to calm down the noise around me.
And last but not least, I'm really big on self-development. I read, I read, and I read. If your foundation is strong, you have something to build from. And so, when I read, I learn a lot about myself. I learn about what triggers me and when something triggers me. I literally hear the Kendrick Lamar song, "TV Off" in my head, because sometimes you need to shut the noise off.
xoN: That's amazing—the combination of faith and just being excellent at what you do. Now, how did you get involved with the Bessie Coleman project?
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BP: I sit on the board of advisers for an organization called Sisters of the Skies, and was at a gala celebrating with all our Black women of our achievements. At the end of the night, Dr. Sheila Chamberlain walked up to me. She was the first Black woman U.S. combat intelligence aviator in the Army. So, if she's walking up to me, it's very serious. She said, ‘I have a favor to ask.’ I said, ‘Yes.’ I did not hear what the favor was. I didn't know what she was going to ask me, but somebody like that walking up to you saying, ‘a favor’? The answer is yes.
She told me [the project involved] helping the Bessie Coleman family elevate the story. ‘I'd like you to ask your company if they will do a flight in honor of Bessie Coleman.’ I went to the different departments at American Airlines, and the rest was literally history. We did that flight on August 8, 2022, and it became a historical flight because everyone on that flight, from the ground up, was a Black woman.
Gigi Coleman, Bessie’s grand-niece, was also on that flight. We started chatting at the end of the flight. Another night, we were hanging out—Sheila, Gigi, and I—and she kept telling me she wanted to write a book, that she wished there was a movie, and that people approached her about it. Nothing had been done as yet. And I thought, sounds like another mission.
I literally took it on. We do have a documentary with the family sharing their perspective of who Bessie Coleman is. And we do have a book called Queen of the Skies.
xoN: For the young women who are looking for career paths in aviation, what are some skills they need to thrive?
BP: While you don't necessarily have to love math to be a pilot, technical knowledge is important. You’ll need to understand aircraft systems and aerodynamics. This includes weather patterns and instrument training. It might seem daunting at first, but the great thing about flight training is that it builds on itself. The more you learn, the more it all clicks. Also, aviation is constantly changing, and you need to be adaptable.
It’s a field where you need to be ready for anything, from unexpected weather to technical issues. Being open to learning new things and adjusting to change is crucial.
My daughter, who has her private pilot’s license, once said, “This journey is both challenging and rewarding. I feel like I’ve grown so much since starting.” It’s important to keep going, even when it gets tough.
To help others, I’m outlining how they can go from “zero to hero” as a pilot. I offer this information freely on my Instagram account, and it’s something I’m passionate about sharing. I want everyone to have access to the resources they need to follow their dreams.
For more information on Beth Powell, the Bessie Coleman documentary, and aviation career resources, visit LadyAv8rBeth.com.
Featured image courtesy