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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Featured image via Getty Images.
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Kayla Nicole says she wore a dress that was once worn by Braxton herself for the Halloween costume. “It’s not a secret Toni is more on the petite side. I’m obsessed with all 5’2” of her,” she tells xoNecole via email. “But I’m 5’10'' and not missing any meals, honey, so to my surprise, when I got the dress and it actually fit, I knew it was destiny.”
The episode was the perfect way for the multihyphenate to take control of her own narrative. By addressing the viral moment on her own platform, she was able to stir the conversation and keep the focus on her adoration for Braxton, an artist she says she grew up listening to and who still makes her most-played playlist every year. Elsewhere, she likely would’ve received questions about whether or not the costume was a subliminal aimed at her ex-boyfriend and his pop star fiancée. “I think that people will try to project their own narratives, right?” she said, hinting at this in the episode. “But, for me personally – I think it’s very important to say this in this moment – I’m not in the business of tearing other women down. I’m in the business of celebrating them.”
Kayla Nicole is among xoNecole’s It Girl 100 Class of 2025, powered by SheaMoisture, recognized in the Viral Voices category for her work in media and the trends she sets on our timelines, all while prioritizing her own mental and physical health. As she puts it: “Yes, I’m curating conversations on my podcast The Pre-Game, and cultivating community with my wellness brand Tribe Therepē.”
Despite being the frequent topic of conversation online, Kayla Nicole says she’s learning to take advantage of her growing social media platform without becoming consumed by it. “I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out,” she says.
On The Pre-Game, which launched earlier this year, she has positioned herself as listeners “homegirl.” “There’s definitely a delicate dance between being genuine and oversharing, and I’ve had to learn that the hard way. Now I share from a place of reflection, not reaction,” she says. “If it can help someone feel seen or less alone, I’ll talk about it within reason. But I’ve certainly learned to protect parts of my life that I cherish most. I share what serves connection but doesn’t cost me peace.
"I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out."
Credit: Malcolm Roberson
Throughout each episode, she sips a cocktail and addresses trending topics (even when they involve herself). It’s a platform the Pepperdine University alumnus has been preparing to have since she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism, with a concentration in political science.
“I just knew I was going to end up on a local news network at the head anchor table, breaking high speed chases, and tossing it to the weather girl,” she says. Instead, she ended up working as an assistant at TMZ before covering sports as a freelance reporter. (She’s said she didn’t work for ESPN, despite previous reports saying otherwise.) The Pre-Game combines her love for pop culture and sports in a way that once felt inaccessible to her in traditional media.
She’s not just a podcaster, though. When she’s not behind the mic, taking acting classes or making her New York Fashion Week debut, Kayla Nicole is also busy elevating her wellness brand Tribe Therepē, where she shares her workouts and the workout equipment that helps her look chic while staying fit. She says the brand will add apparel to its line up in early 2026.
“Tribe Therepē has evolved into exactly what I have always envisioned. A community of women who care about being fit not just for the aesthetic, but for their mental and emotional well-being too. It’s grounded. It’s feminine. It’s strong,” she says. “And honestly, it's a reflection of where I am in my life right now. I feel so damn good - mentally, emotionally, and physically. And I am grateful to be in a space where I can pour that love and light back into the community that continues to pour into me.”
Tap into the full It Girl 100 Class of 2025 and meet all the women changing game this year and beyond. See the full list here.
Featured image by Malcolm Roberson
