This Content Creator's Two-Step Skincare Routines Are A Refreshing Take On Less Is More
InAbout Face, xoNecole gets the 411 on IGers who give us #skincaregoals on a daily. Here they break down their beauty routines on the inside and out, as well as the highly coveted products that grace their shelves and their skin.
Brianna Ellis captured our hearts with her witty humor and endless love for travel. Her energy captivated 20,000 viewers while sharing her outlook on life. Today, we get to know her views on beauty, which are entirely left-field from what she typically shares online. Ellis arrives on the Zoom call, like how she shows up on her socials, fresh-faced with a smile. The content creator radiates as she opens up about navigating the world of beauty. “My relationship with makeup especially hasn’t always been the best,” shares Ellis.
As a child, Ellis was active in the dance community. She was often performing in shows and competitions. The dance world required Ellis to wear makeup at an early age. A full face became a part of Ellis's beauty routine, causing her to rebel against makeup altogether. In her charm and wit, she describes the frustration of feeling heavy makeup on her skin. The dance community's views on beauty differed from those she was raised in childhood. Ellis says, “My mom always told me I was beautiful just the way I was, so it was hard to hear that and have to wear a full face of makeup.” Still, Ellis sat in the chair and watched as a makeup artist corrected the parts of her skin that she viewed as perfection.
Ellis’s conflicting views on beauty continued in her college years. Women seemed to prioritize physical appearance more than mental presence in their classes. These stigmas often made Ellis feel she wanted to be “one of the girls,” but not to the degree they presented at the time. Her adolescence became triggered with curiosity. At the same time, her inner child reminds her of what she once experienced. Constantly trying to decide between inner beauty or outer beauty, but never feeling like both could coexist. These are the internal conflicts women face daily due to the conditionings of society.
In a world of intense beauty routines, content creator Brianna Ellis believes less is more. Courtesy
Keeping things simple in her adult years has become a silent pushback towards the beauty standards that were placed upon her childhood essence. In a world of intense beauty routines, Ellis believes less is more. Opting for lighter makeup looks over full coverage and consistently keeping her skin together with her mother's teachings: drinking lemon water, using tea tree oil, and going to church on Sundays. She is learning that women can indeed have both. We can be the makeup aesthetic of our choosing and opt for a fresh face while out with friends.
"We are all beautiful just the way we are, so we don't need much."
Ellis teaches us that women's beauty doesn’t lie within products but the wisdom of what it truly means to be a woman. “We are all beautiful just the way we are, so we don’t need much. This how I was raised to view beauty and will always continue to view it as such,” says Ellis. As a beauty writer of several years, I am moved by Ellis's rebellious stance on beauty. Her skincare routine stands true to her to the teachings she preaches. I listened in awe as she shared the details of her skincare routine - simple, refreshing, and daringly forward.
Keep scrolling for more insight into Brianna Ellis's morning and night skincare routines.
Her Morning Skincare Routine:
Tea Tree Oil
Maple Holistics Pure Tea Tree Oil Natural Essential Oil
Amazon
“I love using this because it smells great and clears my skincare,” says Ellis. Always remember to dilute tea tree oil before putting it on your skin.
Good Molecules Lightweight Daily Moisturizer
Good Molecules Lightweight Daily Moisturizer
Amazon
“It has the best cooling feeling when you put it on your face. I love it!”
Her Nighttime Skincare Routine:
Alcohol
Amazon Basics Alcohol
Amazon
“My mom uses this, and so do I. We love it because it cleans the skin after a long day.”
Kiehl's Under Eye Cream
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye
Kiehl's
“This helps with undereye bags.”
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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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Actor Jessie T. Usher reveals his secrets for maintaining his physical appearance while filming Amazon Prime's The Boys.
The series, which spans four seasons, follows vigilantes as they battle corrupt superheroes. In The Boys, Usher portrays Reggie Franklin, also known as A-Train, a superhero with incredible speed.
During a recent Men's Health magazine interview, the 32-year-old spoke about his diet and workout regimens. These routines help Usher stay in shape for the show's stunt work, which involves intense cardio to match his character's super-speed abilities.
In the discussion, he revealed his workout regimen consists of resistance training and cardio. On rest days, the Shaft star incorporates yoga and stretching into his routine.Jessie On What He Eats In a Day
Regarding his diet, Usher shared he typically eats three meals daily with minimal variations. He begins each day by hydrating and waiting an hour or two before breakfast. On production days for The Boys, Usher opts for eggs with herbs and seasonings, accompanied by fruit.
The Dangerous Lies actor keeps it light for lunch with protein-rich options like quinoa bowls or salads with lentils, chicken, and vegetables from CAVA. Dinner is his heartiest meal, featuring chicken and fish (particularly sea bass or salmon), after which he refrains from eating for the rest of the night.
Usher focuses on protein intake for all his meals rather than counting macro calories to support muscle growth. He boosts his protein with peanut butter shakes. While maintaining a disciplined diet, The Almost Christmas star allows himself occasional indulgences like Funyuns or Nutter Butters. To round out his health regimen, Usher takes daily vitamins.
Jessie On His Diet And Workout Routine For "The Boys"
When asked about adjusting his diet or workout routine for his role in The Boys, Usher explained that his health-conscious lifestyle eliminates the need for significant changes.
“Honestly, no. Because by the time I got to The Boys I was already health conscious. Very much aware of what I was putting in my body and how,” he said.
Regarding his workouts, Usher revealed he tailors his routines to include more diverse cardio exercises. This approach ensures he's physically prepared for the scenes he shoots for the show.
“A day of working out for The Boys is a little bit different. I feel like I added more variations of cardio work,” he stated. “When [you’re shooting] you just have no idea what they’re about to throw at you. I just want to be ready for all of those challenges, especially the cardio things. I just wanted to have the endurance to be able to get through whatever type of scene that I would possibly be shooting.”
Season four of The Boys is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
Everything ‘The Boys’ Star Jessie T Usher Eats In a Day | Eat Like | Men's Health
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Feature image by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures