As far as food topics go, I don’t know if anything has more polarizing opinions (other than eating meat) than caffeine.
While on one hand, there are health experts who say that consuming coffee (which contains a good amount of caffeine) can help you maintain a healthy liver, lower your risk of getting type 2 diabetes, and can even help with women’s longevity overall, other studies reveal that going without it can help to reduce anxiety levels, promote a better quality of rest and help to keep your brain and hormone levels balanced.
Yeah, without question, caffeine/coffee consumption is a mixed bag. Since I grew up without coffee in my home, the only time I have it is in the form of coffee ice cream (go figure). However, thanks to learning more about green tea (another caffeinated drink) and its health perks, I have learned about some ways that caffeine is a major win as far as adding it to my beauty regimen (on the external tip).
If you want to learn more about how caffeine can work for you in this department, I’ve got 10 surefire ones right here that are definitely worth checking out.
1. Caffeine Is Full of Antioxidants
A couple of cups of coffee a day could keep your skin looking great from the inside out.
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When it comes to a simple definition of what caffeine is, it’s a stimulant that is most easily found in coffee, certain teas, and the cacao plant. When consumed, it will stimulate your brain and nervous system and, so long as it’s taken in moderation (according to the FDA, that should be no more than 4-5 cups daily), you should be fine. Since caffeine is chocked full of antioxidants like polyphenols (plant compounds that protect against disease) and hydrocinnamic acids (acids that help to fight against oxidative stress), as far as your skin is concerned, a couple of cups of coffee on a daily basis, could help to keep your skin in great shape from the inside out.
2. Caffeine Increases Blood Circulation
Since caffeine is a stimulant, something else that it does is increase blood circulation throughout your entire body. On the beauty tip, this is a cool thing because that helps your skin and hair follicles receive an extra boost of the nutrients that they need in order for your skin and hair to appear healthy. As an extra bonus, good blood circulation can keep your nails from becoming dry and brittle too.
3. Caffeine Protects from Damaging UV Rays
Even though the vitamin D that comes from the sun is good for your skin, the reason why you should use sunscreen (even during the colder months and even if you’ve got melanin) is that the UV rays that also come from that particular star (yes, the sun is a technically a star) have the ability to damage your skin in a way that could lead to premature aging and, quite possibly, skin cancer.
The way that caffeine helps to keep any of this from being (as much of) an issue is it contains properties that actually act as a “molecular sunscreen” by absorbing the UV rays before they can wreak too much havoc on your skin cells. Pretty cool, right?
4. Caffeine Softens the Appearance of Cellulite
Caffeine in coffee scrubs can soften the appearance of cellulite.
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The next time you see a commercial for a beauty brand that promises to remove your cellulite, please ignore it. The reality is that you can never fully get rid of it. Another reality? Between 80-90 percent of women have experienced cellulite at some point in their life which means it’s nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. Now if you wish to soften the appearance of it, this is where caffeine can come in handy because it has a way of draining the fluid from the fat cells that cellulite comes from which is why coffee scrubs are so effective. If a coffee scrub is something that you’d like to try now that you know that it’s not a rumor that caffeine can help you out in the cellulite department, there’s an easy recipe that you can try yourself here.
5. Caffeine Brightens Your Skin’s Appearance
On the days when you want to go out, totally make-up-free, caffeine can serve as your beauty regimen’s wingman. The reason why I say that is because, when you apply it to your skin, it can actually restrict a certain amount of blood flow; this, in turn, can cause your skin to look tighter and brighter. So, if heading out with a “wake-up face” is your desire sometimes, Aroma Talks is a YouTube channel that offers up recipes like how to make your own coffee skin cream. You can watch the video here.
6. Caffeine Reduces Frizz
Remember how I said that caffeine is packed with antioxidants? Another one that it contains is flavonoids. When it comes to your hair, specifically, flavonoids are beneficial because, not only do they help to protect your scalp and hair from UV damage, they also help to reduce frizz too. That’s because, the properties in it can help to smooth the cuticles of your hair strands, so that your hair both looks and feels healthier. Plus, the less frizz you have, the easier it is to manage your locks while you’re styling it too. A coffee hair rinse on your wash day is the best way to tame your frizz. You can read about a few different ways to apply one here.
7. Caffeine Helps to Prevent Hair Loss
Experiencing hair loss? Caffeine can help.
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Did you know it’s estimated that over 50 percent of women will experience some level of hair loss at some point in their life? Those are big enough odds to also mention that caffeine has been proven to help prevent hair loss from being an issue. The method behind the madness is it helps to block DHT. If you don’t know what that is, DHT is short for dihydrotestosterone, and what it ultimately does is shrink your hair follicles while also shortening your hair growth stages. Anything that can get in the way of that happening is doing you a solid. And yes, caffeine is indeed one of those things.
Honestly, something as simple as putting a teaspoon or two of coffee grounds in your shampoo can help exfoliate your scalp and treat your hair follicles, so that hair loss will be less of a concern. It’s an easy hack that can make a significant difference over time.
8. Caffeine Stimulates Hair Growth
Are you currently on a mission to grow out your hair? Caffeine can help with that. Not only does research reveal that it helps to lengthen and widen the roots of your hair, but caffeine can also extend the anagen part of your hair growth cycle. This is super helpful considering that the anagen phase is literally called “the growing phase” when it comes to your tresses. This is where creating a coffee scrub that consists of ground coffee beans, honey, and olive oil could come in super handy. Read more about how and why here.
9. Caffeine Decreases Eye Puffiness
If your eyes are puffy, what that typically means is there’s some sort of swelling going on whether it’s due to not getting enough rest, consuming too much salt, congestion being in your system, not getting enough exercise, or consuming too much alcohol (it could also indicate that you’ve got a bit of a thyroid issue happening as well).
Caffeine can help with reducing puffiness by constricting the blood vessels that are causing it and increasing circulation to your eye area at the same time. There are many caffeinated eye creams that can help to get the puffiness under control or you can make your own.
I happened upon a YouTube video that has a quick and easy recipe for you to try, thanks to the Way of Being channel. You can watch it here.
10. Caffeine Contains Anti-Aging Properties
Drinking coffee in moderation can slow down aging and fight against free radicals.
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And finally, since caffeine has so many antioxidants in it, it’s also a proactive way to slow down the aging process as far as your skin is concerned. Since it fights against the free radicals that can create fine lines and wrinkles, this is just one more reason to not feel bad about having a couple of cups or applying coffee (or green tea) to your skin on a regular basis. I also read a Harvard study where drinking coffee can increase your chances of longevity by 30 percent — and if that ain’t the greatest form of anti-aging, I don’t know what is! So, if coffee is indeed your thing — with moderation…enjoy, sis! From the inside out, it’s got your back. CLEARLY.
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It's kinda wild that, in 2025, my byline will have appeared on this platform for (what?!) seven years. And yeah, when I'm not waxing poetic on here about sex, relationships and then...more sex and relationships, I am working as a certified marriage life coach, helping to birth babies (as a doula) or penning for other places (oftentimes under pen names).
As some of you know, something that I've been "threatening" to do for a few years now is write another book. Welp, October 2024 was the month that I "gave birth" to my third one: 'Inside of Me 2.0: My Story. With a 20-Year Lens'. It's fitting considering I hit a milestone during the same year.
Beyond that, Pumas and lip gloss are still my faves along with sweatshirts and tees that have a pro-Black message on them. I've also started really getting into big ass unique handbags and I'm always gonna have a signature scent that ain't nobody's business but my own.
As far as where to find me, I continue to be MIA on the social media front and I honestly don't know if that will ever change. Still, if you need to hit me up about something *that has nothing to do with pitching on the site (I'm gonna start ignoring those emails because...boundaries)*, hit me up at missnosipho@gmail.com. I'll do what I can. ;)
Exclusive: Melanie Fiona On Making High-Vibrational Music & Saying Yes To Partnership
Melanie Fiona is back! After taking a little more than a decade-long hiatus, she has officially made her return to music and blessed us with two singles, “Say Yes” and “I Choose You.” While both singles are very different from each other, they both reflect who she is today and the type of music she wants to make. In our conversation, the mom of two expressed what she learned during her time away.
“It's interesting, even when I said it is like coming back, I don't ever feel like I really left because I was always still performing. I've still been public. It's not like I went into being this recluse person or version of myself, but the thing that I really learned in this process is that I think things take time,” Melanie says in a xoNecole exclusive.
“I think often we're so caught up in it, being on the timing of demand or popularity, or, like, striking while the iron is hot and the thing that I've learned is that everything is on God's time. That's it. Every time I thought I would have been ready, or, like, things were taking too long, I had to reship some things, personally, professionally, in my life. I also gave myself permission to make a living, not just make a living, but make a life for myself.”
Making a life for herself included getting married to Grammy-nominated songwriter Jared Cotter, starting a family, and embracing new landscapes, such as podcasting as a co-host of The Mama’s Den podcast. She also began doing more spiritual work and self-care practices like meditation, sound healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and boundary setting, which allowed her to get in touch with her inner voice.
“I wasn't putting out music, and I wasn't experiencing a number one record, but I was being a number one mom,” she says.
“I was experiencing things that were allowing me to heal and get in touch with myself so that I could make new music from a space of joy and freedom, and excitement again because I definitely feel like I did lose some excitement because of just politics and industry and what it can do to your mental health and even your physical health. So giving myself the space to really just say, ‘Hey, it's okay. Everything's right on time.’”
The joy and excitement are felt in one of two new singles, “I Choose You,” which is more of a lovers rock vibe, a tribute to Melanie’s Caribbean roots. While the Grammy award-winner is known for ballads like “It Kills Me” and “Fool For You,” she is becoming more intentional about the music she makes, calling it high-vibrational music. She says her music is a “reflection of my life,” as it captures every facet, from hanging out with friends to riding around in her car.
“Say Yes” has the classic R&B vibe Melanie is known for. However, both songs are inspired by her relationship. Melanie and Jared got married in December 2020, and the Toronto-bred artist dished on their relationship. Fun fact: he is featured in the “Say Yes” music video.
“When we first started dating, I had come into that relationship post a lot of self-work. I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, I had a year and a half to date and be by myself and do a lot of work on myself alone. And when we met, I remember feeling like this has to be my person because I feel it,” she says.
“And so when we went into that relationship, and we started dating, I was very clear. I was like, I know what I want. I'm very clear on what I need, and I'm not going to withhold my truth about myself in this process because of pride or fear of rejection. I know you love me, but I'm coming with my heart in my hand to let you know that if we're gonna get there, we have to put fear aside and say yes. So that was kind of like my open letter to him, which is why the video is us having a conversation.”
Melanie also shares that saying yes to her partner has empowered her in many ways, including motherhood and showing up for herself. Her new EP, also titled Say Yes, will be available at the top of 2025.
Check out the full interview below.
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Entertaining Like Ayesha Curry: Expert Advice For Holidays Done Right
Be prepared to wow the crowd.
It’s officially the holiday season, which means parties and gatherings galore. Between Friendsgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve celebrations, many of us are preparing to host loved ones in our homes one or two times between now and the end of the year. No matter the occasion or season, hosting for family and friends is a labor of love. But we can also agree that entertaining can be overwhelming, especially for first-time hosts.
As a seasoned host and entertainer, Ayesha Curry knows something about creating a memorable event for loved ones. Whether preparing for an intimate dinner with your immediate family or hosting a larger crowd, your guests will think you are a pro this holiday season with her tips on everything from welcoming guests to setting a beautiful table.
Q: What is your top tip for hosting?
Ayesha Curry:Part of being a great host is spending time with your guests, which means you can’t be stuck in the kitchen. Prep is key! I usually serve wine with the meal, but a cocktail or mocktail is a great way to greet guests. I prep the garnish the night before and batch the drink just before guests arrive. When the party begins, I pull everything out of the fridge and am ready to serve.
Writer Note: If you would like to offer non-alcoholic beverages for your sober or sober-curious guests, I love Saint Viviana Cab. It maintains full-body cabernet and flavor; no one will ever guess it’s alcohol-free. You can easily create a signature mocktail using Bittermilk’s Smoked Honey Whiskey Sour mix.
Q: Do you suggest any prep for serving or cooking?
AC:I lay out all my serving dishes and utensils the night before with little post-it notes saying what goes where. That way, I’m not digging around for anything. For more elaborate menus, I lay out quarter sheet pans and label them with tape according to the dish. I prep and measure everything for each recipe and then load each sheet pan with everything needed to make the dish. I wrap each tray in saran or foil, stack them, and place them in the fridge. Pull out the sheet pan you need when cooking, and everything is ready. It’s something I learned at the restaurant that saves so much time.
Q: What’s one item that should always be on a dinner party menu?
AC: Bread or roll with butter is excellent for holding guests over if the kitchen is delayed.
Q: What’s one non-menu item you should always have on hand?
AC: For a non-menu item, wine!
Q: How do you decide on a theme or menu for a gathering?
AC: It all starts with the occasion and the guest list. If it’s a group that doesn’t know each other very well, I may get more elaborate with the theme to help break the ice. For a group of friends or family who don’t get to see each other very often, I usually keep it simple so the evening can be all about catching up. A great playlist, good wine, and a family-style menu are all you need.
Q: Should attendees be expected to bring a gift?
AC: If I’m hosting, I’m not expecting gifts. The gift is taking time to come over and enjoy a meal with me! But bringing something to enjoy at the gathering, like a bottle of wine, is always appreciated.
Q: What are three affordable gifts that guests can give a host?
AC:A bag of excellent coffee is a beautiful gift for a host. Sweet July’s House Blend Coffee is sourced from all-female co-ops, so it’s a gift I love to give to the women in my life. Whether it’s being served after dinner or just for the host to enjoy on their own, you can’t go wrong with a bag of high-end coffee.
Fresh flowers are great if you have a host who likes total control over the food and beverage menu. Go for something neutral in color that can work with any décor.
The Sweet July Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar set is my go-to host gift. Bottled in Napa, it’s a gift any foodie will appreciate - and use!
Q: What are some creative tablescape or decor ideas that you love?
AC: I like to keep my dinnerware neutral and classic (like this ceramic collection in nutmeg) and infuse color and texture through linens. For centerpieces, I want to use what I have in my yard. If it’s summer, it might be flowers or greenery, but interesting branches can also look architectural in tall, clear vases next to tapered candles in the colder months. There’s no need to spend a ton of money on flowers.
With Ayesha’s tips, you can create a holiday gathering that your family and friends will cherish forever.
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