

This Creative Director Gave Us The Beauty Routine That Keeps Her Skin On 10
In About Face, xoNecole gets the 411 on IGers who give us #skincaregoals on the 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.
I unapologetically stan for beautiful brown skin. There's nothing in this world that's more delectable than chocolate, and model/creative director Nneka Ibeabuchi has plenty of it.
If you look in the dictionary and search for a definition of "dat glow," you'll probably see a picture of this 25-year-old Los Angeles native who believes that the true key to happiness is being able to wake up and do the things you love. Nneka radiates beauty all the way from her tightly coiled curls to her toes, proving that she's not new to the Melanin Poppin' Gang, she's true to it. As a 13-year-old girl in Nigeria, Nneka would often sneak and experiment with her cousin's makeup, and a little over a decade later, her stunning selfies prove that she's still at it. She told xoNecole, "Back in Nigeria, I would use my older cousin's maybe palettes and bronzer to put all over my face, and I would always get in trouble."
Along with double-washing your face every night and staying up on your apple cider vinegar game, there's a lot we can learn from Nneka about getting our beauty routines all the way together. xoNecole recently caught up with the Nigerian princess, who gave us the tea on how to keep your skin on 10 at all times, and honey, we are taking notes.
My morning routine looks like...
"Typical mornings for me consist of morning prayer, my morning protein and vitamins, masking, reading emails, and surfing the web. I don't eat till 12 noon-ish, breakfast is not included (laughs)."
For my skincare routine...
"My morning and night skin routine are very simple. I do these full steps in the morning if I have the time that day: I wash my face with Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soap for one minute. I like this product because it's natural and it doesn't leave your skin dry. I actually wash my face twice; the second soap is Aini Organix Foaming Black Soap. For some reason, I just like to add black soap to my skincare routine because I feel that's the OG!
"I [recently] started using Aztec Secret Clay with apple cider vinegar to mask. My skin was trying to adjust to the west coast weather since I relocated from the east [coast]. I use the mask right after I'm done washing my face. I apply the mask for about 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water, and then cold water to finish it off. I use my toners after masking: Thayers Witch Hazel with Rose Petals and Aini Moroccan Rose Water Toner. Then, I moisturize with Nature Republic Aloe Vera Gel, which I mix with rosehip oil, then I'm set for the day or night."
My go-to makeup look consists of...
"I like a natural glow look. My go-to everyday look consists of a little bit of foundation, concealer for a little highlight, and Ben Nye setting powder for a natural and long-lasting effect. I have full brows, I brush my brows up and fill them out with a little bit of brow powder. Blush, mascara, wing dark eyeliner, and I use rose water to set my face for a long-lasting all day effect."
How I approach beauty from the inside-out...
"Some of the things I do on the inside that make me feel as good as the outside are: prayer, I detox often with apple cider vinegar shots in the morning, and I'm very active. I bike a lot, I love fruits, I don't eat junk food and I eat meat here and there. I love seafood."
What self-care looks like to me...
"Self-care must-haves, I would say, are the things I listed as my morning and night skincare routine. I just gotta have them all, literally. Minus the clay mask."
How I wind down after a long day...
"I take my makeup off as my music is blasting after a long day (music is part of my happiness), take a warm shower, and do my nighttime skincare routine. When my face is masking, I'm responding to emails and also surfing the web. 30 minutes in, I'm having dinner. I brush my teeth after dinner. I don't fall asleep till 11 p.m. sometimes if I'm not so tired, sometimes 10 p.m. "
For more of Nneka, follow her on Instagram.
Featured image by Instagram/AfricanJawn.
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
'I Want To Be The Color In My Home': Jackie Aina Gives Tour Of Her Posh Neutral Tone Pad
Jackie Aina is the embodiment of Black girl luxury, and her crib is no exception. Located in a ritzy area in Los Angeles, CA, Jackie’s home is equipped with all the things every fancy girl needs: an upscale kitchen, elevator, and fabulous pool. Luckily for us, the YouTuber opened up her home with the ultimate house tour. In a video on Tayo Aina’s (no relation) YouTube channel, Jackie goes from room to room, showing us her interior design style while also dishing on her life and career.
Jackie began making beauty content on YouTube in 2009, and from there, she’s grown her empire through collaborations with makeup brands like Too Faced. Now, she is the co-founder of the candle company FORVR Mood. The former Army reservist is known for her colorful personality, but her home is the opposite, which is on purpose. “Personally, because I have such a big, bold, colorful personality, I like to dress big and bold, I want to be the color in my home,” she said. “I don’t want my home to be the color. I want you to see me.”
She continued, “I want the house to be calming, and I want the house to blend in. I don’t want it to attract too much attention.” Her home may not be screaming look at me, but it’s definitely giving quiet luxury. Check it out below:
Breakfast Nook
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
Jackie revealed that she and her fiancé, Denis Asamoah, eat their meals at their breakfast nook daily.
Kitchen
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
“When my fiancé and I bought this house, I really wanted a double island kitchen, and the irony is like I don’t cook at all,” she said. Jackie explained that because she’s Black, African, and a woman, she’s expected to cook, and she doesn’t like doing what’s expected. “Why can’t I be good at other things? Like that doesn’t make me a woman if I don’t cook in the [kitchen].
Family Room
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
The star of the family room is the big, L-shaped white couch, and according to the YouTube star, her couch is so comfy you can melt into it.
Office
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
Jackie’s office houses the trophies and plagues that she received from YouTube and Shopify.
Backyard
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
The entrepreneur’s backyard has the same feel as the inside of the house. It has a gigantic pool and comfortable seating. “I’m very big on enjoy it while you have it,” she said.
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Feature image by Tayo Aina/ YouTube