Recently, I discovered a stress care brand created with our people in mind called Deon Libra, founded by Devin McGhee Kirkland and Brit McGhee Kirkland. What caught my interest immediately was their dedication to addressing the overwhelming effects of stress within the Black community through education, products, and experiences.
At first glance of their Unbothered Elixir, I noticed the bright red packaging, which expressed the urgency for stress care due to the stats showing how stress can not only impact our health but also take our lives.
Since the pandemic, there have been stories discussing the deadly stress that Black people face, but as a community, we know that stress has riddled our bodies long before the pandemic due to systemic racism, intergenerational trauma, and our everyday lives.
I experienced an immense amount of stress recently, and I noticed a few things that worried me: gray hair, acne, and restlessness. Thankfully, due to a 40-day fast and prayer, I found myself and my spirit settled going into the new year. But what happens when the stress finds its way to my home again?
When I began learning more about Deon Libra, I was introduced to their elixir, which is an adaptogenic blend of lion’s mane, reishi, amla, ashwagandha, sea buckthorn, and maca that helps keep your skin glowing and anxiety on low-low, while cordyceps aids in delivering a boost of all-natural energy.
Now, at first glance, my thought was this - ya girl don’t know nothing about no lion’s mane lol (I had to be honest!) That said, after some research on the benefits that include nervous system repair, gut health, killing cancer cells, and more, I was sold.
Trying the Award Winning Unbothered Elixir
When opening the package, I thought, “This is how Black-owned products should look and feel. We should be excited about wellness, and the experience should be luxurious.” Along with boiling water and my favorite tea, I added one tablespoon of the elixir and grabbed their Limited Edition Mean Mug that I ordered to enjoy it in style.
The taste of the maca met my tongue and taste buds immediately. I found myself saying to myself that my next dose of the elixir would be in a warm bowl of oatmeal versus tea.
How I Felt After Trying the Unbothered Elixir
It was the midday relaxer that I needed. I am a firm believer that drinking hot beverages in and of itself is a meditative act because it requires a level of stillness that you have to surrender to the experience. Every sip truly put me at ease, and it shocked me again that it tasted so good due to experiences with wellness powders that I’ve tried in the past.
How the Experts Recommend You Try It:
If you like it straight up:
Mix one tablespoon in warm water or your choice of milk. Add honey for the sweet life.
For the coffee lovers:
Mix one tablespoon into freshly brewed coffee. Add a splash of milk and honey if you like it like that.
In case you’re feeling froggy:
Add a tablespoon to your daily smoothie, oatmeal, and latte—the list goes on and on, like Badu.
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Featured image by NickyLloyd/Getty Images
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xoNecole sat down with Luke James to talk about his latest series and all the complexity surrounding it—from the challenges taking on this out-of-the-box role to the show's depiction of the perplexing history of the relationship between Black Americans and police. When describing the opportunity to bring Edmund's character to life, Luke was overjoyed to show the audience yet another level of his masterful acting talents.
"It was like bathing in the sun," he said. "I was like, thank you! Another opportunity for me to be great—for me to expand my territory. I'm just elated to be a part of it and to see myself in a different light, something I didn't think I could do." He continued, "There are parts of you that says, 'Go for it because this is what you do.' But then also that's why it's a challenge because you're like, 'um, I don't know if I'm as free as I need to be to be able to do this.' Little Marvin just created such a safe space for me to be able to do this, and I'm grateful for everything I've been able to do to lead to this."
Courtesy
Them: The Scare, like the first season, shines a light on the plight of Black Americans in the United States. This time, the story is taking place in the 1990s, at the height of the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. While the series presents many underlying themes, one that stands out is Black people and the complicated relationship with the police. "For the audience, I think it sets the tone for the era that we're in and the amount of chaos that's in the air in Los Angeles and around the country from this heinous incident. And I say it just sets the tone of the anxiety and anxiousness that everybody is feeling in their own households."
James has been a longtime advocate against police brutality himself. He has even featured Elijah McClain, the 23-year-old Colorado man who died after being forcibly detained by officers, as his Instagram avatar for the past five years. So, as you can imagine, this script was close to his heart. "Elijah was a soft-loving oddball. Different than anyone but loving and a musical genius. He was just open and wanted to be loved and seen."
Getty Images
Luke continued, "His life was taken from him. I resonate with his spirit and his words...through all the struggle and the pain he still found it in him to say, 'I love you and I forgive you.' And that's who we are as people—to our own detriment sometimes. He's someone I don't want people to forget. I have yet to remove his face from my world because I have yet to let go of his voice, let go of that being [because] there's so many people we have lost in our history that so often get forgotten."
He concluded, "I think that's the importance of such artwork that moves us to think and talk about it. Yes, it's entertaining. We get to come together and be spooked together. But then we come together and we think, 'Damn, Edmund needed someone to talk to. Edmund needed help... a lot [of] things could have been different. Edmund could have been saved.'
Check out the full interview below.
Luke James Talks Ditching Sex Symbol Status For "Them: The Scare", Elijah McClain, & Morewww.youtube.com
Featured image by Getty Images
