Cuffin' season is officially in full effect, ladies and gentlemen, and if you're anything like me, you've been benched. Luckily, the activity that means most this season can be a one man's sport, if you so choose. Netflix and Chillin' is a recreation that is meant to be enjoyed by all, young and old; so get your wine and popcorn ready, and let's get this thing crackin.
Whether you're in this game alone and you need an excuse to get away from family drama this season or you're boo'd up and watching a flick with the fam, here are a list of Black AF titles you won't want to miss out on this month:
Malcolm X (Dec. 1)
Malcolm X
Malcolm X was murdered in the 60s, but his memory has been preserved by another national treasure in this biographical drama. In this 1992 Spike Lee-directed classic, Denzel Washington stars as Malcolm and offers an on-screen depiction of his life before his assassination.
Class Act (Dec. 1)
Amazon Prime
A young Kid 'n Play (Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin respectively) star in this 1992 film as a valedictorian and delinquent whose school records are switched. As a result, their lives are turned upside down.
Love & Basketball (Dec. 1)
Love & Basketball
Aw, shit now! Netflix done done it now! First, Love Jones, and now Love & Basketball? My Black AF heart can't take it. You can rewatch this old-school classic starring Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Alfre Woodard, and Dennis Haysbert starting December 1st.
Catwoman (Dec. 1)
Catwoman
Halle Berry is the only Catwoman we acknowledge and you can catch her slay all nine of her lives on Netflix this month.
Queen of the Damned (Dec. 1)
Queen of the Damned
Shortly before Aaliyah's untimely death, she starred as a crazy, sexy, creepy vampire in Queen of the Damned. Originally debuted in 2002, Aaliyah's brother revealed that he had to step in to assist with voiceovers after her passing. While it's a sad backstory, the movie gives us a chance to kick it one last time with one of the original princesses of 90s R&B.
Tiffany Haddish: Black Mitzvah (Dec. 3)
After learning that her father is Jewish, Tiffany Haddish wanted to explore her Hebrew roots and have a bar mitzvah in honor of her 40th birthday. The best part about it is, we're all invited. In her first solo Netflix Comedy Special, Tiffany proves that she never has to get ready. 'Cause she stay ready.
The Last OG: Season 2 (Dec. 4)
TBS
Tiffany Haddish (Shay) and Tracy Morgan (Tray) are back for another season of The Last O.G., where Tray is on a mission to put his prison-ridden life behind him and finally discover his dreams of being a chef.
Greenleaf: Season 4 (Dec. 5)
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
Canceled your cable in lieu of streaming services and missing your fam over at the Calvary Fellowship World Ministries? It's cool, sis. Me too. Lucky for us, season four of Greenleaf is making its debut on Netflix on December 5th to give you all the megachurch drama you didn't know you needed.
Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show (Dec. 6)
Produced by Black-ish creator Kenya Barris, this sketch show is Black, Black. I mean like Black AF. Earlier this year, Issa Rae, Robin Thede, and some of our favorite Black actresses of all time linked up to release A Black Lady Sketch Show, and Astronomy Club is here to prove that we are breaking into the sketch comedy scene in a major way. Featuring skits like "Magical Negro Rehab" and a horror-style scene of Black actually cracking, this show is sure to have the whole family cracking up.
A Family Reunion Christmas (Dec. 9)
Jackee Harris and Tia Mowry-Hardrict gave us the Sister, Sister reunion we didn't know we needed in this Netflix series turned Christmas special.
Private Practice: Seasons 1-6 (Dec. 22)
Private Practice
A spinoff of Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice is another Shonda Rhimes gem that's worth the binge.
Kevin Hart: Don't F**k This Up (Dec. 27)
Netflix
Kevin Hart will candidly detail the very public events and tragedies he's endured over the past year, including but not limited to his sex scandal, Oscars scandal and brutal car accident, in the Netflix documentary series, Don't F*ck This Up.
Featured image by GIPHY
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While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage
Now and then, the beauty industry releases a two-in-one product that makes life worth living again. One of those brands is REFY.
The Hype Behind REFY's Face Sculpt Moisturizer With Built-In Roller
The company shook the industry when it first released its REFY Glow and Sculpt Face Serum Primer With Niacinamide. Now they’ve come out with a moisturizer version of the product. The Face Sculpt by REFY is the world's first moisturizer with a sculpting piece attached.
The product aims to lift the skin while hydrating it at the same time. This is music to my ears, since it’s one less step I have to take separately and still get my facelift.
Face Sculpt by REFY is the "world's first facial sculpting moisturizer that instantly lifts, defines and hydrates."
REFY
Key Ingredients in REFY's Sculpting Moisturizer: What Your Skin Will Love
Before I try any product, I always look at the ingredients. It’s important to know what's going on with your skin. Doing this extra step can help you learn the benefits or risks you’re up against. I love that this moisturizer is filled with glycerin and provitamin B5.
Glycerin is incredible for deeply hydrating the skin, which is essential since I have dry skin. Provitamin B5 is an ingredient I rarely see in most skincare products. It’s excellent for calming the skin and reducing redness. This can come in handy on mornings when your skin is puffy and needs to calm down.
How To Use REFY’s Face Sculpt Moisturizer for Best Results
When applying the product, I learned that patience is key. Rolling the moisturizer into your skin won’t melt in as quickly as using your hands. I found this beneficial since it meant the moisturizer was slowly working its way into my pores, instead of forcing it in. I worked the “roller” in upward motions to ensure I got the face lift effect I sought.
Although the facelift didn’t come instantly, I knew it would come in time if I were consistent enough—four weeks to be exact.
REFY
Four-Week Facelift or Nah? My First Impressions
The website shows various final results after using the moisturizer for four weeks. Several women are posing with pride, showing off their final results. There was a slight difference in lifting for each face. In addition, their smile wrinkles have subsided.
I look forward to these results as I continue to use this product consistently. I encourage everyone to check out the results on their website, as they're worth looking into before you start.
After using this product immediately, I noticed a noticeable difference in hydration. The moisturizer created a luminous effect on my skin that I deeply appreciated. I also loved how much it helped with lymphatic drainage. Since I had to work in the moisturizer, the rolling motions helped smooth out my skin. Allowing for a depuffing effect before starting my day.
Final Thoughts: Is REFY's Face Sculpt Worth It?
I give this product a 10 out of 10. It's perfect for all skin types, but especially those looking for a subtle face lift. With patience and commitment, your skin can be perky and ready for the day!
Remember to roll day and night so your skin can stay plump.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
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