Issa Rae Dishes On Her Self-Care Secrets & Shares Why She Says ‘Nah’ To Natural Deodorant
Now that I know that my once-trusted Eco-Styler Gel is basically poison, I'm questioning every product in my arsenal. Are my tampons toxic? Does my toothpaste cause cancer? Is it time that I finally kick the chemically-infused crack and switch over to all-natural deodorant? While you may be considering going organic and kicking your go-to antiperspirant to the curb, Issa Rae says that after an embarrassing experience in New Orleans, she's going to need all of the aluminum and I can totally relate.
In a recent interview with Page Six, the Insecure creator dished on some of her must-have quarantine self-care secrets and revealed the real reason she will never rock natural deodorant again. She told Page Six:
"Natural deodorant is trash. My stupid ass tried it for the first time in the summer in New Orleans. I was literally walking with my homies and I was like, 'What's that smell?' Then I smelled one of my armpits. I lifted up my arm and it was me! I was so embarrassed."
Although all-natural antiperspirant is a strong "nah" for Issa, the Lovebirds star shared that she has used her time in quarantine experimenting with her beauty routine in other ways:
"My hair feels more healthy. I just feel like I can experiment with different products I have always wanted to use. I can look ugly in my house, 'cause no one see me — it's great! But I do need a mani and pedi."
Along with waking up to work out at 4am and taking a break from her regularly scheduled makeup routine, here are 4 must-have self-care secrets from our favorite not-so-Awkward Black Girl.
Mornings Are For Workouts
Issa told Vanity Fair:
"This is my sweet spot. I always felt like I was behind and I was trying to keep up, so this makes me feel like at least I have a handle on what my day's going to be, and the working out aspect. I don't like coming home after a long day and feeling like, 'Oh, I still gotta move my body?' I'd rather just get it out the way. Also, I'm not a night owl. I'm not about that life. I just don't want it to feel like it's impressive when it's just a preference."
Utilize Time Blocking
"I'm a routine-heavy person. My routine is getting up at 4, working out, then doing all the work that I have from 5:30 to 9. Then 9 is breakfast, and then from 10 to 6 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday is writing. Then Tuesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to all the business shit, all the calls that I have to do."
Take Breaks Frequently
"I've never cooked so much. At work, I barely think about dinner, or I [order] delivery, but I've been doing none of that. I've just been taking breaks for cooking in the middle of the day."
Let Your Skin Breathe
"I'm trying to stay makeup-free as much as I can. I just take care of my skin. This is the first time that I'm consistently using sunscreen when I go outside. I am cleaning, exfoliating and masking a lot, so I'm just trying to keep my skin stress-free."
Featured image by DFree / Shutterstock.com
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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.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy