Actress Issa Rae has recently captured fans' attention with her radiant skin and captivating looks while promoting her new live-action movie Barbie.
Barbie, which debuted in theaters last week, follows the famous figurine (Margot Robbie) as she and Ken (Ryan Gosling) uncover the true meaning of life and happiness after Barbie gets axed from Barbieland for having imperfect features. In the film, Rae portrays the role of President Barbie.
In celebration of Barbie's release, Rae graciously shared her beauty tips on Vogue's YouTube series Beauty Secrets, revealing her daily moisturizing routine, the products she swears by to achieve that stunning glow, and the lessons she learned in the entertainment industry.
Serum
Issa Rae
Vogue/ YouTube
At the top of the video, the 38-year-old revealed that she hasn't had any breakouts in over a year thanks to the Olehenriksen Dewtopia 20% Acid Night Treatment. Rae shares that she usually applies the serum at night before bed and rinses it off the following morning.
But due to the tutorial, the Insecure star decided to do it before applying other products to her face.
"There's no morning routine without my Dewtopia. I have not had a pimple in a year and a half since using this," she said. "Not even period pimples... I love this product."
Cleanser and Lip Balm
In the next step, Rae applied the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser throughout her skin to remove any excess dirt and help retain moisture. The actress also added Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly on her lips.
Scalp Oil
Issa Rae
Vogue/ YouTube
Further into the video, Rae stressed the importance of scalp care being considered a part of a skincare routine, especially within the Black community, as she applied Sienna Naturals Daily Elixir Hair & Scalp Oil throughout her scalp.
"Scalp oil from Sienna Naturals... I'm dry all the time everywhere, and scalp care is skincare," she explained while mentioning the other ways she has protected her various hairstyles. "I will rock braids. I'm good at wrapping my hair at night and preserving hairstyles. Barbie was a wiggy a-- set. I'll say that."
Vitamin C & E Serum
After applying the scalp oil throughout her hair, Rae continued her routine by rubbing in Eminence Skin Care Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Serum on her face.
There are benefits to using a serum containing vitamins C and E. Healthline reports that the sole reason that vitamin C and E serums could be helpful to one's skin is because it "combats different types of UV damage."Eye Cream
Issa Rae
Vogue/ YouTube
As for her eyes and how she reduces the appearance of dark circles, Rae revealed that she uses Lancer Legacy Eye Treatment Duo regularly while gently applying the cream to her eyes.
Also, in the interview, Rae disclosed details about her morning self-care regimen: waking up early, working out, and caring for her skin.
"I used to have super dark circles under my eyes. This is a Lancer Legacy Eye Treatment. Mornings are my favorite time of day. They are my time. I get up super early. I'm a 4 a.m. girl," she stated.
"I get my workout in, and after my workouts, then I feel like I've already tackled the day in the best way. And then this is where you find me, my skincare routine. That's also a way to unwind and get ready for the day. I do bask in it when I have time."
Rae continued the discussion by saying that she prioritizes her skincare routine so much that she doesn't leave home without any of her products.
"When I'm traveling, this entire routine goes in a small pouch, like a kit. It goes with me everywhere, every bathroom. I unpack it first. Where I'm at, I know that I'm home and my skin will be taken care of," she said.
Sunscreen
To help prevent any sun damage to her skin, Rae applied Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen on her face.
The Photograph star shared that before adding sunscreen to her skincare routine, she was one of the individuals that felt she didn't need it because she was Black.
But after Rae learned that skin cancer could happen to anybody regardless of race and location, she made a "concerted effort to put on sunscreen."
"I use sunscreen a lot, and I have gotten better about it because I was one of those ones. I was one of those Blacks that was like, 'Do I need it?'" she stated. "I've learned that cancer doesn't care where you're at. So I make a concerted effort to put on sunscreen."
Face Oil
In the last step of her skincare tutorial, Rae disclosed that when she occasionally goes to work without makeup, the product that helps her maintain her "glowy look" is Tata Harper Beautifying Face Oil.
"I will go to work without makeup if I'm in a rush, and when I still want to have that glowy, dewy look, I use this Tata Harper Beautifying Oil. I love it," she said.
Makeup
Issa Rae
Vogue/ YouTube
In regards to makeup, Rae kept it fairly subtle by applying neutral colors and a gloss. She shared how she loves bronzer, and her go-to is Tower Cream Bronzer. She also likes Dime Beauty Eyebrow Gel, and MAC Cosmetics lip pencil, and Sigma lip gloss.
While applying those products, The Lovebirds actress shared the one career advice that has kept her encouraged in times of despair over the years.
"I would say the best advice I have gotten has been like what's meant for you will be yours. That has got me through so many setbacks," she said. "That really gets me through times when I'm down on myself. When something is mine, and I'm ready for it, then I'm out here, baby."
Rae completed the look by applying her favorite scent Chanel N°5 to her skin.
The live-action Barbie is now playing in theaters, and for more of Rae's skincare and makeup routine, check out the video below.
Barbie's Issa Rae Shares Her Dry Skin Routine | Beauty Secrets | Vogue
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Featured image via Vogue/Beauty Secrets
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Anyway, I personally think that the less shallow folks out here may contemplate calling things “quits” or they at least distance themselves a bit from their partner (and what I’m referring to is serious relationships) due to all of the stress and strain that oftentimes comes with the holidays whether it be financial, familial, due to their tight schedules or something else.
Listen, I would hate for you and your man to miss the fun and happiness of experiencing this time of year, all because you are so overwhelmed or irritated that you can’t really enjoy it. That’s why I have a few practical tips for how to avoid allowing the typical holiday season stress from INFECTING your relationship.
Manage Your Expectations
GiphyUnmanaged expectations. If there is a main reason why the holiday season tends to be so stress-filled for so many people, I’d bet good money that this is the cause. And when you’re in a long-term relationship, expectations can manifest themselves in all sorts of cryptic and/or unexpected ways. You might have relatives who assume that you are going to be with them for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you have other plans in mind. You might be thinking that you are going to spend one amount for presents while your man is thinking something totally different. When it comes to scheduling, your signals may be crossed.
And you know what? To all of these scenarios, this is where clear and consistent communication come in. Don’t assume anything. Don’t dictate anything either. From now until New Year’s, mutually decide to check in once a week, just to make sure that you are both on the same page as it relates to the holidays and what you both are thinking will come along with it. The less blindsided you both feel, the less stressed out you will be. Trust me on this.
Set (and Keep) a Budget
GiphyOkay, so I read that last year, 36 percent of Americans incurred some type of holiday-related debt. Hmph. Last year, there was still some sense of normalcy in this country, chile, so I can only imagine what finances are gonna look like over the next several weeks. That said, since I don’t know a lot of people who don’t find being broke stressful, make sure that you and your bae set a budget and then stick to it this year — no ifs, ands or buts.
Because really, y’all — it doesn’t make sense to deplete savings and/or max out credit cards for a few days of giggles only to be damn near losing your mind because you don’t know how to make ends meet come Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
And by the way, this tip doesn’t just speak to things like food and gifts; I also mean travel. If it doesn’t make a ton of sense (or cents) to be all over the place this year — DON’T BE.
Keep Matthew 5:37 at the Forefront
GiphyIf off the top of your head, you don’t know what Matthew 5:37 says, no worries, here ya go: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” That verse right there? Oh, it’s a boundaries lifesaver! I say that because do you see “maybe” or “I’ll think about it” in there? Nope. LOL. It says that you should tell people “yes” or “no” and leave it at that — and that complements Anne Lamott’s quote, “’No’ is a complete sentence” impeccably well. Yeah, you’ve got to remember that anything beyond a yes or no to a request is privileged information; you don’t owe anyone details or an explanation.
Besides, if you are really honest with yourself, when someone asks you something and you give a “Umm, let me think about it” kind of reply, more times than not, you already know what your answer is going to be — so why not let you both off of the hook? Give your response. Commit to that. And let everyone (including yourself) get on with their lives and schedules.
I promise you that when it comes to those holiday parties, you are pissing more folks off by not RSVP’ing or doing so and not showing up than just saying, “Thank you but not this year” off the rip.
Remember That Your Personal Space Is Privilege Not a Right
GiphyA friend of mine recently bought a new house and invited me over to come see it. He’s a single man with no children, so as I was taking in all of the space that he had, especially as I walked through his finished basement, I joked about relatives coming to live with him. “Hell no” and “absolutely not” were pretty much his immediate responses as he went on to say that some folks even had the nerve to be offended when he told them that he had no intentions on taking DNA in.
Ain’t it wild how people think that your stuff is their right? And yes, that brings me to my next point. Your home is your sanctuary space. If you want to host folks this year — cool. If not, ALSO COOL. Please don’t let folks (family included) guilt you into how they want you to act or even into what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot. You are not them — and as one of my favorite quotes states, “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (A man by the name Larry Dixon said that.)
Hell, my friends? They know that I am good for sending them random things that they need or even want all throughout the year. Coming over to hang out at my pace, though. Uh-uh. Chalk it up to being a card-carrying member of the ambivert club yet I like keeping my living space personal — and I sleep like a baby, each and every night, for feeling that way.
Always remember that your space, your time, your resources, your energy and shoot, yourself period (including your relationship), are all things that are your own. You get to choose how, when and why you want to share them. The holiday season is certainly no exception.
Cultivate Some “You Two Only” Traditions
GiphyIt’s not uncommon for some couples to hit me up after the holiday season to “detox.” Sometimes it’s due to the financial drama (and sometimes trauma) that they experienced. Sometimes it’s because they allowed their relatives (especially in-laws) to get more into their personal business than they should’ve. More than anything, though, it tends to be because they didn’t get enough quality time together and so ended up feeling “disconnected.”
Please don’t let that happen. Listen, I’m not even a holidays kind of woman and yet, I will absolutely sit myself down with some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies to enjoy a Hallmark holiday film or two. Aside from the fact that most of them are lighthearted and sweet, I also like that they usually focus on couples loving on each other amidst all of the holiday beauty and ambiance — which is something that all couples should set aside some time to do.
Maybe it’s a vacation. Maybe it’s a staycation. Or maybe it’s my personal favorite, A SEXCATION. Whether it’s for a few days, the weekend or even overnight — don’t you let the holidays go by without setting aside time for you and your man to celebrate one another. Don’t you dare (check out “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry 'Christmas Sex'?”).
GET. SOME. REST.
GiphyI once read that 8 out of 10 people get stressed out over the holidays and 3 out of 10 lose sleep during to it — and when you’re stress-filled and sleep-deprived, that can absolutely lead to hypersensitivity, making mountains out of molehills and even not being in the mood for sex.
Your relationship can’t afford to go through any of this, so definitely make sure to prioritize rest. I don’t care how unrealistic it might seem during this time, sleep should never be seen as a luxury; it will always and forever be a great necessity.
That said, try to get no less than six hours of shut-eye in (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”) and even ask your bae to take a nap with you sometimes (check out “Wanna Have Some Next-Level Sex? Take A Nap, Sis.”). Not only will sleep help to restore your mind, body and spirit but, when it’s with your partner, it’s an act of intimacy that can make you both feel super connected, even in the midst of what might feel like chaos.
___
Holiday season stress is real. Still, never give it the permission or power to throw your relationship off. Put you and your man first and let the holidays be what they are gonna be, chile.
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