I'm not a skincare aficionado by any means, but as I enter my late twenties, I am becoming more and more aware of how important it is to develop a skincare routine with tiers and layers and to partake in that routine religiously. Skincare is genetics meet preparation, after all. Here on xoNecole, we talk everything from the right way to layer skincare products to the best hyperpigmentation products on the market. So as I look for more tips and tricks to add to my ritual in Operation Flawless Skin, there's no wonder actress Kat Graham is on my beauty radar.
Most known for her starring role in the CW hit The Vampire Diaries, the 29-year-old does a little of everything, from singing and dancing to modeling and acting. Recently, the starlet took The Cut behind the scenes of her getting ready for the Dior show during Paris Fashion Week, all the while filling us in on her biggest beauty and wellness secrets. Check them out below.
Kat Graham On Her Beauty & Wellness Routine During The Day
Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
Juicing has been all the rage as of late. In addition to the many benefits juicing does for the body, it also has an amazing effect on the skin. For those who struggle with acne or other skin problems, detoxing the body through juicing might be just what the doctor ordered. Kat loves juicing and makes sure to get some aloe into her diet as well:
"When I have a big day where I might have a lot of press, I'll juice during the day. There's a lot of really great juices that really bring out your skin. I didn't juice all day today, I snuck in a few French fries, but I did drink a lot of aloe as well."
Just as important as taking care of your skin on the inside is taking care of your skin on the outside. Kat reiterates that eating well and drinking copious amounts of water day in and day out are fundamental to her approach to skincare:
"You've got to eat well. A lot of people think they're going to have great skin just through topicals, and sure, there are plenty of products that can get you to a really great place. But if you're not eating well, if you're not drinking enough water, if you're leading a stressful life, if you're smoking, if you're sponsoring your bad habits, your stress and anger will show and it will manifest into a pimple, or redness, or an extra wrinkle you don't want. How you treat your body and deal with the world is huge."
And don't let the melanin fool you, protecting the skin is still of the utmost importance to Kat. She said:
"I have to protect my skin even though I'm a black woman because I will still get a lot of sunspots and freckles if I don't take care of my skin. I like a lot of drugstore products, to be honest. I mean I like SK-II and Laura Mercier, as far as fancier things, but I really love argan oil on my hair or my cheekbones for an event."
Kat Graham On Her Nighttime Routine
Kat might have to be dolled up for her day job, but at night, she prefers to let her skin breathe ASAP and removing her makeup is the ultimate first step of her nighttime routine:
"It consists usually of taking off my makeup and then kind of locking in some moisturizer. I'm a pretty big fan of Neutrogena and Aveeno wipes, but I've noticed that sometimes I need a little bit more because a lot of the makeup I wear is long-lasting from being on set or at a photo shoot or an event. After the makeup remover wipes, I usually go and use the Dior Hydra Life makeup remover. It's insane, I don't know what's in it but it's pure magic to me. I thought I lost it once and haven't felt that kind of panic in a while."
Sleep is also a big necessity for her in terms of maintaining her state of mind and her flawless skin. And since she starts her days at the crack of dawn, the earlier, the better:
"If I had my way I'd be in bed by 9 p.m. I'm not a night person at all. After 9, I'm pretty useless. I'll honestly go to bed around 10:30 p.m. I get up at 5:30 a.m. every day, no matter what."
"I love a good charcoal face mask, and I'll do that the night before a big event. When I'm jet-lagged I use a little lavender oil under my nose and it makes me sleep like a baby."
To read her feature on The Cut in full, click here.
Featured image by Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
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Gee, I wish more folks did all of this when it comes to if a man needs to have a large penis to sexually satisfy a woman (he does not) and if a woman who has had multiple sex partners will ultimately end up with a vagina that is too large for smaller penises to please her (a lie).
Science totally has my back on debunking both of those things (more on that in a bit). Know what else does? A particular type of sex method that is becoming more popular by the day. One that just might convince you to, as they used to say back in the day, focus less on the “size of the wave” and ride out the “motion of the ocean” instead.
It’s called shallowing. Here’s what it’s all about.
What Is Shallowing?
GiphyIf there’s one thing that I wish folks would say more thoroughly when it comes to women and orgasms, it’s that when it comes to75 percent of women not being able to orgasm from only intercourse, the accurate statement is they struggle with achieving a vaginal orgasm without the assistance of some type of clitoral stimulation. Yeah, we’ve really got to remember that very few things in this life are a complete monolith — orgasms included (check out “U-Spot Orgasm, Fantasy Orgasm & 6 Other Orgasms You Should Try Tonight”).
In fact, it was while I was reading up on pairing — a word that is used for when clitoral stimulation transpires during penetration — that I decided to do some deep-diving into shallowing (because it was mentioned inone of the articles that I read).And what is it? Shallowing is when a penis, finger, tongue, or sex toy of some sort is used in order to ever so slightly penetrate the vaginal opening of a woman.
And why is shallowing not just a current sex trend but something that every woman on this planet should try? It’s because of what I’ve said, more than once, on this platform: it focuses on the most sensitive part of a woman’s vagina, which isthe first two inches of her vaginal opening.
When the emphasis is placed there, not only does it increase your chances of experiencing “the big O,” but it can also build up anticipation, which can intensify your orgasms too — yes, shallowing can also be seen as a form of edging.
Another thing that’s cool about shallowing is — and it really and truly can’t be said enough — something that makes vaginal and blended orgasms easier to achieve for some women really has little to do with the size of a man’s package or even his technique; it’s straight up anatomy. Yep, the closer that a woman’s clitoris is to her vaginal opening, the easier it is for a penis to stimulate both. So, science makes it possible for vaginal orgasms to be easier for some women than others.
At the same time, shallowing can make it possible for more women who want to see what a vaginal orgasm actually feels like (because it’s easier for the head of the penis to stimulate the opening of the vagina while the shaft can rub up against your clitoris; based on the position that you are in, of course — the missionary with some pillows propped under the lower part of your back is ideal for this).
Now that you see what shallowing actually is, do you get why I said that penis size doesn’t matter when it comes to doing it — and getting the kind of orgasms that you want? Contrary to popular belief, your vagina is only around four inches. In fact, some health experts say that it ranges between 2-4”. Anything larger, your body literally has to stretch out to accommodate; this includes penises and babies. So, if your vagina is “making room” for more than four inches, why in the world do you think you need a 10-inch man? Yeah…exactly. It really is time to get over the silliness. The average penis continues to be 5.5”. Makes sense when you take it all in (no pun intended).
Aight, so now that you know what shallowing is all about, let me try and hard sell you on why it’s a sex technique that you should try as soon as tonight (if you possibly can).
1. It takes the pressure off of you and your partner.
I’ve been working with couples for almost 20 years at this point. This means that the topic of sex comes up quite a bit. And if there’s one thing that continues to be an issue is inconsistent orgasms (check out “Why Do Orgasms So Often Seem Like A ‘Hit-Or-Miss’ Experience For Women?”).
Listen, no matter how many articles you read or sex positions you try, if you’re anxious, stressed out, or overthinking, it’s gonna get in the way of you experiencing high peaks of pleasure on a consistent basis. Since shallowing is something that can easily be done even in foreplay (via fingering and/ororal sex) if you get that first “release” off, that makes it easier to just sit back and enjoy the ones that (hopefully) are to follow.
2. It teaches you more about your vagina.
A part of the reason why I keep repeating certain facts about vaginas in these articles is that it’s amazing how little certain things are discussed en masse — like the size of the vaginal tube. And since shallowing helps you to stimulate the nerve endings at the entrance of your va-jay-jay along with your G-spot (which is housed a little ways from your opening), shallowing is a great way to explore that area of your body as you figure out what truly works for you and…what doesn’t.
3. It’s the perfect merging of foreplay and intercourse.
When you really stop to think about it, shallowing is like the bridge between foreplay and intercourse because you can use so many different things to do it. So, if you want to experiment with a new sex toy or you want a bit more time to “warm up the engine” before full-on penetration begins, shallowing is one of the most sexually arousing compromises there is.
4. It can help to increase your partner’s stamina.
A few years back, I penned an article for the site entitled, “We’ve Got Some All-Natural Ways To Increase Stamina & Sensitivity.” Listen, even though I onceread a GQ article that said that over 60 percent of the people they polled were fine with intercourse lasting no longer than 5-10 minutes — that poll doesn’t speak for all of us, chile.
So, if you would like your man to build up to going longer, shallowing can help to make that happen. Since he’s barely putting beyond the tip in, he can learn how to be in you for longer periods of time without being, well, in you.
5. It helps you to appreciate whatever “package” he has.
Again — and it really can’t be said enough — if shallowing is all about exploring the mere entrance of your vagina, you don’t need a man with BDE (check out “BDE: Please Let The 'It Needs To Be Huge' Myth Go”) or honestly, even anything close to it.
I mean, even though, reportedly, the size that the average woman says gives her the most orgasms is eight inches — I bet those women have never really tried shallowing before. 10”, 8”, or the average 5.5” can certainly get the job done. And well.
6. It feels A-MAZ-ING.
Okay,so now that you know about shallowing, I promise that if you put the word into your favorite search engine, you’re either gonna see articles on golfing (LOL) or sex, especially as of late. That’s because more couples are trying it out and getting mind-blowing results from it. So, if you’re looking for something new to try, give shallowing a shot.
Hey, anything that’s designed to stimulate your most intense vaginal nerve endings has got to be something for the record books. I mean, how could it not be? Lawd.
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