Shondaland will be a little lonelier this fall after we've said au revoir to our fictional friends in the White House. Despite the unfortunate ending of the the 7-season ABC series, Scandal, Kerry Washington has our fall beauty routine "handled" with her latest collaboration with Neutrogena. Kerry's new beauty line, Force Of Nature, will be her second makeup release with the industry giant, and has a price point that won't break the bank.
Like her previous collection, this line was developed to accentuate the natural beauty of all shades of women. She told Allure:
"The first palettes that we did last season were essentials. It was the anti-stress palette with everything you need. But I feel our girls deserve a bit of drama as well, and I wanted to give them that this time around. I'm so inspired by our consumers; by all the multitasking, badass women who are courageously driving toward their dreams. I wanted to create a palette to acknowledge that power in our consumer — and I mean both men and women."
The Force of Nature Lip Palette features shade names like Soul, Heat, and Untamed, and Kerry's personal favorite, Rapture; all of which contribute to her overall message that we are all wildly beautiful in our own ways, even without makeup. She continued:
"One of the things I was thinking a lot about with the shade names for these palettes is the commitment to the whole system — not just beauty but also health and wellbeing. We shouldn't be wearing makeup because we feel less-than, but to enhance our natural beauty and our natural strength. Makeup is a tool that helps you to be the best version of yourself. It's about how you take control of your body as a beautiful work of art."
Despite the fact that many beauty companies are focusing their efforts on improving pigment, Kerry and Neutrogena have been working intensely to diversify shade range and promoting skin health through the use of products like hyaluronic acid, which in the past, was only used in luxury skincare products.
Kerry says that she takes her new position as Creator-In-Chief so seriously because she believes that wearing makeup should be a form of self-love, not self-loathing, and her mission is to share that message with the world.
"Part of it is taking a philosophical approach. I try not to wake up in the morning and say, 'I need to put on makeup because I can't let people see the real me.' I try to do it with the approach of self-love; that philosophy of 'I am enough, I am beautiful, and I don't need to do anything other than to be me and walk out the door.' When I choose products, I'm doing it for me and the benefits they'll give my skin as opposed to feeling like I won't be attractive without them."
"I love that we're playing on that idea that you can turn up the volume on what is natural."
Click through the slides below to get the details on both of Kerry's collections, available for purchase today!
Featured image by Walter McBride/WireImage
Timeekah Murphy
Photo courtesy
xoNecole: How did the opportunity to create such an iconic look for Megan Thee Stallion's "Hiss" video come about?
Timeekah Murphy: The opportunity came from a DM from celebrity stylist Zerina Akers. She asked for a unique Shibari piece for Megan, and I needed to get it done in two days. So, of course, I did everything in my power to make it happen. I've always wanted to design for Megan, so this was an awesome opportunity for me.
xoN: What was that initial feeling of seeing the dress on her for the first time?
TM: I was shocked because, at first, I thought it hadn't been used. I saw Megan's last video and thought, damn, maybe it didn't fit. So, to see it on such an amazing video was breathtaking. I was beyond excited to finally say I designed for her.
xoN: Did you meet her? If so, how was that moment?
TM: I didn't meet Megan during the shoot, but during my time in LA, I got the opportunity to meet her at LA Pride with Tiffany Haddish, Common, and EJ King (stylist). Megan is such an amazing person, so it made it even better to know that my designs were going to be worn by her. I was shocked because, at first, I thought it hadn't been used. I saw Megan's last video and thought, damn, maybe it didn't fit. So, to see it on such an amazing video was breathtaking. I was beyond excited to finally say I designed for her.
"I was shocked because, at first, I thought it hadn't been used. I saw Megan's last video and thought, damn, maybe it didn't fit. So, to see it on such an amazing video was breathtaking. I was beyond excited to finally say I designed for her."
Photo courtesy
xoN: Walk us through the creation of the dress. How did you come up with the look, and how long did it take to make it?
TM: I was the co-designer for a brand called Deviant in 2018-2020, and we used to make custom Shibari pieces. That's how Zerina knew me. So I'm very familiar with making these types of pieces. We made plenty for Beyoncé, Cardi B, Tiffany Haddish, Tyra Banks, and so many others. So Zerina knew exactly what she wanted.
To get it done, it took me a day and a half. It's very intricate and time-consuming, so I spent about six hours making it then I sent an image of it to Zerina, and she didn't approve the first one, so I had to start from scratch again after getting my guidance and understanding of what was needed. The next day, I went to The Lab and created another version, and she approved it. I had to get it shipped overnight so that she would get it in time and fast forward to seeing it on the big screen.
xoN: What's next for you?
TM: Everything. The sky is not my limit, so the Alani Taylor brand is expanding into so many different avenues. We are getting involved in the community more, offering sewing classes to the youth. I've opened up a store for my brand in Atlanta and now preparing for fall/winter Fashion Week.
Megan Thee Stallion "Hiss" video/ YouTube
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With Galentine's Day soon approaching, what better way to commemorate the bonds that brighten up our lives than to show love to the women in our circle? To our chosen sisters everywhere, we’re helping to make the day a little sweeter by providing a few gal-pal-approved date ideas to show our appreciation for the women who bring joy and understanding and make life richer.
Siri, play “Best Friend” by Brandy.
Pasta and Wine Night
It’s time to bring your culinary skills to the table. For the girls who are looking to host an intimate dinner party from the comfort of their home, a pasta and wine night just might be the plan for you. No matter the level of your cooking expertise, pasta is a no-brainer cuisine that’s going to hit every time. Grab your favorite pasta sauce, pick up the fanciest wine on the shelf, and drizzle over some extra olive oil, and your girlfriends will be in awe of your cheffing skills.
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DIY Matching Charm Necklaces
If you’ve been anywhere on TikTok these days, charm necklaces are the latest hot, nostalgic accessory that the girls can’t get enough of. This trendy statement piece has become a crafty DIY project that makes jewelry-making that much more meaningful. Go for a personalized charms arrangement that you can create as your own personal treasure or lock in a matching piece so you and your bestie can twin together.
Host a Floral Arrangement Party
Flowers are truly a girl's best friend. And there’s just something about putting your hands to work to create the perfect arrangement of lilies, hydrangeas, daisies, and roses. The art of crafting flowers in a thoughtfully arranged manner holds a universal language for expressing love, and if your friends are anything like you, they definitely deserve to be given their flowers. Go to Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, or your local flower market and gather a few different flower styles for you and your friends to get crafty and share in the beauty of your blooms together.
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Get Permanent Friendship Bracelets
Friendship bracelets have gotten a whole new upgrade with permanent bracelets. These permanent jewelry pieces are the perfect, low-stake representation of long-term commitment without the pain or pressure of regular tattoos. You and your bestie can seal the deal on your friendship with the permanent reminder of your love and commitment to one another. Plus, we can’t get over how cute they are.
Cocktail and Mocktail Drink-Off
We all know that a good time with the girls is not complete without the right libations. And if you’re looking to host a party of more than four of your favorite ladies, they can bring their personalities and flavors to life by whipping up their very own cocktails or mocktails. No matter if you’re a lemon drop kind of girl or a margarita lover, give your friends the task of concocting their own drink recipes and bringing them to the party. Bonus points for the competitive type: vote on whose drink was the tastiest.
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