
Since landing her big break in the entertainment industry as an MTV VJ over two decades ago, La La Anthony has captivated fans with her effortless looks and ageless appearance.
Just one look at her Instagram page, and you'll see why Anthony is that girl. The BMF actress has no shame putting her beauty and body on front street, and now she's sharing her beauty secrets with us. In Vogue's Beauty Secrets. , the 41-year-old gave insight into her regular skincare routine and how she accomplishes her infamous glowy bronze makeup look.
Skincare
Makeup Wipes

Vogue/ YouTube
At the start of the video, Anthony begins her skincare tutorial by informing her fans that before applying any products to her face, she removes any excess dirt and makeup that could be lingering around using Neutrogena makeup wipes.
"You can see my skin is a little bit red because I'm way too aggressive with these," she said. "This is the Neutrogena makeup wipes. I start with that always. I wipe the makeup off, and always when you think your face is so clean, it never really is because, look, there's still makeup."
Cleanser, Serum, and Eye Cream

Vogue/ YouTube
In the next step of her skincare regimen, Anthony applies Shani Darden Cleansing Serum on her face and uses a wet compressed facial sponge by Gainwell to spread the cleanser around.
While applying the cleanser on her neck, the Power star revealed that she started using the Shani Darden Cleansing Serum because of her best friend and singer Kelly Rowland's rave reviews of the product.
"So then I use the Shani Darden Cleansing Serum that Kelly Rowland told me about because she is obsessed with this," she stated.
After using the cleanser, Anthony rubbed a few drops of the Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Glycolic Essence serum throughout her face and neck. Following that step, the mother of one applied Shani Darden intensive eye renewal cream to her eyes.
An advantage of using cleansers is to remove additional dirt, oil, and dead skin cells. While a serum helps bring moisture back into one skin.
Hyaluronic Acid Serum and Vitamin C8 Serum

Vogue/ YouTube
Further into the video, Anthony provided insight into the early stages of her best friend Kim Kardashian's skincare brand SKKN by Kim, as she applied her hyaluronic acid serum and Vitamin C8 serum.
"I love to use that SKKN By Kim. This is the hyaluronic acid serum," she said while mentioning some of the serums' best qualities. "I knew about the SKKN By Kim line before it came out, and yes, I got to see some of the products, test them, [and] smell them. Then the Vitamin C8 serum. So I do those two things, and I don't know if you can tell, but my face is like glowing now. Also, the redness is going down a little bit."
Moisturizer
Anthony completed her regimen by applying Shani Darden's moisturizer.
During that time, the mother of one disclosed that her skincare routine could differ depending on whether she must attend any red carpet or special events. The reason behind the different skincare regimen is that Anthony wants to be camera ready when she steps out.
"I use the weightless oil-free moisturizer," she stated. "When it's something big like a red carpet or a Met Ball, I try to at least go get a facial, and my face really, really clean, prepped, and ready. That's important, especially if there is going to be a lot of cameras and stuff like that."
Hair

Vogue/ YouTube
Before delving into her bronzy makeup tutorial, Anthony shares that she prioritizes regularly applying her hair care brand Inala Rice Water Power Potion on her hair, mainly her edges.
The entrepreneur added that she created the product during the pandemic after experimenting with rice water in an attempt to restore her hair.
"My next step is just a little quick thing for my hair. My product Inala. This is the power potion. It's a 100% rice water complex," she stated. "During the pandemic, I was experimenting a lot with rice water because my hair was a wreck. I grew my edges back. I grew my hair. I always take a little bit in the dropper. I always at least, at the least, put some in my edges because no one wants to have no edges. That's not the look."
Makeup
Eyebrows

Vogue/ YouTube
Following the brief pause to ensure that her edges remained intact, Anthony began her makeup tutorial by lining and shaping her eyebrows with Benefit Cosmetics Precisely My Brow Pencil and giving her fans a fair warning regarding her makeup skills.
"Let me preface this by saying I am not a makeup artist. For those of you that struggle like me, let's give this a whirl," she said. "Alright, so first, brows. This is by Benefit. It's called Precisely My Brows Pencil."
The Perfect Find star added that she prefers a more natural look when doing her eyebrows while also applying Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer.
"The good thing is I do have brows. I don't have to go too crazy... I like it to look more natural," she said.
Foundation

Vogue/ YouTube
In the next step, while using Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Anthony explains why she loves using this product compared to other brands.
"One of the favorite foundations that I love that one of my favorite makeup artists told me about was the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk," she said. "I feel like when I'm doing makeup myself, it's easy. It's not a lot of steps involved."
Anthony also revealed that one thing she had learned since working with other makeup artists is that all foundations will always appear a tone darker on an individual's skin when it is first applied, and over time, it will become "the right color."
"You know what I learned about foundation is when you first put it on. You see how it looks a little darker. Apparently, the makeup artists say it has to oxidize into your skin, and then it like becomes the right color," she stated.
Following the foundation application, Anthony pats it down with a makeup sponge and applies it to her neck.
"Then I take this [makeup sponge]. I kind of pat it in, and I think that's when the oxidizing or whatever starts," she said. "But you want to make sure you go down the neck and do this everywhere. You don't want to have splotches and stuff."
Concealer

Vogue/ YouTube
After the foundation, Anthony blended two shades of Tarte Shape Tape Full Coverage Concealer to hide any dark circles or blemishes and listed the particular order in which she would apply each product.
"I really love this Tarte concealer. I usually use two colors and kind of blend them. Medium sand and tan sand. So I always start with the medium," she stated. "I'm going to blend this in first because one thing about concealer that I'm learning if you don't blend it quickly, it will dry, and it will start creasing. Nobody wants to walk around with creases under their eye...Then now I will go over it with the medium a little bit lighter."
Before setting her face with powder, Anthony defined her eyebrows by applying a "tiny bit of concealer" under her eyebrow.
Powder And Contour
To set her face, the former television host used Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder and placed it under her eyes with a makeup sponge. Anthony contoured her face with Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick by creating three different lines on the outer layers of her face before blending it all with a makeup brush.
Powder, Eye Shadow, and Mascara

Vogue/ YouTube
After setting and contouring her face, Anthony applies Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation to enhance her features.
"Fenty has the greatest pro filt'r soft powders. So then I take this and go over what I already contoured," she said.
During the conversation, The Chi star spoke highly of her friend group and claimed she often gets style inspiration from them. Some of Anthony's inner circle consist of Ciara, Kelly Rowland, Kim Kardashian, and Serena Williams.
"I think all my friends are so great at what they do. Ciara, Kelly [Rowland], Kim [Kardashian], Serena [Williams]," she stated. "I think they pull it together extremely well. So I definitely look to them for style inspo."
Following the praise, Anthony applied two different types of glittery eyeshadows before beginning the highlighting process.
Highlighter And Eye Highlight

Vogue/ YouTube
To highlight her face, Anthony used two different brands to get the glowy bronze look. Anthony first applied the Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter and explained that she often achieves this look by using her hands to spread out the product.
"So first, I'm going to hit with the Fenty beauty. This is the mean money and the hussle baby. This is the Kilawatt," she stated. "Just a little bit here. The bronziness I like...Don't be afraid to use your fingers if you have to. It's your own face who cares."
The You People star revealed that if she's feeling a little crazy with her bronze look, she would also add Makeup By Mario Master Crystal Reflector on top of the Fenty highlighter. To finish it off, Anthony applied a little bit of the Fenty highlighter on her eyes and cheeks and used Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Volume, Lift & Curl Mascara on her eyelashes.
Lip Liner and Lip Gloss

Vogue/ YouTube
To complete the look, Anthony used MAC Cosmetics Lip Pencil to outline her lips, seemingly giving them a fuller appearance, and applied various lip glosses.
The list included Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer and Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Hydrating Lip Plumper.
The actress shared her love for clear glosses.
"I'm a clear gloss girl. I have every clear gloss ever invented on this planet. So [this] is Fenty. This is the glass slipper. I love this Too Faced-Lip Injection because it gives you like that plumping feeling," she said.
Toward the end of the video, Anthony sprinkled the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray throughout her face to enhance the longevity of her makeup. Anthony also applied Fenty Beauty Body Lava Luminizer Who Needs Clothes on her body to add more shine.
Anthony ultimately wrapped up her tutorial using Ciara and Russell Wilson's R&C The Fragrance Duo perfume.
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Feature image by Vogue/ YouTube
This Is How To Keep 'Holiday Season Stress' From Infecting Your Relationship
Hmph. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like there is something really weird happening in the fall season air (because winter doesn’t officially begin until December 21) that cuddle season is in full swing while break-up season is as well. In fact, did you know that break-ups are so popular during the holiday season that December 11 is deemed Break-Up Day?
The reasons why relationships shift around this time vary; however, I did both roll my eyes and chuckle when I read that a very popular one is because it’s an easy way to get out of getting one’s significant other a Christmas present. SMDH.
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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Featured image by Shutterstock
Kerry Washington Says The Key To Her Signature Glow Lies In Her Wellness Routine
For more than a decade, actress Kerry Washington has lit up our TV screens in her iconic roles from Scandal to Little Fires Everywhere. But like any beloved starlet with so much to balance and maintain in their public and private life, Washington is managing to take a holistic approach to her overall wellness routine.
“I think we put an emphasis on if you look good, you'll feel good. And I think it's the opposite,” Washington tells Yahoo Life. “If I feel good, I'll look good, because I'll shine and I'll put my best foot forward."
Her from-the-inside-out approach to achieving the signature glow we’ve all grown to associate with the wife and mother of three is one that hasn’t come without its challenges. With her busy schedule and list of projects, Washington admits that if there was one thing she’d make more time for, it would be her beauty rest.
"Those are the areas that I find I struggle with more, stress and a lack of sleep,” she says. “So it's really important for me to keep challenging myself to take better care of myself.”
For Washington, self-care looks like taking time to journal her thoughts, attending therapy, meditating, and spending time with people — and pets — that bring her joy and restore her sense of peace after a stressful day.
"That sense of community of being able to be with people who I love and who love me unconditionally, I find that that can sometimes be the greatest stress reliever, and pets," she shares. "I started therapy in college, so decades ago. And it's been a really, really important tool," she explains. "When I engage in behavior that is loving, it can help me feel more loved and lovable."
While these loving behaviors may vary from day to day, Washington says that sprinkling in acts of “love and kindness” has been the key to feeling her best self, all over.
"Sometimes that means pulling myself up, washing my face, putting on sunscreen, and going out the door. And sometimes that's like cocooning in my bubble bath and taking it easy," she says. "Treating myself with love and kindness, especially my skin, my most important organ. That can be a pathway to feeling better."
Featured image by Rob Latour/Shutterstock
Originally published on July 11, 2023









