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This Blogger's Skincare Routine Helped Her Kiss Breakouts Goodbye
In About Face, xoNecole gets the 411 on IGers who give us #skincaregoals on the daily. Here they break down their beauty routines on the inside and out, as well as the highly coveted products that grace their shelves and their skin.
Having a great beauty routine is a lot like having a bomb-ass insurance plan—you don't really know how important it is to have one until you need it. At 31, this was a lesson that Rhode Island-based blogger Leniza Evy had to learn the hard way.
I hate to break it to you, but keeping your skin on 10 requires far more than blowing a check at your local beauty store and constantly restocking your endless drawer of sheet masks. In this month's edition of About Face, we sat down with Leniza, who explained that maintaining an effective beauty regimen isn't a hobby--issa lifestyle.
Leniza's perspective on skincare completely changed this year, and she let us in on the budget-friendly regimen that keeps her glow on-go at all times. Although skincare has always been a part of her routine, she explained that she's been forced to level up her methods in a major way.
"For the first time in my life, I'm struggling with my skin, and I'm being forced to start catering to it."
While her skin has absolutely fallen in love with the Drunk Elephant skincare system, she added, the most essential part of her skincare regimen is her diet. "My skincare routine is very simple. Since I didn't know much about skincare until this year, I'm still struggling with finding the right routine that works for me. My skincare comes more from what I eat and drink. Now that I'm older, my diet really plays an important factor in how my skin looks and feels."
In our interview, Leniza opened up about some of her morning routine, her favorite beauty products, and her plan for managing weird breakouts. Here's what we learned:
My morning routine looks like...
"Let me just start by saying that I am not a morning person at all. Mornings are such a struggle for me. Now that I work a 9-to-5, my morning routine has changed a great deal. As soon as I wake up, I'm in a bad mood, even when I was self-employed doing what I loved, but I bring myself back to a good place real quick by practicing gratitude while still in bed. It makes such a big difference in how I feel. I then follow up with my morning shower where I say my daily affirmations out loud while listening to some music. Once I'm ready, I head to work with a banana or spinach smoothie in my hand."
For my skincare routine in the AM...
Courtesy of Leniza Evy
"So I start by washing my face with warm water in the shower. I currently use Drunk Elephant Jelly Cleanser. I really love this product as it leaves my face with a fresh, clean look. I only use my fingertips when applying. Once that's rinsed off, I follow up with one of my favorite products, which is Beija Flor Natural Amazon Antioxidant treatment. I use this product every day. It's definitely my favorite. It leaves my face really smooth with a natural glow that lasts all day. It also helps with my dark spots on my forehead which is currently my main issue."
For my skincare routine in the PM...
"At night I wash my face using Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel. This product leaves my skin the same way as the Drunk Elephant Jelly cleanser, but the Neutrogena one is more pocket-friendly. I also use my Vanity Planet Spin brush three times a week as it truly makes a difference in the appearance of my skin. I finish it off using Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream as my moisturizer. My skin tends to get ashy after using my brush so this helps."
How the seasons change my skin and routine...
"Honestly, my skincare routine does not change according to the season. Besides the dark spots on my forehead, which are the aftermath of these weird pimples I've been getting this year, I don't have any other issues. I'm calling them weird because of the way they look and how often I get them on the same spot. I will be seeing a dermatologist soon as it seems to have gotten worse."
My go-to makeup look consists of...
"I LOVE makeup. I usually switch it up between a natural look consisting of foundation, concealer, light contouring, light highlight, falsies, and lip gloss, or my beat face where I go all out--especially with the contour and eyeshadow. It really depends on how much time I have."
How I approach beauty from the inside out...
"Practicing gratitude and putting healthy food in my body. Don't get me wrong, I love my junk food, but I've accepted that as much as I love junk food, it does affect how I'm feeling emotionally and mentally. Dancing, playing soccer, and crossing things off on my to-do list also makes me feel good and helps me with my anxiety tremendously."
What self-care looks like to me...
"A gratitude journal, a consistent gym schedule, retail therapy, and time to myself where I'm in complete silence."
How her routine switches up during travel...
"I don't switch up my skincare routine that much when I travel, but I usually [don't] travel without my Spin Brush. Depending on the weather, I might use a product with a higher SPF. As far as beauty, the majority of the time I travel with a protective hairstyle, and I wear more makeup as I tend to take more pictures."
For more Leniza, follow her on Instagram @Leniza_Evy!
Shop Leniza's Beauty Staples:
*Some links are affiliate links. If you purchase an item from an affiliate link, xoNecole might earn a small commission.
Featured image by Instagram/@Leniza_Evy.
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.
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Blair Underwood Initially Turned Down 'Sex And The City' Because 'It Was About How Samantha Was Fascinated By Dating A Black Man’
Actor and heartthrob Blair Underwood is opening up about why he turned down Sex and the City the first time he was offered a role. Many fans of the HBO series may recall Blair's time on the show in which his character was dating Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). However, he was previously offered another role where his character would date Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
During his interview with AV Club, the Set It Off star revealed that he was uncomfortable with the initial offer due to the character's fascination with him being a Black man.
“I actually did say ‘no’ the first time,” he said. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.'”
But that didn't stop them from reaching out again. This time he was offered to play Dr. Robert Leeds, the love interest to Miranda and he decided to go for it. "So they were nice enough to call about a year later, and I said, 'Well, is it gonna be about race?' And they said, 'No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!' And I think it really did only come up maybe once," he recalled.
"It did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as 'the Black guy.'
"I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, 'No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing."
Blair has had a wide-ranging career playing everything from a lawyer on L.A. Law to playing Madame CJ Walker's husband on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker. And during his interview, he revealed another role that he initially turned down, Set It Off. The movie, which is considered a classic in Black culture, stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Blair's character, Keith, played a banker and love interest to Jada's character, Stony.
He explained why he said no at first and eventually accepted the offer. "I had initially said “no” to that. Because I was playing this historic, iconic African-American historical figure in Jackie Robinson, and the time, y’know, there was Boyz N The Hood, and Menace II Society was out there, and I’d finished playing this noble Negro… [Laughs]," he said.
"And I’m reading the script, and there’s a scene where Jada Pinkett’s character—Jada Pinkett-Smith now—was going to sell her body so she could make some money to send her brother to college. And I remember, honestly, I threw the script across the room. I was, like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to do something uplifting for the Black culture and Black characters, and I don’t know if I want to see this.”
After a conversation with the movie's director F. Gary Gray and the actor's manager encouraging him to finish reading the script, Blair had a change of heart. What he first thought about the movie turned out to be totally different.
"So I finished the script, and I saw that the character they were asking me to play was really the love story in the midst of all of this turmoil of all of these characters, the four ladies: Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Jada," he explained.
"It was so well-written, it was such a great platform for them. And to be able to play the love story and the storyline that gave Jada’s character a leg up and a way out of this world, something to hope for, to wish for, someone to love her… I said, 'You know what? I’d like to be a part of that.'
"And I’m so glad I did, because that film resonates to this day. People all the time come up to me and say that they love that movie. So I’m glad that I did it."