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:
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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.
The Reality Of Living With Severe Asthma – As Told by 2 Women On Their Disease Journey
This post is in partnership with Amgen.
The seemingly simple task of taking a breath is something most of us don’t think twice about. But for people who live with severe asthma, breathing does not always come easily. Asthma, a chronic respiratory condition that inflames and narrows the airways in the lungs, affects millions of people worldwide – 5-10% of which live with severe asthma. Severe asthma is a chronic and lifelong condition that is unpredictable and can be difficult to manage. Though often invisible to the rest of the world, severe asthma is a not-so-silent companion for those who live with it, often interrupting schedules and impacting day-to-day life.
Among the many individuals who battle severe asthma, Black women face a unique set of challenges. It's not uncommon for us to go years without a proper diagnosis, and finding the right treatment often requires some trial and error. Thankfully, all hope is not lost for those who may be fighting to get their severe asthma under control. We spoke with Juanita Brown Ingram, Esq. and Jania Watson, two inspiring Black women who have been living with severe asthma and have found strength, resilience, and a sense of purpose in their journeys.
Juanita Brown Ingram, Esq.
Juanita Ingram has a resume that would make anyone’s jaw drop. On top of being recently crowned Mrs. Universe, she’s also an accomplished attorney, filmmaker, and philanthropist. From the outside, it seems there’s nothing this talented woman won’t try, and likely succeed at. In her everyday life, however, Juanita exercises a lot more caution. From a young age, Juanita has struggled with severe asthma. Her symptoms were always exacerbated by common illnesses like a cold or flu. “I've heard these stories of my breathing struggles, but I remember distinctly when I was younger not being able to breathe every time I got a virus,” says Ingram. “I remember missing a lot of school and crying a lot because asthma is painful. I [was taken] to see my doctor often if I got sick with anything so I was hypervigilant as a child, and I still am.”
Today, Juanita says her symptoms are best managed when she’s working closely with her care team, avoiding getting sick and staying ahead of any symptoms. Ingram said she’s been blessed with skilled doctors who are just as vigilant of her symptoms as she is. While competing in the Mrs. Universe competition, Juanita took extra care to stay clear of other competitors to ensure she didn’t catch a cold or virus that would trigger her severe asthma. “I would stand off to the side and sometimes that could be taken as ‘oh, she thinks she's better than everybody else.’ But if I get sick during a pageant, I'm done. I had to compete with that in mind because my sickness doesn't look like everybody else's sickness.”
Even when her symptoms are under control, living with severe asthma still presents challenges. Juanita relies on her strong support system to overcome the hurdles caused by a lack of understanding from the public, “I think that there's a lot of lack of awareness about how serious severe asthma is. I would [also] tell women to advocate and to trust their intuition and not to allow someone to dismiss what you're experiencing.”
Jania Watson
Jania, a content creator from Atlanta, Georgia, has been living with severe asthma for many years. Thanks to early testing by asthma specialists, Jania was diagnosed with severe asthma as a child after experiencing frequent flare-ups and challenges in her day-to-day life. “I specifically remember, I was starting school, and we were moving into a new house. One of the triggers for me and my younger sister at the time were certain types of carpets. We had just moved into this new house and within weeks of us being there, my parents literally had to pay for all new carpet in the house.”
As Jania grew older, she was suffering from fewer flare-ups and thought her asthma was well under control. However, a trip back to her doctor during high school revealed that her severe asthma was affecting her more than she realized. “That was the first time in a long time I had to do a breathing test,” she describes. “The doctor had me take a deep breath in and blow into a machine to test my breathing. They told me to blow as hard as I could. And I was doing it. I was giving everything I got. [My dad and the doctor] were looking at me like ‘girl, stop playing.’ And at that point [it confirmed] I still have severe asthma because I've given it all I got. It doesn't really go away, but I just learned how to help manage it better.”
Jania recognizes that people who aren’t living with asthma, may not understand the disease and mistake it for something less serious. Or there could be others who think their symptoms are minor, and not worth bringing up. So, for Jania, communicating with others about her diagnosis is key. “Having severe asthma [flare-ups] in some cases looks very similar to being out of shape,” she said. “But this is a chronic illness that I was born with. This is just something that I live with that I've been dealing with. And I think it's important for people to know because that determines the next steps. [They might ask] ‘Do you need a bottle of water, or do you need an inhaler? Do you need to take a break, or do we need to take you to the hospital?’ So, I think letting the people around you know what's going on, just in case anything were to happen plays a lot into it as well.”
Like Juanita, Jania’s journey has been marked by ups and downs, but she remains an unwavering advocate for asthma awareness and support within the Black community. She hopes that her story can be an inspiration to other women with asthma who may not yet have their symptoms under control. “There's still life to be lived outside of having severe asthma. It is always going to be there, but it's not meant to stop you from living your life. That’s why learning how to manage it and also having that support system around you, is so important.”
By sharing their journeys, Juanita and Jania hope to encourage others to embrace their conditions, obtain a proper management plan from a doctor or asthma specialist like a pulmonologist or allergist, and contribute to the improvement of asthma awareness and support, not only within the Black community, but for all individuals living with severe asthma.
Read more stories from others like Juanita and Jania on Amgen.com, or visit Uncontrolled Asthma In Black Women | BREAK THE CYCLE to find support and resources.
The Black girls are tired of the monthly expenses costing more than our car payments. In one month, I easily find myself spending hundreds if not thousands between ordering groceries, hair appointments, lashes, nail salon appointments, etc. I'll be honest and say at first, I didn't notice because while I'm not rich, I'm also not exactly struggling.
Still, last year, I began to look closer at my finances and discovered feeling like "that girl" was costing me way too much. And while I love looking and feeling put together, is spending all my money on maintenance the most financially responsible thing to do?
There's been an outpour of Black women on social media declaring that the monthly expenses we rack up in the name of maintenance are not only unnecessary but unsustainable. 2023 was my year of ease, and while I will continue to prioritize myself and my needs, I want to be intentional about what I spend my money on and become the DIY girlie that my future self will thank me for.
I be at my appointments with a straight face ain’t shit funny 😭😭 https://t.co/jBgrkgEkYX
— ⭐️ (@Foreign_Star_) November 4, 2023
1. Eyelash Extensions
Last week, I attended a banquet for my grandfather's 80th birthday, and my 13-year-old cousin walked in with the most beautiful lashes. I asked her who she went to, and she told me she learned on YouTube! We have no excuse if the children are learning how to apply their lashes. She's coming over next week to teach me, and I will have some sparkling cider and pizza waiting for her so we can catch up on everything going on in her world.
2. Unnecessary Hair Appointments
Hair care is essential to me, and every week, after a swim, you'll find me in the sauna deep conditioning and loving on my tresses. But I went through this phase where I was changing my hair up every month, sometimes twice a month, because I found myself in a funk. I can't deny that changing my hair brings me joy, but it doesn't need to break the bank. Daily, I scroll through social media and see Black girls do the same hairstyles at home that I pay for, so aside from necessary hair appointments - the hair salons are now on a needed-visit basis.
3. Nail Appointments
This one might upset the girls, and I get that, but hear me out - I work from home, and one day, I had to ask myself, "Girl, who is seeing your nails that cost $120 per appointment on Zoom?!" The answer was absolutely no one. In tandem with that, I've found myself loving the press-ons that I come across, and I have been putting them into my rotation. Am I breaking up with my nail artist? Absolutely not. That's my girl, but she won't see me as much this year.
4. Make-up Appointments
I've been promising myself that I'd learn how to do my own makeup for years, and I'm now in my thirties, calling my makeup artist for every event, whether it's a girl's night or a concert. While I love a beat face, if our girl Jackie Aina, the queen of soft living, still does her makeup, what's my excuse not to start learning?
5. Ordering Groceries
There is a time and a place for this one. Now, if I'm in meeting after meeting, my food is running low, and time isn't on my side, I'll 100% order groceries to save myself additional stress. But I cannot tell you how many times this year I've driven past the grocery store, went home, and ordered groceries only to have to go the next day because items are missing. This year, I'm intentionally scheduling my grocery shopping around my errands and using that money I save on delivery and mindless shopping for my next girls' night out.
6. A New Outfit For Every Event
Raise your hand if you have a closet full of clothes but still feel like you need a new outfit for every event; now that your hand is raised...ask yourself why you are like this. I say this with love because I've had these same discussions with myself, and we are shopping our closet first all year long and then shopping responsibly.
7. Ordering In
I enjoy cooking, and I always have, but I found myself ordering out more than ever once I moved out on my own, and it not only impacted my pockets but also my waistline. Recently, I've found myself experiencing so much joy in cooking and deciding to order out less and instead become more intentional about cooking more of what I enjoy, and when I desire take out, driving to go get it, and if I don't want to drive to pick the food up, then I clearly don't want it as much as I thought I did.
8. Luxury Massages
I went through this phase of needing to go to the most aesthetically pleasing places, only to discover that you're paying not just for the service, you're paying for the vibes. Growing up watching Girlfriends, I thought every massage I'd experience would be with my girls at a luxury spa with champagne, and then I realized it wasn't sustainable. That's not to say that I don't indulge in the $250 massage, but monthly, I can afford the $50 massage at the local spa with ease, and trust me when I say the experience is just as satisfying, if not more because I know I can go back.
Does cutting these expenses mean I no longer allow myself to experience ease and rest? No, because every month, I still have my house cleaned and enjoy dinners out, massages, weekly swims, time in the sauna, and other activities because my budget is now more flexible because my monthly maintenance isn't draining my bank account.
This year, ask yourself what you really need every month. Your future self will thank you for it.
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Featured image by Charday Penn/Getty Images