

This year, Lizzo taught us how to do our head toss and check our nails, and recently she spilled the details of her "good as hell" skincare routine that will give your melanin all the juice.
In an interview with The New York Times, Lizzo revealed that being on tour can make developing an effective skincare routine especially difficult. Our phones, our minds, and our skin all have one thing in common: they all need to recharge every now and then, and Lizzo can totally relate:
"So I was on the road, and I was sleeping in my makeup a bunch. It was so embarrassing. What am I, a child? And I was waking up and thinking I'm invincible, nothing can happen to me!"
I, too, am guilty of the "I'm way too lit to wash my face" vibe that ensues after a night out, and I am way too familiar with the consequences. Lizzo says that after sleeping in her makeup one night too many, she woke up to a nightmare:
"Then one day my face broke out — not even broke out in acne, but red and irritated. I was like, 'Oh my God, this is what happens when you party all night and you don't wash off your makeup.'"
Her experience led her to put her skin through an intensive "rehab" that included wearing a face mask to bed every night. Later, Alexx Mayo, Lizzo's makeup artist, introduced her to Sunday Riley and the rest is history.
"I have the C.E.O. Glow Oil— it's so sick. There's vitamin C and turmeric in it. I'm obsessed with the way vitamin C smells — like oranges. I love oils in general. Black girls, we're always using cocoa butter, coconut oil and shea butter on our bodies. I'm an oily bitch."
In the morning, Lizzo splashes her cheeks with Evian facial spray to ensure that her face stays hydrated AF, and in the evening, she's back to her primary facial system, using the Sunday Riley face wash as a cleanser. She explained:
"I have the whole Sunday Riley system now. I don't mix systems. I would mix if I felt like it, but if it works for me, I don't mess with it."
One product every brown-skinned girl should have in her beauty arsenal is sunscreen, and Lizzo had to learn this the hard way:
"I just went to Hawaii and got burned because I didn't use sunscreen. So I've been really adamant about having some kind of SPF in my tinted moisturizer. Right now, I use the Laura Mercier and the NARS ones. I do the tinted moisturizer, and then I do concealer — the Urban Decay Stay Naked."
Other must-have beauty products in Lizzo's bag include the Urban Decay Perversion mascara and Urban Decay brow powder, but according to her, she's most interested in rocking a more natural look these days. Along with ditching false lashes, the 34-year-old singer says she's on a mission to "honor" her skin by rocking a little less makeup:
"I used to do highlighter, but then I stopped on my days off because (a) I've been using the Glow oil, and I think that works better, and (b) lately, when I put highlighter on, it's too much. I'm really into my skin looking naked. I'm trying to honor that my skin looks so good now and rock it."
For details on Lizzo's routine, scroll below!
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Featured image by Instagram/@LizzoBeEating.
Originally published on October 5, 2019
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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.
Devale Ellis On Being A Provider, Marriage Growth & Redefining Fatherhood
In this candid episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Devale Ellis, actor, social media personality, and star of Zatima, about modern masculinity, learning to be a better husband, emotional presence in marriage, fatherhood for Black men, and leading by example.
“I Wasn’t Present Emotionally”: Devale Ellis on Marriage Growth
Devale Ellis On Learning He Was a ‘Bad Husband’
Ellis grew up believing that a man should prioritize providing for his family. “I know this may come off as misogynistic, but I feel like it’s my responsibility as a man to pay for everything,” he said, emphasizing the wise guidance passed down by his father. However, five years into his marriage to long-time partner Khadeen Ellis, he realized provision wasn’t just financial.
“I was a bad husband because I wasn’t present emotionally… I wasn’t concerned about what she needed outside of the resources.”
Once he shifted his mindset, his marriage improved. “In me trying to be of service to her, I learned that me being of service created a woman who is now willing to be of service to me.”
On Redefining Masculinity and Fatherhood
For Ellis, “being a man is about being consistent.” As a father of four, he sees parenthood as a chance to reshape the future.
“Children give you another chance at life. I have four different opportunities right now to do my life all over again.”
He also works to uplift young Black men, reinforcing their worth in a world that often undermines them. His values extend to his career—Ellis refuses to play roles that involve domestic violence or sexual assault.
Watch the full episode below:
On Marriage, Family Planning, and Writing His Story
After his wife’s postpartum preeclampsia, Ellis chose a vasectomy over her taking hormonal birth control, further proving his commitment to their partnership. He and Khadeen share their journey in We Over Me, and his next book, Raising Kings: How Fatherhood Saved Me From Myself, is on the way.
Through honesty and growth, Devale Ellis challenges traditional ideas of masculinity, making his story one that resonates deeply with millennial women.
For the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker peels back the layers of masculinity with candid conversations that challenge stereotypes and celebrate vulnerability. Real men. Real stories. Real talk.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by YouTube/xoNecole
Calling All Lovers: October London, Tamar Braxton & Ro James Deliver A Soulful Serenade
If there was ever a night to pull out your best leather jacket, call up an old flame, and lean into your soft, sultry era, The October Nights: Calling All Lovers tour was it.
Presented by Black Promoters Collective, the show brought an evening of lush vocals, smooth grooves, and unapologetic grown-folks business to Atlanta—with Ro James, Tamar Braxton, and the man of the hour, October London, leading the charge. The energy? Sensual. The vibe? Intoxicating (literally and figuratively—more on that in a minute).
Ro James kicked off the night with his signature raspy vocals and a cool confidence that immediately set the tone. While “Permission” was the undeniable crowd favorite (with couples slow-dancing in their seats and people swaying with their phones in the air), he also dug deeper into his catalog, delivering seductive mid-tempos and moody ballads that reminded us he’s not a one-hit wonder—he’s a whole vibe.
Next up, Tamar Braxton took the stage with diva energy and vocal acrobatics that had the crowd on their feet. Her set was a perfect mix of emotion and edge—songs like “My Man,” “All the Way Home,” and “Love & War” hit every heartstring, but she didn’t stop there.
Tamar tapped into her earlier work, showing her full vocal range and reminding everyone that she’s one of the most powerful voices of her generation. Between tracks, she got personal with the audience, sharing laughs and stories like we were all cousins at the family reunion.
Oh—and in case you missed it: “Braxtons are coming back.” 👀 Consider that a soft launch if we’ve ever heard one.
Then came the velvet king himself: October London.
From the moment he stepped on stage, it felt like time slowed down. Backed by a silky live band and powerhouse background vocalists The Shindellas — Kaso, Stacy, and Tam, October’s set was pure R&B indulgence.
He opened with songs like “She Keeps Calling” and “Make Me Wanna,” blending retro soul with modern sensuality. Every note was intentional, every lyric soaked in emotion.
“Touch On Me” and “3rd Shift” had the crowd in a trance, while “Lovers Interlude” and “You Look Better” brought things to a tender, candlelit close.
And because this is October London we’re talking about—of course, he came with the charm. “If I come down there and sing with you,” he teased one woman in the front row, “you gon’ get pregnant.” The entire room screamed.
He also took a moment to introduce his newest venture—a signature whiskey that he’s currently promoting on tour. Smooth music, smooth vocals, smooth whiskey? A trifecta for the grown and sexy.
To top off the night, there was even a surprise pop-up from Tyrese, sending the crowd into full nostalgic overload.
By the end of the night, it was clear: this wasn’t just a concert—it was a love letter to R&B. The October Nights: Calling All Lovers tour captured the essence of grown-up intimacy, storytelling, and soul. No gimmicks. Just real voices, real feelings, and really good music.
If October London is the future of modern soul, we’re all in.
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Feature image by Geoffrey Clowes/ Shutterstock