5 Products Beauty Guru ItsMyRayeRaye Swears By
Finding products that are perfect for you and your skin can be a hassle. And with the seasons changing, you need to be knowledgeable about products that are affordable and suitable for your needs. That's why we chatted with the beauty guru, ItsMyRayeRaye, aka Raye Boyce, who keeps it 100, 24/7.
This beauty has over 1 million followers on Instagram and YouTube. She has gracefully managed to finesse the YouTube business model in her favor making for some bomb collaborations.
One of the things we love about RayeRaye is her desire to connect with her viewers. Boyce once said, "...when your viewers and followers see that you actually love what you're doing, they're also going to love what you're doing."
We asked her about her favorite products that make her life easier. Check them out!
"A mask product I can't live without is the Aztec Secret Healing Clay mixed with apple cider vinegar. It will detox your skin, reduce sebum production, and help with acne."
Shop the product here.
"A moisturizing product I swear by is the TATCHA The Silk Cream. It literally leaves your skin feeling like a newborn baby's skin."
Shop the product here.
"My favorite lip color is from my lip collaboration with BH Cosmetics 'Rosey Raye.' It comes in three finishes. Matte, glossy and creamy. It's a beautiful rosy lip color with peachy pink undertones."
Shop the product here.
CoverGirl TruBlend Foundation, $10
"My go-to foundation at the moment is CoverGirl TruBLEND because it's full coverage, long-lasting, and affordable. I'm all about affordable makeup!"
Shop the product here.
"DUO lash glue is an eye product that I love. It literally lasts all day and my eyelash is never hanging off."
Shop the product here.
For more looks and beauty inspo, follow Raye on Instagram and subscribe to her YouTube channel.
Joce Blake is a womanist who loves fashion, Beyonce and Hot Cheetos. The sophistiratchet enthusiast is based in Brooklyn, NY but has southern belle roots as she was born and raised in Memphis, TN. Keep up with her on Instagram @joce_blake and on Twitter @SaraJessicaBee.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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The 96th Academy Awards: Big Wins, Big Losses For Black Culture
This year’s Oscars presented so much potential when it came to Black cinema, from the talented casts featured in the hottest films of the season to the brilliant minds behind the scenes. While some notable wins like The Holdovers star Da’Vine Joy Randolph taking home "Best Actress in a Supporting Role" and American Fiction writer Cord Jefferson’s win for “Best Adapted Screenplay” took place—there were also some potentially history-making moments that didn’t come to fruition as one would have hoped.
Colman Domingo, recently dubbed “The First Black Gay Movie Star” by Out Magazine, was up for “Best Actor in a Leading Role.” Many may not have realized but Colman taking home the golden trophy would have meant him becoming the first openly gay Black man to win “Best Actor in a Leading Role” in The Academy’s nearly 100-year history. Actually, Colman is only the second openly gay man to earn an Oscar nomination for playing a gay character. With the first happening 25 years ago, when Ian McKellen was nominated in 1999 for his leading role in Gods and Monsters.
Domingo took on not one but two roles in films garnering huge Oscar buzz this season— portraying Mister in The Color Purple remake and the depiction of Martin Luther King Jr. advisor Bayard Rustin, the biopic that earned his first nomination. Only five Black men have taken home the “Best Actor in a Leading Role” prize to date, having a 15-year gap between Will Smith's 2022 win and Forest Whitaker's 2007 victory. While we would have loved to see first-time nominee Colman Domingo make history at The 96th Academy Awards, his captivating on-screen presence is sure to earn another nomination one day in the near future.
Colman DomingoCourtesy of The Academy
American Fiction costars Jeffrey Wright and Sterling K. Brown were also the first Black actors from the same film to be simultaneously nominated in the lead and supporting actor categories. Wright's portrayal of frustrated novelist Monk in the movie adapted from the 2001 book Erasure and Brown's portrayal of his younger surgeon brother, who is freshly divorced after coming out as gay, were two modern characters, unlike anything we've seen on screen before. Not to mention, the film Sterling described as “expanding the collective consciousness and imagination of what Black life on screen can be” was also nominated for "Best Picture." Jeffrey once said, “We lack a fluency in how we discuss race and history… and identity," and it can't be denied that American Fiction is truly a step in the right direction.
Danielle Brooks' nomination for "Best Actress in a Supporting Role" can't go without mention. Her show-stopping reincarnation of the character Oprah Winfrey made famous, Harpo's wife Sofia, can't be overlooked. In the 1985 version of The Color Purple, Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, and Oprah Winfrey were all nominated for their film debuts; however, none of them won. In fact, in spite of eleven nominations, the original film won none of the Oscars that year. Brooks had a chance to change things for the undeniable cult classic film, but ultimately, Da’Vine Joy Randolph took it home.
Danielle BrooksCourtesy of The Academy
Randolph tearfully accepted her trophy, stating, “For so long, I’ve always wanted to be different." She continued, “And now I realize I just need to be myself, and I thank you. I thank you for seeing me.” Da’Vine basically swept awards season, also winning a Critics Choice Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and SAG Award for her performance as Mary Lamb in The Holdovers.
Other winners of color included The Last Repair Shop director Kris Bowers, who took home "Best Documentary Short" alongside two-time Oscar-winner Ben Proudfoot, and American Fiction writer Cord Jefferson, who won “Best Adapted Screenplay.” Cord's acceptance speech included what might have been the most important moment during the night: a plea for cheaper films and more opportunities for those trying to follow in his footsteps. “It’s a plea to acknowledge and recognize that there are so many people out there who want the opportunity that I was given." He continued, "I want other people to experience that joy. The next Martin Scorsese is out there. The next Greta [Gerwig] is out there. The next Christopher Nolan is out there. They just want a shot. And we can give them one.” Well said, Cord, Well said!
Cord JeffersonCourtesy of The Academy
Kris Bowers (R)Courtesy of The Academy
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Feature image courtesy of The Academy