Anxiety and acne have been my biggest bullies for years. They have both traveled with me through the awkward puberty stage, college, and well into adulthood. I’ve separately tried various skincare products and methods to soothe my anxiety, yet nothing seems to work. My internal mental battle consistently manifested itself externally. Having an anxious day fuels my acne, and having acne fuels my anxiety. Eventually, I became fed up and did what any millennial would do—scrolled on social media and tried to filter my problems.
As I scrolled my way into the "Beauty TikTok" hashtag, I found myself becoming overwhelmed by the amount of perfectly pore-less skin beauty gurus I felt I could never amount to. Just as I began to wallow in self-pity, I came across ASMR skincare videos.
The sounds of freshly opened face masks, moisturizers rubbing into the skin, and subtle mouth motions placed me in a deeply relaxed state. I was immediately eager to learn more.
@nadina_ioana 🤍 #asmrskincare#asmrbelleza#koreancosmetics#skincare101#skincareproducts#asmrbeauty#nadinaioana#modellingmask#tonymoly#porepack
Autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, is a tingly sensation and often sedative response that begins on the scalp and moves throughout the body. A selection of visuals and audio such as whispering, gentle mouth movements, or sounds from various objects typically encourage a sedative state. The feeling is similar to the one you get while relaxing on the beach while listening to the sounds of the ocean. Another example of a sedative state is the euphoria when someone is gently playing with your hair.
In recent years, ASMR has been gaining attraction, and for great reason. Although experts are beginning to scratch the surface on ASMR and its capabilities, the results are promising. According to a 2018 study, researchers found ASMR can reduce heart rate and promote calmness. A second study also notes ASMR helped their clinical patients sleep, reduce anxiety, relax, and feel comforted. These studies ultimately give us hope that ASMR is more than just a feeling.
@hudabeauty #asmrtiktoks #asmrskincare #hudabeauty #foryou #wishfulskin
I began incorporating ASMR Beauty TikTok videos into my, well, beauty routine. Every night I would relax to the sweet sounds of skincare products. I immediately began to experience the tingly feelings. The sedative sensations promoted me to a mentally relaxed state.
Soon my racing thoughts slowed down, and I could feel my body from within. I began to notice tense muscles and target anxious areas in my body. I implemented breathwork to combat these areas, and it was the remedy my anxiety needed. Tensing my body with each inhale and releasing with every exhale.
I was finally cleansing my mind and body from the toxins that had been holding me back for years.
@rose.friederike SKINCARE ASMR 💦💦🌸🌸 #asmr #asmr_tingles #skincareasmr #fyp #asmrsounds
The combination of breathwork and gentle ASMR movements gave me an internal detox that transcended externally. Relaxing my anxious thoughts lowered my stress levels over time. My skin slowly began to transform, but I needed a little extra help with proper products. When I would use ASMR for relaxation purposes, I would take notes on the best skincare solutions for my skin type. Soon, I began implementing face masks, moisturizers, and sunscreens for my anxiety-induced acne.
As time went on, my skin became clear, and so did my consciousness.
While ASMR isn’t a cure for anxiety, it provided me with the all-around clarity I needed. The truth is, there is no “one cure-all method” for mental health. Mental health is a daily commitment to ourselves. It's not about always striving to be the “best version of ourselves,” but the most accepting version of ourselves. We must accept that we're allowed to go through the ups and downs of life.
Most importantly, we must accept that we're deserving of the grace that comes with growth. Practice kindness during your mental evolution and become an observer of yourself in your darkest moments. The light within you will shine again.
Featured image by Getty Images
Exclusive: Melanie Fiona On Making High-Vibrational Music & Saying Yes To Partnership
Melanie Fiona is back! After taking a little more than a decade-long hiatus, she has officially made her return to music and blessed us with two singles, “Say Yes” and “I Choose You.” While both singles are very different from each other, they both reflect who she is today and the type of music she wants to make. In our conversation, the mom of two expressed what she learned during her time away.
“It's interesting, even when I said it is like coming back, I don't ever feel like I really left because I was always still performing. I've still been public. It's not like I went into being this recluse person or version of myself, but the thing that I really learned in this process is that I think things take time,” Melanie says in a xoNecole exclusive.
“I think often we're so caught up in it, being on the timing of demand or popularity, or, like, striking while the iron is hot and the thing that I've learned is that everything is on God's time. That's it. Every time I thought I would have been ready, or, like, things were taking too long, I had to reship some things, personally, professionally, in my life. I also gave myself permission to make a living, not just make a living, but make a life for myself.”
Making a life for herself included getting married to Grammy-nominated songwriter Jared Cotter, starting a family, and embracing new landscapes, such as podcasting as a co-host of The Mama’s Den podcast. She also began doing more spiritual work and self-care practices like meditation, sound healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and boundary setting, which allowed her to get in touch with her inner voice.
“I wasn't putting out music, and I wasn't experiencing a number one record, but I was being a number one mom,” she says.
“I was experiencing things that were allowing me to heal and get in touch with myself so that I could make new music from a space of joy and freedom, and excitement again because I definitely feel like I did lose some excitement because of just politics and industry and what it can do to your mental health and even your physical health. So giving myself the space to really just say, ‘Hey, it's okay. Everything's right on time.’”
The joy and excitement are felt in one of two new singles, “I Choose You,” which is more of a lovers rock vibe, a tribute to Melanie’s Caribbean roots. While the Grammy award-winner is known for ballads like “It Kills Me” and “Fool For You,” she is becoming more intentional about the music she makes, calling it high-vibrational music. She says her music is a “reflection of my life,” as it captures every facet, from hanging out with friends to riding around in her car.
“Say Yes” has the classic R&B vibe Melanie is known for. However, both songs are inspired by her relationship. Melanie and Jared got married in December 2020, and the Toronto-bred artist dished on their relationship. Fun fact: he is featured in the “Say Yes” music video.
“When we first started dating, I had come into that relationship post a lot of self-work. I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, I had a year and a half to date and be by myself and do a lot of work on myself alone. And when we met, I remember feeling like this has to be my person because I feel it,” she says.
“And so when we went into that relationship, and we started dating, I was very clear. I was like, I know what I want. I'm very clear on what I need, and I'm not going to withhold my truth about myself in this process because of pride or fear of rejection. I know you love me, but I'm coming with my heart in my hand to let you know that if we're gonna get there, we have to put fear aside and say yes. So that was kind of like my open letter to him, which is why the video is us having a conversation.”
Melanie also shares that saying yes to her partner has empowered her in many ways, including motherhood and showing up for herself. Her new EP, also titled Say Yes, will be available at the top of 2025.
Check out the full interview below.
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Feature image by Franco Zulueta
Serena Williams Hits Back At Skin-Bleaching Accusations: 'I’m A Dark, Black Woman, And I Love Who I Am'
Serena Williams is clapping back at skin-bleaching accusations. During a makeup tutorial for her beauty brand, Wyn Beauty, the tennis legend took the opportunity to address the "haters."
“And then I put just that neutral color, that is actually my skin color, and no, for you haters out there, I do not bleach my skin,” she said. “There is a thing called sunlight, and in that sunlight, you get different colors.”
The rumors started after the mom of two posted a video of herself and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, at their daughter's school play. In the video, she appeared to look a few shades lighter. During her response, she revealed that she was volunteering at the play and wore stage makeup.
“Yes, I’m calling you out on this because it is ridiculous that everyone’s like, ‘Oh, she bleached her skin,’" she said. "I’m a dark, Black woman, and I love who I am, and I love how I look and that's just not my thing.”
The 23-time Grand Slam champion also said that she doesn't judge anyone who bleaches their skin as she "stays in my lane."
Serena has always had style on and off the court, and even collaborated with Nike with her own collection Serena Williams Design Crew. However, the tennis champ has now pivoted into beauty.
Wyn Beauty was launched in April 2024 with at 10-piece collection of lip, eye, and complexion products. The brand was inspired by Serena's time on the court and the packaging is reminiscent of a tennis ball due to its chartreuse color.
“Throughout my career, I was always searching for makeup that looked good after hours on the court, mixing products myself and creating my own formulas while traveling the world,” she said in a statement. As she continues to make a name for herself in the beauty industry, I'm sure we will see a lot more looks from the tennis star.
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Feature image by Marc Piasecki/WireImage