

The Must-Have Sugar Scrubs For Your Body Care Routine
Since Halloween is literally just moments away (generally speaking), I thought it would be a good idea to address sugar use from a far more beneficial angle than consuming it. What I mean by that is — when’s the last time you’ve actually applied either white (its granules are coarser and can be a great exfoliant) or brown (it is gentler and also a pretty potent humectant) sugar to your skin?
If your answer is “never,” I’d really like you to consider doing so. Sugar can add moisture to your skin. Sugar can bring radiance to skin that appears dry and dull. Sugar can make it easier to apply your make-up (because it helps to “smooth out” your skin). Sugar can help to prevent sebum build-up without drying out your skin in the process. The glycolic acid in sugar can even prolong the aging process of your skin.
If all of this sounds like something you’d like to get in on, I’m going to take out a sec to provide eight different ways that sugar can benefit your body — from the outside. I’ve even provided some DIY recipes, so that you can get to using sugar, in this way, as soon as you click off of this article. Let’s do this.
1. Body Scrub
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Imma tell you what — if hearing things like we all lose a whopping 200,000,000 skin cells per hour (PER HOUR) isn’t enough to make you want to change your bedding, like clockwork, on a weekly basis, I don’t know what will! And when it comes to your skin’s health and well-being, specifically, if you don’t want some of those dead cells to clog up some of your pores (which can lead to breakouts), that’s a really good reason to apply a body scrub, also on a weekly basis. Not only do body scrubs exfoliate and “polish” your skin, but they also remove the kind of dead skin build-up that can make it challenging for your skin to absorb moisture (like carrier oils and lotions). Plus, they can make your skin look and feel a lot smoother too.
Just make sure that you apply them to clean and damp skin, that you gently rub the scrub in a circular motion for a couple of minutes, and that you thoroughly rinse the scrub off with warm water, then cool, to close up your pores afterward. That’s how you can get the most out of pretty much any scrub — head to toe.
Try This: Homemade Coffee Sugar Scrub
2. Lip Scrub
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If you’ve ever kissed someone who had chapped or feathering lips (you know, when there are pieces of dead skin on them) before, you know how truly unpleasant that is. Just so you’re not the person someone else is referring to here, make sure to apply a lip scrub to your lips — twice a week should do it. The texture of sugar will help to remove dead skin layers, help to fade any hyperpigmentation that you may have, give your lips a really smooth and sexy feel and, it can even make them appear a bit fuller as well.
Try This: Natural Homemade Lip Scrub
3. Scalp Scrub
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If you didn’t get a chance to check out my article, “10 Things Your Scalp Has BEEN Waiting For You To Do,” please make sure that you do at some point. You know, now that the FDA is seriously considering banning certain relaxers, I can’t say that I’m mad about that. Aside from the cancer risks that come with many hair straighteners, back when I was “detoxing” from texturizers, it took my scalp almost a year to recover (because, yes, the chemicals in them can be just that traumatizing).
Something that helped was scalp exfoliants (and I didn’t do them then nearly as much as I do now). Listen, just like the pores on your face can clog up and cause issues, so can the hair follicles on your scalp (and you have roughly 100,000 of those!). Anyway, if you have an itchy scalp, product build-up on your scalp, dry scalp that could use a moisture boost, dandruff flakes or you simply want to stimulate your hair follicles so that you can get stronger and healthier hair — a homemade sugar scalp scrub can do the trick.
You’ll be amazed by how soothed your scalp feels after giving yourself one (personally, I do a scrub before shampooing my hair on wash days).
Try This: Scalp Scrub and Scalp Clarifier
4. Hair (Conditioner) Scrub
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If you want to make a brown sugar hair scrub or if you want to put a tablespoon of brown sugar into your hair conditioner, I’m not gonna stand in your way. Something else that the granules of sugar can do is move product build-up from your tresses so that your hair ends up looking shinier. And again, since sugar is a humectant (which means that it pulls moisture from the air into your hair and onto your skin and scalp) — it will make your hair conditioner that much more effective.
Try This: Brown Sugar Hair Scrub
5. Facials
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Did you know that glycolic acid literally comes from sugarcane? It’s good for your skin because it removes dead skin cells, helps to reverse sun damage to the skin, evens out hyperpigmentation, and can even soften the appearance of acne scars (over time). In fact, it’s a type of acid that’s good at reducing breakouts overall. That said, because the skin on your face tends to be more fragile, go with brown sugar if you want to do a facial scrub as a part of your at-home spa day. Another approach that you can take is adding some brown sugar to an already-made facial. You’ll get the properties of sugar’s benefits either way.
Try This: Brown Honey Sugar Scrub
6. Hair Removal
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When my waxer was in the process of leaving a company to start her own business, I found a salon that did sugaring. Although I found my waxer to be way more precise when it came to hair removal, what I did like about the sugaring process is (at least for me) that it was less painful, the ingredients were all-natural and it helped permanently remove unwanted body hair a helluva lot faster than wax does. I’m such a fan that I’m currently trying to talk my waxer into adding sugaring to her list of services.
Anyway, if you want to learn more about sugaring and all that it entails, a few years back, someone wrote about her experience for our platform: “I Got A Sugar Wax & The Results Had Me Shook.” Real Simple also addresses a lot of additional questions that you may have here. And yes, I know a few people who do it themselves from home (because again, it’s all-natural). I’m just putting the option out there if you’re currently looking for a hair removal alternative to what you’re currently doing/using.
Try This: Homemade Sugar Wax
7. Cuticle Treatment
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It seems like the older I get, the more my cuticles want to be problematic as all get out. More than anything, they stay dry which can lead to hangnails and raggedy-looking cuticles, in general. I have to admit that although I get pedicures consistently, ever since the pandemic, I haven’t made my hands as much of a priority as they deserve. Whenever I do get professional manicures, though, that helps with the whole cuticle drama. When I’m at home, so does applying cuticle oil (or even a carrier oil like sweet almond or grapeseed) and using some sugar on them. Yep — just like the rest of your body needs dead skin cells removed from it, so do your cuticles. Try it and thank me later.
Try This: Cuticle Oil and Sugar Scrub
8. Foot Scrub/Soak
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I’m not sure why so many of us are programmed to think that manis and pedis are pampering. Personally, I think they are a form of self-maintenance — and no, those are not one and the same (check out “5 Reasons You Should Unapologetically Pamper Yourself”). Self-maintenance is preventative care. Pampering is over-indulgence. That said, doing what will help to keep foot odor and fungus at bay, doing what will remove callouses and keep your feet soft and smooth, doing what will ease stress and reduce muscular discomfort (in your feet) — it’s an act of maintenance and foot scrubs and soaks will do that for you.
All you need is a foot basin, a foot scrub, or soak recipe and about 30-45 minutes. Listen, even though I get a pedicure no less than once a month, sometimes I will still scrub my heels in between appointments with some sugar. I never have any regrets; my feet feel divine every single time.
Try This: A Listerine Vinegar Sugar Scrub
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So, y’all — whether you choose to dress up this Halloween, leave the porch light on for the kiddies or you’re gonna sit this one out, don’t let this month leave without adding some sugar to your beauty care regimen. That’s one way that you’ll never have to worry about sugar being a problem. Pretty much…ever.
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Different puzzle pieces are creating bigger pictures these days. 2024 will mark a milestone on a few different levels, including the release of my third book next June (yay!).
I am also a Professional Certified Coach. My main mission for attaining that particular goal is to use my formal credentials to help people navigate through the sometimes tumultuous waters, both on and offline, when it comes to information about marriage, sex and relationships that is oftentimes misinformation (because "coach" is a word that gets thrown around a lot, oftentimes quite poorly).
I am also still super devoted to helping to bring life into this world as a doula, marriage life coaching will always be my first love (next to writing, of course), a platform that advocates for good Black men is currently in the works and my keystrokes continue to be devoted to HEALTHY over HAPPY in the areas of holistic intimacy, spiritual evolution, purpose manifestation and self-love...because maturity teaches that it's impossible to be happy all of the time when it comes to reaching goals yet healthy is a choice that can be made on a daily basis (amen?).
If you have any PERSONAL QUESTIONS (please do not contact me with any story pitches; that is an *editorial* need), feel free to reach out at missnosipho@gmail.com. A sistah will certainly do what she can. ;)
Exclusive: Gabrielle Union On Radical Transparency, Being Diagnosed With Perimenopause And Embracing What’s Next
Whenever Gabrielle Union graces the movie screen, she immediately commands attention. From her unforgettable scenes in films like Bring It On and Two Can Play That Game to her most recent film, in which she stars and produces Netflix’s The Perfect Find, there’s no denying that she is that girl.
Off-screen, she uses that power for good by sharing her trials and tribulations with other women in hopes of helping those who may be going through the same things or preventing them from experiencing them altogether. Recently, the Flawless by Gabrielle Union founder partnered with Clearblue to speak at the launch of their Menopause Stage Indicator, where she also shared her experience with being perimenopausal.
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Jada Pinkett Smith & Why Authenticity In Black Women Sparks Controversy
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith went to social media to share their Thanksgiving holiday with followers. The pair were surrounded by family and friends Thursday, and both posted how grateful they were to be with the ones they loved. Yet this comes on the heels of Pinkett Smith’s whirlwind of negative opinions and critics forecasting her book would be a flop.
Despite the negative feedback she received, Worthy, Pinkett Smith’s memoir, still debuted at #3 on the New York Times’ Best Seller list on October 25. The greatest backlash she received was centered around her relationship with Smith and the fact that the two had been living separate lives since 2016.
The commentary about their marriage overshadowed the reality that this book is ultimately about her journey to self-worth and the path she’s had to take in order to get there.
Social media comments about her book tour ranged from, “Me counting all the times Jada woke up and chose to embarrass Will Smith,” to podcasts like The Joe Budden Podcast saying, “Take me out the group chat,” which was a sentiment shared by many celebrities and fans alike. Yet, a point made by comedian KevOnStage proved that even though people say they don’t want to know about the Smiths, they’re secretly interested and want to know more.
Since the Smiths were wed in 1997, people have been fascinated with their marriage, and rumors about their marital arrangement have always been a topic of conversation. People continue to speculate that the pair is gay and swingers, and even new allegations have come out that Smith and Duane Martin shared an intimate relationship at one point.
However, despite their consistent united front throughout their marriage in recent years, Pinkett Smith has borne the brunt of backlash in the couple’s relationship, from her entanglement with August Alsina to Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards to the recent truths she’s shared about the couple’s marriage in her memoir.
Individuals are consistently running to the internet to support Smith and villainize Pinkett Smith, from podcast guests saying things such as “She doesn’t like Will, she likes the lifestyle” to deeming her “mean” or "manipulative" because of her facial expressions and demeanor.
Likewise, when you have hosts of daytime talk shows such as Ana Navarro saying, “I think she’s having a relationship with her bank account,” insinuating Pinkett Smith only shared stories about Smith to increase her book sales, it begs the question of where was this same energy when Smith released his memoir?
In Will, Smith discusses both of his marriages and how, in relationships, because of his upbringing, he needed constant validation and praise from his partners to feel secure. He also shared the reality that Pinkett Smith never wanted to be married, just as she never wanted the huge estate they share in California, but he wanted to give it to her despite her feelings about it.
Smith admitted to creating this family empire that only further boosted his ego and what he wanted his legacy to be instead of actually asking his family what they wanted or needed. People praised him for his vulnerability and said his book was an inspiration.
So how is it that one book about a person’s family, upbringing, and journey to self is praised, and another is villainized? The glaring thought that comes to me is, does likability often trump accountability?
People love Smith and his “good guy” persona; he’s always been an attractive, charismatic man that people can relate to, so even when he speaks about the way he mismanaged his marriage and family, it’s seen as growth. On the contrary, because Pinkett Smith doesn’t constantly fawn over him and shares how miserable she was in their marriage, she’s the villain.
People still blame her for not stopping Smith from smacking Rock at the Oscars and share their sentiments about how she embarrassed Smith with her entanglement with Alsina. Though this is a celebrity couple we’ve all followed for years, the question must be asked, how much accountability must Black women be subjected to in relationship to their partners' actions?
Why is it that the media is more interested in the marriage between Smith and Pinkett Smith than her childhood, or the fact her memoir consists of writing prompts, meditations, and methods for other women to find their sense of worth?
Could it be that the larger society doesn’t value Black women having the tools to find their own sense of worth? Or is it that Black women are expected to accept whatever is given to them regardless of how they feel or what they want?
The exclusive interview with Eboni K. Williams (@ebonikwilliams) and Dr. Iyanla Vanzant about if she would date a bus driver seems to have a lot of people talking. You can watch her response tonight on #theGrio. Catch the full interview, here: https://t.co/ctxE0zKFWj pic.twitter.com/BhIO52T2fg
— theGrio.com (@theGrio) May 2, 2023
When Eboni K. Williams shared that she wasn’t interested in dating a bus driver, the internet blew up with individuals saying that Black women need to be less selective with their dating prospects. The commentary around this conversation shed much light on the reality that this demographic is expected and invited to settle in love if they actually want a life partner.
Black women aren’t often given the space to find their joy, fulfillment, or even self-worth because of the responsibility they’re forced to acquire in order to support their families and communities. Yet, “high value” Black men speak vehemently about Black women’s masculinity and inability to submit. We’re often inundated with podcast guests sharing that they’re not impressed by our success and are uninterested in our aspirations.
Black women, from a young age, are taught to place their community first and cater to the men around them regardless of what they do or how they behave.
We see this when young girls are told to put on pants when male relatives come around, we experience it when domestic violence survivors are encouraged not to press charges against their perpetrators, and we even see it when Black women face backlash for dating outside of their race.
The way Pinkett Smith has been treated since sharing the truth about her life and journey of discovering her self-worth is another example of how the world isn’t receptive to Black women being their most authentic selves.
It’s another example we can hold up to illustrate how Black women are expected to be magical but not human.
Even with this article, I’m sure there will be many who want to argue why Pinkett Smith was wrong in her narrative, but at the end of the day, it was her story to tell, and no one has more authority to share her lived experience than her.
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