

Tracee Ellis Ross Spilled The Deets Behind Her Foundation-Free FOTD
When Biggie referred to the women in the place with style and grace, I'm pretty sure he was talking about Tracee Ellis Ross. The actress is known for coming through with some clutch AF beauty advice and her latest tutorial is just as fun as you would have expected. In the video, Tracee explained that although make-up is pretty much necessary in her line of work, she chooses to stay foundation-free on her off-days. This entertainer says she'll choose her natural contour and freshly hydrated skin over a full face of makeup any day. She explained:
"My beauty routine is more about how I feel than how it transforms me into some version of myself that I can't keep up with."
According to Tracee, she's not new to the skincare game, she's true to it and says that her high-end, semi-high maintenance beauty routine is decades in the making:
"I have always taken care of my skin as a young girl. I was a picker. I used to love to do my own extractions and I thought that I was an esthetician but I was not. So, I started getting facials really young so that I wouldn't pick and I would have a professional do it because my mom was like, 'You are going to scar up your skin."'
Tracee broke down some of her favorite skincare products and although your bank account may not be fit to drop $500 on a moisturizer, Tracee let us in on some affordable, must-have beauty hacks that will allow you to give your foundation a break and let your skin breathe for a few days.
Scroll below for details!
La Grande Crème by Biologique Recherche
Vogue/YouTube
After applying some of her favorite serums, Tracee likes to continue hydrating by introducing one of her favorite face creams to the mix:
"This fancy jar is La Grande Crème. I like to use a spatula to get it out. I don't like to stick my fingers in there -- very sterile. So, I like a lot, because again, hydration, hydration, hydration. I like to heat cream up in my hands and then get in there."
"Some people spend time putting on makeup. I spend time hydrating my skin."
Vibrating Face Roller
Vogue/YouTube
"This is a small vibrating tool. It was very inexpensive and it's from Amazon. I don't even know what it's called. I don't drink coffee. I rarely eat sugar. I don't like to drink alcohol at all when I'm going to be on camera, which is all the time. Instead of coffee, I like to dry brush my body or vibrate my face or roll my face or and wake it up because I'm often at work at five in the morning."
Retrouve Intensive Replenishing Facial Moisturizer
Vogue/YouTube
"Along with the four layers I've already put on [of moisture], I'm going to do a top layer of Retrouve Intensive. I just do one little squeeze, like a teeny little bit goes a long way. [It's] really hydrating and a little bit greasy and shiny, which I really love."
Face Massager
Vogue/YouTube
"The giant blue balls. They're glass and they're cold. I keep them in the refrigerator. I do this a lot of days at work when it's really early and I just feel tired. It is very hard to go to bed at nine o'clock and wake up at four and get your eight hours, but I need eight hours."
Ruby Woo & Cherry MAC Lip Liner
Vogue/YouTube
It! Cosmetics Brow Pencil
Vogue/YouTube
"I spent a lot of time hidden on the floor in my mom's dressing room while she did her own hair and makeup. My mom is so self-sufficient with her beauty and I think it's informed so much of what I believe. I feel like every person should be able to access their most beautiful self and feel beautiful in their own bathroom without having to be dependent on someone outside of themselves."
LANCER Dani Glowing Skin Perfector
Vogue/YouTube
Shade & Illuminate Highlighter & Shader Duet
Vogue/YouTube
"I like [hot pink] blush in the front of my cheeks and then I might add a little Brown in there just to take down a little bit. Tom Ford. It's this little palette. I don't use the top guy. I basically contour my blush. I don't know which one goes first. I don't really care."
"Here's the thing at work sometimes or like if someone's doing my makeup, they'll put so much foundation. You can't even see my contour."
Opening Act™ Lash Primer & Benefit They're Real! Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara
Vogue/YouTube
Vogue/YouTube
"Tracee Ellis Ross, no foundation. Happy, joyful hair. A sexy red lip and a little bit of a Twiggy Lash."
Watch the full video below!
Tracee Ellis Ross's Guide to Curly Hair | Beauty Secrets | Voguewww.youtube.com
Featured image by Vogue/YouTube
Originally published on November 8, 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.
How Content Creators Hey Fran Hey And Shameless Maya Embraced The Pivot
This article is in partnership with Meta Elevate.
If you’ve been on the internet at all within the past decade, chances are the names Hey Fran Hey and Shameless Maya (aka Maya Washington) have come across your screen. These content creators have touched every platform on the web, spreading joy to help women everywhere live their best lives. From Fran’s healing natural remedies to Maya’s words of wisdom, both of these content creators have built a loyal following by sharing honest, useful, and vulnerable content. But in search of a life that lends to more creativity, freedom, and space, these digital mavens have moved from their bustling big cities (New York City and Los Angeles respectively) to more remote locations, taking their popular digital brands with them.
Content Creators Hey Fran Hey and Maya Washington Talk "Embracing The Pivot"www.youtube.com
In partnership with Meta Elevate — an online learning platform that provides Black, Hispanic, and Latinx-owned businesses access to 1:1 mentoring, digital skills training, and community — xoNecole teamed up with Franscheska Medina and Maya Washington on IG live recently for a candid conversation about how they’ve embraced the pivot by changing their surroundings to ultimately bring out the best in themselves and their work. Fran, a New York City native, moved from the Big Apple to Portland, Oregon a year ago. Feeling overstimulated by the hustle and bustle of city life, Fran headed to the Pacific Northwest in search of a more easeful life.
Her cross-country move is the backdrop for her new campaign with Meta Elevate— a perfectly-timed commercial that shows how you can level up from wherever you land with the support of free resources like Meta Elevate. Similarly, Maya packed up her life in Los Angeles and moved to Sweden, where she now resides with her husband and adorable daughter. Maya’s life is much more rural and farm-like than it had been in California, but she is thriving in this peaceful new setting while finding her groove as a new mom.
While Maya is steadily building and growing her digital brand as a self-proclaimed “mom coming out of early retirement,” Fran is redefining her own professional grind. “It’s been a year since I moved from New York City to Portland, Oregon,” says Fran. “I think the season I’m in is figuring out how to stay successful while also slowing down.” A slower-paced life has unlocked so many creative possibilities and opportunities for these ladies, and our conversation with them is a well-needed reminder that your success is not tied to your location…especially with the internet at your fingertips. Tapping into a community like Meta Elevate can help Black, Hispanic, and Latinx entrepreneurs and content creators stay connected to like minds and educated on new digital skills and tools that can help scale their businesses.
During a beautiful moment in the conversation, Fran gives Maya her flowers for being an innovator in the digital space. Back when “influencing” was in its infancy and creators were just trying to find their way, Fran says Maya was way ahead of her time. “I give Maya credit for being one of the pioneers in the digital space,” Fran said. “Maya is a one-person machine, and I always tell her she really changed the game on what ads, campaigns, and videos, in general, should look like.”
When asked what advice she’d give content creators, Maya says the key is having faith even when you don’t see the results just yet. “It’s so easy to look at what is, despite you pouring your heart into this thing that may not be giving you the returns that you thought,” she says. “Still operate from a place of love and authenticity. Have faith and do the work. A lot of people are positive thinkers, but that’s the thinking part. You also have to put your faith into work and do the work.”
Fran ultimately encourages content creators and budding entrepreneurs to take full advantage of Meta Elevate’s vast offerings to educate themselves on how to build and grow their businesses online. “It took me ten years to get to the point where I’m making ads at this level,” she says. “I didn’t have those resources in 2010. I love the partnership with Meta Elevate because they’re providing these resources for free. I just think of the people that wouldn’t be able to afford that education and information otherwise. So to amplify a company like this just feels right.”
Watch the full conversation with the link above, and join the Meta Elevate community to connect with fellow businesses and creatives that are #OnTheRiseTogether.
Featured image courtesy of Shameless Maya and Hey Fran Hey
Exclusive: 'Praise This' Stars Chloe Bailey And Anjelika Washington Talk Acceptance And Their Favorite Scenes
There's nothing like a feel-good movie that you can watch with friends and family, and that's exactly what Praise This is. The film, executive produced by Will Packer and directed by Tina Gordon, stars Chloe Bailey, Anjelika Washington, Quavo, and many more, and it tells a story about how one's struggle with their faith can ultimately lead them to find themselves and appreciate the people around them.
In the Peacock original film, Chloe's character Sam has aspirations of becoming a singer, but her mom's death sends her down the wrong path, which puts a strain on her relationship with her dad. In an effort to help her, her dad sends her to live with her aunt and uncle in Atlanta, where she is introduced to the praise team thanks to her cousin Jess, played by Anjelika.
While this may sound like a fit, Sam is very resistant and continues doing things her way, further complicating her relationships with others. However, her undeniable talent breaks through, and she learns a valuable lesson in the end. Praise This isn't your typical church movie. While the story focuses on faith, the church shade throughout the movie is hilarious, and if you grew up in the church, relatable, and the fire mashups of secular and gospel songs will surely keep you entertained. I spoke with Chloe and Anjelika about the film, their characters' dynamic as "cousin-sisters," and the hijinks that happen throughout the film.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 03: Quavo, Tristan Wilds, Janora McDuffie, Jekalyn Carr, Anjelika Washington, Chloe Bailey, Tina Gordon, William Packer, Druski and Big Tank attend the "Praise This" World Premiere at Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University on April 03, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Terence Rushin/Getty Images
"I think my favorite scene filming with her would have to be our handshake because we made that up early on, and when Tina was like, 'okay, this is the scene where you pull up to Ty's house, you know, with the little handshake you guys do, you can do it right here,'" Chloe says. "We were like, 'oh.'""
For me, I really loved the scene in the house where I'm showing her my world and everything, and I get to sing for her," says Anjelika. "That was also my scariest day on set was because I was like singing for Chloe Bailey, like the singer. So, anyways, it was like a crazy moment, but I got through it. Chloe sat there [and] was like, 'this is great, this is funny.' She was laughing genuinely the whole time, which made me feel good 'cause then I was like, I'm doing a good job."
Praise This is available on Peacock.
See more from the interview below:
Stars Chloe Bailey and Anjelika Washington Reflect On Their Bond and Secret Handshake
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Feature image by Nykieria Chaney/WireImage