Tyla is having one helluva moment. She won her first Grammy for the inaugural African Music Performance category, dropped her self-titled debut album to rave reviews, and is featured in campaigns for major brands like Gap. While her career is on a high, in her downtime, she likes to participate in self-care. The “Truth or Dare” artist shared her beauty and skincare routine with Vogue and revealed some of the wellness practices she uses, such as listening to music, lighting candles, and sound healing.
Check it out below:
Singing Bowl
Before Tyla starts her skincare routine, she likes to light a candle and use her singing bowl, which she was introduced to during a trip to Thailand. “I like doing this in the morning and praying. Starting my day, clear.”
Skincare
Youth to the People Superfood Gentle Antioxidant Cleanser
Tyla’s go-to cleanser is Youth to the People Superfood Gentle Antioxidant Cleanser, but she hasn't always took care of her skin. “I was really not a skincare girl. I used to watch YouTube videos and everything of people having skincare routines and everything, but we didn’t really have all those products in South Africa, so I was just using a baby soap and any lotion kinda girl,” she explains.
However, that all changed once she began performing more. “I started being more careful with my skin and making sure that I take care of it because I have to wear makeup and everything when I perform.” She then followed up her cleanser with Caudalie Beauty Elixir Face Mist.
Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Body Cream
“Literally, all of my face moisturizers have to be thick. I can’t have a thin lotion because I always end up feeling dry.”
Razor Blade
Next, Tyla shares this hack for managing her eyebrows. “Usually, when I do my eyebrows, I use this. So, this is like blades. I’ve been using this for years to do my eyebrows. Please don’t try this at home,” she urges.
Black Girl Sunscreen
“I really like this one because it doesn’t leave a white cast after.”
Eye Cream
While she didn’t reveal which eye cream she uses, she did share how it’s been a game-changer in her skincare routine. “I didn’t think eye cream worked, but I actually saw a difference, and it makes me feel bougie when I put on eye cream," she shares. "I don’t know why.”
Vaseline
Vaseline gave the “ART” singer a custom blinged-out container, and she likes to use the product as a lip balm.
Makeup
Path McGrath and Too Faced Concealers
Tyla mixes both Path McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection and Too Faced Born This Way Multi-Use Sculpting concealers. “When I went on tour, it was gonna be way too expensive to have like a makeup artist or whatever, so literally I had to learn, and I started getting good, and now I can do my own makeup,” she says.
The South African beauty also uses Too Faced concealer for bronzer, but in a darker color. She brushes the concealer on the sides of her cheeks, on her nose, and on her cupid’s bow.
Eyeliner
She didn't share the name of the eyeliner she uses. However, she's a big fan of this product. “I love a liquid wing," she says. "Usually, if I’m not doing too much, I like to use a brown one ‘cause I feel like it’s not as harsh.”
BLK/OPL Soft Velvet Finishing Color
“My eyes always crease no matter what I do. I’ve searched TikTok left, right, and center. There’s no hack that works for me," she reveals. "Before I powder, I have to get rid of it again. I have to try to keep my eyes open for as long as possible so it doesn’t crease as much.”
She then contours with Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer, followed by Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Divine Blush.
L'Oréal Telescopic Mascara
Tyla calls mascara her “favorite thing ever” and shares how she would wear her mom's makeup growing up. “I remember being young and I was never allowed to put on any makeup. I would steal my mother’s mascara. I would carry it with me and then I would go put it on in the bathroom at school.”
MAC Cosmetics Lip Liner and Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
“When it comes to lip products, I really like neutrals like nudes or browns.”
Body Shimmer
“People know I have to be literally glistening whenever on stage, whenever I’m being seen," she says. "I like to mix a lotion and a highlighter.”
Hair
Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Edge Gel
“I’ve always loved braids not only for style but also convenience," she shares. "I’m traveling so much, I have to do so much, and curly hair is so difficult to manage.”
Last but not least, she finishes her routine with a hair perfume. "I use the same fragrance as my perfume, and I feel like it enhances the fragrance when you walk past.”
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Feature image by Momodu Mansaray/WireImage
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Kayla Nicole says she wore a dress that was once worn by Braxton herself for the Halloween costume. “It’s not a secret Toni is more on the petite side. I’m obsessed with all 5’2” of her,” she tells xoNecole via email. “But I’m 5’10'' and not missing any meals, honey, so to my surprise, when I got the dress and it actually fit, I knew it was destiny.”
The episode was the perfect way for the multihyphenate to take control of her own narrative. By addressing the viral moment on her own platform, she was able to stir the conversation and keep the focus on her adoration for Braxton, an artist she says she grew up listening to and who still makes her most-played playlist every year. Elsewhere, she likely would’ve received questions about whether or not the costume was a subliminal aimed at her ex-boyfriend and his pop star fiancée. “I think that people will try to project their own narratives, right?” she said, hinting at this in the episode. “But, for me personally – I think it’s very important to say this in this moment – I’m not in the business of tearing other women down. I’m in the business of celebrating them.”
Kayla Nicole is among xoNecole’s It Girl 100 Class of 2025, powered by SheaMoisture, recognized in the Viral Voices category for her work in media and the trends she sets on our timelines, all while prioritizing her own mental and physical health. As she puts it: “Yes, I’m curating conversations on my podcast The Pre-Game, and cultivating community with my wellness brand Tribe Therepē.”
Despite being the frequent topic of conversation online, Kayla Nicole says she’s learning to take advantage of her growing social media platform without becoming consumed by it. “I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out,” she says.
On The Pre-Game, which launched earlier this year, she has positioned herself as listeners “homegirl.” “There’s definitely a delicate dance between being genuine and oversharing, and I’ve had to learn that the hard way. Now I share from a place of reflection, not reaction,” she says. “If it can help someone feel seen or less alone, I’ll talk about it within reason. But I’ve certainly learned to protect parts of my life that I cherish most. I share what serves connection but doesn’t cost me peace.
"I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out."
Credit: Malcolm Roberson
Throughout each episode, she sips a cocktail and addresses trending topics (even when they involve herself). It’s a platform the Pepperdine University alumnus has been preparing to have since she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism, with a concentration in political science.
“I just knew I was going to end up on a local news network at the head anchor table, breaking high speed chases, and tossing it to the weather girl,” she says. Instead, she ended up working as an assistant at TMZ before covering sports as a freelance reporter. (She’s said she didn’t work for ESPN, despite previous reports saying otherwise.) The Pre-Game combines her love for pop culture and sports in a way that once felt inaccessible to her in traditional media.
She’s not just a podcaster, though. When she’s not behind the mic, taking acting classes or making her New York Fashion Week debut, Kayla Nicole is also busy elevating her wellness brand Tribe Therepē, where she shares her workouts and the workout equipment that helps her look chic while staying fit. She says the brand will add apparel to its line up in early 2026.
“Tribe Therepē has evolved into exactly what I have always envisioned. A community of women who care about being fit not just for the aesthetic, but for their mental and emotional well-being too. It’s grounded. It’s feminine. It’s strong,” she says. “And honestly, it's a reflection of where I am in my life right now. I feel so damn good - mentally, emotionally, and physically. And I am grateful to be in a space where I can pour that love and light back into the community that continues to pour into me.”
Tap into the full It Girl 100 Class of 2025 and meet all the women changing game this year and beyond. See the full list here.
Featured image by Malcolm Roberson
My main motive? Mostly, I hope that it will serve as a solid reminder to embrace all of the things that you adore about this time of year, so long as you do it in moderation and you weigh the costs.
Especially as far as drinking alcohol is concerned.
PRO: Manages Blood Sugar Levels
GiphyHere’s something that you may have never seen coming. Were you aware of the fact that alcohol can actually help to stabilize your blood sugar? Yep, according to the American Diabetes Association, so long as you leave it to no more than 1-2 cocktails a day, alcohol may be able to lower your A1C levels. Pretty cool, right?
CON: It’s a Carcinogen
GiphyAlcohol is a carcinogen. The reason why this should somewhat alarm you is because carcinogens are things (like tobacco, UV rays, processed meats, etc.) that can increase your chances of being diagnosed with cancer (especially mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach and breast cancer). There are various ways this happens including the fact that alcohol, specifically, can hinder your body from breaking down certain nutrients, it can cause your estrogen levels to spike and alcohol can also cause certain toxins to damage your DNA and certain bodily proteins over time.
PRO: Cultivates Euphoric Feelings
GiphyIf you find yourself feeling more euphoric while you’re enjoying a drink, it’s not all up in your head. Although, for the more part, alcohol is considered to be a depressant, when consumed in small amounts, it can provide a stimulant effect. This happens due to the fact that when you first start to consume alcohol, it causes the production of the feel-good hormone known as dopamine to increase — and since dopamine makes us all feel more relaxed and confident while heightening our senses of pleasure too…well, there you have it.
CON: May Increase Anxiety/Depression
GiphyAs they say, “what goes up, most come down” at some point — and that is what you have to be careful of when it comes to alcohol consumption. For instance, when you drink alcohol, although it tends to initially cause your dopamine levels to uptick, because it is a temporary bodily response, sometimes the dips are lower than the rises…and that is when anxiety starts to kick in. A similar point is made with depression because oftentimes, people with depression-related symptoms, will use alcohol as a way to deflect from what’s really going on with them — and that can make them feel even worse than ever once the buzz of alcohol starts to wear off.
PRO: Has Some Heart-Related Benefits
GiphyWhen it comes to your heart, there are interesting findings surrounding its relationship to alcohol. For instance, some research states that, so long as the consumption is moderate, alcohol can actually help to increase the good cholesterol in your system while also breaking down proteins that can potentially lead to blood clots; both of these factors alone can reduce your chances of dying from heart disease.
CON: Packs on Pounds
GiphyIt’s no secret that alcohol tends to contain quite a few calories. That’s why, it’s not uncommon for people who’ve lost weight to mention “I’ve stopped drinking” as one of the causes for the shed pounds. That’s not to say that there aren’t some alcoholic beverages that have less calories than others including vodka (133 calories per serving), white wine (148 calories per serving) and tequila (99 calories per shot). Just keep in mind that the more you drink, the more calories get into your system and the more weight you stand to gain.
PRO: Lowers Inhibitions
GiphyAlthough you really should only be uninhibited around people who you absolutely trust, if that person is your partner and you’re looking to have a pretty — eh hem — active evening, alcohol can certainly help to make that happen. The science of it all is the prefrontal cortex of your brain is what regulates your inhibitions and levels of self-control. Meanwhile, alcohol suppresses your inhibitions which can cause you to be more spontaneous and open to trying things that you might not immediately do if you were sober. And with the right individual, that can be sexually beneficial (emphasis on “right person”).
CON: Makes It Harder to Orgasm
GiphyOn the other hand, as odd as it may seem (in light of what I just said), if you have too much alcohol in your system, it could make climaxing difficult. That’s because orgasms happen, in part, due to your nervous system being stimulated — and since alcohol is technically a depressant…well, it could reduce nerve sensitivity (especially as far as your clitoris goes) for you while making it challenging for your partner to remain erect or have consistent stamina. And yeah, that sucks.
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‘Tis the season. And with that, if some wassails or hot buttered rums are in your immediate future — hey, don’t let me stop you — not even a lil’ bit.
All I’m saying is now that you know what alcoholic drinks have to offer (both ways), you can know exactly how to incorporate them into your holiday plans. Enjoy!
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