When I reflect on the people I look up to, I realize quite a few of them came into their prime as they aged. And if we're talking about physicality, most of my celebrity crushes have aged gracefully. I think it's because there's something so appealing about a man who is experienced and confident in who he is and his appearance. Don't believe me? Check out this list of our favorite MCMs who are 45+, then try to tell me age hasn't turned men we've always envisioned as eye candy into undeniable soul food.
1.Idris Elba, 49 (Married)
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I mean, do we really need an explanation? Whether he is starring in a groundbreaking film like Mandela or a culture-changing show like The Wire, Idris Elba somehow always becomes one of our favorite characters. And the amazing acting isn't the only reason why.
2.Nelly, 46 (Single)
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Is it getting hot in here, or is it just us? This week, Nelly was honored at the BET Hip Hop Awards and reminded us why he will always be on our MCM list.
3.Michael Ealy, 48 (Married)
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Remember the scene in Think Like a Man where Michael Ealy's character (Dominic) licked Lauren's (played by Taraji P. Henson) leg? I think that may have birthed this crush. That, and the eyes.
4.Method Man, 50 (Married)
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Have you ever noticed that every time a woman interviews Method Man, she seems to be smiling? I don't think that's a coincidence, his personality, and charming features just draw us in!
5.Morris Chestnut, 52 (Married)
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Best Man, Boyz in the Hood, Like Mike – and so many more of our classics had Morris Chestnut starring in it. Looking back, I was kinda young to love a couple of these films as much as I did. But, now I appreciate their excellence and Morris Chestnut even more.
6.Boris Kodjoe, 48 (Married)
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Whew, Boris Kodjoe never disappoints. And the example he and his wife set for married couples, such as Brian J. White and others, is truly beautiful.
7.Taye Diggs, 50 (Divorced)
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Brown Sugar is one of my favorite movies of all time but Taye has been in a host of other classics as well. He's been a consistent face we've seen through the years and I never get sick of seeing him. Also, if you want to check him out in something more current, check out All American on Netflix, but be prepared to binge!
8.Omari Hardwick, 47 (Married)
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Omari Hardwick. What can we say about that man that melted us all between his roles as the unhappily married man whose heart was elsewhere in Power and Being Mary Jane? It was something we forgave him for though (at times) with one look into those soulful brown eyes and at those six-pack abs. The actor/poet definitely had to make our list.
9.Rick Fox, 52 (Divorced)
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His life is proof that some people can be a jack of all trades. I mean Rick Fox has conquered basketball, acting, business and so much more. The fact that he has the looks too almost seems unfair.
10.Larenz Tate, 46 (Married)
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I had to think long and hard about adding Mr. Larenz Tate to the list. Not because of his looks obviously, but because this is supposed to be an ode to aging, and he literally still looks the same way he did when he was "the blues in our left thigh, trying to be the funk in our right."
Whatever skincare routine or diet he's on, I gotta try it! By the way, if you didn't get that quote, do yourself a favor and watch Love Jones, like today.
Featured image by Jillian Clark via Getty Images
In the video, she detailed her routine, products, and beauty secrets. Now, we know that sometimes watching makeup tutorials can be kind of overwhelming, so we've recapped it all so you can give it a try.
Let's start with skincare.
Although her face was already clean she used Neutrogena's Skin Balancing Micellar Cleansing Cloths to remove any unseen residue.
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Then, she massaged her face with a roller and Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum to help her "baby cheeks" transform into the "snatched" look she desires. She gives Vogue an insider tip, saying:
"You always wanna go up [regarding the direction of the face roller]. Because we don't want sagging skin ladies."
Also, when she has a bit of extra time or she is getting glammed up, Chlöe takes a few moments to hold ice cubes under her eyes. This can help reduce puffiness and swelling. With a smile, she says:
"It's like a little subtle difference but I notice it and I feel so much better and confident."
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Finally, she applies sunscreen and rosewater spray by Mario Badescu. And just like that, the skin is glowing and moisturized. She tells Vogue,
"I really love not overcomplicating my skincare routine because I have very sensitive skin. If I do too much I break out, if I'm stressed, I break out. So, I like to keep it to a minimum."
Same sis, same.
"I think it's really important to have time for yourself, where you take care of yourself and your skin and your body. And as I'm 23 right now I'm learning that it is OK to not work so much and take that time into me."
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Now, onto makeup.
She starts the next part of her routine with a really important element, brows. With an Anastasia Beverly Hills pencil and a Benefit pencil, she lightly fills them in, using concealer and brow gel to perfect the shape.
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Staying in the same area, she lines her eyes with a brown (to stand out more) eye pencil by Pat McGrath, before covering her face in Fenty Skin Tint, a product she seems to prefer over foundation.
Next, the "Have Mercy" singer gets real friendly with the concealer. She uses it under her eyes, above her lip, and the bridge of her nose with the help of her Beauty Blender and a spritz of rosewater to blend it out.
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Later, she moves to the contour, which is still Fenty, by the way!
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And Chlöe sets it with a powder bronzer before moving on to blush, highlighter, and lips. She says:
"I love to use the same blush and bronzer on my eyes and cheeks, especially when I travel and I don't have space to pack too much makeup."
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Finally, we move on to the part I was most interested in, because her lip gloss is always poppin', and apparently that's on purpose. She says:
"My favorite part is the lips, gotta have a nice juicy kissable lip. I'm learning to do a matte lip instead of a gloss because I like to kiss the mic a lot when I sing."
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To get the ideal lip, she uses a lip scrub, cherry lip balm by Dior, a KKW lip pencil, and Fenty lip gloss. She finishes the look by blending it with translucent powder and more sunscreen of course.
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Almost done, but we can't finish until we wrap our hair.
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Now, you might have thought that was the last step, but as we know Chlöe is the full package. And that means she takes care of everything, and that includes her hair. Before finishing her routine, she adds the final touches to her hair by using Pattern Argan Oil.
"It's pretty simple and easy and I think that's why I really love having locs. It [the color] feels like my alter ego in a way and I feel like it brings out my skin."
After watching this video, there were definitely a few products I wanted to buy and techniques I wanted to try! To watch the full video and do the same, check it out here.
Chlöe's Beauty Guide, From Sculpting Skin Care to Full Eyebrows | Beauty Secrets | Vogue
Featured image by YouTube/Vogue
