The newly dropped trailer for the fifth and final season of Insecure just dropped and we are feeling the glowed up and growed up teas felt all throughout the two-minute preview of what's to come. Since its debut in 2016, we have laughed, we have cried, we went back and forth about being Team Lawrence, we've gotten annoyed AF by the Molly in our lives, but most of all, we have collectively felt seen in a visual representation of what it means to be a Black woman navigating through life and its many uncertainties. Season 5 of Insecure, which is set to premiere October 24 on HBO Max, is sure to be the homegoing we didn't know we needed.
But in the meantime in between time, let's get caught up on everything you missed in the trailer of what's to come this season on Insecure.
Are Molly and Andrew still together?
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At the end of season four, we were left on a cliffhanger of how the conversation between Molly (Yvonne Orji) and Andrew ended. Though their witty banter was cute, that got old real quick as the two had to make adjustments in their lives to balance love and work, but also to manage relationship pains that naturally came about as you are embarking on a new relationship with someone. While Andrew seemed willing to move, Molly seemed a bit stuck in her ways, a reality that also seemed to show its hand in her rocky friendship with Issa (more on that in a few).
From the looks of the trailer, Molly and Asian Bae are no longer a thing.
Molly is putting herself first.
HBO/YouTube
You know what they say, when a woman cuts her hair, she changes her life. From what we saw in the trailer, Molly the character is borrowing some real-life self-love juice from the actress that plays her, Yvonne Orji. Yvonne did a big chop and rocks her natural hair quite often off the screen. Molly ditching the wigs and weaves (some of the time) to embrace her natural hair in the series as well, which we love to see!
She also mentioned to her mother that she is not looking to date, she is focusing on her damn self. Since the start of the series, Molly has always placed a huge emphasis on "having it all" and that included having a time clock on having a man. To see her take a step back to prioritize herself is a huge step. Yasss sis!
Issa and Molly are working on their friendship.
HBO/YouTube
Something that fans loved and were divided on was the friendship breakup Issa Dee and Molly were going through in much of season four's overarching storyline. But, it was really real. As the two friends' lives grew and their priorities shifted, it was like they forgot to have important conversations and then their friendship suffered as a result. In the trailer, Molly can be seen asking Kelli (Natasha Rothwell) how she and Tiffany navigated a similar season in their lives. It's a testament to the fact that sometimes friends can outgrow each other, yes, but if there is effort, it might be possible to grow together.
Tiffany seems back to normal again.
HBO/YouTube
After a bout of baby blues that was explored during an episode last season, Tiffany (Amanda Seales) seems to have bounced back to being her bad and bougie self. Based off her quips in the trailer at least. Last season, she was notably detached from her little one after giving birth, so much so Kelli had to step in and fill in in areas Tiffany couldn't be a part of due to her postpartum depression. She also seems to be settling into her role as a mother.
Kofi Siriboe is in the building.
HBO/YouTube
Kofi Siriboe has been pulling double-duty starring in Queen Sugarand hit Netflix movies like Really Love. This year, he starred in Doja Cat's "Streets" music video and has been making movies as a business owner with his brand, We're Not Kids Anymore. And now sir is about to be guest-starring in the final season of Insecure? Issa Rae, you are a visionary!
Issa is still insecure about her place in the world.
HBO/YouTube
Despite the professional glow-up of Issa's character walking away from the comfort zone of her job (We Got Y'all) to pursue the dream that set her soul on fire, sis is still battling life's many uncertainties. She leveled up by pulling off an incredible event last season and from the looks of it, that move has opened career doors. But as Issa said in the trailer, she's ready for her life to be in the place where she isn't so unsure about everything. Girl, aren't we all?
Some of the career doors that are opening for her are making her feel like she's playing a role versus walking a path where she's successful in reality. It's something that a lot of us are sure to find relatable, myself included, but what's beautiful is amid the self-doubt, there are pockets of joy as she acknowledges where she's come even if she still has a way to go.
What's up with Issa and Lawrence?
HBO/YouTube
Umm, we don't know for sure if Lawrence (Jay Ellis) and Issa are still a couple. But with that earth-shattering announcement he revealed in the season four finale, we can't imagine that their second chance at love survived it. But it's quite possible that the two are doing their best to work through it. Personally, we really see it for her and Nate (Kendrick Sampson). Just saying.
Only time and the season premiere will tell us definitively where she and Lawrence stand post-baby gate.
But also, whose baby is that?!?!
HBO/YouTube
Chile, we don't know. But we have our best guesses... Sips tea.
Watch the official trailer for 'Insecure' Season 5 below:
Featured image by HBO/YouTube
- Everything We Know About 'Insecure' Season 4 - xoNecole ... ›
- Insecure Season 5 Premiere Episode, Takeaways - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
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During the Los Angeles tour stop, which spanned three dates on May 21, May 23, with the finale on May 24, xoNecole had the opportunity to test out the glosses included in this soft launch, as SZA revealed in a statement that "this is just the start of other lip products, including plans to launch stains, liners, and creams all inspired by SZA's “infamous layered lip combinations.”
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So, what is included in the first Not Beauty launch?
The current Not Beauty products available are lip glosses that come in three shades: In the Flesh, Strawberry Jelly, and Quartz.
During my visit to the first LA Not Beauty pop-up activation, I not only had the chance to purchase all three glosses but also took a peek inside the blow-up log tent. Inside, fans got to experience SZA’s love for nature and her fascination with bugs, which are prominently featured in her performances for this tour. At one point, she even had human preying mantis prancing across the stage y'all.
There were blow-up photos of the beauty that is SZA for fans (myself included) to take photos, but in wooden-like tree trunks were a deeper dive into some of the ingredients featured in her products and their benefits.
For example, the glosses feature Hi-Shine Lip Jelly and Shea Butter as key ingredients and some of the listed benefits included are:
- Shea Butter - “A powerhouse ingredient, offering both functional and nourishing benefits.”
- Hi-Shine Lip Jelly (featured in the In the Flesh shade) - “Formula glides on with perfect adhesion to the lips without stickiness).
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What are in the products?
Featured in an orange package, with images of a bug and flower on the side, the back of the box reads: “It’s NOT BEAUTY, it just works. Developed by Solána “SZA” Rowe.
As someone who never leaves home without a good lip gloss, I loved how compact the wood panel packaging is. Perfect to slip into my purse, or in the case of the show at SoFi Stadium, into my pocket when I’m not carrying a bag.
Because I’m a sucker for a good black and brown lip liner and clear gloss combo, I decided to wear the Quartz flavor on night one of the Grand National Tour LA stop, and it did not disappoint. I’ll admit, it’s light weight feel made me nervous because it felt like there was nothing on my lips. However, when I checked my lips in my compact mirror several times throughout the night, I was shocked to find that my gloss was still intact. I only reapplied once out of the habit of looking cute and applying my gloss, but not necessity.
Here are some of the ingredients featured, but not limited to, in the Quartz flavor.
- Polyisoubutene
- Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea)Butter
- Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
- Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil
- Tocopherol
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Lip prep
I’m a simple girl who loves to stay true to her roots. So ahead of the show, I stopped by a local Inglewood Beauty Supply store and grabbed a Black and Brown shade lip pencil for just under $2 a piece.
Shading the outline of my lips with the black pencil first, I used the brown to lightly fill the inside of my lips before applying my Quartz Not Beauty shade gloss.
How to apply
There’s truly no right or wrong way to apply lip gloss (in my opinion), with this being a brush applicator sort of product, I simply untwisted the top and swiped the gloss around my top and bottom lip generously.
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Results
Again, my Not Beauty Quartz product stayed on my lips from the start of the show, which began with a fire DJ set from LA’s very own, Mustard, to the conclusion when Kendrick and SZA reunited on stage to send us home to their duet, “luther,” featured on the rapper's GNX album.
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This article is about crystals not Scripture, so when it comes to the latter, I’ll just briefly say that if you mosey on over to Exodus 28, you’ll see that a high priest breastplate is referenced; one that contains precious gems including topaz, sapphire, agate, onyx and jasper (and that’s just for starters!). Yeah, it really is important to not just throw judgments around like confetti — know of what you are actually speaking of first (because that’s what Matthew 7 is really all about).
I did think it was important to mention that for potential skeptics about why this article even exists. Because although there are Scriptural and evenscience-based individuals who roll their eyes at the power of what gemstones and crystals can (possibly) do, I’m pretty sure that some of you are not surprised that the holistic and Ayurveda worlds see it all very differently.In those realms, energy plays a big role in physical, emotional, and mental health, and crystals are believed to cultivate balance or intensify certain feelings or experiences through that said energy.
That said, when it comes to sex, specifically, there are certain stones (which are basically what crystals are;in fact, all gemstones are a type of crystal) that are believed to help make intimacy even more satisfying. If you’re curious about which ones are, I’ve got 10 for you below.
10 Crystals That May Enhance Your Intimate Life
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1. Garnet
Garnet is a rich shade of red that happens to be January’s gemstone. It’s considered to be one of the oldest gemstones around, one that Egyptians believed was a symbol of life and something that they oftentimes wore in their signet rings. As far as symbolism goes, garnet also represents love and vitality as well as energy, passion and even self-confidence — all of which are quite relevant when it comes to having an active and fulfilling sex life.
2. Amethyst
Queen Cleopatra and Leonardo da Vinci are just two powerful figures who were big fans of the purple gemstone amethyst. Interestingly enough, it is February’s birthstone — the month that Valentine’s Day falls under. Another interesting fact is many early Christians relied on this gem in order to increase their spirituality while many Greeks used to see it as a stone that provided protection. When it comes to intimacy, amethyst is also associated with love and devotion as well as feelings of calm and reduced anxiety — and since the less calm you feel, the easier it is to climax…well. #wink
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3. Orange Carnelian
Looking to experience more joy and happiness? Or maybe you want to strengthen your friendships. Or perhaps it’s time to increase your pleasure levels or to go into deeper levels of sensuality. For all of these things, orange carnelian is a top-tier pick. As I did a bit more research on this stone, it’s considered to be a royal one and something that can bring forth peace. One of my favorite things about orange carnelian is it comes in different hues of orange — the deeper the color, the more passion it exudes. Just an FYI.
4. Rose Quartz
If you want to take your romantic relationship to another level, rose quartz has a solid reputation for helping to make that happen for you. In fact, this pink crystal is oftentimes referred to as being the stone of unconditional love because it encourages the wearers of it to both give as well as put themselves in the position to receive love too. Since rose quartz is also tied to things like emotional healing, restored trust and harmony, if you’re looking to make a much deeper intimate connection with your partner, this just might be the stone for you.
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5. Rhodochrosite
Rhodochrosite is a red-rose colored stone that I personally hold dear. I say that because, as a survivor of sexual abuse, it is one that helps recovering individuals to work through sexual trauma (and trauma, in general). It is associated with love, compassion and strength as it helps you to process your emotions in a positive way, so that you are able to effectively release past pain and deal with any PTSD that you might have. You know, I know a wife who sexually struggled in her marriage for years because she had been sexually assaulted in college and never told her husband.
A stone of compassion is a precious one — including when it comes to dealing with sexual trauma and intimacy challenges and learning how to face them. Salute to this stone right here.
6. Citrine
Citrine is November’s birthstone and its rich yellow color explains why it represents things like abundance, prosperity, radiance and happiness. Aside from this, whether you’re seeking clarity, you’d like to be more creative or you’re interested in becoming more sensual, citrine encourages all of this. Sensuality is a dope word because it’s all about appealing to all five senses; especially during intimacy. To learn more about how to do that, check out “How To Incorporate All Five Senses To Have The Best Sex Ever.”
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7. Red Jasper
While doing my own research on what red jasper represents, what I liked the most is it’s something that encourages emotional stability which is always a wonderful thing to have. Although it is a fiery red color, it also contains grounding properties and it symbolizes strength, courage and, another word that can always make sex more pleasurable: stamina. Since stamina is what helps both men and women to last longer during sex, anything that is a “stamina hack” earns an automatic mention when it comes to sex-themed content — including this.
8. Clear Quartz
A fun fact about quartz is it’s one of the most common minerals on this planet. When it comes to clear quartz, specifically, I like the way that it looks because it’s either a cloudy white or something that you can see straight through. As far as its symbolism is concerned, if you want to reduce physical discomfort, remove distractions and focus more on heightened levels of yourself, this crystal represents all of that. Clear quartz also encourages healing, spiritual growth and balance. To me, it seems like if you want to cultivate a spiritual or meditative (check out “What Exactly Is 'Orgasmic Meditation'?”) experience with your partner, clear quartz is a stone to try.
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9. Shiva Lingam
I ain’t got no lies to tell you — when I first happened upon this particular stone, the first thing that came to my mind was an article that I penned for the site back in the day entitled, “Blow Your Man's Mind By Giving Him This Tantalizing Massage.” That’s because it explains what a lingam massage is and, as you can see, this crystal has that word all up in it. The history of lingam is a bit layered (you can read about it here); however, because it is considered by many to be a phallic symbol and that typically represents the penis — shiva lingam is a neutral-colored crystal that represents both sexuality as well as fertility. Shocking, right? #sarcasm
10. Pyrite
It doesn’t escape me that it’s kind of funny that I’m closing this out with a crystal that has the nickname “fool’s gold.” That’s due to its appearance. That said, it’s also a stone that has some interesting symbolism to it. Since it comes from a Greek word that means fire — of course, it’s a crystal of passion. Since it also taps into things like heightened energy, self-esteem, creativity, awakened senses and the removal of toxic thoughts — if any stone should be in your “let’s get it on” crystal collection, pyrite would be the one!
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Know what’s kinda wild? While I was on Etsy’s site looking for another moonstone, a sake popped up in my feed on what the merchant calls their “libido crystal set” — and six of the 10 stones that I’ve mentioned throughout this article are featured in the collection.
Yeah, I’ll take that as a confirmation that whether you purchase a piece of jewelry that has one (or more) of these stones or you buy a piece of crystal itself to place somewhere in your bedroom — just putting your own energy into wanting a better sex life is a powerful step in the right direction to achieving it.
And what science can’t refute is the benefits of positive thoughts and actions — crystals or not.
So, if precious stones are totally your thing — enjoy, sis. Enjoy!
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