

I want to tell you ladies a little about my best friend. She's often misunderstood, and in some eyes, morally reprehensible and reckless. But in my life, she's proven to be the dependable, down-to-earth, wellness-savvy confidant I didn't know I needed. Some of you may have met her back in college during your wilder days, and others may even indulge in her company every now and then today. However you've made your acquaintance with her, I'm about to fill you in on some of the little-known facts about my homegirl Mary Jane.
*Cue Rick James' "Mary Jane"*
Walking into your local high-end beauty store, you may notice that new products have emerged on the market that are cannabis-infused. But let's be clear, Mary Jane is a multifaceted woman with many different sides. Although many people are probably familiar with the psychoactive properties of cannabis, which are produced by THC, many people haven't been introduced to the magical world of CBD.
Cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD, is normally derived from a cousin of the marijuana plant, the hemp plant. Although it doesn't get you high, the health properties of CBD are numerous. CBD products can have benefits to many people suffering from medical conditions including but not limited to:
- Anxiety and Depression
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Acne
- Chronic Pain and Muscle Spasms
- Insomnia
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Epilepsy
- Swelling and Inflammation
Cannabinoids have antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties that can not only control the amount of sebum produced and help your acne, but studies have also been done that show that it can help with certain neurological disorders and chronic pain. The studies that have been done on the medical effects of CBD are not definitive enough to make claims of "curing" anyone, but cannabidiol has also been said to help with the side effects of chemotherapy.
Now that I've convinced you that CBD should definitely be a part of your self-care and/or beauty routine, I can answer the question that's been festering in your mind since the beginning of the article. Is it legal and where on earth can I get some of this magical oil?
To answer the first question, yes. Technically, CBD is legal in all 50 states, but here's where it gets tricky. CBD is legal nationwide in the form of oils, tinctures, edibles, and topicals if, and only if, the active ingredient is derived from a hemp plant. This means that although selling CBD products derived from marijuana plants is completely okay in the 10 states where weed is legal both recreationally and medicinally, it can be considered a crime in others. To be completely sure that you're in compliance with your state's marijuana laws, it's never a bad idea to do a quick Google search to brush up on the details.
Now, where can you snag a taste of this trendy tincture? The simplest answer is the nearest Ulta Beauty. It's expected that since CBD-infused beauty products has taken fire in the beauty industry (thanks to more and more women honing in on methods of holistic wellness), the CBD oil market will reach $22 billion by 2020. That's a lot of plants, y'all.
Click through the gallery below to learn more about the broad selection of CBD-infused beauty products you can get your hands on today!
Featured image by Getty Images.
Related Articles:
I Tried Cannabis Lube - Here's Why You Should Too – Read More
6 WOC That Are Lighting Up The Cannabis Industry – Read More
I Tried Whoopi Goldberg's Weed Products For Period Pain – Read More
I Tried CBD Products To Cure My Anxiety & Depression – Read More
- I Tried CBD Products To Alleviate My Period Pain - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- I Tried CBD Oil Tincture - Here's What Happened - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Amazing Health Benefits Of CBD Oil - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Brown Girl Jane CBD Products Review - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Is CBD Oil Legal? State-By-State and Future Legality - TheStreet ›
- WHAT IS CBD OIL | CBD Daily Products | The benefits of using CBD ›
- The Trouble with CBD Oil - FullText - Medical Cannabis and ... ›
- The Best CBD Oil Reviews – Our Top Picks and Buyer's Guide (2019) ›
- What is CBD oil? The uses, benefits and risks ›
- What is CBD Oil | CBD Hemp Oil | NuLeaf Naturals ›
- CBD Oil: Benefits, Uses, Side Effects, and Safety ›
- 7 Benefits and Uses of CBD Oil (Plus Side Effects) ›
- CBD Oil: All the Rage, But Is It Really Safe and Effective? – WebMD ›
Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
You Don’t Have To Choose: How Black Women Can Care For Others Without Self-Sacrifice
One of the primary instructions we receive before a flight takes off is to prioritize putting on your life vest first if there’s an emergency, even before assisting others. It’s funny how this rule rarely translates to the daily routine of women.
As women we are taught, directly and indirectly, to put others first. Whether it’s our romantic partners, kids, parents, friends, or even our jobs. Mental health survivor and founder of Sista Afya Community Care, Camesha Jones-Brandon is challenging that narrative by using her platform to advocate for Black women and their right to self-care.
Camesha created the organization after her struggles with mental health and the lack of community she experienced. The Chicago native explains how she created Sista Afya to be rooted in “culturally grounded care.”
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet/ Shutterstock
“So at my organization, Sista Afya Community Care, we focus on providing mental health care through a cultural and gender lens,” she tells xoNecole. “So when we think about the term intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, we think about the multiple identities that lead to certain experiences and outcomes as it relates to Black women.
“So in the context of culturally grounded care, being aware of the cultural history, the cultural values, and then also the current issues that impact mental health outcomes.”
Words like “strong” and “independent” have long been associated with Black women for some time and many of us have begun to embrace the soft life and are using rest as a form of resistance. However, some of us still struggle with putting ourselves first and overall shedding the tainted image of the “strong, Black woman” that had been forced on us.
Camesha shares that while there’s more and more communities being created around empowerment and shared interests like running, she still questions, “are Black women really comfortable with being vulnerable about sharing their experiences?”
Being vulnerable with ourselves and others play an important role in healing the instinctive nature of always being “on” for everyone. “I'm currently facilitating a group on high functioning depression, and yesterday, we talked about how when Black women may be struggling or have shared their concerns with other people. They may be minimized, or they're told to just be strong, or it's not so bad, or I went through something worse back in Jim Crow era, so you should be thankful,” she explains.
“So I think there's a challenge with Black women being able to be honest, to be vulnerable and to receive the support that they need in the same capacity as how much they give support to other people. So that is probably a very common theme. I think we've made a lot of progress when we talk about the superwoman syndrome, the mammy stereotype, the working hard stereotype, the nurturing stereotype. I think we're beginning to unpack those things, but I still see that we have definitely a long way to go in that area.”
I think there's a challenge with Black women being able to be honest, to be vulnerable and to receive the support that they need in the same capacity as how much they give support to other people.
Roman Samborskyi/ Shutterstock
While we’re unpacking those things, we know that we’re still women at the end of the day. So as we continue to serve in various roles like mothers, daughters, sisters, and caretakers, we have to make caring for ourselves a priority. Camesha reveals four ways we can still care for others without abandoning ourselves.
Trust
First things first, trust. Camesha explains, “Some of the burdens that Black women have can be linked to not feeling like you can trust people to carry the load with you.
“It's hard because people experience trauma or being let down or different experiences, but one of the things that I found personally is the more that I'm able to practice trust, the more I'm able to get my needs met. Then, to also show up as my best to care for other Black women.”
Know Your Limitations
Another thing Camesha highlighted is Black women knowing their limitations. “The other thing that I would like to bring up in terms of a way to care for yourself is to really know your limitations, or know how much you can give and what you need to receive,” she says.
“So often, what I see with Black women is giving, giving, giving, giving, giving to the point that you're not feeling well, and then not receiving what you need in return to be able to feel well and whole individually. So I really think it's important to know your limitations and know your capacity and to identify what it is that you need to be well.”
Don’t Take On A Lot Of Responsibilities
Next on the list is not taking on so many responsibilities, sharing herself as an example. “The other thing is taking on too much responsibility, especially in a time of vulnerability.
“One thing that I personally struggled with was being so passionate about community mental health for Black women, and saying yes to everything and taking on so much responsibility,” she reveals. “That affected me to do well in serving Black women and then also impacting my own well being.”
Practice Self-Care
Lastly, she notes the importance of practicing self-care. “The last thing is really practicing regular self care, regular community care, so that it's embedded into your daily life. So for me, having prepared meals, going to the gym, getting eight hours of sleep, spending time with friends and family, all of those things are part of my self care that keep me at my best,” she explains.
“Then community care, leaning into social networks or social groups, or spending time with other interests or hobbies. That's a part of my community care that keeps me going, so that I can take care of my needs, but also to be able to show up best in care for others.”
Find out more about Camesha and Sista Afya Community Care at communitycare.sistaafya.com.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by AS Photo Family/ Shutterstock