My skincare journey has been quite interesting since I moved to the driest of climates in Colorado. I used to have extremely dry skin back when I resided in the Dirty South. Ironically, since I became a Denver transplant, my skin is now a combination of dry and oily. With the elevation and the close proximity to the sun, I also have to be mindful of getting sunburned. And while some black folks think that we don't burn, I don't like to play with danger that way.
When I had the chance to see what ISO Skincare was all about, I had no choice but to say "yes". Skincare has become so popular as of late. I love the "trend" because it promotes a glow that requires less makeup and more self-care. For ISO, it is a journey of healing from the inside, out. The journey incorporates both internal and external healing to achieve a constant state of self-love, confidence and a clear, healthy glow that will give you no choice but to love the skin you're in.
ISO Skincare founder Aniqah Iman created this line because of her own bouts with stress-induced acne. Aniqah says," I've always suffered from moderate acne, but the main issue for me was the scars the acne left behind. It weighed heavy on my confidence but I never wanted to cover up my face with makeup. I spent a lot of time out and about around the time of the makeup craze. I didn't want to give into that craze, I always wanted clear, flawless skin."
And who doesn't! We all want that Beyonce glow without having to spend that Beyonce coin. The founder told us that ISO stands for "inside out" because during her journey to achieving clear, glowing skin, she realized a lot of her acne was a reflection of what was going on in the inside. She knew she had to adapt a lifestyle that would support healthy skin from the inside, such as eating right and maintaining stress. ISO is not just skincare, it's a lifestyle. While they provide products to treat acne from the outside, they also provide lifestyle tips that treats acne from the inside.
After a process of elimination, Aniqah realized that her acne was caused by stress so she knew she had to adopt a more peaceful lifestyle. But she soon realized she would also need more than meditation and yoga to heal her skin issues. Knowing she was done with toxins, she delved into her background in biology to fully grasp acne on a molecular level which led her to trialing essential oils. The founder says, "I began formulating products using my self-taught knowledge to create recipes and after much tweaking and testing on myself, my skin cleared up; allowing me to gift you all with ISO Skincare: a lifestyle/skincare brand that embodies the importance of exuding self-love through self-care habits, including meditation, lifestyle changes and of course, a 100% natural skincare routine."
This boss babe sees herself in all of her customers; from the struggles to the feeling of defeat when trying to find products that actually work. So the relief they feel when her products finally help them reach their goal is unexplainable. Aniqah pours that into the formulas she creates every time by handcrafting these 100% natural products to order.
Keep reading to see my honest review of a few of the products.
Purifying 'French Green' Clay Mask
ISO Skincare
The Purifying French Green Clay Mask was designed to draw out all of the impurities from the skin while controlling oil and reducing the appearance of pores. The benefits of this mask also include clearing blemishes, toning and firming skin to naturally cleanse skin and deeply nourish skin cells. According to ISO, the Geranium essential oil gives this mask the ability to slow the growth of bacteria, relieves congested skin and has a scent that aids in balancing emotions and hormones.
Writer Joce Blake/xoNecole
Detoxifying 'Bentonite' Clay Mask
ISO Skincare
The Bentonite Clay Maskis dedicated to detoxification. "This clay mask deeply cleanses pores, draws out toxins, reduces oily skin, prevents and gets rid of blackheads, reduces inflammation, reduces the appearance of acne scars, and firms and tightens skin. With the addition of peppermint essential oil, this mask also has natural antiseptic properties and aids in control of oil secretion." ISO recommends this product for oily skin types with moderate to severe acne.
My thoughts:
One word = refreshing. I loved applying this mask to my skin because it had a minty scent from the the peppermint essential oil. I felt like my face was taking long, deep breaths and it was amazing.
GLOW Nighttime Serum
ISO Skincare
Looking to achieve supple, glowing skin? Try this GLOW Nighttime Serum filled with vitamins A, C, and E; linoleic acid to promote healthy sebum production. It also contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, decreases the appearance of dark marks, and helps skin draw in and maintain moisture.
My thoughts:
After each night of applying the masks, I completed the routine with this serum. I will admit that its red hue alarmed me at first until I realized it was infused with black currant seed oil and red raspberry seed oil. I don't normally use serums before bed but I can already see the difference in my skin's tone and moisture.
Overall, I totally approve this message. The best thing about this line is its promotion of self-care because using these products forced me to step away from work and take real time for myself. It even forced me to come up with a nightly routine: apply a mask, read a book, sip some SleepyTime tea and disconnect from social media. As a result, I can also already see a change in my skin.
The founder even created a 7-Day Self-Care and Skincare Challenge including AM & PM skincare routines, water infusions geared towards healing skin, daily water guide, healing affirmations, and meditations. Aniqah adds, "Skincare is a simple form of self-care. Carving out a set time in the morning and nighttime to commit to a routine is a form of self-care that results in achieving the optimal skin health, which in turn leads to more self-love and when one sees the results of just one self-care habit, they can then implement even more self-care habits into their lives."
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- Skin Care As Self Care - Is It Real Or A Marketing Scam ›
- When Skin Care Is Also Self-Care | HuffPost Life ›
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Now, with more than 20 years of experience in professional aviation, starting with American Eagle Airlines and then on to becoming a captain at American Airlines, she has continued to pay it forward. In 2022, she made history as the first commercial airline captain to lead an all-Black, women-led flight crew. She has also written a biography on Bessie Coleman, the first African-American and Native-American woman to earn a pilot’s license, and produced and directed, Discovering Bessie Coleman, working alongside the family to get the project completed. Add to that her role as a founder of consulting firm LadyAv8rBeth, which offers a guide of pathways into aviation, and as a podcast host covering all things aviation.
For Women’s History Month, xoNecole caught up with the busy pilot, in between flights, to talk about her career journey, her role in a Bessie Coleman documentary and book, how she balances self-care and safety, and how other Black women can add to the aviation legacy:
xoNecole: You’ve built an successful career in aviation. And you were only 15 and already had your first flight. Were you afraid at all, or did it feel like second nature to you?
Beth Powell: It felt completely natural. There was no fear, just excitement and curiosity.
Now, it’s what they call STEM, and my teacher at the time thought that I was really good at numbers. He recommended three career paths, and I tried the first one.
I didn't understand why it made sense back then at 15, but as I grew up and met other pilots, I recognized that the reason I liked math and physics was that we were technical learners. So we like to break things apart and put them back together. We like to check procedures. We like to write manuals. We were technical artists.
xoN: That’s such an important message. Many young women and girls are often discouraged from pursuing careers in STEM or aviation, so it’s incredible to hear your story. Now, fast forward a bit—how did you transition into your corporate career with larger airlines?
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BP: After that first discovery flight, I quickly finished my high school classes and graduated at 16. By 17, I had earned my private pilot’s license, and by 18, my commercial license. Then, I moved to the U.S. to attend flight school in Florida. While working on my degree in professional aeronautics, I began working for American Eagle Airlines at just 21. Over the years, I’ve built my career and have now spent 25 years in the airline industry, including 14 years at American Eagle and 11 years at American Airlines. In terms of leadership, being a captain is key.
As a captain, I’m responsible for the aircraft, the crew, and the passengers. It’s a huge responsibility, and you learn a lot about leadership when you’re in charge of so much.
Being a captain definitely teaches you leadership. You’re in charge of every aspect of the flight from the moment you sign in to the moment you sign out. From overseeing the crew to managing the safety and well-being of passengers, you have to make quick decisions and take responsibility. Even when you’re starting out as a first officer, you’re learning vital leadership skills that prepare you for the captain role.
xoN: There's a lot going on with airlines right now that might make someone feel afraid in terms of some of the tragedies that have recently happened. How do you sustain your self-care balance and your resilience in the aviation industry when those sorts of things happen?
BP: I truly believe that aviation is still the safest and the No. 1 safest means of transportation. I say that proudly. For any airline, any pilot, any air traffic controller—anyone who works in the industry—safety is our number one priority. However, of course, we see things happening in the news, and it is concerning to passengers.
What I'm telling everybody to do right now, including myself, is that it's very important to have your source of strength. I'm a Christian, and one of my sources of strength is prayers. I go deep within my prayers every morning, and I pray to God, giving things that I can't control to him, and the rest— I can do my best to deal with.
No. 2 is meditation on the Deepak Chopra app. Ever since COVID happened, that was the first time I thought that I needed something more than just my prayers to help me go through to calm down the noise around me.
And last but not least, I'm really big on self-development. I read, I read, and I read. If your foundation is strong, you have something to build from. And so, when I read, I learn a lot about myself. I learn about what triggers me and when something triggers me. I literally hear the Kendrick Lamar song, "TV Off" in my head, because sometimes you need to shut the noise off.
xoN: That's amazing—the combination of faith and just being excellent at what you do. Now, how did you get involved with the Bessie Coleman project?
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BP: I sit on the board of advisers for an organization called Sisters of the Skies, and was at a gala celebrating with all our Black women of our achievements. At the end of the night, Dr. Sheila Chamberlain walked up to me. She was the first Black woman U.S. combat intelligence aviator in the Army. So, if she's walking up to me, it's very serious. She said, ‘I have a favor to ask.’ I said, ‘Yes.’ I did not hear what the favor was. I didn't know what she was going to ask me, but somebody like that walking up to you saying, ‘a favor’? The answer is yes.
She told me [the project involved] helping the Bessie Coleman family elevate the story. ‘I'd like you to ask your company if they will do a flight in honor of Bessie Coleman.’ I went to the different departments at American Airlines, and the rest was literally history. We did that flight on August 8, 2022, and it became a historical flight because everyone on that flight, from the ground up, was a Black woman.
Gigi Coleman, Bessie’s grand-niece, was also on that flight. We started chatting at the end of the flight. Another night, we were hanging out—Sheila, Gigi, and I—and she kept telling me she wanted to write a book, that she wished there was a movie, and that people approached her about it. Nothing had been done as yet. And I thought, sounds like another mission.
I literally took it on. We do have a documentary with the family sharing their perspective of who Bessie Coleman is. And we do have a book called Queen of the Skies.
xoN: For the young women who are looking for career paths in aviation, what are some skills they need to thrive?
BP: While you don't necessarily have to love math to be a pilot, technical knowledge is important. You’ll need to understand aircraft systems and aerodynamics. This includes weather patterns and instrument training. It might seem daunting at first, but the great thing about flight training is that it builds on itself. The more you learn, the more it all clicks. Also, aviation is constantly changing, and you need to be adaptable.
It’s a field where you need to be ready for anything, from unexpected weather to technical issues. Being open to learning new things and adjusting to change is crucial.
My daughter, who has her private pilot’s license, once said, “This journey is both challenging and rewarding. I feel like I’ve grown so much since starting.” It’s important to keep going, even when it gets tough.
To help others, I’m outlining how they can go from “zero to hero” as a pilot. I offer this information freely on my Instagram account, and it’s something I’m passionate about sharing. I want everyone to have access to the resources they need to follow their dreams.
For more information on Beth Powell, the Bessie Coleman documentary, and aviation career resources, visit LadyAv8rBeth.com.
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