With the world re-opening and Hot Girl Summer in full swing, Alicia Keys is making a case for Restful Girl Summer. After launching her beauty and wellness brand Keys Soulcare during quarantine, the musician wants to help you just chill. “Keys Soulcare was so perfectly timed for quarantine without being prevalent,” she tells ELLE.com over Zoom. “And there was no reason why it was ready at that time, but I felt so grateful about that. We’re all trying to figure out how to take care of ourselves, which is harder and harder in these times.”
Keys Soulcare’s latest launch is a collection of body products—a Renewing Hand and Body Wash, Rich Nourishing Body Cream, and Sacred Body Oil—for rediscovering and celebrating our unique selves. “Body care and the body, period, is such an amazing vessel,” she adds. “It’s incredible what it does for us. So many of us have different relationships with our body, so I love this idea of continuing to forge a beautiful, positive body-conscious relationship with ourselves.”
Want to reach Keys’ level of enlightenment? Ahead, the singer shares her top wellness commandments, plus her favorite affirmations and advice for her 20-year-old self.
Make time for daily rituals.
Keys Soulcare is all about creating ritual for ourselves, even in the smallest moments within our days, like when we’re getting ready, when we’re washing our face in the morning or at night, when we’re jumping in the shower to get ready for a big day. Whatever the case, it has this ability to remind ourselves how incredible we are.
Pair your products with affirmations.
The Renewing Body + Handwash smells so good. So many people have said, “You have the Golden Cleanser. Can I just put that all over my body?” So this is that. The mantra of this product is, “I love myself as I am.” The Rich Nourishing Body Cream is very rich. It has a creaminess to it and feels amazing. And that mantra is “My body is a vessel for love, light and strength.”
My favorite is the Sacred Body Oil. When you get out of the shower, put some drops on your damp skin and say the mantra is “Everything I do is an act of creation,” which is powerful. Think of that as you’re creating this moment for yourself and your day.
Keys Soulcare
Your skin will change.
I had challenging skin issues for a long time, even far past puberty. I kept asking everybody, “Isn’t that supposed to stop now? Isn’t this over yet?” It just kept going, mainly due to stress, primarily due to lifestyle. I internalize a lot. I didn’t let things out. Because of that, I wanted to be diligent with my skin, especially when it started to clear up. It feels crazy when your skin is never cooperating with you.
And so will your body.
I was always a thicker girl, and I had a lot of curves early. I’m born and raised in New York, and on the streets, it was always a little bit of hesitation about my curviness because that drew a bit of attention. I dressed in really baggy clothes to hide it. Then as I got older and started to even get into the music industry, I was pretty shy, but I began to explore more. I began to feel more brave and bold.
Keys Soulcare
Your body is a miracle.
When I had kids, I felt like, “Oh, my gosh, I’ll never look the same ever again.” And that creates insecurity. It fluctuates and flows, but I feel like today, right now, I feel really good about my body. Every day, what your body does is a miracle. We’re like the walking embodiments of miracles, and I like to remember that.
Beauty goes beyond skin-deep.
I feel really beautiful after a hard hike. My strength and ability is sexy and sensual. Or laying on a beach chair with some sun beating down on me. And I feel beautiful when I’m just with my family and my sweatpants on a couch, and we’re all just cuddled up and hugging, watching a movie—that feeling of pure bliss and love.
Be grateful for your past.
I’d have never thought 20 years ago [when I released my first album] that I’d be here flourishing and more creative than ever and creating the best music of my life, making the best connections of my life. When I look back [at my 20-year-old self], I’m just profoundly appreciating her because she helped to create me now.
Celebrate your growth.
The advice I would give my 20-year-old self is, you already have it right. You don’t have to change anything. You don’t have to fix anything, you don’t have to try to fit in anything or be whatever people want you to be. All you have to do is keep doing you.
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