Thank you for rocking with this column all year long. Creating Elevate & Illuminate has been one of my greatest joys, and knowing you return each month to journey with me means more than words can hold.
It’s time! December has arrived — the grand finale of 2025 — and it feels like the year is taking a long, slow breath with us. So much has happened in our world and in our own lives: remarkable breakthroughs, triumphant victories, and even a few colossal heartbreaks. And yet, even with all that this year has held, it’s still so easy for us to look at ourselves and feel like we simply haven’t done enough. Maybe you didn’t start that thing you promised yourself. Or maybe you did and you paused halfway through. Either way, if you have any pending accomplishments or desires yet to be materialised, know this: you are not a failure. And more importantly, you are not alone.
For many of us, 2025 has insisted that we evolve. We’ve been asked to let go of old versions of ourselves. All that we are well accustomed to. Many of us have been anchored in familiarity to interpretations of ourselves that are well past their expiration date. This metamorphosis, for all its beauty, is just as terrifying. And yet, we persist. If you have only made little progress on what you have set your heart to, that is a little more than no progress at all. If you could only give small pieces of yourself at a time, those pieces still mattered. You’re still here. So, before you rush toward the next thing, take a breath. Rest. Honour your journey so far. Reward yourself for the ground you’ve already covered, because even if there’s more ahead, you’ve already come so, so far. And this is what December’s Edit of Elevate & Illuminate is all about — rewarding oneself for a year lived courageously. I’m rooting for you.
Beauty, Refined
Supple and radiant skin? Count me in
With the temperature rising and the harmattan winds slowly sapping the moisture from our skin’s surface, those of us with dry skin are really feeling it.
And while the season may be hot and dry, our skin does not have to suffer for it. I have in my arsenal two products that will help you stay soft, hydrated, and beautifully radiant, even when the temperature threatens to climb past 30 degrees:
Multi-Use Instant Hydrating Mist
₦20,200
Skinneeds
In drier weather, one of my top priorities is replenishing my skin’s moisture. This hydrating mist is a welcome addition to my skincare routine because it is truly fortified to protect the skin. Plus, it’s easy to use — a few spritzes, and you’re good to go!
Even ONSKN Serum
$53
ONSKN
Hyperpigmentation can be exacerbated by dryness and heat, and that is exactly why this serum is so precious to me — it combats both with ease and precision. I appreciate formulations that are designed with melanated skin in mind. If you do, ONSKN is completely worth remaining faithful to.
Makeup for the vibrant and vivid
Honestly, what better time to celebrate colour than when the world itself feels brighter under these high temperatures?
With the heat dialled all the way up, it’s the perfect time to lean into bold eyes, playful pigments, and colourful lips that pop effortlessly in the sun. These are the products I’m bringing to the party:
“Queen of Arts” Eyeshadow Palette
$13.49
J. Cat Beauty
Is everyone seeing the colours on this palette? Brilliant! I am a complete sucker for shades of red, pink, and purple — and that is exactly why this palette is such a favourite of mine. The colours are rich, vibrant, and pigmented, gliding over the lids with ease. 10s across the board!
Fat Oil Lip Drip in “That's Chic”
₦19,797.99
NYX Cosmetics
For me, lip oils can be a hit or miss. Thankfully, this is an absolute banger. Between its gorgeous sheer tint and glossy finish, I simply cannot decide what I love the most about this. It leaves the lips looking juicy, as the Lord intended.
Scents that thrive in harmattan
Drier Harmattan weather is the perfect stage for richer, more expressive fragrances. When the air turns cool, dry, and a little dusty, perfumes tend to lift and project beautifully. Juicy, fruity florals pop beautifully alongside cheerful florals. Warm citruses, light gourmands, and radiant ambers all gain significant depth without feeling cloying or heavy. These are my season’s favourites:
Goddess
₦70,000
Beguile
If you’re dedicated to smelling as good as I am, this is the fragrance you reach for. Goddess blends warm sweetness with creamy jasmine, vanilla orchid, musk, and amber. This creates a truly intoxicating scent that is rich, smooth, and impossible to ignore.
Enigma
₦59,000
Hareem Istanbul
Enigma is a favourite for me because it’s completely unexpected. Its earthy truffle melts brilliantly into soft gardenia, snapped awake by the citrus notes of mandarin oranges and blackcurrant. It settles warm, opens bright, and stays vibrant as the hours melt away.
Style, Elevated
Staying stylish in the heat
Keeping things light, bright, and breathable in hot weather is of utmost importance. Soft fabrics, airy cuts and colours that feel fresh under the sun take centre stage. Hot weather doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style; it just means choosing clothes that let you feel as good as you look. Stay stylish with these picks:
Beaded Mesh Dress in Dawn Print
₦350,000
Motthelabel
I love this dress because it’s truly stunning. The breathable mesh makes it comfortable to wear, while the beaded detailing adds a sexy, eye-catching touch. It works effortlessly for a wide variety of events, from nights out to special occasions. I appreciate pieces that are truly, truly diverse.
Reina Dress in “Olive”
₦185,000
Studio Bonnita
This beautiful, structural piece is genuinely so fun to wear. It strikes a beautiful balance between boldness and femininity. And as someone who adores flowers, the delicate floral details make me smile every time I put it on. It’s a standout dress that brings a little joy with it wherever it goes.
Stepping into the season
Finding the right shoes in this heat is all about pieces that feel good and look even better. I’m keeping things bold, bright, and breathable — styles that add personality without weighing you down.
Whether it’s a pair that stops you in your tracks with its colour and structure, or something easy and effortless for everyday movement, these are the shoes carrying me through the season with confidence, comfort, and a little bit of joy.
Reflect Amoeba in “Red”
₦110,000
KiingDaviids
Yeah, I’m actually obsessed with this pair of shoes. It is so fun — the colour, the vibrancy, the leather, every single thing! It’s bold and brilliant. KiingDaviids knows exactly how to make statement shoes, and this pair proves it. Every single time I look at them, I’m honestly in awe.
Rivalry 86 Low Shoes
₦222,000
Adidas
To be honest, I never considered myself a sneaker girl, but that is changing before my very eyes. I love me a pair of adidas, and this has quickly become my favourite. They’re easy, effortless, and absolutely marvellous — proof that the right sneakers can win anyone over.
Mindful Living
Creating the perfect atmosphere for relaxation
Ambience is the missing puzzle piece when creating a true atmosphere of relaxation. For me, nothing sets the tone quite like a fragrant candle or a cup of thoughtfully brewed tea. Together, they transform even the smallest moment into something soothing and intentional. To sustain that feeling, I’m keeping these calming essentials within reach all December long:
Spearmint Tea
₦12,500
Greenlys
This one genuinely calms me. After a long day of staring at Excel sheets and pushing through a dozen tiny stresses, it’s the thing that finally helps my mind loosen and breathe again. It’s simple, but it works — and that’s why I reach for it.
Josée Pear
₦60,500
Deke Living
Honestly, I am so in love with Deke Living I might burst. This is one of the best candles I have ever had the pleasure of smelling. The scent opens with those illustrious notes of green apple and pear, melts into warm hints of cinnamon and clove, and settles into the softest, most comforting touch of vanilla. GOSH. It’s perfection in a jar.
The Season’s Affirmations
We’ve spoken affirmations together all year — gently resetting our mindset, finding little pockets of peace, and reminding ourselves of what truly matters.
These are my final affirmations of 2025, and if there are any loving words I want to leave with you this year, it’s these. They’re my soft reminder that you’re worthy of everything good coming your way.
1.
I am deserving of good things, even when I doubt myself.
2.
I am worthy of rest, softness, and moments that nourish me.
3.
I am learning, growing, and doing the best I can with what I have.
4.
I am allowed to take up space, even on days when I feel small.
5.
I am giving myself grace as I figure things out, step by step.
6.
I am proud of the effort I show, even when the results are still unfolding.
7.
I am allowed to pause without guilt and breathe without apology.
8.
I am gentle with myself, knowing that trying is its own kind of progress.
9.
I am choosing to believe that I am enough, exactly as I am.
10.
I am open to love, comfort, and ease entering my life because I deserve them.
Rest is its own reward… but you should reward yourself too
What a year it has been. Full of change, full of shifting ground, full of the quiet courage it takes just to keep moving. Through every high and every low, you showed up in ways only you could. That deserves gentleness. That deserves honour. So please — be kind to yourself. Let yourself exhale. Let yourself rest without guilt, without explanation, without shrinking.
This is the last Elevate and Illuminate edit of 2025, and I want to leave you with this: reward yourself. Not because the year was perfect, but because you lived it. If things unfolded exactly as you’d hoped, celebrate that. And if they didn’t, celebrate anyway — because you are still here, still growing, still becoming. Give yourself something small, something warm, something that reminds you that you matter. You deserve that now, and you’ll deserve it in every year to come.
Happy Holidays.
Love always,
