Covet & Acquire

What it is: A fresh summer beauty collection from CHANEL that's all about getting that perfect "natural-looking glow."

Beauty bonus: The liquid highlighter formula, called Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow Highlighting Fluid, is a new favourite. A little goes a long way, and whether dabbed on with a synthetic-bristle brush or blended with a fingertip, it gives a pretty, healthy shine to skin.

Beauty bummer: While easy to work with, we weren't as obsessed with the Les Beiges Health Glow Bronzing Cream (a universal bronzer shade) as we initially expected.

Overall: If you know me, you know I'm a sucker for two things: CHANEL and a good skin glow. And this post — and collection launch — sees the best of both of these.

The hues on offer in this summertime selection are spot-on for us. We're big fans of a bit of bronzer, hydrating highlighter and a kiss of colour on lips when the weather warms up, and this range delivers all of that in spades.

The Les Beiges Healthy Glow Lip Balm is a new favourite, offering buildable colour and a soft shiner. It's comfortable and wearable — very unlike the mattes and metallics we've all been wearing on repeat.

As mentioned above, the highlighting fluid is a treat and has been used on repeat lately along the high points of the face. It's comfortable and not sticky, plus it boasts a nice scent.

The eyeshadow is another new go-to, offering a new (sparkly) take on the neutrals that we love for summertime beauty looks.

Would recommend? Yes.
Price: From $35
Where to get it: Chanel.com

What it is: A Quebec-based lifestyle and beauty brand that takes natural, luxe, vegan and cruelty-free skincare to the next level.

Beauty bonus: The Honey Cardamom Mask is amazing. We saw an almost instant skin improvement to redness.

Beauty bummer: While we loved the spritzer format of the body oil, it didn’t absorb the quickest on us.

Overall: Just in time for Canada Day, we were excited to try this new-to-us Canadian brand. (It's something we always love doing!)

While it's easy to see why the Trio a la Rose is a bestseller — containing the oh-so-addictive Rose Floral Water — the honey mask was hands-down a fast favourite with beautiful results after just one use. A word of caution though: apply this mask with a brush of some kind (either silicone paddle or synthetic bristle) as it is a little sticky and messy without a brush.

The Karité Vanillé is our close second (or third after the aforementioned rose water) fave. A bit of a grainy texture in the jar but gently warmed with hands, the Shea butter smooths over skin wonderfully. We actually used a small amount on our face. It absorbed like a dream and left skin feeling hydrated and luminous, but not overly greasy.

Would recommend? Yes. This natural Canadian beauty brand's products are a must-try!
Price: From $31.50
Where to buy: MaisonJacynthe.ca

Want more Canada-loving content (and really, who doesn't)?
Check out a recent review of another Canadian beauty favourite, BITE Beauty, here, and my list of five Canadian fashion brands you need to know!

As I mentioned in one of my latest posts, this is the summer of dresses for me.

I'm all about the effortless, all-in-one ensembles — especially when they're easy and breezy.

While I've had this white dress from Aritzia for a few years now, I hadn't really worn it much. But, given my current predilection for loose house dresses at the moment, it's safe to say that it's been on pretty heavy rotation lately.

Paired with this super cute mini straw bag from the Canadian brand Poppy and Peonies, I loved this look so much that I didn't want to take it off.

I've linked a few cute white maxi dresses (Ok, and two floral ones, too!) below, should you be looking to add a similar style to your closet this summer season.

I wore this flirty floral dress for a weekend afternoon in Fort Langley.

While I had a small #flowerfail, forgetting to check to see if one of my favourite local florists was open for walk-in orders (they weren't) and therefore leaving empty handed, I had a nice time getting out of the house and exploring one of my favourite local neighbourhoods.

And, of course, I used the small excursion as an opportunity to test-run this new chiffon piece.

I'm all about dresses this season. While I've been skewing more toward long, house-dress styles while working from home — on the rare occasion that I venture beyond the grocery store, I've found it fun to wear some other feminine frocks like this.

I dressed down this look with sneakers, but I think it would look great when paired with simple strappy sandals. And, I plan to test this theory this summer. ;)

Happy Monday and thank you for stopping by!

Summer's here, which means it's time to think about sandals!

While I already have these Aldo x Rocky Barnes sandals, called Capri, in my collection to be worn on repeat this season, I'm always on the lookout for chic sandals that I can add to the mix.

With this in mind, I've rounded up five stylish sandals — from fabulous flat from the brand Brother Vellies to simply chic sandals from Le Chateau — that caught my eye recently.

What it is: A serum from the Korean beauty brand Laneige that controls oil, hydrates and improves makeup staying power.

Beauty bonus: Very rejuvenating, we saw the biggest improvement in our under eye area, looking much more refreshed with less fine lines noted.

Beauty bummer: While one of us loved this product, the other thought it made her look too matte.

Overall: This is a mixed bag review. One of us loved it and one, not so much. This reveals the reality sometimes of skincare products — not everything works for everyone.

If this product works for you, we found skin looked just dewy enough to not appear greasy. We saw results not only in the under-eye area but in our marionette lines, too. Skin felt hydrated, less greasy at the end of the day and bouncy! We used a tinted bb cream over top with no bunching or creasing notes throughout the day.

Would recommend: Yes!
Price: $43
Where to buy: Sephora

Like many others, I stepped away from my own content platforms in recent weeks to listen to and learn from those voices that needed to be amplified for the expansion of the Black Lives Matter movement.

As I return to creating and sharing my own content, I plan to continue my personal quest for further education on the topic of race inequality, to search out and support Black-owned businesses whenever I can, and to continue to work to support and further the initiatives that are needed in order to see change.

It's interesting because, when I look at the images shared here — while I love the dress that I'm wearing — I see a hesitation in myself. And, I remember feeling it, too.

I felt so silly taking photographs in a beautiful dress when my mind was on much more important things. It's an idea I've heard many content creators share in recent weeks, and one I'm sure many people will struggle with going forward.

Do people want to hear about and see outfits and beauty reviews right now? How do we best continue the discussion and movement while also creating content of our own? Are the roles of 'influencers' as we've known them up until now, still relevant? These are just a few of the questions I've wondered about the creator space.

If you have any thoughts or advice on this, I'd love to hear it. Feel free to leave a comment below.

What it is: An overnight treatment from Neostrata formulated with lilac plant cell extract to prep and soothe stressed skin for the next day’s environmental contaminants.

Beauty bonus: Similar to a serum, this treatment felt very light on skin.

Beauty bummer: Another addition to an already-packed nightly skin routine could be too much for some.

Our take: We saw definite skin soothing after one use of this product with skin looking a bit more radiant. The texture of skin was improved, looking more smooth, thanks to the polyhydroxy acids.

The light, gel texture of the treatment made it easy to incorporate it into our night routine, adding very little in terms of overall weight of product on skin.

Would recommend? Yes.
Price: $58
Where to buy: London Drugs

What they are: I'm a huge fan of Levi's. I wear a pair, it seems, almost every day of the week.

I've reviewed the Wedgie, Ribcage and Dad Jean styles on the blog in the past. So, when the new Balloon fit came out, I was excited to try them (I purchased these jeans, so rest assured this is neither a paid nor an endorsed review!).

When I first heard about these jeans online I was intrigued. The fit is advertised as being "'80s inspired with a dramatic curve at the hip and a tapered leg."

And the thought of a high waist with a slightly voluminous shape had me curious. So, of course, I bought a pair.

Fit bonus: The rise is perfect. Not too high but not low.

Fit bummer: The hemline is a bit short. I'm 5'8" and i feel like they're a tad too cropped on me.

Overall: For the most part, I find Levi's sizing to be pretty consistent. But, some cuts most certainly aren't. And I feel like the Balloon jeans are one of those jeans styles from the brand that you should try on before you buy them.

(I found this to be the case with the Wedgie Icon fit, too. Sometimes, they fit, while other times — nope!) 

I bought these online during a sale without ever having tried the fit on. I read online reviews (very mixed) and went with my usual size 30. When I received the jeans, I was surprised by how tight the waistline felt while pulling them up.

Given the high waist, coupled with the "dramatic curve," at the hip, I felt these fit a bit more snug than I had expected. I mean, the pictures I see on the models they look almost comically voluminous.

But, I have hips/a bum/thighs, so that's likely why the fit felt more figure-hugging than what I saw pictured on a slimmer, more straight figure.

So, while I like the Balloon jeans style, if I were to buy another pair, I would a) go into a store to try them on (a bit tricky given COVID and all), and b) consider sizing up, if the more oversized fit is the desired look.

Would recommend? Yes, if you find the Ribcage fit too high a rise. But, if you're looking for a more figure-fitting cut with more consistent sizing, I'd go with the Wedgie Straight.

Check them out online here.

What it is: A lip stain from YSL that is not drying (at all!), giving lips an editorial matte look without the fuss.

Beauty bonus: The applicator is really great.

Beauty bummer: None!

Overall: This stain surprised us!

Stains are notoriously bad for being drying. Add matte on top of that, and we were expecting a crusty mess. This delivered just the opposite — it was comfortable and left lips feeling soft!

The best part? That faded, K-beauty effect was easy to achieve with the innovative paddle-like applicator. A light application gave lips a kiss of colour, while a more thorough sweep of the ultra-pigmented product provided a bold hit.

Our favourite colour was 204, a pretty, nude-y pink shade that will be on repeat all summer long.

Would recommend? Yes.
Price: $49
Where to buy: Sephora

What it is: An overnight treatment formulated with Lilac Plant Cell Extract and Polyhydroxy Acids to prep and sooth stressed skin for the next day’s contaminants and environmental aggressors.

Beauty bonus: Similar to a serum, this treatment felt very light on skin.

Beauty bummer: Another addition to an already packed nightly skin routine could be too much for some.

Overall: We saw definite skin benefits after one use of this product, with skin looking a bit more radiant.

With continued use, the texture of skin was improved, appearing more smooth thanks to the polyhydroxy acids. The light gel texture of the treatment made it easy to incorporate into our existing night routine, adding very little in terms of overall weight of product on skin.
Would recommend? Yes.
Price: $58
Where to buy: London Drugs

Here's an on-body shot of me wearing the Speedy 25.

And a pic of me with the Speedy 35.

This continues to be the extent of my dressing up and heading out at the moment.

As I continue to work from home, I'm sticking to my usual work wardrobe of turtlenecks and trousers, but I'm starting to put a few summer pieces in there now, too. Even if it's just for a walk around the backyard.

I love a good, black throw-on top like this v-neck number, which I'm sure will be a go-to once the weather really warms up. The style feels elevated yet effortless, two words that I love when it comes to clothes.

These off-white trousers from Le Chateau were a recent acquisition that I felt could easily elevate my wardrobe for work events. I'm terrible at keeping white pants clean, but I loved the high-waisted cut on these trousers so much that I thought I'd give them a try. I think they'd also look chic worn with a slightly oversized camel sweater for a cozy (ahem, and more figure forgiving) look.

Once the restrictions lift, I'd see myself wearing this look perhaps for patio drinks (with a stylish hat, of course) or for an evening cocktail event after work hours. But, until then, I'll continue to wear it while trying to feel fancy in my backyard.