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Covet & Acquire

by Aleesha Harris

NYX Professional Makeup haul: A quick review

October 28, 2020 Vancouver, BC, Canada

NYX Professional Makeup haul: A quick review

What is it: A look at a few new releases from the drugstore beauty fave.

Beauty bonus: Gel blushes are having a minute and these cannabis oil-infused jelly blushes are fab. A close second for our favourite? The setting spray — the spritzer is perfect!

Beauty bummer: None.

Overall: NYX just keeps impressing us. 

With its high-payoff formulas for all their products and attainable price points, there really is no way you can go wrong. The plumping glosses were new for us — they do a good job — but we still like the OG Butter Gloss ($9.50), lipsticks and mattes the best.

We found the Bare With Me Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Jelly Cheek Color ($14) worked on both foundation and foundation-free skin. We liked the versatility and blend-ability of the formulas and found that using our fingers rather than a beauty blender was best for distributing the product.

Would recommend? Yes, if you're looking for affordable beauty with good payoff.
Price: From $8.49
Where to buy: Nyxcosmetics.ca, drugstores nationwide
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Easy winter wreath DIY

October 26, 2020 Vancouver, BC, Canada

easy wreath diy dried flowers

During a recent virtual holiday event with Pandora, I had the opportunity to receive a wreath kit to DIY at home. 

While I love the idea of a do-it-yourself project, I must admit I'm not all that good at them. But, with all the bits and pieces on hand to try to make my own seasonal door wreath — I decided to give it a go. 

With a quick demo during the event by Kenilworth Floral, I got to work. I found it surprisingly fun and easy, which is why I wanted to share the quick steps here for anyone who is looking for a simple seasonal DIY or craft to try themselves. (Yes, even if you, like me, aren't too good at the whole DIY thing!)

Happy wreath making! 


What you'll need: 

diy winter wreath what you'll need

1 wreath form (I used a grapevine wreath)

1 bundle of evergreen boughs 

1 or 2 bundles of baby's breath (colour of your choice) 

Garden snips

Small spool green garden wire

diy winter wreath getting started

Step 1 
Grab your evergreen boughs. 

Easy winter wreath DIY

Step 2 
Arrange the boughs along the wreath form. 

Easy winter wreath DIY

Step 3
Using the garden wire, begin securing the boughs to the wreath form by wrapping the wire around the boughs and form. Make sure the wire pulls snug enough around the boughs to hold them in place. 

If you want the evergreen boughs to look more 'wild' and less tightly bound, wrap the wire in longer curves so there are more gaps between each turn of wrap. This will allow for some of the sprigs to hang out. 

Easy winter wreath DIY

Step 4

Once the evergreen is secure, use the garden snips to cut the end of the wire and wrap it back into the wreath to secure. 

Easy winter wreath DIY

Step 5 
Using the garden snips, trim the woody ends of the boughs. I chose to trim mine close to the form. 

Easy winter wreath DIY

Step 6 

Grab your flowers. You can use any type of flowers or greenery that you like. 

Trim a few sprigs of baby's breath. Don't cut the stems too short otherwise it will be tricky to tuck them into the wreath form and weave them into it.

Step 7

Begin adding the flowers around the wreath. You can add as few or as many as you like. 

Opting for stems of different sizes, colours and length will give your wreath a more 'undone' look. 

Easy winter wreath DIY

Easy winter wreath DIY

Keep adding ...

Easy winter wreath DIY

A little more ...

Easy winter wreath DIY

Step 7
Check in on your wreath. Examine the balance of the flowers and decide if you like the placement. 

Adjust as desired. 

Easy winter wreath DIY

I chose to add just a few final sprigs. 

Easy winter wreath DIY

Step 8 

Using the garden wire again, secure the flowers by wrapping the wire around the wreath form. This is where it gets easy to fix the flower placement before finalizing with the wire. Once the wire is on, it's tricky to go back. 

Cut the wire and secure. 

And that's it! Hang your holiday creation and enjoy. 

Easy winter wreath DIY

Thank you, Pandora for the fun holiday DIY idea! 

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Dynamite Luxe Lounge outfit

October 21, 2020 Vancouver, BC, Canada

dynamite luxe loungwear rib knit lounge outfit
 
dynamite luxe loungewear rib knit lounge outfit

dynamite luxe loungewear rib knit lounge outfit

dynamite luxe loungewear rib knit lounge outfit

dynamite luxe loungewear rib knit lounge outfit

It's official: I've fully embraced loungewear. 

Early on in my work-from-home experience, I chose to get dressed in much the same way that I would when heading in to the office (though, truth be told, I work in a very business-casual environment anyway). 

But, lately, I've been donning more lounge-inspired looks like this matching rib-knit set from the Canadian company Dynamite. The idea of wearing a matching set is so appealing as it makes me feel much more pulled together than if I was, say, wearing leggings and a sweater of some kind. 

Plus, the mock-neck style top means that when I'm on video calls, I still look like I'm dressed up for the day. Win-win. 

(For those looking at purchasing this set, I recommend sizing down. I usually purchase a M or L at Dynamite and I chose a M in this set. It fits perfectly.) 

Pants and sweater: Dynamite 


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Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser: A quick review

October 19, 2020 Vancouver, BC, Canada

Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser: A quick review

What it is: A low pH, fluid cleanser that gently cleanses skin. Formulated with white tea water to maintain skin’s natural moisture barrier, skin feels clean but not at all dry.

Beauty bonus: Skin felt ridiculously smooth after a few uses.

Beauty bummer: Not a bummer, but an observation. We were expecting a little bit of bubbles (or jelly-like maybe?) staying power on skin. Instead, it almost felt like it absorbed into skin!

Our take: The consistency of this product is very close to actual milk — like decadent half and half. And we are into it! 

We were skeptical about how well it would be able to remove makeup but have no fear, it took it off the day's grime beautifully. Skin was left with the lipid layer intact (no squeaky clean feel) but still fresh.

Would recommend? Yes

Price: $45

Where to buy: Sephora

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Long shacket outfit

October 16, 2020 Vancouver, BC, Canada

H&M shacket outfit gucci brixton loafers prada saffiano bag chic winter outfit
 
H&M shacket outfit gucci brixton loafers prada saffiano bag chic winter outfit

H&M shacket outfit gucci brixton loafers prada saffiano bag chic winter outfit

H&M shacket outfit gucci brixton loafers prada saffiano bag chic winter outfit

H&M shacket outfit gucci brixton loafers prada saffiano bag chic winter outfit

H&M shacket outfit gucci brixton loafers prada saffiano bag chic winter outfit

H&M shacket outfit gucci brixton loafers prada saffiano bag chic winter outfit

H&M shacket outfit gucci brixton loafers prada saffiano bag chic winter outfit

H&M shacket outfit gucci brixton loafers prada saffiano bag chic winter outfit

Shackets, or shirt-jackets, are proving to be the perfect transitional piece this fall. At least for me, anyway.

Available in a wide variety of sizes, lengths, colours and patterns, the relaxed style is perfect for wearing while working for home or venturing out for errands. 

While I wouldn't necessarily wear this maxi-length shacket from H&M around the house, I have been wearing it basically everywhere else since purchasing it. I've found it works well with everything — from my go-to combination of jeans and a turtleneck sweater, to a t-shirt and high-waist ankle trousers. 

Have you tried out the shacket style? 

Sweater: Le Chateau | Jeans: Levi's | Bag: Prada
Coat: H&M | Shoes: Gucci | Bracelets: Pandora 




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Faux leather midi skirt outfit

October 13, 2020 Vancouver, BC, Canada

Le Chateau mock neck sweater and faux leather skirt outfit
 
Le Chateau mock neck sweater and faux leather skirt outfit

Le Chateau mock neck sweater and faux leather skirt outfit

Le Chateau mock neck sweater and faux leather skirt outfit

Le Chateau mock neck sweater and faux leather skirt outfit

I almost feel like I should be posting this look along with an apology. An apology for wearing, yet again, another faux leather piece.

But, I'm not really sorry. :P 

In fact, I fully stand behind my love of the fall-appropriate material. Plus, I've found faux leather pieces to be so versatile lately. They're easy to dress up or down, and they add a touch of edginess to an outfit, in much the same way a real leather piece would. 

I recently wore this faux-leather pencil skirt with a soft mock-neck sweater for a day of work and quick errands. While I've been leaning more toward loungewear pieces of late, I found this look to be perfectly comfortable to wear — not to mention a whole lot more chic than a pair of jogger sweats. 

Check out a few more of my faux-leather looks here, here and here. And shop a few favourites below. 

Top and skirt: Le Chateau | Bag: Louis Vuitton
Boots: Stuart Wietzman 
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Faux leather blazer outfit

October 7, 2020 Vancouver, BC, Canada

le chateau faux leather blazer outfit

le chateau faux leather blazer outfit

le chateau faux leather blazer outfit

le chateau faux leather blazer outfit

le chateau faux leather blazer outfit

Leather and faux leather season is upon us. And I'm here for it. 

I love the sleek appeal of a leather (or leather inspired) piece. Case in point, this faux leather blazer from Le Chateau.

The slightly relaxed design elevated this simple tank-top-and-jeans combination in an effortless way. It's the kind of piece I would be sure to pack on a work trip for easy day-to-night ensembles. That is, if and when travelling is a thing again. 

For now, I'll have to make do with wearing it while I work from home and run a few local errands. Trips to the grocery store have never looked so chic. ;) 

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A Bronze Age scrunchie and top

October 5, 2020 Vancouver, BC, Canada

Bronze Age silk top and xl silk scrunchie

Bronze Age silk top and xl silk scrunchie

Bronze Age silk top and xl silk scrunchie

Bronze Age silk top and xl silk scrunchie

I feel like I squeezed every last bit of sunshine out of this summer. And the proof is in these images.

Taken last week during a 'heatwave' that saw temperatures rise to 26 degrees Celsius, I relished the opportunity to wear these newly purchased pieces from the Vancouver-based brand Bronze Age. 

I styled the XL silk scrunchie in black before, but I was so excited to try this red iteration. And the sweet silk tank is sure to become a favourite next summer season (and maybe worn over a few cosy cardigans before then, too). 

While I'm excited to get back to blazer season, the brief return to warm weather before the chillier months ahead provided a nice final kiss of summer weather — and summer style, too. 

Happy Monday! 

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<i>O</i>h, h<i>e</i>y!
Aleesha is a Vancouver-based fashion journalist, editor and blogger on a mission to prove that a REAL GIRL with a REAL BODY and a REAL BUDGET can be REALLY FABULOUS.

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      • NYX Professional Makeup haul: A quick review
      • Easy winter wreath DIY
      • Dynamite Luxe Lounge outfit
      • Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser: A quick review
      • Long shacket outfit
      • Faux leather midi skirt outfit
      • Faux leather blazer outfit
      • A Bronze Age scrunchie and top
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