Friday Favorites: Weekend Edition

Favorite Purchase

Wilfred Free ball cap(s)

I snatched these up during the Aritzia Clientele sale a couple weeks ago and love them so much I wish I could wear them to work without getting sent home to think about my choices. I like the neutrals and suede for when I feel like a bum but want to class it up a bit. (The camo print style is the Lakeview cap which is currently sold out because everyone clearly out hiding in the wilderness – it’s just pictured for contrast). 

Favorite Beauty Product

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Cheek Palette

I’m working on a review for this highly sought after and completely sold out palette, but in the meantime have to say that it’s the perfect little family of blushes and accompanying highlighters. 

Favorite Wardrobe Item 

Wildfox Rad Kim’s Raglan 

Considering I’ve invested half my salary for the past 8 years to the brand – it better make my favorites list. The softest material, the comfiest fit and the cheekiest adornments. I’m into stripes and the 90’s comeback right now so I had to. 

Favorite Product

Lush Solid Shampoo – Soak & Float

I’ve been using Lush’s solid shampoos for the past year or so and love them because they exceeded each of my expectations. They lather like crazy, smell original and leave your hair feeling really clean and soft. Misconceptions can take a seat.

Favorite Look

Stilts

I’m not short by any means – a solid 5’6″ to be precise but any added height is welcome especially when it’s somewhat disguised in a platform. Sneakers, bluchers, heels, espadrilles – everything. Everywhere. I added to my sneaker collection with a pair of clomping Supergas and a pair of chunky heeled sandals from Zara, a la Cher. See. Added bonus is that they’re insanely comfortable to walk around in. Baby calfs take note. 

Happy Weekend xo

Purchased & Reviewed: Nudestix Matte Lip & Cheek Pencil

I’m usually all oooh’s and aaaah’s when it comes to my reviews because let’s face it – my choices are almost always impeccable. [Not so humble brag].

It was a ominous day from the get-go. Let me set the scene – crows squaking, a bite in the air, a cool sinister departure from the otherwise sunny and cheerful week… Ok not really but I’m doing all I can to take the blame off myself and put it on the shitty weather that come to think of it, is completely inaccurate. 

I was looking to add to my collection of nudes. Not those nudes, ain’t nobody need to see those priceless artifacts. I’ve never used Nudestix even because I’ve been on a Marc Jacobs kick since the debut of his lipsticks but the trial in store looked so good I figured why the hell not?

Here’s a real life story as to why you shouldn’t always trust love at first sight. 

Packaging: The pen itself comes in a sleek-ish black tin with a lift top case. I was pretty impressed to find a sharpener with it as well, most pencils leave you to your own devices so I thought it was handy to include a personal sharpie. 

Product: I was fooled by the Mayfair halo Sephora’s mirrors created around me during the initial meet and greet. The texture seemed unlike a typical matte – it was smoother and applied without any pulling or tugging. The description on Sephora’s site claims it’s a non drying , smudge-proof, non feathering matte lipstick, liner & cheek blush in one. The shade I picked was Entice (a soft fleshy nude with light orange undertones). It seemed flattering and worked with the rest of my makeup so I gave it a little kiss and took it home with me. 

Wearability: This is where it all went wrong for me. I usually condition my lips before bed and once again when I wake up so I can’t blame the product on shoddy routine. I applied it without any other liner and/or lip combination and thinking it would do me right, left without any qualms. An hour later my lips felt dry and cakey and all I was contemplating rubbing it off completely and going at naturale or ripping my lips off in frustration. Au naturale won and in all honesty – I hardly ever go sans lipstick (I feel that my lips succumb to dryness without a shield from the elements), but dire circumstances led to dire decisions. Anyway the point is that it was insanely dry and cakey, although the descriptions boast otherwise and I was disappointed and hurt by something I thought was going to treat me right. 

Price: CDN $28 was attractive but not worth having to deal with a sub par product. Thankfully I was able to take advantage of Sephora’s empathetic refund/exchange policy and opted for a matte from the new Marc Jacobs Lip Cremés (which I’ve posted on in the past to rave reviews complete with dripping saliva).

Verdict: A resounding no from me. It was my first heartbreak with a lip product since Kat Von D’s Studded Kiss lipstick and it brought back some pretty unsavoury memories so..my short lived romance with Nudestix could be attributed to poor chemistry, bad application or a defective product but the end result was the same – we were doomed from the start. 

Purchased & Reviewed: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Luminous Blush in Tigerlily

It’s been a while since I’ve published a purchase post but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been making them 24/7 all around town. What better way to get back to it than by reviewing a Becca product? They’re hotter than me running around a mall with 13 different shopping bags. Shall we?

Packaging: Compact, snap to close circular shell, akin to most Becca powders & blushes. I was a little surprised at the smaller size of this particular product (I guess I’m used to the larger highlighters. The only aspect I can’t get comfortable with is the outer shell of Becca compacts – the material picks up a lot of makeup transfer and are hard to keep clean unless you’re Lysol wiping on the daily. Minor.

Product: Ever since Champagne Pop and the Champagne Glow palette – I have been sold on all things Becca. I had no idea who Jaclyn Hill was nor do I watch her videos but I knew that the highlighter palette she conjured up with the brand was straight out of the golden gates and the rest is history. Anyway, back to the product – it’s sublime, perfect, the ideal blush, the holy grail if you must. The pigment, the shimmer, the multi-dimensional matte/glow effect and the staying power – 10’s across the board. I have not one complaint.

Colour: This is my favourite shade out of all the Shimmering Skin Perfectors. I love me a nice orange especially for my skin tone. This particular shade is a medium orange with red undertones. The gold flecked finish is what’s making makeup hoarders lose their shit. The colour is build-able but I find that a little goes a long way (also depends on which kind of brush you’re using). The end result for me is semi opaque, medium orange and gold glow that’s the focal point of my face. I blend in a little highlighter and add a nude-y lip and have pretty much secured my go-to face for the rest of the summer.

Wearability: All over town. If you use a light hand you can wear it alone for a little pop of colour or if you got your Go – Go – Gadget Sephora hands on you can add it to a matte blush of your choice and up the force shield. I myself wear it as a blush alone over my contour and the colour pay off is more than enough…intense even. I find that I like this particular shade better with a nude/light lip because the orange/red undertones are a little too #ootn for a daytime look.

Verdict: You have to have at least one Becca product to experience what the hype is all about. Whether it’s the blush, the highlighter, or the new eyeshadow palette – the hype is legitimate. These blushes have staying power, nice pigmentation and allows you to build it up to create either a flushed peach look or one that mimics the Snapchat filter of that cute trans. You hold the power.

(Photo above was taken au natural).

Try it for yourself here.