This week I visited The Vanity Lab to restart my skin treatment plan and I’m a little nervous about how my skin will react. Since my skin started healing from the worst acne of my life, I’ve been keeping a paired down skincare routine that prioritizes barrier strengthening with a light retinol pomade.
I’ve had good and bad experiences with medical grade skincare in the past and now understanding my skin a little better, I’m going through the painfully slow and tedious process of introducing new products one by one and making sure I’m tracking the results as I go. Throughout this year, the french pharmacy fave (A313—said retinol pomade) has been a been the only active I’ve been using. It always leaves my skin supple and plump the next morning although when my acne flares up, it doesn’t seem to help much. I got gifted the ZO Retinol Skin Brightener 1% from TVL so I’ll keep you posted on the results. I’ve used it twice so far and my skin does look pretty plump the next day. It also helped flatten an extracted pimple overnight so that was
pretty impressive.
Other than skincare, this week I’d also like to take some time to build a puzzle. After rediscovering them last year, I’ve had it on my list of “rest” activities to get back into so I purchased a Christmas themed one from Homesense. One day I’d love a New York Times one but I won’t splurge on that until I’m ready to set and frame it in my home.
This is your reminder to take rest and self-care in whatever form you see fit this week.
01
I think this is the last week I’ll be wearing the culottes + flats combo because it’s getting a bit too nippy for my ankles. I’ve been saving this The Line by K top for the fall but haven’t been reaching for it as much as I’d like but I think it’s because at some point I mentally categorized it as a “dressy top”. Think I needed a good reminder that, while yes it may dress up a pair of jeans, it doesn’t mean it’s too dressy for every day. So this was my errands outfit which I think started the week off pretty strong.
02
I mentioned in my last WIWTW that I felt like I wasn’t getting enough wear from my Acne leather jacket so of course I now try to reach for it more often than not. I love how it looks on Jessica (who I follow religiously for her effortless yet elevated style) so that’s been motivating as well.
The leather + sweater + trousers outfit formula will forever be the foundation of my fall style. I also love these relaxed trousers because they’re incredibly comfortable yet still makes it look like I put effort into my look.
03
On the rainiest of days my first instinct is to stay in my pajamas and hide in my apartment. However I did have a dinner planned this day at a friend’s house so I put on my comfiest rainy day outfit.
The Almina Concepts v-neck has been killing it for me in cost-per-wear and I find myself reaching for it every time I’m unsure what to wear. These jeans are also by far my most worn jeans, purely because I bought them 2 sizes up so that they could be low-waisted and essentially feel like sweatpants. Best decision I ever made.
04
Another night spent at a friend’s (it’s been my favorite weeknight activity is just going to other people’s homes) so I wanted to be as comfortable as possible. Recently got these satin pants from Peppermayo in. I have a few silk options saved on my wish list so this was my foray into elasticated silky pants. I’m a little unsure if they’re for me tbh but I did enjoy it contrasted with my stiffer denim shirt. Will have to sleep on them a little more.
05
Blazers and I have a love/hate relationship. Sometimes they’re the perfect addition to an outfit and other times they make me feel stuffy and boring. I do love the tee + jeans + blazer formula on others so I wanted to emulate that same effortless feeling with this Dies Van Noten number. The great thing about this formula is you can switch out the tee for a dressier top and suddenly you’ve got a fool proof night out outfit.
06
Color!! And one that I feel really good in. Although my eyes are naturally drawn to warmer tones, blue always seems to be a color that works with my complexion. Specifically this bright cobalt blue. I love how it pops on my warmer skintone and against my black hair.
While having a girlie day with
, we discovered a new sweater brand based in Montreal. If you’ve also been hunting for natural fibre sweaters this year, you’ll know that good quality sweaters cost a pretty penny. Both this cardigan and the one in my last outfit of the week are 90% wool and 10% cashmere and I think are very fairly priced. I got them from The Hills of Kerrisdale but Naïf has their own website as well.
07
I’ve been hunting for a knit zip-up for a few years now and love this one from Almina Concepts but couldn’t justify the price. So finding this one from Naïf for nearly half the price felt like a sign. I personally love a double zipper because it gives you the option to make a piece from unique. I think this will be a piece I wear a lot during my Paris stint as chic alternative to wearing sweat fleece out in public.
See you next week x