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As the famous saying goes, the show quarantine must go on.

Let’s start this off with an important PSA: PLEASE keep socially distancing and wearing a mask and/or gloves. If not for yourself, do it for your immunocompromised friends, parents, grandparents and neighbours. The better we keep this up, the sooner we can enjoy our beautiful summer weather!

As you do your part, stay comfortable, entertained and feeling your best with my latest faves across fashion, skincare, music, spring reads and bingeable TV.

Fashion

* Face Masks *

The Weeknd Mask, $20 // DNCE Mask, $18.82

If you haven’t already, get acquainted with our newest must-have fashion accessory. As I said in my last blog post dedicated to finding functional and fashionable masks, there’s no reason your PPE can’t be cute and true to your style.

Since I won’t be front row at their concerts anytime soon, I’m looking forward to receiving the two masks pictured above to show my support for The Weeknd and Joe Jonas’ band DNCE. Bonus: Proceeds from The Weeknd’s masks will be donated to the MusiCares COVID-19 relief fund, directly helping those affected in the music industry.

* Travel-Inspired Clothing *

Anthropologie, $80 // SIMILAR STYLES: Anthropologie, $188 (Hawaii/Aloha print); SHEIN, $17 (New York print)

It may be a total tourist move, but I love travel-inspired fashion pieces that represent my favourite cities.

Pre-COVID, I was supposed to spend the majority of this month jetsetting around Europe. 😢 When I found this Nice, France top while online shopping, I took it as a sign that I’ll be able to postpone my travels to when it’s safe to do so — and snap a picture of this shirt where it’s meant to be (and not in my front yard!).

Also, if you know me, you know I have a small addiction to buying anything and everything related to Hawaii — pineapple home decor, palm tree rings, you name it. I’ll take any excuse to spark my wanderlust and bring back those memories and feelings associated with paradise!

Let me know in the comments below which travel destinations you would rep!

Skincare

* Lip Sleeping Mask | Laneige *

Sephora, $13+ (or try Laneige’s Hydration-To-Go! Normal to Dry Skin set, also from Sephora, $38)

I always feared Laneige’s best-selling Lip Sleeping Mask was just an overhyped lip balm, but I was very pleasantly surprised when I first tried it. To test it out for yourself, I highly recommend picking up a mini Good Night Kit to also score a sample size of their popular Water Sleeping Mask. The lip mask wouldn’t be an immediate repurchase for me as you can get similar results at a lower price point, but it’s a great gift to a friend or yourself (#SelfLoveClub). Bring on the smooches 💋

I’ll report back here and on Instagram @angelaaaxo with my thoughts on the mask!

* Drink Up Intensive Overnight Hydrating Mask | Origins *

Sephora, $17-$33

This Origins leave-on face mask is one of the best I’ve ever used. Formulated with avocado and swiss glacier water, it instantly moisturizes and smooths skin well into the morning, giving you a beautiful dewy glow without breakouts or buildup. I use it as a once-a-week treat, so the $17 mini bottle is a great deal.

* Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner | First Aid Beauty *

Sephora, $29

I raved about First Aid Beauty’s Fab Faves line in my April Favourites post and it looks like I’ve found another personal holy grail. Toner is a recent re-addition to my nightly skincare routine and this FAB pick is gentle, moisturizing and perfect for sensitive skin. Also, can we take a minute to admire this visually appealing promo photo?

Books

* Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel *

Available from Indigo for $14.99 *sale*

The saying “not everything is what it seems” plays out in many different forms. In this recent release, we meet Rose Gold Watts, who spent the first 18 years of her life being passed from doctor to doctor with no cure for her debilitating aches, pains and syndromes. After losing her formative years to an ever-worsening mystery “illness,” Rose Gold gets a slight, albeit unexpected break when her mother Patty is taken to prison for poisoning her own daughter. Disturbing, right?

But what happens next, when Patty gets out five years later and aims to rekindle her relationship with Rose Gold? There has to be some strings attached… and there definitely are, but you’ll just have to pick up Darling Rose Gold to find out what they are. No spoilers here!

Fans of Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects will enjoy the parallels between the two stories about mother-daughter relationships and the lengths one will go to find independence, and perhaps some personal justice. I’m still too early in this book to give a full review, but the fact that I spend much of my day excited to get into bed and read this at night should say something!

Check back in with me next month to see my thoughts on my next read.

Music

I need to give a major thank you to the artists blessing us by releasing and recording new music during quarantine. You’re all making working from home so much easier and more enjoyable!

Scroll down to hear a few of the latest hits added to my 28+ hour forever favourites ♡ playlist on Spotify. There should be no excuses that you can’t find something to listen to now!

* Rain On Me by Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande *

I don’t know about you, but after almost three months in quarantine I just want to stretch out and dance! Thankfully, Ari and Gaga gave us everything we needed and then some with “Rain On Me.” Collaboration of the year, decade, century, etc… Please don’t mind me if we’re friends on Spotify and you see this on repeat all. the. time.

Don’t forget, Lady Gaga is days away from dropping her new full-length album Chromatica, which will feature an incredible new collab with K-pop superstars BLACKPINK. I sense a few smash singles coming out of this record!

* how i’m feeling now by Charli XCX (Album) *

Shortly after the release of her lead track “Forever” — which I praised in last month’s Favourites post — Charli XCX dropped her experimental quarantine record how i’m feeling now, an 11-track collection of songs about love, loneliness and self exploration written, recorded and produced from home. If this isn’t a perfect musical time capsule of our shared experience, I don’t know what is.

Best tracks: “claws,” “detonate” and “anthems” (the lyric “Sometimes I feel OK, some days I’m so frightened” is a fact)

* Dedicated Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen (Album) *

It’s been a long time in the teasing but Carly Rae Jepsen has finally blessed her fans with Dedicated Side B, the companion record to her fourth studio album released last year. The album is packed from start to finish with upbeat disco-influenced dance-pop tunes perfect for summer or a stress-releasing dance break (sense a theme in this month’s picks yet?).

Best tracks: “This Love Isn’t Crazy” (an outstanding Jack Antonoff-produced album opener), “Summer Love” and “Fake Mona Lisa” (which ends far too soon!)

TV

Netflix Quarantine and Chill — (Graphic via CritiX)

Check out some of the many new additions to my streaming queue!

High Fidelity: This Hulu original rom-com (an adaptation of the 2000 film) follows Rob (Zoë Kravitz), a quirky, charming and yet all-too-relatable protagonist who loves music and has a tendency of sharing her life story — including its many unfortunate failed relationships — through Top 5 lists. This kind of sounds like me in a show.
Dead to Me: Is there any better place to bond than in therapy? Find out in this Netflix dark comedy series starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini, now on season two. It’s the talk of ~~the town~~ social media!
Schitt’s Creek: This Canadian comedy turned worldwide phenomenon bid farewell to fans with a final celebration in its series finale last month. The fun may be over, but you can go back to the beginning and reminisce on the adventure, or start it for the first time: all six seasons are available in their entirety for free on CBC Gem.
Sweet Magnolias: If you’re wondering what Jamie Lynn Spears has been up to, she’s been busy at work on one of Netflix’s latest hit shows, which follows “three South Carolina women, best friends since childhood, as they shepherd each other through the complexities of romance, career, and family.” If you’re looking for a feel-good show, settle in — but be prepared for a few twists, cliffhangers and explosive endings.
Becoming with Michelle Obama: Hot off the heels of the best-selling book and arena tour, this Netflix documentary provides a rare visual opportunity to go behind the scenes with the inspirational and influential former First Lady as she tells her story and encourages us to do the same.

May Favourites

As the famous saying goes, the show quarantine must go on.