Alex Hourigan
Hey chicks, I'm Al.
Sally McMullen
And I'm Sal.
Alex Hourigan
And this is Add to Cart and Two Broke Chicks, the show where we share life lessons for the gals, from the gals. If you're new to Add to Cart, it's where we sit down with our guests from earlier this week and discuss all of our shopping habits, favourite products, tips, tricks, and regrets.
Sally McMullen
It's basically like a shopping wishlist for y'all.
Alex Hourigan
Yeah, we're basically your online personal shopper. You're welcome. And this week we're joined by Helen Chik, the author of 'Sex, Swipes and Other Stories'. Welcome, welcome, welcome.
Helen Chik
Thank you for having me.
Alex Hourigan
We just wrapped up our main episode. Was a rollercoaster of emotions.
Helen Chik
Got really hot in here.
Alex Hourigan
Yeah!
Sally McMullen
It did!
Helen Chik
Stripped down my layers. Everything.
Alex Hourigan
Okay. You guys can also watch the video on Youtube, just saying. It's free. As we mentioned before, Add to Cart is all about our online shopping habits, crippling shopping addictions. You already gave us a sneak peek of a few faves before, but jumping straight into the episode what are the three products in your makeup bag or beauty cabinet that you cannot live without, and are your holy grails?
Helen Chik
Okay, so makeup wise Charlotte Tilbury is like my everything at the moment. Yeah, so the Hollywood Flawless Filter and the Beautiful Skin Foundation are like, I just can't live without it. And in terms of skincare I love Sunday Riley Good Genes. Really good. I've had skin issues ever since I had gave birth to my son so that's been a lifesaver. And actually my third like item would be the event that we went to the other week for Caudalie.
Alex Hourigan
Oh my god!
Helen Chik
That Beauty Elixir?
Sally McMullen
I love that so much.
Helen Chik
Have you been using it?
Alex Hourigan
Yes.
Helen Chik
I've been like spritzing it like 10 spritzes at a time and I'm like, it's already like half gone and I'm like, I need to top up.
Sally McMullen
Oh my god it's incredible because it's like a mix between a toner, a makeup setting spray and then just also like a refreshing facial mist throughout the day. I love it.
Helen Chik
And it calms you.
Sally McMullen
It really does. It smells amazing.
Alex Hourigan
The peppermint, the peppermint scent is just ridiculous. It's so good.
Helen Chik
It's really really good. Yep.
Sally McMullen
Get around that.
Alex Hourigan
I'm wearing the Beautiful Skin foundation right now.
Sally McMullen
So am I!
Helen Chik
So am I! That just worked out really well and I love just how like we were all in unison.
Sally McMullen
That's why we're all glowing! Charlotte Tilbury please sponsor us.
Alex Hourigan
Yeah, Charlotte Tilbury is the goat of all makeup brands. I'm yet to use a product from them that I'm like, "This didn't hit."
Helen Chik
Yep.
Sally McMullen
Yeah, me too, actually. Okay, now on to fashion. What is the one item in your wardrobe that is an absolute go-to and you can never see yourself throwing away?
Helen Chik
Well, I've got two. So I have these Chloe studded boots. I don't know if you remember them, I think they're the Style name is Susanna. And it has all these like little studs on them, I've had them for years and they're about to fall apart, but I just can't part with them. They just go with everything. That's one and the other one would have been my Acne Studio scarves, which I actually had on but it got too hot in here. And I had to take it off. They keep you warm, they're bright, they're colourful, but they have managed to go with everything. Could not part with them
Sally McMullen
Those scarves are really having a moment right now.
Alex Hourigan
I think they're going to be a really big trend this winter like scarves, like big chunky scarves.
Sally McMullen
Yeah, exactly like that Lenny Kravitz, like that's basically a doona cover around him?
Helen Chik
I love that vibe.
Sally McMullen
Me too.
Helen Chik
It's fun. It's awesome.
Sally McMullen
Yeah, and it's something you'll keep forever as well.
Alex Hourigan
Investment pieces.
Sally McMullen
Yeah!
Alex Hourigan
J'adore. So you probably told us about the best thing you bought, you're Acne scarf, but what is the worst or stupidest thing you've ever bought online?
Helen Chik
I had to really think long and hard about this one because I think I got a bit excited during our lockdown last year, but I actually live just up the road from a national park and I saw all these people blowing up their stand up paddleboards and going for a paddleboard and I was like thinking to myself, I'm gonna go I'm gonna do it. And I went I took it a step further. Not only did I buy a stand up paddleboard, but I also bought an inflatable kayak which neither of them have been used. I blew up my stand up paddleboard in my living room just to make sure I could do it and I don't look like an idiot when I get down to the water and just like standing there trying to pump up this stand up paddleboard. And I've never once taken it out. It's just been sitting there and I'm like, Okay, well that's got to be my dumbest purchase that I've ever done, like, I've ever gone for.
Sally McMullen
We've all been there. All the gear and no idea.
Helen Chik
Right? That is like the best way to put it because at the same time I was like, "Oh my god, I'm not a proficient swimmer. So if I fall in there, how am I going to get myself back out?". So that's probably why I haven't used it yet.
Sally McMullen
I feel like so many of us had those moments in lockdown. We had like an identity crisis and I'm like, "Okay, I need a new hobby".
Helen Chik
Yeah!
Sally McMullen
And then now we look at those purchases like, "Who's horse's that?".
Alex Hourigan
That's never gonna get used.
Sally McMullen
Yeah.
Alex Hourigan
It's like all the canvases and paint that I bought. I was like, "You can't paint!".
Sally McMullen
Yes you can!
Helen Chik
Facebook Marketplace, you know?
Sally McMullen
Exactly.
Alex Hourigan
Tried to do pottery once, that also didn't work out.
Sally McMullen
I feel like we've covered a couple but what are some of your favourite brands to shop with?
Helen Chik
I absolutely love Spell. They just have really beautiful fabrics, prints and they just yeah, they withstand everything. They crinkle, they pass my crinkle test, so when you travel and I've like thrown them in my suitcase, that's like a big thing. I hate things that crinkle and I have to steam. So anyways, going off topic, but Spell's a favourite of mine. I also really love Silk Laundry.
Sally McMullen
Oh my god, I love Silk Laundry.
Alex Hourigan
Sal's a big fan.
Helen Chik
Yeah. So Katie is a really, really, good, dear friend, and she is amazing. Like, I love everything she does.
Sally McMullen
Oh my god, tell her I said, thanks.
Helen Chik
Yeah.
Sally McMullen
They are the most flattering dresses.
Helen Chik
Right?
Sally McMullen
Like the bias cut slips?
Helen Chik
Yeah! The bias clutch slips and the blazers, everything is just such good quality. Best, best thing and I just love the feeling of silk. So that's a second one. And I think the third would have to be Acne for me. I just really love Acne. So I mean, not the skin problem. Like, when I say say this to my partner, he's always like, "What?". I'm like, Acne Studios.
Alex Hourigan
Yeah.
Helen Chik
The brand. Get with the times.
Sally McMullen
I've always wanted one of their leather jackets.
Helen Chik
Me too.
Alex Hourigan
I feel like all the pieces are really timeless as well. So like you can justify the investment into like a little bit more of a bougie purchase, because you are gonna like have it season after season.
Sally McMullen
Yeah.
Alex Hourigan
Okay. And last but not least, what is your savvy shopping tip?
Helen Chik
I'm a massive impulse shopper. So I've had to learn this the hard way over the years. But I've now taught myself if I really want something, and I'm talking like it's a couple $100 kind of purchase, to sit on it for at least two weeks. And if I'm still thinking about it in two weeks time, then actually consider buying it. And if you don't think about it in the two weeks, then it's clearly not meant to be and it was definitely not meant for your wardrobe. And so that is my tip. Wait.
Sally McMullen
Yeah, absolutely. I think that goes for big ticket purchases and small ones.
Helen Chik
Even small ones as well. Yeah, I do a lot of emotional shopping.
Alex Hourigan
I can't relate to that. At all. I have no idea what you're talking about.
Helen Chik
It's like had a bad day? No worries. I'll go buy a new pair of shoes.
Sally McMullen
Had a good day? Let's celebrate, I'll buy something.
Helen Chik
Exactly.
Alex Hourigan
The serotonin hit of an online shopping delivery hits every time.
Sally McMullen
Yeah, it's true.
Alex Hourigan
It's be the best. My postman is like, "Another one?".
Helen Chik
Oh yeah. My DHL guy knows me. He just knows where to leave the parcels, he knows. And actually, for a long time, it was always my family signing for my parcels. And then one day, I just happened to be getting out my car as he pulled in, and I was like, "Is that for Helen?", and he's like, "Yeah, what was your name?". I'm like, "I'm Helen" and he was like, "You're the infamous Helen that I'm constantly delivering parcels too!". Yes, guilty.
Sally McMullen
You're like, "You're welcome, John". Putting his kids through college.
Helen Chik
Yeah.
Alex Hourigan
Yeah, when I was growing up my parents, like when I was still living at home, my parents would raff on me for how many shopping deliveries I would get. They'd be like, "You need to save money", and I'd just be like, "Okay". And I told like my postman, and I was like, "Ugh my parents kept getting mad". And so he started hiding them for me when I wasn't home and he'd put them behind the pop plant. I'd be like, "You're a G, George". I was like, "Keep up the good work!".
Sally McMullen
Your enabler.
Alex Hourigan
Ah, yeah. It was the best.
Helen Chik
I love that, that's the best.
Alex Hourigan
Well, thank you so much for joining us for Add to Cart. If again, you missed our full interview with Helen, please go back and listen to it. It was a great time and hopefully you can go update your shopping list on what to buy for the week.
Sally McMullen
Yes, we will have all of Helen's product recs in the show notes so you can shop them quick and easy. As well as her book too. Top of that shopping list.
Alex Hourigan
Yeah.
Helen Chik
I hope so.
Alex Hourigan
Number one.
Helen Chik
Thanks, ladies.
Alex Hourigan
Thank you.
Sally McMullen
Thank you.
Alex Hourigan
Bye!
Helen Chik
Bye.
Sally McMullen
Bye, chick.
Alex Hourigan
That is a wrap for another episode of Add to Cart, sorry to your bank accounts, again. And thank you, Helen for joining us. If you need any links details, there'll be in the show notes on finder.com.au/twobrokechicks or on the details on Spotify. You can also find them there. Feel free to check us out on the gram @twobrokechicks. Give us a rate, give us a review. Show us some love. We'll show you some love right back. You probably won't want it but you're gonna get it anyway! Thank you to our executive producer Pariya Taherzadeh for being a shining light through every episode, Made in Katana studios for having us here every week and Bamby Media for editing this episode, which is in your ear holes, right now because we love to be here.
Sally McMullen
I like that!
Alex Hourigan
Yeah!
Sally McMullen
It was good segue.
Alex Hourigan
Changing it up! Thank you. Thank you. We will see you next week. Or as we like to say, see you next Tuesday for our main episode. And feel free to go back to listen to our full interview with Helen where we discussed dating horror stories, green and red flags in relationships, my commitment issues and then went through my Hinge! It's a good time.
Sally McMullen
Oh my God, it was a roller coaster. Please go listen,
Alex Hourigan
I was trying to get it removed from the playlists, but hey, here we are.
Sally McMullen
Get it while it's hot.
Alex Hourigan
Get it while it's hot.
Sally McMullen
Bye, chicks.
Alex Hourigan
Bye!
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
