Coquette

Chanel No. 5 Film with Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt is the new face of Chanel No. 5 and the new commercial or "film" as they call it, is now unveiled. What does this mean? This ad is a far cry from those luxurious locals or black tie events dripping with jewels. The mood is more everyday, perhaps more every woman? It is an interesting branding approach I must say. If anything it's getting attention and setting itself apart from the other perfume ads out there now. (Blake Lively for Gucci Premiere, Natalie Portman for Miss Dior and so on.) Brad isn't in a black tie, he's the hipster dad with long hair and a goatee. He looks like he's ready to chill with you on the sofa, am I right?

Will all this translate into more perfume sales this holiday season? We shall see... If it works, we may start seeing more men promoting women's perfume.

Related Coquette Post:
Chanel No. 5: The Perfume that Changes History

Chanel No. 5: The Perfume that Changes History

Watch this beautifully edited video on the history of the perfume and it's historical context and amazing longevity. My favorite quote from the video is that Chanel No. 5 "Resists the whims of fashion and the passage of time." Enjoy the beautiful graphics, typography and animation. No one really thinks that perfume can change the world, but this little sweet smelling bottle has been doing just that for around for 91 years.

My favorite personally is the softer scent of Chanel No. 5, the Eau Premiere version. I have worn it for almost 3 years now and it's my signature scent. I don't feel like anything else smells better or softer. Perfect for everyday and for a night out.

Purchase Chanel No. 5 ($92.15 at Amazon) or Chanel No. 5 Eau Premiere ($115 at Amazon).

NYFW: Clarins Beauty Flash Lounge

 

I got the chance to stop by the Clarins Beauty Flash Lounge, a welcome respite from the frenzy of New York Fashion Week.

The lounge was at The Empire Hotel (yes, Chuck's hotel in Gossip Girl) and offered massages, make-up retouches, refreshments and a chance to charge up my iPhone. While I was I was at the lounge I talked to a consultant about the right Clarins products for my skin and best colors for me. I learned about the Clarins technique (see video above) and tried out the NEW Beauty Flash balm.

 

Clarins has just launched a Beauty Blog with daily updates and great videos/features/reports from fashion week from the Clarins gals (Virginie, Claire, Prisca and Jenna). Given their four different personalities, it is a really fun way to learn about Clarins, their products and all that the women are up to.

Tres chic!

~Leigh

Les Twin-Sets de Chanel - Limited Edition for Fashion's Night Out

Now on Chanel.com, you can pre-order from three of the limited edition Les Twin Sets de Chanel. I love the new deep Bordeaux color called Provocation. Choose also from Infidele (a bold pink) and Delicatesse (a peachy beige neutral). Nail colors are $26 and lipsticks are $32.50.

Coquette in the WSJ

Today's Wall Street Journal has a skin care article, "When Skin Cream Gets Bossy" by Elizabeth Holmes that features my experience with Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Serum which I posted last month on Coquette.

It was great telling Elizabeth my story and experience with the Clarins serum. Make sure you click to watch her video talking about the process as well as the differences in American and European/Asian women's beauty routines. After being in France, I learned so much more about skin care. I realized that the key to having good skin lies in the application techniques. This is why I applaud Clarins for introducing this French style of skin care to the U.S.

The Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Serum is by far one of the best products I've tried. I've been using it for almost three months now and it's well worth the minimal effort to do the facial techniques outlined in the little booklet. I had no "double chin" photos from our vacation at all. No joke. Last week, my mom's best friend, a Chinese "auntie" saw me for the first time in year. She was convinced I lost weight and kept repeating it. I told her that was impossible since I actually gained 5 pounds from my trip to France. She finally said stubbornly, "No, I can tell you lost weight. Your face looks skinner!" And that's when I knew it was from using this serum!

Read my recent review for the Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Serum on Coquette.

French Beauty: Bioderma Crealine H2O No-Rinse Cleanser - Best Makeup Remover

During my vacation in France, I purchased the Bioderma Crealine TS H2O Micelle Solution at a local French pharmacy that was filled with amazing beauty products. I already heard about this amazing cleanser via reviews on You Tube and knew it was for me when I spotted it in my mother-in-law's bathroom upon my arrival. It feels just like water and isn't greasy or oily. It really cleans your face well and even if you aren't wearing makeup, will remove traces of dirt (believe me I had dirt on my face after a day in Paris). The wonders of this little bottle is it's ability to remove makeup so well, especially eye makeup and mascara. I bought the 250 ml bottle and pre-treated wipes for the plane because I knew my husband would kill me if we carried a large bottle in our already full luggage. For the price in France, it is 8.5 Euros, about the equivalent of $10, so it's almost double the price in the US via Amazon ($19.84 for 250 ml). It is significantly cheaper if you get the larger 500 ml bottle in the US for $25. In any case, it's still very affordable in terms of beauty products. This product works for all skin types although they do have a blue colored cap/product line for sensitive skin. I can't seem to find that version on Amazon but I did get the pink capped one and it works perfectly on my sensitive skin.

While removing eye makeup, make sure to not rub your eyes. You will only be creating future wrinkles. Instead, let the product work for you. I love this video on makeup removal by Lisa Eldridge that shows how she removes her eye makeup with Bioderma by letting the product soak in the pads and set for a minute or so on eyes before she wipes it all away.

I do use my Clarins Gently Foaming Cleanser after I am finished using the Bioderma because I like the clean feeling of splashing water on my face and the softness in my skin I get from using my Clarins cleanser. But if you are in a rush, it's good to know that your skin is completely clean by just using Bioderma.

I hope to share more of my "French Beauty" finds in future posts here on Coquette. There are a lot more products I am trying out!

Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Serum - Give Your Face a Sculpted Contour

When I was approached by Clarins to test out the Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Serum ($70), this chubby-cheeked Chinese gal couldn't resist. It's the #1 serum in Asia to help create the perfect V angle for your face in just four weeks. I knew I had to give it a try. It's been over four weeks now and I am happy to report that I can actually feel the definition in my jaw line, that I didn't have before. My skin also feels more elastic especially in my cheek to chin area. It is crazy how I can feel the difference. This serum has helped reduce the puffiness I've been having under my eye area too. I actually had to do a double take the other day in front of the mirror because I had no little puffy bags.

The key to unlocking the serum is the series of little exercises (see video below) that will massage it into your skin and get the serum working for you by releasing the toxins. Trust me, I didn't do this until two weeks ago and I am kicking myself for that. It is so relaxing to do before bed and takes me only a little over a minute to do each night. I actually do some deep breaths in conjunction with the hand strokes to get myself completely relaxed before bedtime.

Another thing to note is that a little bit of serum goes a long way. (This can also be said for most skin care creams. Don't pile it on!) They recommend an amount the size of a hazelnut and also to warm it up in your hands before application. I do this for all my creams now and I've noticed a huge difference because my face isn't all greased up. Having the right products for your skin as well as the right application techniques are so important I have learned this past month. I hope to share more with you soon on that.

I absolutely do use this product every night and I plan to buy a new supply of it when I finish my review product. It's truly amazing! I use this serum right after I cleanse my skin with Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Cottonseed.

This unique serum will be available in the US starting in August 2012 at select Clarins counters and also at Clarins.com.

Watch this video for directions on how to apply the Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Serum.

Note: Review product provided by Clarins.

Chanel Precision Eyelash Curler - A Little Luxury for Your Makeup Bag

Chanel Precision Eyelash Curler for $34 at Nordstrom

I've been a little obsessed with watching the beauty videos by makeup artist Lisa Eldridge. I can't remember which one I saw exactly, but in one she demonstrated using a Chanel eyelash curler and mentioned how it was pretty comparable to Shu Uemura and Kevin Aucoin.

For a little beauty pick me up, I knew I had to have this eyelash curler in my makeup bag. I have been using a trusty Sephora one for 10+ years already. The Chanel one looked so chic and so different in black. I just loved the little white Chanel logo sitting in front. I decided that I might as well invest in a really good one for the next 10 years. (The things you tell yourself to justify your purchases, right?) Well yesterday afternoon, I found myself in a deep search. I went to a few locations within Union Square SF and most were sold out since I found out that these Chanel eyelash curlers are limited edition. When I finally hit the Chanel beauty counter at Nordstrom the SA said they had them in stock. Whee!

I tried them out when I got home and I loved how my eyelashes curled! Since the curler is black and my lashes are black, it takes a bit of concentration to do it because I couldn't really see my lashes. The curler just fits in all the right places without pinching so I just let go and trusted that it was curling my lashes, which it was. I didn't put on mascara after I curled them last night and to my surprise while looking in the mirror a few hours later before bed, my lashes still looked curled and cute! I couldn't believe it. This morning, I curled them again and wore them with my new Dior Show mascara. Without any primping in the day, my lash curl still looked pretty darn good tonight!

Nordstrom seems to be the only place you can buy the Chanel eyelash curlers online. On the product page you can enter in your zip code, to see if your local Nordstrom has it in stock as well.

The Perfect Blush - Chanel Joues Contraste in Rose Petale

I've become addicted to Chanel's You Tube channel specifically the Chanel Makeup sub-channel with makeup artist Lisa Eldrige who shows you the latest in Chanel cosmetics and how to apply them.

This video above focuses on the Rouge Coco lipsticks but even as she's showcasing one item, I love how Lisa talks about other makeup touches to complete a look. What caught my eye was the soft pink glow of the Joues Contraste blush ($43 at Chanel.com) she applied towards the end of the video to give her a healthy glow. She also showcases this blush in her 2011 favorites video.

When I got to the Chanel counter and the makeup artist applied it on my cheek, it instantly made me look spring-ready and healthy looking. The pink tones of the blush are perfect for light to medium skin tones and work perfectly with rosy pink or nude lips. You can blush on more for a stronger look or go very light for a more natural look which is what I usally do.

Buy Chanel Joues Contraste blush in Rose Pétale.

I also recommend the Chanel Pinceau Blush Brush #4 ($54). There brushes are the best and I have found that they last the longest. I've gone back to MAC's brushes and had to come back to Chanel ones for blush as well as face powder because they are softer and collect the powder much better than the other ones I have used.

Clarins UV Plus HP SPF 40 Day Screen - A Must for the Sun!

I've been using Clarins UV Plus HP SPF 40 Day Screen ($38) every day over my moisturizer for the last few weeks. I can't rave about this SPF because it protects the delicate skin on your face from sun damage and fights free radials and DNA damage using Clarins' new anti-oxidant from Provence. The fluid goes on silky and doesn't feel greasy at all. It also doesn't feel heavy like most sunscreens do so even when I wear it with my moisturizer, I just feel light on my face. It has not clogged my pores and I like knowing that it's just protecting me from all the elements. I use the normal day screen which is white and rubs in clear, but you can also get a the tinted version ($40) in two shades, medium and deep.

Starting today there's also a Clarins sale on Gilt featuring some great gift sets.

Note: Product was provided by Clarins for review.