Coquette

Beauty + Skin Care Tips from Estée Lauder's Alan Pan

Last month at Bloomingdales in SF, I had a special event with my favorite makeup artist in the world, Estée Lauder's Alan Pan. I usually get to see Alan around once a year whenever he makes it to the Bay Area. The tips he's taught me over the last few years has helped my skin immensely. (I wish I met him 20 years ago!) We had a special private room at Bloomies where Estee Lauder invited me and a eight of my girlfriends for a fun night of skin care and makeup tips.

Alan started by telling us about Mrs Lauder and her beauty regimen which he outlined throughout the night as we each learned various skin care and makeup tips. These are little gold nuggets I tell you. I tried to take as many notes as I could that night to share with all of you lovelies too!

Skin Care Tips

Fragrance:
Alcohol in perfume can cause hyper pigmentation in your skin when you are in the sun a lot so beware!
The new Bronze Goddess ($60) scent has no alcohol and is a perfect beachy fragrance.

Face:
Be Gentle!
Imagine the way you want your lover to touch your face. The harder you rub, the more you are wearing down your skin.

When Using Cleanser and Toner:
Go down in the direction with your pores, not against them. Rubbing will create more impurities in your skin since you are rubbing the dirt into your pores.

Eye Area:
Scoop a very small amount of eye cream. Use your fourth fingers to warm up cream. Tap on bottom eye bone gently. Tap like piano lightly with all fingers to circulate your lymphatic gland. This prevents puffiness. Do not put eye cream directly under your eyes as the skin is very delicate. Having cream there will age your eye area faster. The cream will naturally absorb up when you apply to your eye bone (by your cheeks).

Advanced Night Repair:
Use 5 drops from the dropper into palm and warm up in your hands.
Press on face and don't forget lip area. Advanced Night Repair protects you both day and night so use it twice a day as it will protect your skin in the day from daily pollutions.

Advanced Night Repair ($62 for 1 oz)

Face Cream:
Use a pea sized amount of skin cream (See picture below.)
Using too much can age you and will allow pollution to adhere more to your skin.

Makeup Tips

Applying Foundation:
Using a brush or a sponge, start from the center of your face to achieve a natural blended look.
Start with the nose area going from top to down.
Then blend into your cheek area.
Brush in a downward motion to chin area.
Then go in up motion to lips.
The last area to apply foundation is on your forehead.

Concealer:
Fatigue fighter
Estee Lauder Double Wear in medium is good for majority of skin tones.
Mix concealer with Advanced Night Repair for great coverage.

Face Powder:
Rotate your brush on powder.
Gently touch brush on face pressing brush flat to your skin, instead of brushing all around.
Then turn brush to other side to press more on your face.
This ensures you don't over powder your face where other's can see the residue.

Bronzer:
Don't pick up too much bronzer with your brush.
Must use powder before bronzer.
Press brush in bronzer palette three times.
Brush number "3" on each side of your face by going from forehead to cheekbone to jaw bone.

Blush
Just touch brush in blusher three times for a natural look.
Glide brush from ear to cheek in downward motion.
Then circle brush on cheeks.

Glistening Powder:
Do a small "C" above blush for a nice highlight.

Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée ($40)

Eyeshadow:
When mixing colors mix bright colors with brown for a subtle look.
Pat eyeshadow brush onto eye.
Add color level by patting up higher the eyelid to achieve the look you want.
Blend after with a brush to refine the look.

Pure Color Five Color Eyeshadow Palette ($48)

All nine of us used the same eyeshadow palette above and it was amazing to see how we all looked different!
I now understand how to blend colors better.

Tip for Lips:
Use a concealer brush to apply lipstick for natural lip look.

We tried a lot of the Mad Men Collection that night. I loved the blush and the perfectly pink lipstick.

Thanks to Estée Lauder for the great time! Here's some fun snaps of the night:

Boden USA: 15% off Autumn Sale Through August 19

It's not even August yet but I am already pining for Fall. The Boden USA Fall sale doesn't help either. Get 15% off the new Autumn collection now through August 19th. Stock up on the British brand's stylish knits, dresses and tops that are perfect for the office or weekends at home. I am eyeing the Boulevard Tunic Dress (now $125.80, was $148) and the fun polka dot Printed Button Back Sweater($83.30, was $98).

(If $15% discount does not apply automatically, add promo code: 2A02)

Here are more picks from Boden's Autumn Collection:

Paris Blouse ($74.80)

Cashmere Crew Neck Sweater ($125.80)

Colourblock Sweater ($83.30)

Collared Breton ($45.90)

Stripe Colourblock Top ($83.30)

Stripy Tunic ($66.30)

Breadwinner Skirt ($66.30)

Mugler Addict: $50/Year for Quarterly Beauty & Fragrance Boxes

Love your Thierry Mugler beauty and fragrances? For just $50 a year, join Mugler Addict, a membership where you'll receive a quarterly box of beauty goods each year. It's like four little presents for yourself spread throughout the year! Come to think of it, it's also a great gift for your stylish BFF who has everything.

Each box is filled with deluxe and trial sizes of the Thierry Mugler must-haves as well as new fragrance creations. Each box also includes limited edition products. You'll get the privilege of trying products before anyone else.

Mugler Addict members will also get access to personal concierge services and free shipping all year long on any order at muglestoreusa.com.

My favorite Thierry Mugler fragrance is Angel. Love the bottle designs!

Sign up to become a Mugler Addict

Chronicle Books Back To School Warehouse Sale: July 31-August 2 in SF

Mark your calendars! The Chronicle Books Back To School Warehouse Sale is happening next week. Save 65% on everything in the store. The sale is happening only at the Chronicle Books Corporate Headquarters location.

Chronicle Books Warehouse Sale
680 Second Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

Wednesday, July 31, 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Thursday, August 1, 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Friday, August 2, 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

Stock up on back to school items, gifts for yourself and friends with 65% off hundreds of selected titles. Choose from cookbooks, children’s books, lifestyle + home, arts + crafts, art + design, photography, travel, pop culture, and music titles. Plus, journals, stationery, and much more.

After you shop, grab a delicious lunch or snack at Ironside next door. Their hot sandwiches, pizzas and salads are amazing!

Pictured above: Antipasti: Fabulous Appetizers and Small Plates, Andy Warhol Idea Book, Denyse Schmidt Quilts, Nara Journal: Princess of Snooze

Fall Denim Trends: Coated Denim

I'm a jeans girl and have been leaving between my cropped jeans and boyfriend jeans this summer. I am currently obsessed with coated denim and want to get a pair for fall. Coated denim is treated with wax to give it a shiny look, almost like leather. The look is sleek and stylish, yet uber casual when you want to be. I love the DL1961 Emma Coated Legging Jeans ($168 at Shopbop) because I have the Emma skinny jeans and they are so damn comfy. I also like the addition of the moto trend with this pair of Current/Elliott The Soho Zip Stiletto Jeans ($248 at Shopbop).

Here are more coated denim picks at Shopbop:

Rag & Bone/JEAN The Legging Jeans ($165)

Blank Denim Spray On Super Coated Jeans ($88)

Rich & Skinny Coated Legacy Jeans (On sale for $83.60, was $200)

Current/Elliott The Coated Stiletto Jeans ($189)

J Brand 915 Waxed Legging Jeans ($194)

7 For All Mankind Crop Coated Skinny Jeans with Ankle Zips ($225)

Tibi Pre-Fall 2013: New York State of Mind

The Tibi Pre-Fall 2013 collection is inspired by New York City, one of my favorite cities in the world (next to Paris, of course). I am currently coveting this Tibi Empire Pencil Skirt ($255 at Tibi). The photo of the Empire State Building and the NY skyline is so bold and breathtaking. I love how it can pop with a black top with the neon-like colors popping from the skyscrapers.

Here are more of my favorites from the Tibi Pre-Fall 2013 Collection:

Transit Yoked Skirt ($325)

Multicolor Transit Dress ($450)

Stripe Melange Sweater ($295)

Jazz Stripe Peplum Top ($265)

Mia Heel-Black ($395)

Sunnies Get Some Sparkle with Tiffany & Co. Sunglasses

Sunnies are now getting more glamorous with Tiffany & Co.'s new sunglasses collection. The designs range from oversized to classic aviators but all with a Tiffany twist – a little sparkle or signature lock. The sunglasses feature Austrian crystals as well as 100% UV protection and anti-glare coating.

Pictured above:
Tiffany Ritz Square Sunglasses ($430)
Tiffany Metro Cat Eye Sunglasses ($480)
Tiffany Locks Aviator Sunglasses ($335)
Tiffany Garden Round Sunglasses ($250)

Shop all Tiffany & Co. Sunglasses at tiffany.com.

Must-Have: Mise en Dior Tribal Earrings

(Photos: E! Online, Dior.com)

Dior reinterprets the classic stud earrings with their Mise en Dior Tribal Earrings ($290 at Dior Boutiques). These showstopper earrings come in two parts. The front features a small ball. In the back, a larger ball appears behind the ear lobe giving a unique kind of dangle. Back in February, Jennifer Lawrence wore the pearl version to a restaurant in London. The earrings not only come in classic pearl but also a variety of stunning colors such as blue, green, red and black. Purchase the Mise en Dior earrings at your local Dior boutique.

(Photos: Vogue.fr)

SK-II Skin Care

I've been curious about SK-II skin care products for years, ever since I saw the huge computer dome that sits on top of the counter at the department store. SK-II is a japanese based company with amazing skin care products. Their main ingredient is pitera which is an age-defying miracle ingredient derived from nature. It is said that pitera was discovered through sake-making when the old japanese men were found to have smooth-wrinkle free hands after decades of moving their hands through pitera.

Earlier this year, I got a chance to try out their products and services at the SK-II counter at Saks in San Francisco. Minarto Fnu, a skin care expert with SK-II gave me a complete overview of their products and put my head in a dome that takes various pictures of your skin to give me a clearer view of what's happening. It was scary, but also really great for me to know exactly what's happening with my skin so I can help maintain it correctly. I was happy to see that my skin was in pretty excellent condition for my age group. As scary as it was, it was interesting to see my areas where I needed help, mostly the small dark spots on my cheeks that hark back to my 80's childhood where I spent many, many days swimming and being out in the sun. Minarto gave me an SK-II facial which was so refreshing and I had a chance to experience my first SK-II mask. He took a picture of my skin post-facial and already minor improvements could be seen on my skin!

As a result, I really wanted to bring SK-II products into my skin care routine. I purchased the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence ($100-$195) which people call the "holy water" of skin care. I use each morning and night right after I wash my face. I also make sure to put some on the top of my hands to keep them looking smooth and young-looking.

I also purchased the SK-II Facial Treatment Mask ($125 for 10 sheets). Minarto recommended I use them twice a week (mid-week and then on a weekend day) but my skin is pretty good overall so I have been using them every 2-3 weeks. I also use them after vacation when I have been in the sun a lot. It really cools my skin and re-hydrates it after so much sun and pool time. You can watch some of the mask treatment videos on the Saks site to understand how to use it. Right now, I feel like the mask and the Facial Treatment Essence work fine along side all of the other products I use.

An SK-II facial is complementary with the purchase of SK-II products and is recommended to do every 2 months or so to maintain your skin while using the product line. Simply call your local SK-II counter or if you are in San Francisco, I highly recommend Minarto at Saks San Francisco. You can call him at 415-438-5228 or email [email protected]. Please make your appointment at least 1 week in advance.

D'Orsay Flats: A Summer Essential

A must-have for the summer is the D'Orsay flat. I've been seeing them all over the city and have been obsessed with finding a perfect pair that's affordable. At the top of my list is the Jeffrey Campbell 'In Love' Flat ($89.95 at Nordstrom) in Silver and Ivory. I love the combo which is so fresh for summer. The SIXTYSEVEN 'Erin' Flat ($134.95 at Nordstrom) is a bit more luxurious in red suede, no? This one also comes in black and fun in the sun yellow which they so aptly named "lemonade".

Here are more D'Orsay Flats:

Chinese Laundry Easy Does It ($59.95 at Zappos, lots of colors)

Steven by Steve Madden Sawyer in Blue Denim ($89 at Zappos)

Steven by Steve Madden Saxon Flat ($98 at Nordstrom)

Alice + Olivia Hilary Flat ($240 at Nordstrom)

Vince 'Nina' Loafer ($295 at Nordstrom)