Coquette

Creme Blush: The Multitasker

As of this year, I'm a new fan of the creme blush. They are portable and so easy to apply with a stick or simply your fingers. I love that they can also multitask and are perfect to add a little color to lips as well. My favorite right now is the Laura Mercier creme blush for it's slim compact case that barely takes up room inside your makeup bag. (I have it in Oleander.) My second favorite is Benefit's Fine One One for the added highlight color and easy stick application. As we get ready for fall and our summer tans fade, it's always nice to have a healthy looking glow, right? These creme blushes give you beautiful color with the staying power of the creme texture.

Here are my top favorite creme blushes:

1. Laura Mercier Arabesque Collection Creme Cheek Color ($24)
2. Benefit Fine One One ($30)
3. Dior DiorBlush Cheek Creme (Limited Edition, $32)
4. Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks ($26)
5. AERIN Beauty Multicolor for Lips & Cheeks ($42)
6. NARS 'The Multiple' Stick ($39)
7. MAC Cremeblend Blush ($21)

Gibson Embellished Sweatshirts

I was browsing in the women's department at Nordstrom today and this Gibson Embellished Sweatshirt ($68) totally caught my eye. The photo I've included here does not do it justice. The sweatshirt almost looks like a sweater and features a stitched quilting pattern all over. The pièce de résistance though are the multitude of tiny pearls that are stitched into the quilted designs on each sleeve. Wear it with a leather skirt or a long sleeved white shirt underneath. It's so different and adorable! If you get a chance, head over to your local Nordstrom to see these embellished sweatshirts in person. The quality looks amazing!

Here are two more Gibson sweatshirts that are making "sweats" a lot more dressed up and fun:

The Gibson Embellished Neck Sweatshirt ($68) in heather gray features sheer sleeves and a rhinestone and tiny pearls that decorate neckline.

The Gibson Embellished Neck Sweatshirt ($68) in Blush features white sheer sleeves and larger pearls and beads that embellish the neckline.

TheFind App Makes Shopping Quick and Easy

TheFind has a powerful shopping search that helps you look through every store and every product to quickly find you the best prices for anything you are looking for from maxi dresses to that perfect black handbag. Now with TheFind's new iPad app shopping from your iPad is so much fun.

Shopping with TheFind app is so much easier than comparison shopping from your computer. No more multiple browser windows or tabs open! I also love that you can fire up the app and literally start shopping. Just sign in with your Facebook login (or guest if you so choose) and you are pretty much ready to go with your shopping search!

Giveaway!
Head over to Coquette Maman to enter to win a $50 gift card for Back to School shopping.

Download TheFind app for iPad

Easy DIY Hairstyles: Perfect for the End of Summer

I got a lot of comments from my friends on how I did a cute loose french braid look for my daughter Chloe. It's a great look for all ages and a stylish way to get hair out of your eyes. Simply take a small piece of hair from one side and start from the top of the head and braid over to the back. Use a small clip or elastic to hold the braid temporarily while you braid the other side. Once you finish the other side, carefully remove your clip from the first brand and fasten the two braids together. It's a sweet look, perfect for the last easy breezy days of summer.

I also just found this hairstyle on The Beauty Department while researching hairstyles for this post. I love the added look of small flowers. Nice bohemian touch!

Here's a roundup of some other cute and easy hairstyles I found on other sites.

Summer Ponytails, Five Ways from Maire Claire. I love the Wavy Low Ponytail.

DIY Beach Waves from Indie Lee. Make your own sea spray and wear your hair with that carefree beach style.

10 Easy Summer Hairstyles from Self Magazine. I love this looped ponytail. (Photo from loveblair.com)

Party Prep Pony from The Beauty Department when you want a more intricate, yet easy breezy look for going out.

Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Serum: Get that Perfect "V" Shaped Face

I am lucky to be able to try a lot of beauty and skincare products over the years, thanks to this blog. I do my best to take care of my skin and have a good routine down for taking care of it. Out of all the products I use, the one item that has not been out of my daily skincare routine for over a year now is the Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Lipo-drain Serum ($75). Asians apparently have more fat pockets in their face, as Asian TV personality Megan Tan mentions in the featured video above. I love how she shows the various steps on how to apply the serum for the interviewer. I know the moves by heart now too. It's no wonder why this serum is the #1 serum in Asia. It really works!

I can now honestly say I don't worry about side angles in photos or wearing my hair up in a ponytail anymore because my face has a slimmer shape now. I constantly being asked by Asian family members and friends if I have lost weight because they see it in my face.

Read more about it in my previous post on the Clarins Facial Lift Serum from last summer and my quote from the Wall Street Journal article last August "When Skin Cream Gets Bossy" (Coquette post here).

Purchase the Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Lipo-drain Serum now at clarinsusa.com.

Other products now added to the Clarins Shaping Facial Lift family are the Shaping Facial Lift Defining Eye Lift ($54) which relieves eyelid puffiness and the Shaping Facial Lift Wrap ($52) that enhances the retraction of the skin's surface to speed results.

BCBG Cynthia Clear Pump

Last fall, we noticed a clear trend in pumps from Louboutins to Chanel. Now you can pick up a more affordable pair that doesn't skimp on style. Presenting the BCBC Cynthia Clear Pump ($89) that comes in black, red, silver and gold. Party time never looked so fun!

Zara's Mini Skort Trend

Zara is enjoying a fashion hit on their hands at the moment with their Zara Mini Skort ($49.95). The front looks like a tulip shaped skirt and the back shows the shorts. The skort comes in black, blue and white. It's perfect expendable fashion for our last month of summer filled with BBQs, brunches, and outdoor dinners.

Zara Mini Skort on Karolina Kurkova and Olivia Palmero.

Zara, of course wants this trend to go on into fall and has the same skort in a gray pinstripe fabric ($59.95). It's probably not office appropriate, but I do love me some menswear pinstripes!

Meow! Kitten Heels Are Back

Give your tired feet a rest! The kitten heel is back for fall. It's no wonder these heels are a classic which came to popularity with Audrey Hepburn in 1954 from her movie Sabrina. I love this shoe paired with a classic pencil skirt for work. My favorite by far are the classic Coach Mandy Heel ($198 at Coach) in both black and a wine colored Port. Or go exotic, with the Mandy Heel in Python-embossed leather ($255 at Coach).

Here are more of my picks for kitten heels:

L.K. Bennett Bree Pointy Toe Kitten Heel Slingback (on sale $177 at Bloomingdales)

Delman Pumps Laci Slingback Kitten Heel ($250 at Bloomingdales)

L.K. Bennett Lara Kitten Heel Pumps with Eyelets ($295 at Shopbop)

Elizabeth and James Clark Low Pumps ($298 at Shopbop)

kate spade new york 'simon' pump Red Whips Snake Print ($298 at Nordstrom)
Comes in pink, red, nude, teal, & black/white polka dots