Coquette

Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo

I just purchased the new Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo lipsticks ($37 at chanel.com) and wanted to share my thoughts as I haven't found many reviews on this new line. Chanel makeup is one of my indulgences I like to enjoy and even though the price tag is pretty step for a skinny lipstick, I just had to try it. And you can't deny the beauty of their gorgeous packaging. I love ordering from Chanel.com because all your items come in a beautiful Chanel gift box along with a couple samples you get to choose which come in their own little Chanel drawstring bag.

Stylo in French means "pen" so these lipsticks are basically the size of a pen, perfect for mini bags or clutches when you are out. They don't take up a lot of space. I decided to choose colors that were not nude or mauve that I usually gravitate to because I didn't want these to be my everyday lipsticks. I chose some bright colors for spring and for going out. I loved the color Keira Knightly was wearing in the campaign pictured at top. She's wearing 214 Message so I just ordered that blindly. I've never done that! Once it arrived I tried that color on immediately and loved how it looked on me! Phew! It was just the perfect red that wasn't too bright. (Swatches are below) I love how the color stayed all night and gave that glossy look to my lips. I only reapplied it again after I ate my dinner. The lipsticks are very hydrating.

The other color I picked was 204 Article a soft coral pink. I love it for the day and the coral really brightens my complexion. I tried on more colors while at Bloomingdales last week and the entire range is really wonderful. I love the texture of the lipstick - it's like a lipstick and gloss in one which is perfect because I'm not a fan of Chanel's sticky lipgloss. This gives me just the right amount of shine.

Would I purchase this again? Yes, maybe I will add another fun color. They are beautiful on their own and for the price and small stick of a lipstick, I don't plan on using them everyday. I'm trying to savor them for times when I am going out at night or carrying a small bag in the day.

Here's a closer look at my Chanel Rouge Coco Stylos. You can see that I've used Message more so the tip looks way more used. I do like the angle of the tip so the application goes on beautifully on the lips.

Top: 204 Article
Bottom: 214 Message

I think the key selling point for these Stylo is that they fit so wonderfully thin inside my Chanel WOC. I have also used it inside my Chanel Timeless Clutch and it definitely gives me more space for my other items. I also like that it's a smooth round case without ornate decorations (think YSL) or square in shape that it would make marks or dents inside your nice bags.

Buy the Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo at Chanel.com

Spring #RANBonusBox: Featuring Jus by Julie, Links of London + More

Some of the goodies in this spring's #ranbonusbox from @rakutenaffiliatenetwork. Tap on photo for info. (Not pictured @jusbyjulie juice cleanse and @dawgsfootwear) Reviews to come soon on Coquette!

A photo posted by Natalie Zee Drieu (@coquettenatalie) on Mar 7, 2016 at 1:20pm PST

My Rakuten Affilate Network Bonus Box arrived for spring a few weeks ago. This one was spectacular in that it included wellness/fitness items that we on track with my health goals for this year.

Here's what was inside:

Jus by Julie 1 Day JUS Cleanse ($50) and Vanilla Probiotic Cold Brew Coffee ($8)

I got a voucher to go online to have the 1 day juice cleanse freshly delivered to my home and to also get to choose one of their probiotic cold brew coffees. I had never done a juice cleanse before so I was a little nervous. I read some tips online on how to adjust your body before a cleanse and picked a Sunday when I would be home to do it. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. There were 6 bottles of juices that came fresh in a box filled with ice packs which I immediately put into the fridge. I drank the 6 bottles throughout the day (about every 2 hours or so) and each one of them were delicious. I have a NutriBullet at home so I was used to drinking full juices and I liked that it made me feel full after I finished each bottle. There are instructions that come with the juices and you should follow the number order of each juice flavor. The #2 Spicy Lemonade was delicious! Since it had the cayenne pepper I couldn't really gulp it down but I enjoyed taking my time to drink it. My favorite juice out of all the juices was #4 Chia Berry. Overall, I didn't feel hungry in the day and I did feel a renewed sense of energy once Monday started. I really recommend the 1 day cleanse if you are looking to try this out before you move onto 3 or 5 day cleanses.

As for the coffee -- what can I say? Simply delicious! Their cold brew coffee is infused with 1 billion CFU's of vegan GanedenBC30 probiotics that can help improve your immune and digestive system.

You can read more about all of their healthy products at JUS by Julie.

Sweaty Betty "Knock Out" Avesha Yoga Tank ($90)

I try to do yoga at home twice a week. This super soft, lightweight tank has been so comfortable to wear during my practice. I love the "Knock Out" text as it gives me a motivation to just go for the day.

Six:02 Gymsack Bag (pictured at top)

I received a Six:02 powered by Foot Locker gymsack bag. This is a site for women's athletic wear and the drawstring bag is perfect when I need to go to the gym.

Links of London White Topaz Pearl Drop Earrings ($150)

These beautiful earrings feature white topaz posts set in 18K yellow gold vermeil. i've worn them out last week when I went to a dinner gala with my husband. They are delicate and elegant. Just so gorgeous!

Folly Follie Happy Nugget Bracelet ($75)

Perfect for my spring outfits is this Happy Nugget Bracelet. I love the rose gold with the white leather. It's so adorable by itself or stacked with my other gold bracelets. I'm kinda obsessed!

Dawgs Girls' Loudmouth Kaymann Loafers ($34.99)

I received a gift certificate from Dawgs to purchase whatever I wanted there. I decided on getting a pair of cool shoes for my daughter for spring/summer and she picked this colorful pair. The loafers are so comfortable for her and she loves the colors and print.

Review products were provided by Rakuten Affiliate Network

Clarins Spring 2016 Makeup

A couple of weeks ago I had the wonderful opportunity to preview Clarins' new products for Spring 2016 at the Macy's in Union Square San Francisco. Nassima Kebir, Director of PR for Clarins showed us the newest addition to the Clarins skincare line. The Clarins Multi-Active Day and Night Creams are the anti-aging starter set for us busy young gals. (See my review.) I discovered that in these creams is Clarins' anti-pollution complex that helps fight free radicals. We are all exposed to all the dirt, dust and pollution of daily life and the anti-pollution complex in 115 of Clarins' products is helping us fight the signs of aging.

Now on to one of my favorites, makeup! Maria Henry, the West Coast Brand Ambassador for Clarins was on hand to tell us the latest in the Clarins spring beauty lineup.

Clarins' makeup line has always been one of my favorites. That's because they put their skincare power in their makeup too! The Lip Perfector -- really one of my all time favorite glosses -- fights fine lines around your lip. The Rouge Eclat Lipstick has 3D pigments to make lips look plumper. There are lots of new and pretty colors for spring across all their makeup products. I'm pretty obsessed with their plum color in the Lip Perfector and the silver plum for the Ombre Iridescente Eyeshadow. Maria recommends to use fingers when applying the eyeshadow for more color payoff. Just work from the lash line and up. You don't need a primer with these eyeshadows either!

Here are the new Clarins Spring 2016 Makeup products in more detail:

Rouge Eclat Lipstick ($28)

I made a vow this spring to have more fun with my lipstick. I really love the formula for this lipstick because it really hydrates my lips. The color also has lasting power. The lipsticks contain Clarins' Nutri-Youth Complex to give you plumper lips. There are four new shades for spring which I have watched below. I'm currently wearing 24 Pink Cherry.

Lipstick Swatches: (L to R) 24 Pink Cherry, 25 Pink Blossom, 23 Hot Rose, 26 Rose Praline

Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector ($25)

This Lip Perfector gloss has been one of my favorites for years. Acacia micro-pearls and vegetable waxes contained in the gloss help to soften your lips and plump them up. I like wearing them over lipstick but on my carefree summer days, I just need a tube of my Lip Perfector in 05 Candy Shimmer and I'm good to go. I'm loving the two new shades for spring, especially 08 Plum Shimmer which just looks so good on.

Lip Perfector Swatches: 07 Toffee Pink Shimmer and 08 Plum Shimmer

Here's a photo of the Lip Perfector tip. So different from most glosses. I love how soft it feels on my lips!

Mult-Blush Cream Blush ($30)

This blush is unique. It's a cream to powder formula that glides on to your cheeks. The new spring color 05 Rose is a flattering color for every skin tone and it's really buildable. I love how it can give yourself a natural-looking glow on your cheeks. Once it is on your skin, the cream turns to lightweight powder so you barely feel it on your skin! You can also use the blush on your lips and eyes. Maria Henry says you can put it on your eye crease for a pop.

Multi Blush Swatch: 05 Rose

Ombre Iridescente Eyeshadow ($25)

This cream to powder iridescent eyeshadow is my favorite from their entire spring makeup line. If you really could only get one thing, get the eyeshadow. It's so easy to apply with fingers and I like that I don't need to worry about applying a primer. The caps of the eyeshadow also match the color inside which makes finding the color you want a breeze. I've been using the silver ivory and silver pink for daily wear and the silver plum looks amazing on for a night out!

Eyeshadow Swatches: 04 Silver Ivory, 05 Silver Pink, 07 Silver Plum

Shop the Clarins Spring Makeup Collection at clarinsusa.com.

Review products provided by Clarins

Twisted Ponytail DIY from 100 Perfect Hair Days by Jenny Strebe

100 Perfect Hair Days: Step-by-Steps for Pretty Waves, Braids, Curls, Buns, and More!
By Jenny Strebe
Published by: Chronicle Books
$15.15 on Amazon

If you have long hair like me, it's easy to feel like you are in a hair rut constantly. I'm not one to have lots of free time to do my hair each morning either! Enter in this fabulous book, 100 Perfect Hair Days: Step-by-Steps for Pretty Waves, Braids, Curls, Buns, and More! by Jenny Strobe. The book is perfect for everyone as Strobe covers all different kinds of hair types and lengths. I usually end up putting my hair back in a ponytail when I'm busy working and I love the more stylish ways she outlines on how to wear a ponytail. I love watching Rachel Khoo's cooking show on TV just to see her cute side braid she wears. (Yes, there is a tutorial for that in this book!) My favorite hairstyle in this book is the Twisted Ponytail which looks so fresh for spring, right?

There are tons of great casual hairstyles as well as lots of ideas on how to dress up hair for special events. There is even a step by step guide on how to straighten hair -- a blowdrying technique that I'm really trying to perfect. Each tutorial features great step by step instructions and illustrated steps to help compliment the text. The models featured are of diverse backgrounds and have various hair textures from straight, curly, frizzy and more. I'm not blonde so it's great to look inside a book and see so many photos of women with diverse backgrounds with gorgeous hairstyles. It's great to see the same hair technique and how it looks on different people with different hair color/texture.

If you are looking for new hairstyle ideas, tips and more, you have to check out this fantastic book! Thanks to Chronicle Books for letting me share my favorite Twisted Ponytail DIY with you below.

Twisted Ponytail
Best for: Curly, Thick

A ponytail is classic, but sometimes, the standard pony might feel a bit boring. The ponytail with a twist brings in a little edge and a different feel, yet your hair is still casually pulled back into a classic ponytail. Incorporating hair from the sides takes a bit of practice but it’s easy once you get the hang of it. I love creating this look on wavy to curly hair with medium to thick texture because it really allows your twists to stand out. It’s also ideal for long hair so the hair left out of the ponytail hits your collarbone. You can still wear this style if your hair is extremely curly, but the twists won’t be as well defined.

1. Separate the hair on the right side of your head into two sections and make a ropebraid along your hairline. For this ropebraid technique, you connect the hair as you work down the side of the hairline. So every time you do a twist, incorporate some hair from above or below.
2. Continue until you get to right behind the ear and secure the ends with a hair elastic. Repeat this technique on the other side.
3. Gather all the hair left out of the ropebraids and create a low ponytail.
4. Secure it with a hair elastic. Use two if your hair is very thick.
5. Take a 1/4 inch (0.75-cm) section of hair from underneath the ponytail, wrap it around the hair elastic, and bobby pin the ends into the bottom of the ponytail.
6. For hold, use a medium-hold hairspray.

TIP
If your hair is really fine and your twists are small, you can gently pull on them before securing them into the ponytail. This will make your twists appear fuller.

Review book and tutorial provided by Chronicle Books.

Snag J.Crew's Mini Bucket Bag for Under $100

Spring is coming just around the corner and the bucket bag is totally on trend for the warm weather season. This J.Crew Mini Bucket Bag is so on trend with the minimalistic simplicity that has made Mansur Gavriel a popular new handbag line. Yet this bucket bag is waaaay more friendly to your wallet. It's a total steal for $98! Yes $98! It comes in Natural Vachetta (above) and Brilliant Peri below. There's even a metallic gold version! I like the small slip pocket inside that can easily hold your mobile phone. The tassel drawstring closure that gives this simple bag a fabulous pop of style!

Purchase the Mini Bucket Bag at J.Crew.

True Botanicals Shows That Natural Skincare Can Also Be Luxurious

True Botanicals is a natural and organic skincare company based right here in the Bay Area in Mill Valley, CA. Their anti-aging products are made with the highest quality ingredients and their clean packaging oozes luxury beauty. I absolutely love how all the products feel on my skin and I love how nourishing they feel.

If you are still hesitant to switch from face creams to face oils, read one of their blog posts that talks about face oils vs. creams. It's really interesting. For myself, I have seen a huge difference in implementing face oils in my skincare routine for the past year, especially this winter.

Here is the True Botanicals' regimen that I have been using day and night for the past couple of weeks on my dry skin:

Pacific Cleanser ($48)
There's something magical about this cleanser that when you smooth it on over your face, it instant feels amazing. I slippery and helps my fingers glide over my face well to gently massage out the makeup of the day. It doesn't dry out my skin after I rise it either.

Pacific Mist ($48)
After I cleanse, I do a few spritzes of the Pacific Mist. It instantly makes my skin feel plumper and smooth. It feels refreshing that I often use it in the middle of the day for a quick pick me up. The light floral scent smells fabulous!

Pacific Face Oil ($110)
This is the mother of all face oils! I love, love, love how this feels on my skin. I don't think I can ever look back. I have a girlfriend in her 40's that has been using this oil for 2 years and I have seen the transformation of her skin. She looks amazing. This is going to be a part of my daily routine no matter what! One tip is that if you use a matte foundation, hydrating yourself with a facial oil will help the foundation to set into your skin better. (You won't see dry flakes.) I have tried it with this face oil and it works beautifully.

Pacific Eye Serum ($90)

This is the new eye serum that just launched! This serum oil absorbs really well into the delicate skin around the eye. You may think it's a little pricey but honestly, a little goes a long way and I can see myself having this bottle for the rest of the year. I do one drop and rub it between my fingers. Then I gently tap it under my eye area to work it into the skin under my eyes. I feel like this has hydrated my eye area way better than any cream formula I have been using.

I also had to sample vials of their Seed Serum and their Soothing Face Serum. The Seed Serum contains more powerful vitamins, antioxidants, Omega 3, 6 and 9 and is perfect for protecting skin against harsh winter weather. The Soothing Face Serum helps sooth inflamed or irritated sensitive skin, especially rosacea prone. Both of these serums smell really good!

You can find out more and shop for products at True Botanicals.

Review products were provided by True Botanical

New Pacifica Natural Haircare Products Exclusively at Ulta Beauty

Pacfica is a natural beauty company that is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Their new haircare line just launched and is available exclusively at Ulta Beauty. I had a chance to try their new product offering and was blown away at how good my hair feels and looks. For once, my hair feels strong. I have been mostly using the Coconut Power Shampoo ($10) and Conditioner ($10) as well as the Coconut Super Power Deep Contioning Damage Control Mask ($16) a couple times a week. I have color-treated hair and my hair no longer feels dry. It feels fuller and stronger after a week. What I love the most about these hair products is that it's all natural and there are no chemicals or parabens. You get strong, healthy hair with none of the chemicals that can potentially harm your body.

The Hairvana Leave-On Detangling Conditioner ($14) is my must have item. I use this not only for myself but for my daughter's long hair too. It smells really, really good and works wonders getting all the tangles out so that brushing is just a breeze. I also use the Dragon Tamer Anti-Frizz Serum ($14) which helps keeps my hair sleek when I blow dry. These Pacifica haircare products are natural and just so affordable for quality haircare. I'm totally hooked!

Browse the entire Pacifica haircare line at Ulta.com. You can also purchase them at your local Ulta Beauty store.

Review products provided by Pacifica

Stemology Skincare: Cell Revive Collagen Complete Serum + Cell Renew Hydro-Plus Overnight Moisturizer

Stemology Skincare is a brand that is bringing together stem cells to help repair skin - fine lines, wrinkles, elasticity, tone, collagen, free radical damage and more. Their StemCore-3 technology "promises superior anti-aging efficacy in a formulation that is ethically formulated, contains no DNA or stem cell matter, and is all natural and intelligently organic whenever possible."

This really intrigued me so when I was giving a chance to try out their two new products.

The Stemology Cell Revive Collagen Complete Serum ($150) really works. A little goes a long way. I do one pump and warm it in my hands and gently press it into my face and use it in the morning and night. You can also target problem areas by concentrating the serum in those places. The serum is said to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkes in eight weeks. I have only been using it for one week. I will say it has made my skin feel plumper. You feel it immediately when you put on the serum. Then once you add on the Stemology Cell Renew Hydro-Plus Overnight Moisturizer ($75), the whole think just locks into your skin like a protective barrier. My skin just felt amazing and it felt like it was going to do it's job and keep my skin plump and retain its moisture overnight. The cream has time-release hyaluronic acid, Imperata Cylindrica Extract that increases skin moisture and sesame seed extract that helps decrease wrinkle depth. I really like that the container for the cream is a push button container. You get an exact amount to apply without dipping your fingers into the jar and contaminating the contents.

There is a slight fragrance to the products based on the natural ingredients. I can't put my finger on the scent. I can only say it reminds me of REN and Kate Sommerville products which I like. It isn't strong and it goes away after you put it on. I just love that they use natural and organic ingredients so I know that there are no chemicals absorbing into my skin. You can read more about what ingredients they use on their web site.

I feel like the elasticity of my skin is a lot plumper and my skin is well hydrated. Each morning I wake up, I feel like my skin is looking and feeling better. I've been using these for a week so I am looking forward to seeing how things improve as the weeks go on. You definitely feel the difference overnight day one and putting on the products feels great on your skin.

Buy the Stemology Cell Revive Collagen Complete Serum ($150) and the Stemology Cell Renew Hydro-Plus Overnight Moisturizer ($75) at stemologyskincare.com.

Review products provided by Stemology Skincare.