Coquette

New Dior Beauty Boutique at the Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara

(Photos: Dior Beauty/L. Wong)

This Monday I had the chance to preview the new Dior Beauty boutique at the Westfield Valley Fair Mall in Santa Clara, CA. It's one of three standalone Dior Beauty boutiques in the U.S. so far with plans to open more this year, including NYC. The boutique is located on the 1st level of the mall (2855 Stevens Creek Blvd (Level 1, Suite 1311) and is just a beauty lover's paradise featuring everything the brand has to offer in skincare, makeup and fragrances. There's also a private spa in the back for all your skincare treatments. (The spa will be open mid-May and I'll have more info when it opens.)

Grand Opening

Since it's the grand opening, now through Saturday 4/30 from 12pm-6pm, get a complimentary makeup application while enjoying light food and beverages. Please call to book an appointment if you want to do this as there are a limited number of makeup stations available. Just call (408) 484-3089 to RSVP. I love the experience and the makeup artists are so talented, you won't want to miss this opportunity. Also, sample sizes of products will be available with each purchase while supplies last.

I loved the natural, everyday look that National Diorshow Artist Kevin Sifflet did on me. He really know how to work an Asian face, especially the eyes and brows. It's all about a healthy glow this summer and the Diorskin Nude Air Glow Powder ($56) would be my one recommended must-have for the season. He used it all over my face and even used it to help sculpt my eyelids. It gave it a light dimension for those spring/summer days you don't want to have any dark color on your lids. I'll have a full post on the Dior makeup Kevin used on me and some of the techniques he used in another post next week. Stay tuned!

Here are more photos of the Dior Beauty boutique:

The makeup stations and displays were just pure eye candy! Just so many gorgeous colors that you can pick up and try or get a makeup consultation from one of the Dior beauty experts.

I love Dior fragrances and they have the entire women and mens fragrance collection in the boutique. Everything is displayed beautifully and I got a chance to try the new J'adore Eau Lumiere which smells heavenly! I am almost done with my bottle of J'adore that my husband gave me last year and I will definitely get this new version for it's fresh, floral beauty. I couldn't resist a spritz on myself in the store. The entire staff are Dior fragrance specialists and can help you find the right scent for you or for a gift.

There is even the prestigious Christian Dior La Collection Privée fragrance line which is a fragrance line for men and women using only carefully selected, exceptional raw materials that are handcrafted in a traditional way.

A photo posted by Natalie Zee Drieu (@coquettenatalie) on Apr 25, 2016 at 4:16pm PDT

Visit the Dior Beauty boutique at Westfield Valley Fair Mall at 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd (Level 1, Suite 131) in Santa Clara, CA. Don't forget to call (408) 484-3089 for your complimentary makeup application!

Clinique Super City Block BB Cushion Compact + Sun-Kissed Face Gelee

With spring here and the warmer days slowly appearing here and there, I'm more conscious of making sure I have good sunscreen protection on my face. Clinique's new Super City Block BB Cushion Compact Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($35 at Clinique) is an amazing all-in-one real deal. First off, can I just profess my love for the cushion compacts? It's so easy to use and take on the go for touch ups. I love Clinique's formula – it feels like on the skin and you can build your own coverage with the included puff. I especially love how the coverage does well around the pores of my nose. Let's not forget also how this also includes SPF 50 and antioxidants to help protect your skin not only from UV, but also from impurities and pollution. (Anti-pollution products is going to get big this year.) There are four shades: Fair, Moderately Fair, Medium and Deep. I have it in Moderately Fair and it matches my skin tone perfectly. And if it couldn't be any more amazing, you can get a refill for your compact once you are finished for just $25. We definitely need to see more of this kind of mindful ways to reuse in the beauty world!

Another new product for spring is the Clinique Sun-Kissed Face Gelee Complexion Multitasker ($26.50 at Clinique). Give your skin a little glow from the post-winter paleness! I really like how weightless it feels. I typically blend it in with my tinted moisturizer so it works as a great daily "glow". Clinique recommends you to mix it with your foundation. Make sure you wash your hands after you use it right away so your hands don't get stained. You get this natural sun-kissed glow without the sun! It's such a healthy look for spring and summer!

As with all Clinique products, everything is 100% fragrance free and allergy tested. My skin has felt great with these products and I didn't break out.

Purchase the Super City Block BB Cushion Compact Broad Spectrum SPF 50 and the Clinique Sun-Kissed Face Gelee Complexion Multitasker at Clinique.com.

Review products provided by Clinique

Jo Malone London's New Boutique in San Francisco

(Photos: Jo Malone London)

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a special preview of the new Jo Malone London boutique at 2157 Union Street in San Francisco. It's the first standalone boutique in the city and you just feel the magic in the air when you enter. (Or perhaps it's really their magical fragrances!)

I've been a huge fan of the wonderful scents of Jo Malone London for years now. But I never realized that I could mix scents until James Mc Laughlin, Jo Malone London's Education Executive showed me how. First of all, I loved the gorgeous display showcasing all of the Jo Malone London fragrances. My two favorite Jo Malone London fragrances are Peony & Blush Suede and Wood Sage & Sea Salt. He sprayed and layered both the scents on my wrists and I couldn't believe how fresh and wonderful the two fragrances were together! That's another one of the specialities of visiting the boutique. You'll learn the art of layering your fragrances!

We were treated to a wonderful "tea tasting" by Bellocq Tea Atelier. The first one, the No. 57, Kabuse Sencha was my favorite. We learned about the different ways tea leaves are rolled to give flavor and scent!

This led us to the wonderful introduction to Jo Malone London's new Rare Tea Collection. The collection is not yet available online yet and is only available in certain stores. You can purchase it at the SF boutique. (Hint - great Mother's Day gift!) This is the ultimate in luxury fragrance. There are 6 fragrances that all smell so beautiful and unique – they are unlike any fragrances out there now. Each bottle ($340 for 175ml) is so intricately designed with a beautiful magnetic cover.

The fragrances are from left to right:

• Silver Needle Tea - A delicate floral made from teas grown in the lush valleys of Fujian, China


• Jade Leaf Tea - Made from Japanese Sencha tea featuring a crisp and fresh smell


• Darjeeling Tea - Richly floral with exotic sweetness from high in the foothills of the Himalayas


• Oolong Tea - A wonderful scent that's rich and buttery from tea leaves grown in the mountains of Fujian, China


• Golden Needle Tea - Notes of leather and spice made from the mountains of China's Yunnan province


• Midnight Black Tea - A seductive, exotic scent made from China's Yunnan province

It was hard for me to decide which one to choose for myself. I ultimately chose Silver Needle Tea because it was so sweet and light. I loved how it smelled on me.

Here are more photos of the interior of the Jo Malone London Union Street boutique:

The next time you are shopping on Union street, take a visit to the new Jo Malone London boutique and indulge in free hand and arm massage or learn about fragrance layering. It's such a beautiful store to hang out in, you'll probably never want to leave!

Shop Korean Beauty Online with Beauteque

My Korean Beauty obsession is growing the more I learn about the various brands and products. I love trying new sheet masks! I don't always have time to leave the house to shop, so it's nice to know there's a place to shop Korean Beauty online at Beauteque. The site has all of the top brands and sells skincare, makeup, masks, and body care products. I found that Beauteque sells many of these top Korean brands for less and all of my products sent to me were packed well.

Here's my Korean Beauty Haul with Beauteque:

Botanic Farm Dot Art Collection CC Cushion (pink) ($22)

I decided it was high time for me to try my first CC Cushion! This is like a primer and it also comes in lavender and green. I chose pink to make my dull winter skin, more radiant and healthy looking. This helps brighten your skin and protects it with SPF 50+. There's also anti-aging skincare in there as well. The dot pattern is too cute! This felt wonderfully light on my skin too.

Botanic Farm Waterfull Serum BB Cushion No 23 ($22)

This BB Cushion like the CC Cushion has skincare benefits. It whitens, anti-wrinkle and contains SPF 50+. I loved the coverage and how it was buildable with the puff.

Tony Moly Backstage Gel Eyeliner in Khaki Black ($14)

When I visited K-Pop Beauty in Japantown (the Tony Moly shop), the gal there told me that their bestseller and one of their best known makeup products is their gel eyeliner. It's inexpensive and it had a cute shape. I love that the brush is built into the eyeliner pot. I have it in black which seems to be sold out but this khaki black version looks good too. The eyeliner is easy to put on and really lasts!

Etude House Skin Note Mask $3.50

This was the second time I tried a mask that was a jelly-like gel mask. This mask contains collagen and royal jelly which helps to keep skin elastic and bouncy according to the package. It came in two pieces that you put over your forehead and eyes and the second piece is for your mouth and chin area. You leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes. Afterwards, I patted the leftover solution into my skin. I did wake up with really hydrated skin and I did feel that "bounce" on my cheeks. I'm definitely going to get more of these masks because I really love these gel-like sheet masks.

Berrisom Animal Mask - Snail ($3.25)

This mask contains snail extract that a lot of Korean beauty products swear by to keep your skin looking great. This mask is a nourishing one that helps my dry skin. The mask is a face of a monkey when you put it on which makes doing a face mask way more fun with these animal faces. I am going to try the tiger wrinkle mask next!

Missha Soft Cleansing Puff $7.50

This little clay jelly sponge is amazing! This was something new and different that I wanted to try. White clay helps to retain moisture for your skin and with my dry skin, I thought it would be great to wash my face and increase my circulation. What I love about it is that it is not a hard scrubber. It feels so soft and gentle on the skin. I used it with my foam rice cleanser and massaged it on my face in a circular motion. After you have washed your face, rinse the puff and squeeze out the water. The puff has a string so you can easily hang it to dry.

I hope you enjoyed my Korean Beauty haul! As you can see, the prices are pretty amazing for many of the products I picked up. You get free shipping on orders over $35 + 1 free sample and there are a variety of subscriptions to choose from.

To shop for your own Korean Beauty products, visit Beauteque.

Review products provided by Beauteque

Clarins + FEED: Gift with Purpose

Stop by your favorite Clarins counter and take part in an important initiative to stop child hunger. Clarins and FEED have launched the National Million Meal Mission. Starting today through May 8th, this new venture aims to provide 1.2 million meals to children around the world in 17 days. Nine retailers across the country will be offering a FEED 10 pouch filled with deluxe Clarins products. I love that inside the pouch, you'll find a card that lets you know that you have provided 10 school meals with this gift. Such an important cause.

Inside the Clarins FEED pouch you will find travel sizes of the following:

• Hand and Nail Treatment Cream


• HydraQuench Cream-Mask


• Beauty Flash Balm


• Multi-Active Nuit


• Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 01 Rose Shimmer

The Clarins FEED pouch is made of thick canvas. It's the perfect makeup bag or "catch all" pouch for your handbag or tote. All of the department store retailers will have the red pouch, while Macy's will have the blue pouch pictured above.

To get your Clarins FEED pouch and to support this amazing program, all you need to do is to spend $90 or more at the Clarins counter now through May 8, 2016.

Review product provided by Clarins

lilah b.'s Helping You to Declutter and Simplify

lilah b. is not only helping you look beautiful with their minimalist, beautiful cosmetics, they are now also helping you declutter your old makeup products as well. In honor of Earth Day, with every lilah b. purchase on the web site, you'll receive a return prepaid shipping label to send them your finished or unwanted products (can be any brand, not just lilah b.). They will work with a partner to process and recycle them so that you can have room for only what you need.

If you are looking for something to try out from lilah b., try on of their luscious Divine Duos ($46) that work as both a lip and cheek color. I just got b.fearless, a vibrant red shade that is warming up my complexion for spring. I also love their Palette Perfection Eye Quads ($58) which I have in b. fabulous which has beautiful grays and metallics that are great for everyday or to make a smokey eye. I love using an eyeliner brush with the black to line my eyes. The formula contains marigold extract to help keep your skin looking hydrated and elastic.

All of lilah b.'s formulas are free of: parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, phthalates and artificial preservatives. No animal testing is done.

Don't miss your chance to some of lilah b.'s amazing products and declutter your makeup stash as well. If you sign up for the lilah b. newsletter, you can also get 15% off your first purchase!

Visit lilah b.to shop.

Review products provided by lilah b.

Coachella Beauty Essentials: How to Look Gorgeous and Protect Your Skin in the Desert

Are you headed out to Coachella? Don't forget to stock up on some desert beauty essentials. I had a chance to try some these amazing products pictured above. They will keep you looking great (and keep your skin protected) while you're chilling and enjoy music in the hot sun.

Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen Brush SPF 30 ($57 at Colorescience)

Love this double duty mineral sunscreen in a powder! It currently comes in five shades. I have it in medium. The one I have is SPF 30 but if you are really fair you may want to go for the SPF 50. It's the perfect way to wear sunscreen on your face because you won't have that wet, oily sunscreen sheen and this powder in a brush format makes it compact and easy to reapply your sunscreen. Quick tip: make sure to hold your breath for the few seconds when you apply the sunscreen on your face so the mineral sunscreen powders don't get inhaled into your lungs. (Chemical free and Paraben free)

Colorescience Sunforgettable Lip Shine with SPF 35 ($29 at Colorescience)

This wonderful lipgloss makes you look beautiful while protecting your lips with SPF 35. The gloss comes in seven shades, including a clear gloss. I have it in the Rose color which you can see above. I love the tiny gold flecks that really make your lips shine. The gloss is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes so it's also perfect for those warm days you'll be spending by the pool. (Paraben free)

Invisibobble ($7.95 for a pack of 3 at Beauty.com)

If you're old enough to remember, these spiral hair ties remind me of those old telephone cords as a kid growing up. My fingers would wind around them over and over as I chitter chattered away. What's fantastic about these little spiral ties is that they don't snap and split your hair and your hair doesn't get all bent out of shape when you undo your ponytail or hairstyle. You can also hide it in your hair really easily too. Choose from lots of colors. You can blend it into your hair, or go bold with hot pink. I have it in black and brown. There are also some of hairstyle tips and video tutorials on the Invsibobble site. I like the Messy Bun by Richard Phillpart. This works with just one Invisibobble -- no bobby pins required!

Kleenex Shine Away Sheets ($4.99 at Kleenex.com)

When you're in the hot sun all day, having an shiny and oily-looking face is not what you want. This small pack of Kleenex Shine Away Sheets are compact enough to fit in your mini bag. There are 50 sheets in each pack and they blot your face without removing any makeup! Blot your skin with the solid purple side while your friends see the pretty pattern on the back. These are my new summer essential!

Boka Cocorinse ($20 for two week supply - 14 packets at boka.com)

These single use little packets naturally freshens breath, whitens teeth and helps reduce cavity-causing bacteria! I love that it's made with 100% organic, cold-pressed virgin coconut oil, and pure mint oils for a refreshing experience. It's a nice, natural mouth-wash that really helps keep your breath fresh all day. I love the minty taste -- it's definitely not too strong.

Review products were provided by PR company

Spring 2016: My Everyday Makeup Routine

You know when you've found your groove with a few key makeup products? That's how I feel lately with my new spring routine. I can get this look together in less than 10 minutes! Lately, I've been going for a bright lip and energized face to get out of the cold, dreary winter. Everytime we get a few days of warm sun in SF, we go back to the foggy cold so at least this look is keeping me happy that it's April and soon perhaps, I'll be able to wear my sandals again!

Here's my everyday makeup look I've been loving for the past couple of weeks for spring!

Prep the Skin
I moisturize my face in the morning with Clarins Multi-Active Day ($53 at Clarins USA) and then use the Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($42 at Clarins USA) to protect my skin from the sun and city elements. I don't wear foundation everyday but sometimes when I need a bit more color in my skin, I love using the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude ($44 at Sephora). (I use the smaller travel size you get in the Sephora checkout line.) I brush it on all over my face with my Estee Lauder Sculpting Foundation Brush ($46 at Estee Lauder). I finish off the shine with my NARS Soft Velvet Loose Powder in Flesh ($37 at Sephora).

Cheek Warmth
I love giving a warm sun kissed glow to my cheeks. I use Chanel Les Beiges in No. 30 ($58 at Chanel.com) with my Chanel Angled Powder Brush #2 ($60 at Chanel.com) on my cheekbones. The subtle color starts to come in and starts to help define my cheekbones. I sometimes dab some on the corners of my forehead for a warmer complexion too. I've rediscovered my drugstore favorite, the Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso ($8.44 at Amazon). It gives a nice glow to the cheeks. I then highlight at the tops of my cheeks with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder ($45 at Sephora).

Eyes
I use Clarins Ombre Iridescente Eyeshadow ($25 at Clarins USA) for soft, shimmery color on my lids. I first swipe with fingers the Silver Pink color all over my eyelid. Then I use Silver Plum on the sides of my eyelid for definition. Finally, I line the eyes with Clarins Crayon Khol Eye Pencil in 06 bronze ($25 at Clarins USA). I love how this eyeliner compliments the shadows so perfectly with it's shimmer. I curl my lashes and add my favorite mascara, the YSL Babydoll Mascara ($32 at Sephora) that keep my lashes looking curled and long! I have pretty dark brows so I usually just brush them with a Sephora brow brush to keep them looking tidy.

Lips
I line my lips with another drugstore favorite, the Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Liner in Rose Quartz ($8.98 at Amazon) and top it off with the Clarins Rouge Eclat Lipstick in 26 Rose Praline ($28 at Clarins USA) which gives my lips a bright, beautiful color and energizes the whole look!

March Favorites: Chanel, Clarins, True Botanicals + More

Hi Lovelies! I haven't done a monthly favorites in a while so better late than never. Stay tuned as I have lots of great beauty stories coming up for you this month! More Korean beauty and also reviews on some new products and brands I've been trying out. Tomorrow I'll be posting up my current daily makeup routine. I've found that I've been loving a select few makeup products that I can't stop using them!

Have a great day!

1. Clarins Ombre Iridescente Eyeshadow ($25 at Clarins USA)

This cream to powder iridescent eyeshadow is my favorite from their entire spring makeup line. (See my review of the Clarins Spring Makeup Collection.) I wear Silver Pink and Silver Plum on a daily basis. You don't need any eye primer and it's best to apply with your finger tips. I love how buildable the shadows are. I love a nice light shimmer for day and the colors really compliment my complexion for a natural highlight glow.

2. Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo in Message ($37 at Chanel.com)
These moisturizing and glossy lipsticks from Chanel are everything! I have it in two colors but find myself gravitating towards Message more often than Article (soft coral pink). This is the color that Keira Knightly wears in the Rouge Coco Stylo campaign. I'm not an everyday red lipstick kind of gal and this one really feels different. I've worn it casually in the day and also for an evening out. The color just works with everything! (See my Coquette review.)

3. True Botanicals Pacific Cleanser ($48 at True Botanicals)

I love all of the True Botanical products but there's nothing like the feeling of this cleanser on your skin. It's so smooth when you apply it to your face. Your skin feels clean but not dry afterwards. It definitely feels amazing! (See Coquette review.)

4. Superga x Jennifer Meyer Sneakers ($149 at Zappos)
I'm ready for spring with these super comfy pink classic Superga 2750 sneakers with a cute arrow charm, thanks to jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer's touch. I've gotten so many compliments on them, it's not even funny. Perfectly paired with boyfriend jeans or a casual dress/skirt, these sneakers will see me through summer adventures for sure! Also comes in black and light blue. If you are in SF, head over to the Superga store on Filmore Street. (See Coquette post)

5. The Ramblers by Aidan Donnelley Rowley ($17.43 at Amazon)

This book that centers around the lives of three intertwined 34 year olds is a page turner! I was transported to New York and to The Ramble, t36 acre wild garden in Central Park where one of the main characters, Clio would host her bird watching tours. Each character was going through a major turning point in their life and it was great to be a part of their thought process. I found the entire book really satisfying. it was the first book since Circling the Sun that I read within a few weeks. Definite, page turner!

Retrouvé Luminous Cleansing Elixir: Unisex Luxury Skincare

Retrouvé is a new unisex luxury skincare line perfectly inclusive for everyone to use. Created by eauty visionaries Jami Morse Heidegger and her husband Klaus Heidegger who own their family skincare line Kiehl's, the couple created the products for Retroué initially for their own personal use. This skincare line boasts new technologies and powerful ingredients in high concentration to help protect skin from internal damage and harmful environmental external factors. In French, retrouvé means found.

I have been using the Retrouvé Luminous Cleansing Elixir ($75 at Bergdorf Goodman) and love how it feels on my skin. The sleek black container is just gorgeous and you just pop off the top to reveal a handy pump. The cleanser is actually a balm cleanser in pump format which is just brilliant in my book because you aren't dipping your fingers again and again into a balm container. I love using this while doing my facial massage at night. Once you have worked it into your skin, use a damp washcloth (I like a muslin cloth) to remove it from your skin. The results is just wonderfully clean and super soft skin. Key ingredients are: Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Glycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil and Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil.

The skincare products with Retrouvé aside from this cleanser are pretty pricey. The products are high-quality and perfect for those looking for a luxury anti-aging unisex skincare line.

Browse the Retrouvé Skincare Collection at bergdorfgoodman.com.

Review products provided by Retrouvé.