Coquette

Simple Micellar Cleansing Wipes

For years now, I have been using a micellar water before I do my entire cleansing routine. I really love how this French trend has made it over to the U.S. in the last couple of years. I've been using Simple's Micellar Cleansing Water for about a year now and the product works perfectly. Recently, while shopping at Target, I noticed there was a new wipes version, Simple Micellar Cleansing Wipes ($5.97 on Amazon). I don't normally use cleansing wipes but for the price, I figured I would give them a try. Well, I love them! The wipes are really soft and are a great first pass at removing all of my makeup for the day. I make sure I fold the wipe and use a clean area of the wipe for each section of my face and eyes so that I'm not rubbing back dirty makeup on my face.

You literally can't be the price and I love Simple's clean, no chemical, no fragrance formula. The wipes are perfect for traveling or keeping in your gym bag or tote when you are on the go.

Purchase the Simple Micellar Cleansing Wipes at Amazon.com.

Clinique Sonic System: Cleansing Brush + Facial Massage + Foundation Applicator

The Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush ($89.50) isn't your typical sonic brush. The Sonic System is a this a multi-purpose skincare and beauty tool with an additional massage head ($35) and foundation sponge head ($26) attachments. I love that it's super easy to use and is so lightweight which makes it easy to bring along when you are traveling. It comes with a small, light portable charging stand that plugs easily into the the wall and each attachment head has a plastic cover to protect it.

For cleansing, the brush is veeery soft. Did I say soft? I personally like using the brush a few times a week to help really deep clean my skin, especially around my T-zone area but the brush is soft enough to use on your face everyday. I first remove my makeup with micellar water and then I apply my foaming cleanser directly to the brush, although you can also apply it first to your moistened face. You then massage the brush around your face. Refer to the instructions for the right directions to move the wand around on your face. The green bristles of the brush are specially angled at the tip to help remove dirt, oil and makeup around the nose area. I'm kinda obsessed with this feature because I feel like finally the pores around my nose are really clean. Again, these bristles are crazy soft so it feels really good on your face. For those of you with acne prone skin, there's an Acne Solutions Deep Cleasning Brush Head you can use.

Ok now lets get on to one of my *favorite* things about this Clinique Sonic System -- the Massage Treatment Applicator ($35). One of the best anti-aging things you can do for your skin is to give it a facial massage at least a few times a week. It helps promote blood flow and circulation throughout your face so your skin can look its youthful best! Of course, I get lazy and skip my hand massage some nights. Now, I never skip it because it's so much easier with this massage attachment. I use the Clinique Sculptwear Lift and Contour Serum ($54.50 for 30mil) on my face and neck, then I follow the steps for the facial massage as outlined in the video below. It's especially important to not skip the neck massage as the delicate skin there is one of the firsts to show aging.

The Clinique Sonic System is really easy and only takes minutes each night. You'll start seeing good skin results soon. I love how soft my skin feels after I use it. I don't know what I would do without it!

For foundation lovers, the Clinique Sonic System is also great way to apply that airbrushed makeup look. See my recent review post on the Clinique Sonic System with the Airbrush Finish Liquid Foundation Sponge Head.

Visit Clinique.com to purchase the Clinique Sonic Brush and massage or foundation head attachments.

Review products provided by Clinique

Organic Beauty: ILIA Illuminators for a Dewy Summer Glow

ILIA beauty products are known for their organic and natural ingredients as well as their beautiful packaging. Just launched are the ILIA Illuminator ($34 at Sephora) that are formulated with 72% organic ingredients, are cruelty-free and are free of artificial preservatives, fragrance and gluten. It's also combined with healing properties of Rose Hip Oil to bring out the best in your skin.

There are three shades for the illuminator: (L to R) Cosmic Dancer - a champagne tone good for medium and olive skin, Polka Dots and Moon Beams - a bright pearl tone good for fair skin, and Sway - a golden/bronze tone good for dark skin or for contouring.

I have two of the shades Polka Dots and Moon Beams and Cosmic Dancer. I love both of the colors and they both work well with my light to medium skin tone. As I get more tan over the summer, I'm sure I'll lean more towards Cosmic Dancer by the time it's September (when our Indian summer starts in SF).

I really love this cream formula. It goes on really soft and glides easily over your skin. The color is also very subtle so you can build on it as you need to. I love the bright natural summer dewy look it gives me and it's perfect for everyday. I usually use it on the tops of my cheeks and a tiny bit at the top of cupid's bow on my lips, but you can definitely do more. I just love that this product is good for my skin!

Sasha Plasvic, founder of ILIA has these tips on how to apply the ILIA Illuminator:

You can apply the highlighter directly to the facets of the face that naturally reflect light, or swatch onto the back of your hand and apply by tapping the product onto your cheekbones, below or above the brow, down the bridge of your nose, and at the top of the cupid's bow on your lips. I like to warm the product with my fingers so that it melts into the skin and then blend out and soften the edges with a buff brush for a fresh, youthful look. You can even swipe the illuminator across your collarbone to highlight and define your décolleté.

Here are more ILIA Illuminator tips in this video:

Purchase the ILIA Illuminator at Sephora.com or try it in person at your nearest Sephora location.

Entering the World of La Mer: Crème de la Mer

La Mer (means "sea" in French) is a luxurious and highly coveted skincare line founded by aerospace physicist Dr. Max Huber over 40 years ago. Dr. Huber was badly burned after a laboratory accident and he looked to the sea and found that the nutrient-rich sea kelp was really healing for the skin. He combined the sea kelp with vitamins, minerals, essential oils and other natural ingredients, along with light and sound until they all became a rich fermentation. It took him 12 years to perfect the Miracle Broth that is in every jar of Crème de la Mer. Today, La Mer still harvests the sea kelp off the shores of Vancouver, Canada to create their famous Miracle Broth. La Mer's skincare products are all about making your skin healthy and it's one of the top anti-aging skincare lines. This was my first introduction into the brand and after using a few of their products each day for the last couple of weeks, I now know why La Mer is just so darn good.

Let's start with their main product, Crème de la Mer. It was very nice of La Mer to give me the new limited edition, La Mer Blue Heart jar ($465, 3.4 oz) that celebrates World Oceans Day (June 8). The packaging is art in itself -- the crafter in me went nuts inside over the paper coral reef cut outs! The jar itself is a generous 3.4 oz size that I know will last me a long time.

When using La Mer's skincare products, it's all about how you apply them -- this is especially important for Crème de la Mer. This moisturizing cream is rich. When you open the jar, take a small amount with the spatula and rub it between your fingers or palms of your hand. The cream inside the jar is white, rub and warm up the cream in your hands until it turns translucent in color. Then gently press it into your skin -- cheeks, forehead and chin, and don't forget your neck too. I've also included a You Tube video on how to apply the cream below so you can better see all the steps. It's really easy and not a lot of work at all. I also started the habit that after I put on face cream, I also rub any excess on the tops of my hands.

As you know my skin tends to run dry and after using this cream for two weeks at night, I really love how my dry patches are gone. Even when I haven't moisturized my face, my skin in general is not as dry as before. It also feels much softer. I'm looking forward to seeing how my skin improves over the coming weeks and year.

If the Blue Heart jar is too steep for your wallet, you can purchase the regular jars of Crème de la Mer, 1 oz starts at $170. It wasn't until I tried this cream and found out how this skincare line is truly artisan that I understand the steep price tag. If you are curious about these products, head on over to a La Mer counter at Bloomingdales or Neiman Marcus to try some on your skin.

I really love their support of World Oceans Day. Make sure you visit the La Mer Blue Heart page to see all the inspiring video sea stories from National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Sylvia Earle, elite free diver Tomoka Fukuda, marine conservationists Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau and actress/model Elsa Pataky.

I'll have a review of La Mer's new Perfecting Treatment next week!

Review product provided by La Mer

My Holy Grail Clarins Skincare Products

I get a lot of skincare questions from friends or from new people I meet. Whenever someone asks me what skincare brand I would recommend to them or which one is my favorite, I always say without skipping a beat, Clarins.

I incorporate a lot of elements of French (and Asian) skincare into my daily routine. Clarins for me is at the top when it comes to French skincare and I love that it merges a lot of natural, plant based ingredients with cutting-edge science and technology. I also follow along to the French methods on how to apply each product -- making sure press creams gently into my face so I'm not rubbing and damaging my skin. As you know, I try a lot of skincare products but these four Clarins products above are the ones I use everyday. I've try to stop a few of them here and there over the years, but I always end up running back to them because they really work and make a huge difference in my skin. What's missing on this list is the new Multi-Active Day and Night Creams that I am using. (I usually always use some sort of Clarins moisturizer, but the type can vary.) This list is to share with you how these four Clarins products have became my H.G. skincare products over the last few years.

Here are my top favorite Clarins skincare products:

Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate ($84)

Taking care of the delicate skin around my eyes is very important to me. I've tried a lot of different eye creams and eye gel creams but this is one of the best eye creams in my book. I use it in the morning and night. When my eyes are particularly puffy, I keep this in the fridge so it feels wonderfully cool when I put it on. I like that it comes in a pump and I usually put two pumps on my fingers and rub them so the product is warm before I apply. I follow the Clarins method for draining pressure points (video) and it's been wonderful at keeping fine lines away from my eyes, even now as I'm in my early 40's. (See Coquette review 1 and 2)

Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Total V Contouring Serum ($81)

I started using the Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Serum back in the summer of 2012 and haven't looked back. I use this serum everyday (after I apply the Double Serum) and can tell the difference if I stop using it. If your are Asian, this is a must have product as we have more fat pockets in our face (see my review 2 link below). It's important to follow the steps to apply the serum for best results. I find it a relaxing way part of my facial routine at the end of the day. (See Coquette review 1, 2, 3, 4 and Coquette in WSJ)

Clarins Double Serum Luxury Size ($119)

The Clarins Double Serum is like two serums in one. If you look at the bottle there are two chambers based on their Hydric + Lipidic System. Once you press on the bottle, the hydric and lipidic liquids then mix together into your palm. It's pretty cool to see. This serum has twenty pure plant extracts and potent, high-tech molecules. My skin feels great once I put it on and I have found that it helps to even out my skin tone and my skin feels more elastic. I love the soft scent too!

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution SPF 50 ($42)

This is another Clarins product that I have consistently used everyday. In fact, it's so light and wonderful on your face that my daughter has a bottle in her lunch box to reapply before her lunch recess. It's the only sunscreen that doesn't give her a rash. I like that there are gentle ingredients in it and the sun protection is at SPF 50. It's so light on my face that it's a welcome protective layer I use after I moisturize and before I apply makeup. I use the non-tinted version but there is also a tinted version that comes in three shades. (See Coquette review 1, 2)

To shop for more Clarins skincare and beauty products, visit clarinsusa.com.

Review products provided by Clarins

May Favorites: Dior, IOPE + YSL

Hi Lovelies! I've been beaten down with allergies for the most of May so I'm really looking forward to June as the season will be ending soon. This month, I had lots of amazing products to try but I have to say some of my major favorites really come from Dior. I loved all of their new summer makeup and I've been replicating that look each day for an effortless, pretty everyday glow. You can see my Dior post to find out more. Enjoy the start of Summer!

1. Dior Diorskin Nude Air Glow Powder ($56 at Sephora)
This is my new go-to bronzer. I have it in 002 Fresh Light and the "watercolor" effect just brightens up my cheeks. Also per my Dior makeup artist Kevin, I now use this over my eyelids. It gives soft dimension to Asian eyes. You can find out how to apply this in my Dior post.

2. Dior Eye Reviver Backstage Pros Illuminating Neutrals Eye Palette ($62 at Sephora)
This Dior eyeshadow palette has all you need for beautiful summer eyes. All of these colors work together seamlessly to create a variety of looks. Typically I never use the brushes that come with eye palettes but these are really great. I love the soft brown eyeliner and the small brush works wonderfully with it to create a soft look for my eyes. The shimmery shadows have just the right amount of shimmer to it that isn't over the top. Everything just works together to make it a beautiful, enhanced look. Using this eyeshadow with my Diorskin Nude Air Glow Powder as a base -- looks amazing too!

3. IOPE Air Cushion XP BB Cream Compact ($33.63 on Amazon)
This is just the perfect cushion compact with SPF 50+. (This one and Clinique's compact are my favorites in the cushion compact category). I love the coverage which goes on light and is buildable. It doesn't cake up on your face and has great skincare anti-aging properties in there. You get more for your money with IOPE because each box comes with an additional refil for the compact. I have been using mine for most of the month and it's still going strong! (See my Coquette review)

4. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Satin Radiance Lipstick in #9 Rose Stiletto ($37 at Sephora)
This is my favorite nude/mauve lipstick that is just perfect for everyday wear. I love that the color is so just flattering and it doesn't wash my face out. My YSL makeup artist says it's their best selling lipstick shade because it works for the office and everyday. I love topping with a bit of my Clarins Natural Lip Perfector (in 05 Candy Shimmer) for a glossy shine. (See my Coquette review)

5. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes ($6.93 on Amazon)
To kick off summer reading, this was a wonderful, witty, funny, heart warming book. Even though the storyline is a bit heavy (a young gal goes to care for a paraplegic), it's such a hilarious, romantic story. Bonus points that it takes place in England. I love British humor so it was more than enjoyable. The movie version comes out on Friday but I recommend you read the book first!

Korean Beauty: New K Beauty Chain Aritaum + IOPE Product Reviews

I'm still obsessing over Korean Beauty products and I've been having fun trying some new ones. I just found out about this new Korean Beauty chain store Aritaum that has arrived to the U.S. from Korea and Asia! In the Bay Area, there are four shops: Daly City, Oakland, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale. You find find the Aritaum shop near you with their U.S. Store Locator. Aritaum's parent company is Amore Pacific and the line of beauty stores carries the leading Korean skincare and makeup from IOPE, Lineage, Mamonde, Hanyul, and Sulwhasoo.

Aritaum was nice enough to send me some of their best-selling beauty products to try. I don't know how much these products as there isn't currently an online shop but I will tell you that I am now a true believer in the IOPE brand!

The IOPE Air Cushion Compact is said to be the gold standard in cushion compacts and now I understand why. I think I've found my holy grail cushion compact! It feels luxe at the start from the box. I love that the compact also comes with a refill too. I have it in natural for light coverage, but you can definitely build it up to medium. My color is n23 and it currently comes in three shades. (I think Amore Pacific's cushion compact comes in many more shades.) I love that there is broad spectrum SPF 50+ to protect my skin and that it contains anti-aging skincare properties such as plant peptides, Vitamin B5, Vitamin E and Vitamin P. The compact contains 30% mineral water making the foundation really hydrating. I use the soft puff and gently pat it into my skin. It blends in seamlessly which I love!

The IOPE Bio Essence Intensive Conditioning helps give you clear and flawless skin. It does this by replicating the body's natural anti-oxidant Thioredoxin through their Bio-Redox technology. One bottle contains 93.7% of this Bio-Redox. I received this essence with a box of their really soft cotton pads. You can see the directions on the web site on how to apply this on your face (Always make sure you are moving your fingers in the right directions according to the arrows in the graphic to avoid wrinkles). I use this after I do my double face cleansing and it's given my skin a natural, clean glow, even when I am free of any makeup. It should take about 2-3 weeks to start seeing results, depending on your skin.

The single use face sheet masks are a Korean Beauty staple. I just used the moisturizing one from Aritaum last night and my skin this morning is as soft and supple as ever. If you're looking to reboot your skin, give yourself a face mask a night for 1 week. It's not as indulgent as it sounds since most of these masks are really affordable. You can really get your skin back on track quickly, especially if you're prepping for a big event.

AMORE
2350 Junipero Serra Blvd
Daly City, CA 94015
(650) 758-1900

If you're wondering where to get started with Korean Beauty, you can check out more of Aritaum's best sellers. Some of the Aritaum stores operate under the name, Amore but it's the same company. I'm so excited to take a visit soon to the Daly City store to replenish my beauty supplies! Find the store near you with their U.S. Store Locator.

Review products provided by Aritaum