Coquette

Gorgeous Long-Lasting Color with YSL Vinyl Cream Lip Stain

I went to my favorite YSL counter at Bloomingdales a few days ago and picked up my two must have items - Babydoll mascara and Touch Eclat Radiant Touch that I use as a concealer. Of course, since I was there, I needed to try something new. And if you didn't know by now, I"m a total lipstick junkie!

My SA Quaid recommended I try the Yves Saint Laurent Vinyl Cream Lip Stain ($36 at Sephora). I have been really wanting to punch up my lipstick game for this year and not go to my safe zone of nude shades. He picked 412 Rose Mix for me and it's a beautiful bright rose pink color that just brightens up my complexion.

The lip cream is very easy to apply thanks to the unique soft diamond-head shaped applicator. You really can apply the lip cream seamlessly, especially at the cupid's bow of your lips. Sometimes I apply a little bit of lip balm before I apply the lip cream if my lips are really dry. The good news is that the color really lasts! The only time it comes off is when I up wiping my mouth while I'm eating so usually I just have to reapply the lip cream it after lunch. That's pretty much it. The texture is not sticky at all. It's like a smooth cream that goes all over your lips and it has such a beautiful shine to it too. Your lips don't start looking dry at all hours later either. I feel like it's a perfect lip color to have for spring/summer because you can just apply it and go.

You can also get your lipstick case engraved for free if you are at a YSL counter!

Purchase the Yves Saint Laurent Vinyl Cream Lip Stain at Sephora.com.

Kiehl's Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream

New to Kiehl's skincare family is the Kiehl's Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream ($60 for 1.7fl oz jar).

What I love about the cream is that it made from 99.6% naturally derived ingredients and there is no fragrance. The main ingredients are Korean Red Ginseng Root which accelerates cell renewal for a vibrant glow and New Zealand Manuka Honey which strengthens the skin barrier to smooth fine lines. There are no parabens and no mineral oil. The result is that my skin feels hydrated and I have found that I have more of a bounce in my skin.

This is really good for sensitive skin. It's got a good texture and isn't heavy. I like that it absorbs quickly and again, the no fragrance aspect is great. I have found that my skin has really taken to it having used it for the last few days and am looking forward to continuing to use this cream.

One of the keys to good skincare is to make sure you are apply the product correctly. I love that brands are really helping people learn this with videos. Watch this Kiehl's video below on how to apply the new Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream.

Purchase the Kiehl's Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream at Kiehls.com or at a Kiehl's boutique/counter near you.

Review product provided by Kiehl's

New Clarins Hydra-Essentiel: The Best Way to Hydrate + Protect Your Skin

Clarins has recently launched a new skincare line, Hydra-Essentiel that helps to hydrate really dry skin. It's perfect for me now with the indoor heating and outdoor cold and rain. I have been using the Clarins Hydra Essentiel Bi-Serum Intesif ($59 at Clarins USA) and the Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Cream ($49 at Clarins USA). The skincare is made with organic leaf of life extract -- a succulent plant that enhances the skin’s ability to retain moisture. The new skincare line also helps protect your skin from outdoor pollutants and environmental stress, perfect for us city dwellers.

The serum is a blue liquid and immediately when you put it on your skin, you can feel it soak in like a sponge. It's amazing! It feels cooling on the face and helps to preps the skin before you apply the creme. Now, let's talk about the creme. I've been a long time Clarins skincare user and this creme feels like no other. The creme is pure heaven! The texture is really like a milky cream that just melts into your face. It's very, very smooth and feels so light on your skin. The fragrance is also very light and fresh. I have been using this for a few weeks now and my skin has been staying really soft, despite all the cold weather. I have even used the creme on my 8 year old daughter who had windblown and chapped cheeks last week. After three nights of using the creme, her cheeks were back to normal.

There are a few different versions of the cream you can choose from: normal to dry, very dry skin which has a richer cream, normal to combination and normal to dry with SPF 15.

See all of the Clarins Hydra-Essentiel skincare products at Clarins USA.

Review products provided by Clarins

January Favorites: Clarins, Dior, Adidas + More

I spent most of January really working on my skin. I did a 7 day face mask challenge that really helped to rehydrate my skin after all the holiday travel and food. I outlined most of the stuff I used in my 2016 favorites which you can still check out if you missed it. The one thing I did switch out from recently was moving from SK-II's Facial Treatment Essence to Korean brand Missha's Facial Treatment Essence (post here). I've only been using this for a week so we'll see if it makes my February favorites list.

I've been really into highlighters but ones that don't have all that shimmer. (I'm looking at you Becca!) I don't want to see myself all glittery in natural light. So far, there are two in this list that I really love so read on for some of my reviews.

1. Clarins Face Contouring Palette ($42 at Clarins USA)
I don't know where this contour palette has been all my life! It's limited edition so I'd recommend you stock up fast on this. Don't be afraid of the word "contour". These three colors will easily help you get the best angle on your face! I use the middle bronzer color to accentuate my cheeks and the blush color on the right is so flattering! The highlight color is my favorite because you can subtly get the pretty highlights on the tops of your cheeks without any shine. The soft powder blends perfectly into your skin. The entire look gives me a warm glow. I have been using it pretty much everyday.

2. Pony Effect Strobing Luminizer ($21 at Memebox)
I have never used a liquid highlighter before and this one surprised me. It doesn't have that crazy sparkly shine. If you want that really natural dewy look, this luminizer is the one for you! I read the comments and some gals had issue with it melting off with their makeup. I think that may be the case with more oily skin. I have more dry to normal skin and have worn this all day with no problem (wearing a cushion compact instead of foundation). The great thing is you can really dab it over the apples of your cheeks with your fingers and blend it in.

3. Dior J'adore Eau de Parfum 1.0 oz Eau de Parfum Spray ($74 at Sephora)
My husband got me the J'adore Dior perfume when he was away on a business trip. I like to rotate using my fragrances and just started picking this one up again a few weeks ago. It's wonderful floral scent with a mix of Comoro Islands ylang-ylang, Damascus rose and sambac jasmine. For some reason, it's the perfect smell for me now in winter, making me feel all warm and cozy when I spritz it on each morning.

4. Marin Bee Honey Polish ($38 at Marin Bee)
Winter skin just feels rough so when I came back from France, I had to definitely exfoliate my dry rough feet and elbows. I love Marin Bee's products and their Honey Polish does the trick when I'm in the shower. I also had to use it on my hands to exfoliate some of the dry skin around my fingertips, especially around my thumbs. It really does the trick to get those dead skin cells off and when I add my body lotion (the Marin Bee Honey Butter), it just locks all that moisture in! Marin Bee uses natural and organic ingredients which is always a plus in my book!

5. Adidas Stan Smith Sneakers ($74.99 at Footlocker)
I love this sneaker trend so much! I bought these sneakers last fall and have been wearing them on repeat most of January when it wasn't raining. I love how instantly stylish they look with any outfit and when paired with warm socks, they keep your feet nice and toasty too. I got the all white version because I wanted a cleaner look without colored stripes. I was worried they would get super dirty but they actually haven't! The white leather has held up really well. I'm totally going to get another pair when I wear these ones out. Much more affordable than any other designer sneaker now and they are more on trend.