Coquette

Perricone MD No Makeup Foundation SPF 30

I'm all about letting my skin breathe and looking natural which is why I am really loving the Perricone MD No Makeup Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($60 at Sephora). They recently upped their shade game to five. I have it in the shade light. The coverage is sheer and it feels really light on the skin, just the way I like it. I love that it immediately starts to even out my skin tone. It also blends in amazingly well. I use my Dior foundation brush but you can even just use fingers as the formula is wonderfully water-based.

Because it's Perricone MD, you know there are some really good skincare ingredients in there too! The foundation is made with Alpha Lipoic Acid, a powerful anti-oxidant to smooth and refine skin's texture. It will even out skin tone and minimize the appearance of pores over time. The sunscreen is SPF 30 and is mineral based with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. I really think this is the perfect foundation for the upcoming spring and summer when you want some coverage and your makeup to look light and natural.

Here's a swatch of the light color.

One of my girlfriends a major Perricone MD lover, swears by their No Makeup Foundation Serum so I'm interested to try that too one day!

Pick up the Perricone MD No Makeup Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 30 at Sephora.

Review product provided by Perricone MD

Clarins Skincare: New Extra-Firming Creams + SOS Primers

The Clarins' Extra-Firming skincare line is one of my favorites that is dear to my heart. It's actually the one I recommend the most to friends who are interested in good anti-aging skincare. I'm so excited to report that there is a new updated formula powered by Kangaroo Flower extract. This flower has an amazing regeneration ability and is in both the Clarins Extra-Firming Day ($87) and Clarins Extra-Firming Night Cream ($93). The creams both help to visibly firm and lift, as well as smooth the appearance of lines and wrinkles. It also contains Clarins' anti-pollution complex which is a must have for me as a city dweller.

One of the reasons I love Clarins so much is that most of their skincare is plant-powered. In addition to the Kangaroo Flower extract the Extra-Firming creams contain these powerful extracts:

• (New) Organic Mitracarpus: enhances firmness and elasticity


• Organic Leaf of Life: boots the skin's natural hydration


• Shea Oil & Organic Shea Butter: nourish skin to offer maximum comfort


• (New) Organic Desert Date: Targets dark spots to even skin tone


• Organic Oat Polyoses: forms a tightening film at the skin's surface to provide immediate "lifting" effect (day cream only)


• Acerola Seed: enhances radiance (day cream only)


• (New) Hydrated Silica of Moonstone: promotes youthful-looking skin (night cream only)


• Anti-Pollution Complex: enriched with pure plant extracts such as African Ebony, Furcellaria, Alpine Sanicle and Lampsana to protect skin from indoor and outdoor pollution

I love the consistency of the creams. The Extra-Firming Day cream (pictured left) is light and goes on really smooth. Similarly, the Extra-Firming Night cream is a bit thicker than the day cream but isn't thick or heavy like a lot of other creams I know (La Mer). I love how it goes on soft to my skin and I feel like it's helping me have a protective hydrating barrier that is working while I sleep.

There are also different versions of the creams depending on skin type and SPF. For sun protection, get the Extra-Firming Day with SPF 15 and for dry skin get the Extra-Firming Day for Dry Skin and Extra-Firming Night for Dry Skin.

Now, on to the fun new line of Clarins SOS Primers:

Clarins just introduced a new line of SOS Primers. There are six colors that can work with the same principle as a color wheel where opposite shades cancel each other out. Depending on how your skin looks, you can find the right primer to give your skin a boost! Each primer is $39 and you can use it all over your face as a makeup base, a targeted corrector (for under the eye or specific problem areas) and use different primers at once on different parts of your face for multiple concerns.

I have it in three colors:
SOS Primer in 00 Universal Light to help with lack of radiance. I love using this as a makeup base because it gives my face a really beautiful, energetic and natural glow. There's a pearly texture to the primer that I love.
SOS Primer in 01 Rose helps to minimize signs of fatigue.
SOS Primer in 02 Peach blurs imperfections and is a great primer to use under the eyes.

Pictured above in the swatch is 01 Rose, 02 Peach and 00 Universal Light.

Shop the Clarins Extra-Firming Day and Night Creams and the Clarins SOS Primers at clarinsusa.com.

Dior Rouge Dior Couture Lipstick Refill Set: Get It Before It's Gone!

One of my favorite Christmas presents I received is this Dior Rouge Dior Couture Lipstick Refill Set ($160 at Bloomingdales). I'm a huge lipstick lover and this one features six beautiful Dior lipsticks that you can refill into one Precious Rocks carnage band design lipstick holder. My husband got this for me sent from Dior.com so it was wrapped so beautifully in their large Dior box and signature folded tissue paper.

What I loved the most about this set was the case featuring the modern Dior logo that you see on the bags currently. I watch a few You Tube videos that show how easily the lipstick insert inside the clutch can be taking out and the makeup bag could easily be turned into an evening clutch. A couple women turned them into DIY belt bags but with the zippered layout, it's really best to use it as a clutch. I don't think this is real leather but it doesn't feel nice and soft and the zipper with the Dior logo looks luxe. Personally, I'm going to use it more as a display piece in my closet and use it for travel. But I may try it as a hand clutch for an evening out. Why not?!

The lipstick colors are: 414 Saint Germain (my favorite in the main lipstick case), 999 Matte, 772 Classic Matte, 897 Mysterious Matte, 810 Distinct Matte and 976 Daisy Plum. To refill the lipsticks into the case, all you have to do is pull out the existing color in the main lipstick case. Then choose the color you want by taking off both the smaller round cover and the bottom of the lipstick case and pop it into the larger main holder.

This limited edition holiday set was just taken off the main Dior.com site (it was still up as of Monday), but I still see it for sale online at Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Lord & Taylor. Hurry, before this Dior lipstick set is gone!

Dior Rouge Dior Couture Lipstick Refill Set: Get It Before It's Gone!

One of my favorite Christmas presents I received is this Dior Rouge Dior Couture Lipstick Refill Set ($160 at Bloomingdales). I'm a huge lipstick lover and this one features six beautiful Dior lipsticks that you can refill into one Precious Rocks carnage band design lipstick holder. My husband got this for me sent from Dior.com so it was wrapped so beautifully in their large Dior box and signature folded tissue paper.

What I loved the most about this set was the case featuring the modern Dior logo that you see on the bags currently. I watch a few You Tube videos that show how easily the lipstick insert inside the clutch can be taking out and the makeup bag could easily be turned into an evening clutch. I like this video from Tabby Violet that shows all the colors on an Asian skin tone and also how she turned it into a DIY belt bag. It looks cute but you have to unfortunately take it off the belt in order to use it because of the zipper orientation. I'm not sure the case is made of reall leather, but it does feel really nice and soft. I love the Dior zipper with the Dior logo on the zipper pull -- it looks pretty luxe. Personally, I'm going to use it mostly as a display piece in my closet as well as for travel. But I may try it as a hand clutch for an evening out. Why not?!

The lipstick colors are: 414 Saint Germain (my favorite in the main lipstick case), 999 Matte, 772 Classic Matte, 897 Mysterious Matte, 810 Distinct Matte and 976 Daisy Plum. To refill the lipsticks into the case, all you have to do is pull out the existing color in the main lipstick case. Then choose the color you want by taking off both the smaller round cover and the bottom of the lipstick case and pop it into the larger main holder.

This limited edition holiday set was just taken off the main Dior.com site (it was still up as of Monday), but I still see it for sale online at Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Lord & Taylor. Hurry, before this Dior lipstick set is gone!

Volaire Air Magic Texturizing Spray

Last year I got my long hair on track to become really healthy. It's no longer brittle or dry so I've recently been experimenting more with giving my flat, straight hair more volume. I can't rave enough over the Volaire Air Magic Texturizing Spray ($34). It's really a mix of things -- one part texturizing spray, hair spray, and almost like a dry shampoo because it has oil absorbing properties to extend the life of your hair.

I am using it to give some body to my hair by spraying underneath to my roots and then use my fingers to squish and add volume to it. This product is also perfect when I am curling my hair. My hair is so stick straight, curls usually don't last long in my hair. This spray has given my hair new life with the body I now crave for my hair! Once I'm done curling with the curling iron, I use the same technique of spraying underneath to the roots and then I do a spray all over and around the top.

Let's talk ingredients because you know how much I love good ingredients. Volaire container kelp and algae extracts to help nourish your hair and keep it shiny. Zeolite, a detoxifying mineral, also helps with oil absorption so your hair always looks fresh. Finally, it contains sunflower seed extract that is rich in vitamin E to help give your hair bounce and movement and prevents your hair from drying out and getting brittle.

I really love that this spray isn't heavy feeling or sticky in my hair. My hair feels light, and looks naturally shiny and soft!
There's also a nice, really light soft scent when you first spray it in your hair. If you are looking to up your hair game for 2018, please try the Volaire Air Magic Texturizing Spray. One little bottle can do so much for your hair!

Purchase the Volaire Air Magic Texturizing Spray at Volaire.com.

Review product provided by Volaire

Kiehl's Powerful-Strenth Line-Reducing Concentrate

Happy New Year Lovelies! My holiday break included a stress fracture on my right foot where I had to wear a leg and shoe brace! Needless to say, I was happily served by my family. (As of today, I can finally wear normal sneakers as it continues to heal for the next 3 weeks.) We also had a great and busy time with my in laws visiting from France for almost a month. I'm happy to be back online here to get back to beauty and skincare for 2018!

Oh Kiehl's! I can't express how much I love this brand. I recently received this bottle of their new and improved Kiehl's Powerful-Strenth Line-Reducing Concentrate ($62 at Kiehl's) and have been using it religiously day and night. The new formula now contains 12.5% vitamin C and hyaluronic acid!!! Yes, hyaluronic acid! These are two skincare properties that are always on my must use skincare list as they have so many amazing benefits! It's no wonder that even with my Dyson heater on full blast near me, the skin on my face is still super soft. The Fragmented Hyaluronic Acid used in this serum is fast-absorbing and can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water. It draws moisture into the skin and expands as it absorbs to help reduce lines and refine skin texture.

There are 2 types of Vitamin C used in this concentrate (total 12.5%):
- 10.5% Pure Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid): As a topical ointment this helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles, visibly improving skin radiance and texture
- @% Vitamin Cg (Ascorbyl Glucoside)
This vitamin C is activated once it is absorbed in the upper layers of skin. Helps boost visible wrinkle reduction over time.

In Kiehl's clinical trials:
After 2 weeks, the new formula outperformed the original in the reduction of appearance of facial lines.
After 4 weeks, there was improved appearance of skin texture.
After 8 weeks, improved appearance of forehead wrinkles. (Yay! I need this!)

The concentrate is a light cream texture and goes on really smooth. All you need is one pump to work your entire face so this one small bottle will probably last you a long time. Use it before you apply your moisturizer and it will really lock in to hydrate your skin. (I am currently using it with my Kiehl's Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream.) There's a very light citrus smell that feels fresh and invigorating. It absorbs fast into your skin and feels great on. I recommend this product as a must have for your daily skincare routine!

Shop the Kiehl's Powerful-Strenth Line-Reducing Concentrate at your local Kiehl's boutique, department store or kiehls.com.

Review product provided by Kiehl's