Coquette

Organic Luxury Skincare the French Way with C. Lavie

Last month I discovered the French boutique Gazette in Hayes Valley. (See my post here.) It's a delightful boutique featuring all French brands that are ethically conscious. At the center of the boutique when you enter is a table full of C. Lavie natural skincare products waiting to greet you.

As a skincare lover, I had to try this this brand and of course I am in love! Founder Sylvia Cazenave-Lavie had ultra sensitive skin and noticed that many ingredients in beauty and skincare products contained harsh chemicals. She then realized she had to take it upon herself to create a healthy organic skincare line full of natural essential oils that are free of alcohol.

C. Lavie's products are made from raw unrefined organic ingredients. Their skincare is certified organic and made in France, cruelty free. They do not source protected species to preserve biodiversity and the environment. All of the formulas are 100% active as they do not add water.

Right now, the only place you can get this skincare line in Northern California is at Gazette in SF! I really recommend you to visit the boutique so you can try first hand some of the products on your skin. If you are not in Nor Cal, you can shop online in the U.S. at the detox market. Prices for the products range from $40-$98 which is fantastic for a brand that is organic and good for your skin.

Let's talk about the C.Lavie The Cream .19. OH. MY. GOD. This is is probably the BEST organic moisturizing cream I have ever tried. It's not too oily and not greasy at all. In fact, it goes on super light on the skin and has a very slight soft scent that is really nice. (From natural fragrance too!) I have tried organic products in the past where it stinks so bad that my husband thinks I've sprayed on bug spray before bed. LOL! Not with this cream! If your skin is dry, you will really love how hydrating it is. It's made from precious oils such as prickly Pear, Jojoba and Desert Date. The ingredients are "bio-available" meaning they are easily absorbed into the skin to deliver essential nutrients and hydration.

The C. Lavie Eye Gel is a wonderful eye cream with natural hyaluronic acid and pure aloe vera juice. It also contains green coffee bean extract and immortelle oil to help with dark circles and tired worn out eyes. I love the soft gel texture and love how it feels on my skin.

The C. Lavie The Serum .21 helps to brighten and even your skin tone. With ingredients such as tomato seed oil and jojoba oil, the serum helps to protect skin against free radicals. The main ingredient in this serum is Siberian larch which helps with brightening skin tone and regulating the skin's melatonin production by reducing inflammation. The serum is a bit tinted which is great to wear in the day under your makeup. I do wish there was a non-tinted color version of a serum to wear at night.

Take a visit to Gazette in SF to try some of these products. There also is a micellar lotion which I haven't tried yet. If you are looking to do a full clean beauty routine, this French Parisian organic skincare line could be for you!

Gazette
334 Gough Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Instagram: @gazette.store

Review products provided by Gazette

Kiehl's for the Summer

My skin has gone through tons of changes these last few months. Remodeling a house gave me added stress and the climate in Napa is much drier and warmer than San Francisco. A couple of weeks ago, I got to spend some time in the Kiehl's store on Fillmore Street SF with a skincare specialist. She recommended me a few of their products (which I purchased right away) and I got to also try out some of their new products that recently launched.

(Photos: Megan Bayley Photography)

I worked with Courtney who was really amazing! She knew a lot about Asian skin because she's actually part asian herself. (She works at the Corte Madera Kiehl's so stop by there to see her.) I told her all of my skin issues and she immediately gave me two skin tests that take a minute to do. Anyone can walk into a Kiehl's store and have these done. I really recommend it.

It turns out my skin is combination on my forehead and normal on my cheeks. My hydration level was low so I was really dehydrated. I already knew that because I knew I had not been drinking enough water lately. (Need to start a habit tracker for water in my planner.)

Courtney cleaned my skin and tested a few products on me. Don't you just love when you get pampered? It was a long two weeks of school activities and this day was actually the last day of school for Chloe. This pampering was so necessary! She applied the Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution all over my face so I could feel how light it was on my skin. In fact, most of Kiehl's products feel light and work so well on my skin. I love all their plant based ingredients.

One of my main concerns is a couple dark spots that were acne remnants. I didn't even pick my skin and I still got a spot! Courtney recommended the Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask ($33) and the Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution ($50). I used this mask right away that night to just clear up all the excess oil in my skin. It felt great on! The Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution needs to be used all over your face, even though you are trying to target one or two spots. I am using it every day and night. Courtney says it will take around 30-60 days to see any effect so I'll keep you posted on how it's going. The solution can also be used to correct skin discoloration on hands, neck and chest too.

Two products that recently launched that are new to me are the Daily Reviving Concentrate ($73). I have been using this every morning after the dark spot solution. The serum contains antioxidants protection with Ginger Root, Sunflower and Tamanu which will help skin feel fresh and look energized.

Afterwards, I use the new Glow Formula Skin Hydrator ($38). It's perfect for summer because it gives your skin a natural glow thanks to the pomegranate extract and the illuminating minerals. It's such an easy way to get a natural summer look that's super easy. You can also mix this with your moisturizer or foundation!

You can check out my recent reviews on the new Kiehl's Sheet Masks ($32 for a set of 4) and Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Mask ($54). (Review here.)

I also can't live with out the Powerful-Strength Line Reducing Concentrate ($62). It has Hyaluronic Acid that helps plump your skin so it's my must have each morning! (Review here.)

Thanks for the great time Kiehl's!

Review products provided by Kiehls