Coquette

My Must Have Skincare Product: Clarins Double Serum

I have spent most of the summer using less products on my skin and it's made a huge difference. One brand and one product I will never take out of rotation is my Clarins Double Serum ($89 for 1 fl oz or $122 for 1.6 fl oz). Did you know that turmeric is a natural anti-aging and powerful anti-oxidant. It is so good for your skin! It's already been a year since Clarins launched their new and improved Double Serum formula that includes Tumeric. In fact, the serum is full of beneficial plant extracts that are so good for your skin.

The bottle itself has me in love. It separates the water and oil-soluble product so that it mixes together freshly into the palm of your hand. You can also control the volume of how much comes out. Use a "power shot" if you have normal, dry or sensitive skin -- or during the winter months when your skin is more prone to dryness.

As with any skincare product, I have learned it's important to apply it correctly. You can watch the video above on how to apply it so that you are draining lymph nodes in your face to help your skin shine bright. Never, ever rub product into your skin.

Purchase the Clarins Double Serum at Clarinsusa.com.

Review product provided by Clarins

My Favorite Clarins Sunscreens

I'm in the throws of summer here in Napa and I've been using these three sunscreens from Clarins non-stop. The two bottles I use each day are the UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen Multi-Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($43) for my face and the Sunscreen Care Milk-Lotion Spray SPF 50+ ($36) I use for the rest of my body. I am normally in shorts and t-shirts here in Napa and this milk-lotion spray is perfect to spray on and apply before I leave the house. I love the soft texture on my skin that's light and hyrdating. This formula is also water resistant so I always take it to the pool. Containing aloe vera and olive tree, it feels so moisturizing on my skin. For my face, I have been using the Clarins UV Plus for years and years now. I don't like to wear much make up in the summer so this is my go-to after I have applied all my morning skincare. I love the anti-pollution formula that helps prevent dark spots.

I can't live without my Clarins Everlasting Cushion Foundation SPF 50 ($44). I have been using since last December and you can see above how well used that compact has been. To use up all the foundation, a trick I learned was to flipped the interior sponge once. I did that twice already so I knew it was time to refill my compact. I love that Clarins made this refillable as some luxury brands are not doing this. You can just purchase the Clarins Everlasting Cushion Foundation SPF Refill ($31 and $13 from having to buy a whole new compact! For days in the summer where I'm going out, I love that this cushion compact is giving me full SPF 50 and wonderful light coverage for my face. My color is 107 beige and it couldn't be more perfect.

The steps to refill the compact is super easy. All you have to do is push up from the bottom of the compact and the interior pops out easily.

Once you pop it out, just open up your new compact and pop it into place.

I love having a fresh new refill in my compact!

Take a visit to Clarinsusa.com to see all of the Clarins sunscreen products.

Review product provided by Clarins

Clarins for Mother's Day + 2018 Summer Makeup Collection

Mother's Day is just around the corner and I always love getting beauty or skincare for Mother's Day. Clarins has some new items for their 2018 makeup collection that I have to share with you!

First off can we talk about how gorgeous these two things are? The tropical leaves motif and the flamingos are so stinking cute! I have been so in love with flamingos lately so this is the perfect way to get me in the mood for summer. This is the new bronzer palette and the colorful 4-Colour All-In-One-Pen that is filled with colors that will have you ready for those beachy days.

Let's talk about the limited edition Clarins Bronzing Compact ($42). Clarins' bronzer is one of my favorites, because it's a generous oversized compact. I love that there is trio of matte tones that will give you a perfect bronze sun-kissed look. The flamingo and tropical leaves are also embossed right into the compact too! Love these little details.

Also limited edition is the new Clarins 4-Colour All-In-One Pen ($32). There are three eyeliner shades: black, emerald and plum and 1 pink shade that's a lip liner. The lip shade can also be used to line and contour your eyes. The eyeliners and lip liner are infused with skincare benefits too. (Of course right? It's Clarins). They are made with a blend of acacia waxes, sunflower extracts and jojoba extracts.

There are two new shades for the SOS Primer ($39) that will get your skin looking sun-kissed. Fair and medium skin tones can use 06 Bronzethe (pictured above) and deeper skin tones can use 07 Mochathe.

It's really light on the skin and blends in well. On my hand on the left is my just dabbing some on my hand and the right photo is it all blended in. It's so blended in my camera couldn't find it anymore to focus on! You can also see it subtly at work giving my skin a warm glow to it. My skin looks healthy!

Finally, let's talk about lips. I can get obsessed with lip products. I just finished my Lip Balm Perfector in plum so this new blackberry shade of Clarins Lip Comfort Oil ($26) is a welcome addition to my tiny makeup bag I carry around each day in my handbag. I love the shine and how it feels on my lips.

Here's a swatch of it on my skin tone. You can see it has a plum tone to it. It's infused with 100% pure plant oils so it soothes, plums and nourishes your lips naturally. The big doe foot applicator is so soft and covers my lips well.

Don't miss the special offer on the Clarins site. Make up your own 5 piece gift including a cleanser, serum, moisturizer, lip oil all packaged in this beautiful box. Free with any $100 order.

Check out more skincare and beauty gift ideas for Mother's Day on Clarinsusa.com.

New Kiehl's Face Masks

Hello lovelies! Some of you may have seen from my Instagram stories that I've been remodeling our Napa home which is why I haven't been posting as often as I'd like. Well, everything this past month has been super crazy trying to get it all finished. This is the last week of work inside the house and next week we are painting the exterior. Needless to say with all the stress, my skin has been in dire straights!

I have been a big mask lover this past year and when Kiehl's asked me to try there two new masks, I jumped at the chance because I love their skincare so much and my face needed some major TLC.

Kiehl's Instant Renewal Concentrate Mask ($32 at Kiehl's) is their first sheet mask set. There are 4 individually packaged masks in each box. I love that the mask comes in 2 parts so it fits your face better. The smooth jelly-like mask is so cooling to the skin and is made up of cold-pressed Amazonian Oils. It really helps to hydrate and soften your skin. I leave it on for 10-15 minutes. One tip I do is with the excess liquid inside the package, I smooth it over my neck area and the tops of my hands so I get an extra treatment. After the mask time is up, I massage the rest of the mask formula into my skin so it's all well absorbed. Then I like to just put on some face oil over it to lock all the goodness in and go to bed.

The Amazonian Oils are:

Copaiba Resin Oil: Active compounds that help smooth and soften skin
Pracaxi Oil: Contains the highest concentration of Behenic Acid which helps moisturize skin
Andiroba Oil: A plant extract with omega-6 fatty acids that help replenish skin

Another mask I have been trying from Kiehl's is there new Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Overnight Mask ($54 at Kiehl's). This mask contains Ginger Leaf to soften fine liens and Botanical Hibiscus to hydrate and firm skin. The mask comes in a jar and you apply it like you would face cream. It's got a really smooth, light texture and your skin will fell great when it's on. Make sure you apply an even, visible layer all over your face and neck area. Then go to bed and let the mask work it's magic. It doesn't feel heavy at all -- it feels like a moisturizer, and it won't get on your pillowcase. When you wake up, make sure to wash your face and neck to remove the mask. This is a perfect mask for busy women and moms. I find it REALLY helps to refresh and hydrate your skin and it's so easy to use. You can even add a drop of face oil or serum on top of the mask to lock it all in to give your skin maximum hydration. My skin has been feeling firmer too! It's recommended to wear it 5 times a week. If you feel like your skin is in need of help, give this a try. I always do a 7 day mask week when my skin needs help and find that by the end fo the week, I've completely turned my skin around.

Kiehl's is also helping the female farmers of Hoa Binh, Vietnam, where the Ginger Leaf is sourced. I love that they are providing the 14 women who carefully collect the ginger leaves with education and new tools for safer, more efficient farming of Ginger Leaf. Bravo!

You can find out more aboutKiehl's face masks on kiehls.com.

Review products provided by Kiehl's

New Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Lip Balm and Eye Mask

I've just come back from a week long camping trip along the American River (near Sacramento) with around seventy-five 4th graders! It's been both exhausting and gratifying. The weather up there was very cold and rainy so I was really thankful I had the new Clarins Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm ($24) with me constantly in my pocket.

This super moisturizing balm is made with Blue Lotus Essential Wax that makes lips smooth and so soft. No lip flaking at all! I love the soft rose sent and how it plumps up my lips too. I'm sort of a lip balm snob and I need something that really feels good on my lips to keep them hydrated, especially in the winter. This has been my must have lip balm! I need to get another one so I always have one in my bag and one at home next to my bed.

I'm constantly paying attention to my eye area as that is the most delicate skin on the face and one of the easiest places to start to get wrinkles. It's important to always keep that area hydrated so I loved trying out the Clarins Moisturizing Reviving Eye Mask ($38). For just 10 minutes, the mask will soothe your skin and make your tired eyes look more fresh! I use this a few times a week before bed and I actually just leave it on all night so I get more intensive moisture in my eye area. The cream is actually a cream-gel texture and feels cooling and super light on my skin.

Visit Clarins to see more of their Hydra-Essential skincare products.

Review products provided by Clarins

Volaire Hair Volumizing System

Since my last post earlier this year about Volaire's Air Magic Texturizing Spray, I've been able to try the entire hair line by Volaire!

I am really impressed with the Volaire Shampoo and Conditioner. My long hair has gotten so much more volume! I also love how the shampoo and conditioner dispense from the containers sort of like how shaving gel does. It's very lightweight. It's also ingenious to me that the conditioner is in a smaller bottle, since you usually don't use as much of it as shampoo. I always hate when my shampoo always runs out before my conditioner so they never finish at the same time. My hair feels strong and shiny, and I love the volume and bounce I have to my hair now.

The Volaire Uplift Volumizing Mist is such an added surprise. I use this on my hair when I get out of the shower when it's still wet. It helps protect my hair when I blow dry and it nourishes the scalp. Made with kelp and algae extracts as well as sea salt this helps give your hair some added vitamins and minerals and the sea salt helps absorb excess oils from hair.

Purchase the entire set of four Volaire products above for $29.95 at Volaire.com.

Review products provided by Volaire

Clarins Spring Makeup 2018: Shades of Roses

Right now in the Bay Area we are getting a taste of spring with weather in San Francisco in the 70's this week. It's been great to stop wearing heavy jackets and sweaters and move back to my pretty light tops and t-shirts.

Clarins has brought spring to our door with the loveliest shades of roses - light pinks and warm purples that are so perfect for soft spring eyes this season. The new Lovely Rose shade for the Clarins 4-Colour Eyeshadow Palette ($44 at Clarins USA) is my new favorite! These mineral shadows are wonderfully pigmented. I love using the light pink over my lids and then countering a little with the beige pink for a on-trend spring look.

Of course I'm all about lips when it's spring and summer. I have been wearing these two Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfectors ($26 at Clarins USA) on repeat for the last two weeks. The new shades 07 hot pink and 08 plum are such great colors! The lip perfectors feel amazing on my lips, just like wearing lip balm. My lips never feel dry at all. I love the glossy shine and the beautiful sheer color. Anything thing I love about these is that the tubes are so slim and compact, you can easily fit it inside any mini bag (or pocket) to take them on the go!

Here's a swatch of the colors: 07 hot pink (at top) and 08 plum.

Shop the Clarins Spring Makeup Collection at clarinsusa.com.

Review product provided by Clarins

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!