Coquette

New Pacifica Natural Haircare Products Exclusively at Ulta Beauty

Pacfica is a natural beauty company that is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Their new haircare line just launched and is available exclusively at Ulta Beauty. I had a chance to try their new product offering and was blown away at how good my hair feels and looks. For once, my hair feels strong. I have been mostly using the Coconut Power Shampoo ($10) and Conditioner ($10) as well as the Coconut Super Power Deep Contioning Damage Control Mask ($16) a couple times a week. I have color-treated hair and my hair no longer feels dry. It feels fuller and stronger after a week. What I love the most about these hair products is that it's all natural and there are no chemicals or parabens. You get strong, healthy hair with none of the chemicals that can potentially harm your body.

The Hairvana Leave-On Detangling Conditioner ($14) is my must have item. I use this not only for myself but for my daughter's long hair too. It smells really, really good and works wonders getting all the tangles out so that brushing is just a breeze. I also use the Dragon Tamer Anti-Frizz Serum ($14) which helps keeps my hair sleek when I blow dry. These Pacifica haircare products are natural and just so affordable for quality haircare. I'm totally hooked!

Browse the entire Pacifica haircare line at Ulta.com. You can also purchase them at your local Ulta Beauty store.

Review products provided by Pacifica

Stemology Skincare: Cell Revive Collagen Complete Serum + Cell Renew Hydro-Plus Overnight Moisturizer

Stemology Skincare is a brand that is bringing together stem cells to help repair skin - fine lines, wrinkles, elasticity, tone, collagen, free radical damage and more. Their StemCore-3 technology "promises superior anti-aging efficacy in a formulation that is ethically formulated, contains no DNA or stem cell matter, and is all natural and intelligently organic whenever possible."

This really intrigued me so when I was giving a chance to try out their two new products.

The Stemology Cell Revive Collagen Complete Serum ($150) really works. A little goes a long way. I do one pump and warm it in my hands and gently press it into my face and use it in the morning and night. You can also target problem areas by concentrating the serum in those places. The serum is said to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkes in eight weeks. I have only been using it for one week. I will say it has made my skin feel plumper. You feel it immediately when you put on the serum. Then once you add on the Stemology Cell Renew Hydro-Plus Overnight Moisturizer ($75), the whole think just locks into your skin like a protective barrier. My skin just felt amazing and it felt like it was going to do it's job and keep my skin plump and retain its moisture overnight. The cream has time-release hyaluronic acid, Imperata Cylindrica Extract that increases skin moisture and sesame seed extract that helps decrease wrinkle depth. I really like that the container for the cream is a push button container. You get an exact amount to apply without dipping your fingers into the jar and contaminating the contents.

There is a slight fragrance to the products based on the natural ingredients. I can't put my finger on the scent. I can only say it reminds me of REN and Kate Sommerville products which I like. It isn't strong and it goes away after you put it on. I just love that they use natural and organic ingredients so I know that there are no chemicals absorbing into my skin. You can read more about what ingredients they use on their web site.

I feel like the elasticity of my skin is a lot plumper and my skin is well hydrated. Each morning I wake up, I feel like my skin is looking and feeling better. I've been using these for a week so I am looking forward to seeing how things improve as the weeks go on. You definitely feel the difference overnight day one and putting on the products feels great on your skin.

Buy the Stemology Cell Revive Collagen Complete Serum ($150) and the Stemology Cell Renew Hydro-Plus Overnight Moisturizer ($75) at stemologyskincare.com.

Review products provided by Stemology Skincare.

Cocokind's New Organic Sea Moss Exfoliator + Organic Ultra Chlorophyll Mask

I still think it is fate that I met Priscilla Tsai the founder of Cocokind skincare at my local Whole foods last June. I had just started getting interested in the whole natural skincare world and now, her products fill my cabinets and are used on a daily basis.

I'm so excited to share with you two new Cocokind products that have just launched! First is the Cocokind Organic Sea Moss Exfoliator ($16.99). I love using this exfoliator because unlike others, I don't feel like it's grinding my skin away with sand-like particles. Instead, this sea moss exfoliator gently polishes your skin while delivering it's nutrients. Sea Moss is abundant in protein, beta-carotene, magnesium, calcium and vitamins B and C. I really love how my skin feels soft afterwards and that I'm not "scrubbing" my skin with grains. The scent smells good and is very light and barely there. The sea moss does it's job perfectly!

What's original about both this exfoliator and mask is that they are both in powder form. You put a dime sized amount in your palm and you activate it with a bit of water. One tip is to have the bit of water ready on the side because it's hard to control the flow of your sink sometimes. I actually really love this method and I think it makes the product last a lot longer. Plus it's great for traveling because you can just get a tiny containers to bring the powders in and skip the goopy mess.

The Cocokind Organic Ultra Chlorophyll Mask ($18.99) sounds serious right?! Chlorophyll is the basis of all plant life and is rich in antioxidants for healthy and supple skin. When you activate the mask powder with a little water it does have a bit of a light plant smell. Once you start putting it on your face, there's a light green color and the more you leave it on, the longer it works. The jar recommends 20-30 minutes but I go the full 30 to get it all working. Because it's water based, it's not goopy or heavy on your skin. Just keep it on there and let it dry. Later, rinse it off with warm water and feel the difference!

These products are so gentle for your skin you can use them as much as you like during the week. I find that the mask is great to do before I sit down to watch a TV show at night so it can just work it's magic before bed.

Cocokind is popping up in lots of stores theses days. For us in the Bay Area, you can find many of their products at your local Whole Foods.

I do want to add one more product that I love! Priscilla was nice enough to give me a Cocokind Organic Original Lip Balm ($2.99) to try out as I couldn't find it at my local Whole Foods. This is my new favorite lip balm. The texture of the balm just glides on your lips so wonderfully. In the day, I sometimes just line my lips with lip liner and then use this balm over it. It's perfect! And that soft, coconut scent is sort of addictive!

Purchase the Organic Sea Moss Exfoliator and the Organic Ultra Chlorophyll Mask at cocokind.com.

Related Posts:

• Cocokind Organic Facial Repair Serum


• Natural Beauty: Cocokind Organic Rosewater Facial Toner


• My Racked SF Interview with Priscilla Tsai of Cocokind

Review products were provided by Cocokind.

YUNI: Natural Beauty To Enhance Your Yoga Practice

These days I love hearing about new natural brands and have a new one to introduce today. YUNI is the first natural beauty brand designed to enhance the Yoga practice. I love their tagline Seekers of Good. For 2016, I made a conscious point to bring more wellness into my life and part of that was to make more time for yoga. I do it at home with Rodney Yee on the TV and sometimes I need to push my pomeranian, Lulu to get off my mat. But at the end of the practice, I feel just amazing inside.

This is also how YUNI products make me feel. I have been using their Concentrated Body Cleasning Creme ($15) daily. The fragrance is herbal-smelling much like Aveda products and very relaxing. Perfect aromatherapy in the shower. The cleansing cream helps clean you and also helps you balance your mental energy. Everything is natural and plant-based and non-toxic. To use, you only need a little bead of product and warm water to create an emulsion. I do this and lather it up into my bath puff sponge.

I have also been using their Active Calm Face Serum ($29). It feels light on and has that soft aromatherapy that is so relaxing. The serum helps with bringing moisture to the skin using sustainably harvested, certified organic burrito oil that is blended with fair trade green tea extract. This helps protect the skin from damage by Uv and other free radicals. The serum also helps maintain skin elasticity and firmness.

If you are looking to bring more to your yoga practice or are looking to try an all natural brand, I couldn't recommend YUNI anymore. The quality is excellent and the price is really affordable. You can see the list of all the natural plant-based ingredients they use. In addition to skin and body care, YUNI also has hair care and aroma products as well. If you are in SF, their products are sold at Credo Beauty on Fillmore Street.

To learn more about YUNI and to purchase products visit yunibeauty.com.

Review products provided by YUNI.

Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Color Collection: A Review of Gwyneth Paltrow's Makeup Line + Swatches

A couple weeks ago I posted about Gwyneth Paltrow's new Organic Makeup Line with Juice Beauty. Well, I finally was able to test some of the amazing products from the Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Color Collection and can't wait to tell you my thoughts. The amazing thing about this cosmetics line is that the makeup is created with plant-derived pigments, fruit stem cell skincare technology, cold-pressed oils, organic base of botanical juices, waxes, and powders. There are no harsh chemicals, parbens or silicone in the products. Over time, that's better for your health.

As a beauty writer, each week I'm testing A LOT of different products -- trying to find what I like in order to post and share with you gals here. Whether it's products sent to me, ones I purchase, or just test at the counter – the truth is always in the testing. I'm so happy to have found some new makeup staples that are organic and I can use daily without guilt.

Let's talk mascara. I've always wanted to go for a more natural version because mascara is used so close to my eyes and I know those little bits get in there sometimes. Second, I'm pretty picky when it comes to mascara because I need them to hold the curl well for the day. The The Phyto-Pigments Ultra-Natural Mascara ($22) is just amazing. It's all about the wand. Not only do my lashes look longer after I apply it, it really keeps my lashes curled and holds it for the rest of the day. I read on Fashionista that the beauty team had to work hard to find a mascara brush that Paltrow and her makeup artist loved. Well, I'm so glad they did because this brush really does wonders for my lashes! I'll be purchasing this on repeat!

The Phyto-Pigments Precision Eye Pencil ($20) is a fantastic compliment to the mascara. It comes in three shades: Black, Brown and Charcoal which is the shade I have. I love that it glides on creamy and really lines my eyes well. It's buildable so you can have a light touch for a light look, or build it on for a more intense eye. I need to get this in black now!

For the face, the Phyto-Pigments Illuminating Primer ($36) is beyond amazing. it goes on really smooth and immediately you see the illuminating glow in your skin. It works really well in conjunction with the Flawless Foundation ($42) which comes in ten shades. You have to know how amazing it is to have a primer and foundation that doesn't contain any silicones in it. The foundation goes on light and smooth. I have been blending it in with my Beauty Blender and it works perfectly. I would say it's light to medium coverage and is buildable. I really like how light it feels. If you are someone who wears foundation everyday, please give this a try because it's so much better for you as well as your skin.

This is the shade I have in Cream which works really well for light Asian skin with yellow undertones.

Here are all the foundation shades:

• Fair - porcelain; for very light skin with neutral undertone
• Buff - for very light skin with yellow undertone
• Cream - for light skin with yellow undertone
• Rosy beige - for light skin with pink undertone
• Sand - for light to medium skin with yellow undertone
• Medium Tan - for light to medium skin with neutral undertone
• Golden Tan - medium skin with yellow undertone
• Medium Tawny - medium to deep skin with golden undertone
• Tawny - deep skin with pink undertone
• Deep - deep skin with golden undertone

Now on to the lippies! I love experimenting with lip colors and textures. Lipstick is another item that we should all invest in a natural and organic version. Can you even imagine how much lipstick or gloss we have swallowed over all the years? I don't event want to think about it. The new line has a lot of lip products for you to try from glosses to balms. I got to test out four of them and was pleasantly surprised by the variety of color. I also thought that overall the packaging was comparable to a brand like Clinique and the prices are really affordable so there's no excuse to not pick up a handful of colors for your makeup bag.

Phyto-Pigments Liquid Lip ($24)

The Liquid Lip are really pigmented lip color using the highest concentration of plant-derived Phyto-Pigments.

Phyto-Pigments Sheer Lip Gloss ($22)

I love layering lipstick with gloss and this Sheer Lip Gloss is a total fav of mine. There are three shades and I have it in the shade Bikini. I love the nude look it gives me when I layer it over the Lip Crayon in Caramel or Satin Lip Cream in Blush.

Here's a swatch of the Liquid Lip in Chelsea (burgundy) and Kate (pink) as well as the Sheer Lip Gloss in Bikini.

Phyto-PIgments Luminous Lip Crayon ($22)

These lip crayons come in eight shades and are very light and sheer. It's enough light color for those that want a subtle look but they were very light and not too moisturizing. If you need more of a creamy texture, I found the lipsticks to be more moisturizing. But layering the sheer lip gloss over this crayon was just perfect!

A swatch of the Lip Crayon in Pebble and Caramel.

Phyto-Pigments Satin Lip Cream ($24)

There are eight shades of this wonderful creamy lipstick which includes an infusion of age-defying serum which will help to reduce the appearance of fine lines around your lips. I love the pigment and plan to pick up a few more colors.

A swatch of the Satin Lip Cream in Merlot and Blush (great nude lip!).

(Photo Warwick Saint)

I'm blown away by Gwyneth Paltrow's Phyto-Pigments Color Collection. It's a perfect collection for an everyday face. If I could only purchase one product, it would have to be the mascara. I don't think I could live without the mascara now! I plan to purchase the Phyto-Pigments Flawless Finishing Powder ($26) and the Correcting Concealer ($18) as these are part of my daily makeup needs. Their blush and bronzer are currently out of stock but will be back soon.

Overall the prices are really good for a natural, organic brand and I think it's a good start at giving a shake up to mainstream cosmetics. Hopefully, we'll see less and less chemicals and additives in our beauty products but for now, I'm looking forward to all of Juice Beauty's future cosmetic developments and look forward to trying them out!

Shop Gwyneth Paltrow's Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Color Collection at juicebeauty.com.

Review products were provided by Juice Beauty.

Gwyneth Paltrow's Organic Makeup Line with Juice Beauty Arrives

(Photo: Warwick Saint)

It's finally here! The much anticipated cosmetics line from Gwyneth Paltrow and Juice Beauty has arrived. Last summer I had the chance to meet Juice Beauty founder Karen Behnke (post here) and she mentioned to me that they were working on this exciting new venture with Gwyneth who is the Creative Director of this beauty collection. The Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Color Collection features 78 antioxidant-rich makeup products that are powered by certified organic ingredients such as botanical juices, waxes and powders infused with natural whole Phyto Pigments, age-defying serum and cold-pressed oils. The price range is also really affordable with makeup running around $20-$48.

Here are some of the products I'm interested in trying out:

Luminous Lip Crayon ($22), Satin Lip Creme ($24), Flawless Pressed Powder ($32),
Last Looks Blush ($24), Ultra-Natural Mascara ($22), Precision Eye Pencil ($20), Flawless Serum Foundation ($42)

The #1 product I want to try is the mascara. I'm hoping it gives me the same volumizing look as my NARS or YSL. It would at least make me feel better to have more natural products near my eyes.

Overall the packaging is just so beautiful and luxe. On par with beauty products at the department store. The eye shadows are shadow sticks so I'm looking forward to see if they come out with eye shadow palettes in the future. On the Juice Beauty site, there are photos of women of different nationalities to better help you choose your foundation or powder shade.

Here's a peek behind the scenes:

(Photo: Warwick Saint)

Purchase the Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Collection online at Juice Beauty and at select Ulta stores.

Go Natural with Makeup from lilah b.

I just discovered lilah b., a Sausalito, CA based beauty brand that uses natural ingredients founded by Cheryl Yannotti Foland. The formulas are rich in ingredients from the earth and the sea. All of the products are free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, phthalates and artificial preservatives. There is also no animal testing. This year, I've been doing a lot more to try products that are free from chemicals -- mostly these products have been skincare so it was extra exciting to try some chemical-free makeup. It's great to find a beauty brand with makeup that's actually healthier, but still has that luxury-feel to it. I also love Foland's idea that you don't need much makeup -- just a little to give you a natural boost.

New for Fall are the the Palette Perfection Eye Quads ($58) are encased in lilah b.'s signature pebble compact. I have the palette in b.stunning which features four neutral taupe and brown shades aka "my colors". There are 2 matte shades and 2 metallic shades. I love how soft and buildable the colors are. Let's talk ingredients. The Palette Perfection formula contains marigold extract which is known to improve the appearance of skin hydration and elasticity. The eye shadow powders are made from unique and natural ingredients of coconut oil, aloe and agar, known to soothe, nourish and impart a smooth and natural feel.

The new Divine Duo Lip and Cheek ($46) feature two colors to choose from: lovely-beige and memorable-wine. The formula is a mix of aloe and agar to nourish and hyrdate your lips. I love that these also double up as a cheek blush to give yourself a warm natural flush of color. The texture is fantastic and helps to enhance your natural beauty.

The Flawless Finish Foundation ($48) is a great way to finally get natural coverage. The powder foundation is weightless so you don't feel like you are wearing makeup. It's also made with aloe and agar. There are five shades to choose from.

To help you make the most out of your makeup, lilah b just came out with their own line of makeup brushes. All of the brushes are hypo-allergenic, cruelty-free and vegan-friendly. There are retractable foundation and bronzer brushes, eye/lip liner brush and a variety of eyeshadow brushes.

Shop lilah b makeup at lilahbeauty.com.

Review samples were provided by lilah b.

Natural Skincare: Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream Light

Earlier this year I watched an episode of Bravo's Watch What Happens Live with Jennifer Lopez as the guest. When Andy Cohen asked her a reader question on what skin care she used, JLo glowing skin and all, smiled and said "Rose cream from Whole Foods." I couldn't open up a browser window fast enough to Google. I mean, if Jennifer Lopez can get flawless skin from a Whole Foods product, then so can I! haha. After researching, it turns out Ms. Lopez uses Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Rose Day Cream ($30.96 from Amazon). I learned more about Dr Hauschka which is a natural skincare brand that's got a seal of approval from NATRUE and BDIH. (Read more on their site here). Basically, the brand is at a higher standard than the organic standards of U.S. products. I picked up a small tube of the cream to try.

For a day cream, even with this "light" version, the texture is pretty thick so it's probably not a good idea to use this with the summer heat. My take is that it's really made for dry skin. Currently, I've been using it at night and it's been locking in my Cocokind serum. I'm sure come winter, this cream will be a safe haven for my dry skin in the day. I like that the scent isn't overly strong or too rosy either. Most Whole Foods have their premium skincare behind a glass counter, so don't hesitate to ask a sales person to open up the case for you to try. It just feels so good for your skin.

Natural Beauty: Cocokind Organic Rosewater Facial Toner

A couple of weeks ago while at Whole Foods, I couldn't resist picking up another cocokind beauty product to try. I bought the cocokind Organic Rosewater Facial Toner ($16.99 at cocokind). What I love best is that it's a small spray bottle, perfect for travel and perfect to spritz your face when you need to feel refreshed. I love the light scent of roses (and my hubby does too). It reminds me of France -- just that soft smell of roses I love so much. It's not overpowering at all. Right now, I use it morning and night. At night, I spray this after I cleanse my face. This has replaced my SK-II Facial Essence Treatment which is just way too expensive a habit for me to keep up now.

To apply you can either spray it on a cotton pad or directly on your face. I like just spraying it on my face so I don't have product wasted in a cotton pad. I just close my eyes and do a couple spritzes over my face and then gently press it all into my face and neck with a gentle motion with my hands. I love that this is all natural and organic -- no chemicals at all! My skin feels way more hydrated than ever since using it for the last two weeks. At night I use the cocokind Repair Serum (see review here) after I spray on the tonic. It really helps to absorb the serum.

Pick up the cocokind Organic Rosewater Facial Toner at cocokind.com.

Fall in Love with Natural Beauty Products at Credo Beauty in SF

(Photos: David Vergne, Courtesy of Credo Beauty)

Credo Beauty
2136 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 885-1800
Mon-Sat 10am-7pm
Sun 11am-6pm

Credo Beauty is now open in San Francisco at 2136 Fillmore Street, next door to Marc by Marc Jacobs. I have a full gallery showcasing the interior and some of the products over at Racked SF.

Last Thursday, I attended the opening party and was floored by how beautiful and modern the green beauty boutique is. Everything laid out on the shelves beg for you to test them out and guess what? They are all made from natural or organic ingredients. I haven't totally gone green in my beauty routine but for the most part I am using a lot of organic skincare. Credo Beauty is really paving the way for all of us to learn more about using products that are better for us because it's not full of harsh chemicals.

You can try all of the products in the store and I like that there are sample sizes sold so you can take them home and see how they feel.

Right now, I'm kinda obsessed with Evolvh hair products. Finding an organic hair product has been at the top of my list and I'm so glad I had the chance to meet the founder Boris Oak at the opening party. Boris told me that these products are good for any hair type. I have sample sizes for their UltraShine Moisture Shampoo ($24), UltraShine Moisture Conditioner ($25), and the SuperFinish Polishing Balm ($32). I like that my hair feels clean (and smells great too) and it's not feeling dry or stripped. The Credo Store Manager told me that these are flying off the shelves and now I know why.

I also met the founder of Juice Beauty, Karen Behnke. She gave an overview of the line and I tested out a few products.

My favorite is their Stem Cellular CC Cream ($39). There are five different shades. I love how it feels on my skin. You can skip the notion of foundation and give yourself an even skintone while it protects with mineral SPF 30 and enriches your skin with antioxidants.

Let's talk makeup now. I received a sample of Armour Beauty's naturally-based lip gloss in my goodie bag. I had the Armour V in Audrey ($24) a vegan, paraban-free and completely cruelty-free lip gloss. The Audrey color is just what I love wearing - an everyday mauve color.

The Tata Harper Spa is just gorgeous and I'm looking forward to trying out a facial there one day as well as just browsing around the store more to try new products. I'll report back here of course on my natural beauty favorites!