Sandra‘s Closet

If you think that the emerald makeup trend is too vibrant for you, you will love today’s post featuring the most alluring nude and bronze products for this summer.

Above you can see my personal must-haves that are all part of the new collections hitting the stores now.

1 CLARINS Shimmer Body Oil – CHF 49.00
2 CLARINS Summer Bronzing Compact – CHF 49.00
3 CLARINS Colour Quartet & Liner Eye Palette - CHF 62.00
4 ESTEE LAUDER Pure Color Nail Lacquer So Vain – CHF 34.00
5 ESTEE LAUDER Pure Color Nail Lacquer Diabolique – CHF 34.00
6 ESTEE LAUDER Dual Ended Liquid Liner Black Sands – CHF 40.00
7 YVES SAINT LAURENT La Laque Couture N°37 Taupe Maresque – CHF 38.00
8 TOM FORD Bronzing Powder Gold Dust – CHF 82.00

CLARINS Splendours Summer Makeup Collection

Amazing, that was the first word that literally came into my head when I unpacked the stunning summer makeup collection from Clarins. Splendours is themed around a harmony of glistening gold shades for the perfect warm natural summer glow. Available now.

ESTEE LAUDER Pure Color Nail Lacquers French Nudes

Suiting every women’s skin tone, Makeup Director Tom Pecheux created these muted nudes that look elegant and sophisticated. In stores now.
From left to right: Diabolique, Nudité, Bittersweet, So Vain and Ballerina Pink.

YVES SAINT LAURENT Saharienne Heat

Lindsey Wixson, the face of the ad campaign, shows how gorgeous the variety of colours in this collection look: bronze and nude combined with shades of purple and emerald.
The perfect alternative for those who would like to add a splash of colour to their natural look. And with the golden Moroccan arabesque designs on top of the compacts, it is a pleasure to open them every day. In stores now.

TOM FORD Beauty Summer 2013 Color Collection

Tom Ford’s summer 2013 makeup collection brings some interesting essentials to the table. Beautiful nudes and bronze shades that will give you that natural-looking glow we all want to achieve during the warm weather months, for a skin that is bathed in sunset light.
In Switzerland available Mid May 2013 exclusively at Jelmoli Zurich.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands and © Sandra Bauknecht

Estée Lauder has launched the limited-edition makeup collection for spring 2013 PRETTY NAUGHTY. Optimistic yet not overly sweet, the world of watercolor pastels is taken to new heights by infusing an urban synthetic vibe for a youthful and modern twist. 
All products are in stores now.

PURE COLOR SHEER MATTE LIPSTICK
Naked, Rock Candy, Rebel and Demure – CHF 40.00
Skip the lip liner. Shape lips with the slim edge of Pure Color Sheer Matte Lipstick in Rock Candy instead. Apply the Naked shade for a soft matte mix.

PURE COLOR ILLUMINATING POWDER Tease - CHF 58.00
Start blushing slightly below the highest point of cheek and blend down and away.
PURE COLOR FIVE COLOR EYESHADOW PALETTE Pretty Naughty – CHF 72.00
Play with the five shades that work for day and night.
PURE COLOR SHEER NAIL LACQUER Insatiable – CHF 34.00

Be creative with your nails. Here are some inspirations:
The spring nail pairings techniques combine 2 or more shades to the most stylish newest looks. Nail colours are from the Pretty Naughty and the Heavy Petals collections.

SKINNY DIPPER
Brush nails with Absinthe. Brush Dilettante over it, from mid-nail to tips. With a toothpick, draw 3-4 thin horizontal stripes of Blue Blood, as fine as you can make them, across the nails.

PRETTY NAUGHTY
Paint nails with Insatiable from the Pretty Naughty Collection. Then add Chaos in a half “moon” on the right and left sides of each nail, base to tip.

I’M WITH THE BAND
Brush nails with Coral Cult. Add a broad horizontal stripe of Absinthe across middle of nails.

PURPLE MOON
Stroke Lilac Leather on nails. Brush Smashed on moon area only.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder

The beginning of 2013 marks the launches of many new mascaras. As you know, I went to Paris for the new DIORSHOW ICONIC CURL which I absolutely love. Mascaras are such an individual product. Therefore it is hard to recommend one as everybody applies it differently and a formula or brush that works best for me might not be applicable for you. So here is my IT-LIST (from left to right) with comments. I am sure, you will find one that suits your lashes best.

BEST CURL
DIORSHOW ICONIC OVERCURL by Dior

Dramatic volume and curl in a stroke. The new brush adapts perfectly to your lash line. One of my favorites. (For more information on the product and the photo shoot for it, please click here).
In stores now. CHF 48.00

BEST TEXTURE
SURREALIST EVERFRESH by Helena Rubinstein

A true mascara revolution with 4 exclusive patents pending. Its innovation? Due to its ideally-gliding texture and brush, it is the first mascara ever on the market that doesn’t try out, feeling like a brand new mascara every day. 
Available in Switzerland from March 2013. CHF 53.00

BEST WATERPROOF FORMULA
SUMPTUOUS EXTREME WATERPROOF by Estée Lauder

This lash multiplying volume mascara offers deep, rich color. Its smooth, non-clumping formula leaves lashes feel soft and light, which is unusual for a waterproof product. With a good eye makeup remover, the removal is not a problem and no scrubbing is neccessary. I am not a fan of waterproof mascaras, but I could warm towards this one.
Available in Switzerland from April 2013. CHF 45.00

BEST FORTIFYING APPLICATION
SO INTENSE by Sisley

Another one of my absolute favorites. The very thin brush might take you some time to get used to it. But once you can handle it, you will thank me forever. This mascara instantly thickens, coats and separates lashes in just one stroke. Its fortifying formula, enriched with a vitamin-packed peptide, helps you to achieve fuller, longer, more beautiful lashes from day to day. Amazing product! (To see me wearing it, please click here).
In stores now. CHF 57.00

BEST VOLUME
LE VOLUME DE CHANEL by Chanel

The application of Chanel’s newest volumizing mascara is amazingly simple due to its unique, patented “Snowflakes” brush that coats lashes from root to tip in an instant. Your lashes are longer, plumper, thicker and more intense. The result is undeniable: eyes are defined and look bigger with a wide-open effect.
In stores now. CHF 47.00

BEST SCENT
CILS D’ENFER by Guerlain

As its names applies, this mascara is bombastic, creating maximum volume, curl and hold. The formula is nice, lightweight and doesn’t smudge or flake. Its application is a true pleasure due to its beautiful rosy scent.
In stores now. CHF 44.00

I hope that I could help you find your new favourite mascara to achieve an unforgettable look.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, © Sandra Bauknecht

Today, the doorbell rang and the postman delivered some beautiful literally sweet surprises. The Park Hyatt Zurich sent me such a gorgeous cake in the shape of a bag that complemented the new limited edition nail polish shades by Estée Lauder PURE COLOR HEAVY PETALS perfectly.

The new limited edition spring collection of lacquers looks delicious thanks to its inspiration from the famous macaron dessert. The shades are from left to right: Narcissist, Lilac Leather, Coral Cult, Dilettante France, and Absinthe.

To a tasty weekend!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder and © Sandra Bauknecht

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and wearing pink is a great way of showing your support. I am in love with this uber-cute pink ruffled silk-mikado mini dress by Moschino and those lace-up fuchsia rubber rain boots by RED Valentino.

Many companies, such as Estée Lauder and Bobbi Brown, sell special products to raise awareness and funds by donating part of the retail price. This year, Estée Lauder compagnies’ Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Campaign is celebrating its 20th anniversary in the fight against breast cancer and honouring the life and legacy of Evelyn H. Lauder, BCA campaign founder and Pink Ribbon co-creator. This is definitely worth supporting!

Evelyn Lauder Dream Compact by Estée Lauder
This irresistible collectible compact is an elegant way to show your support of Breast Cancer Awareness for women and men. Filled and refillable with Lucidity Translucent Pressed Powder, the Evelyn Lauder Dream Collection also helps raise awareness that early detection saves lives. In special honour of Evelyn Lauder, 100% of the suggested retail price of each Dream Compact sold will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® from August 2012 – June 2013. Available in Switzerland for CHF 120.-.

Limited Edition Pink Peony Set by Bobbi Brown

Exclusive set in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Bobbi will be donating $10 of every sale of this set during the month of October to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. Featuring the Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Pink Peony, an innovative blend of sheer powder and micro pearls to give skin a natural-looking glow, paired with a Mini Face Blender Brush topped off with a bright pink handle. It’s a fun way to put on your makeup and show your support. Available in Switzerland for CHF 60.- (CHF 5.- will be donated).

Pink Bouquet by Moschino
A fruity-floral fragrance that exhales a lot of positive energy, youthful freshness and euphoric notes while being romantic and feminine.

Top notes: Bergamot, pineapple sorbet and raspberry.
Middle notes: Jasmine, pink lily of the valley, violet and peony petal.
Base notes: Peach, oakmoss, gingerbread and musk.

Eau de Toilette Nat. Spray 30 ml CHF 54.00 - 50 ml CHF 81.00 – 90 ml CHF 107.00
Perfumed Deodorant Nat. Vapo 50 ml CHF 42.00
Perfumed Shower Gel 200 ml CHF 42.00
Perfumed Body Lotion 200 ml CHF 52.00

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Estée Lauder, Bobbi Brown, Moschino and net-à-porter.

The wind of change is blowing at Estée Lauder. The house’s new scent VERY ESTÉE, which will be launched this fall, comes with an effective advertising slogan of great impact:
“The new sexy fragrance.”

It is a floral musky scent, elegant and modern.

Top notes: Lotus flowers, freesia, cassis and pink pepper
Middle notes: Bulgarian rose, rose oil NaturePrint®, Brasilian gardenia NaturePrint® and jasmine FirNat®
Base notes: Sandalwood, cedar, cashmere accord and musk

Available in the beginning of October 2012 in Switzerland.
Eau de Parfum 1.0oz / 30ml (CHF 60.-) and 1.7oz / 50ml (CHF 80.-)

Estée Lauder spokeswoman, Hilary Rhoda, is the face of the campaign. (I met her and Tom Pecheux once in New York during Fashion Week, click here for the photos.)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder

In the summertime, it is hard to wear foundations as most of the time, you look like you are literally melting away. Therefore it’s best to go easy on the makeup and to choose the right formulas such as tinted moisturizers. If you want to wear heavier foundation, look for a product that controls oil.

Here are three amazing products for you:

ESTÉE LAUDER INVISIBLE FLUID MAKEUP

See no makeup; feel no makeup. The first-of-its-kind IntuiTone™ technology guarantees your true-to-life shade and keeps it real in every light. Fresh, flawless and radiant. Ultra-light, ultra-breathable and oil-free. It will change how you feel about makeup forever. Available in 12 long-lasting shades for beautiful skin of every ethnicity. It lasts all day, controls excess oil and won’t clog pores. Very important to know is that you have to shake it well with each application for fresh, perfectly blended makeup and if you need extra coverage, just add another layer.

CHF 54.- (30ml)

CLARINS EVER MATTE

An anti-shine, skin-balancing oil-free formula, ideal for women looking for a matte appearance in all circumstances. The plant-based “Skin Detox” complex helps regulate oil production and tighten pores. Its lightweight texture blends easily and allows skin to breathe without drying. The complexion appears more beautiful thanks to an invisible, long-lasting matte “veil” that evens skin tone and keeps skin shinefree from morning to evening. Unrivalled radiance: Clarins exclusive “Light-Optimizing+” complex captures, diffuses and magnifies light. Fine lines and small imperfections are visibly minimized. The complexion appears more even and radiant. SPF 15. Matte finish – Medium coverage , for all skin types with anti-pollution protection.

CHF 48.- (30ml)

CLINIQUE STAY-MATTE OIL-FREE MAKEUP

An oil-free makeup that helps you stay matte all day.
 This formula absorbs shine, controls oil, resists sweat and has been tested for streaking and fading at 25°C / 88°F with a constant 80% humidity. Laminaria Saccaharina extract helps regulate sebum production to give less surface oil, while siliceous earth absorbs oil from the skin surface to keep it feeling fresh.

It’s a must-buy summer foundation for all powder-only ladies with oily skin as it won’t show the lines so easily. Trust me on that one.

CHF 43.- (30ml)

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of Estée Lauder, Clarins and Clinique

Estée Lauder’s summer looks have been on my shopping list since many years and fans of the brand know, the house’s iconic summer fragrance, re-launched every year, sells out in days.

Have fun exploring my must-haves from
Estée Lauder’s BRONZE GODDESS CAPRI Summer 2012 look:

1. The Bronze Goddess Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée makes you looked as sun-kissed as possible. This limited edition is an exquisite, and lust-worthy bronzing highlighter that comes with a new formula of liquid, powder, and gel to give you a sexy, sophisticated glow. Use it as an all-over soft sheen or layer it for some luminous pearly highlighting.
Suggested retail price: CHF 58.-

2. The Bronze Goddess Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon Duo in White Sands/Molton Lava for sexy eyes in seconds.
Suggested retail price: CHF 32.-

3. The Bronze Goddess Pure Color Five Color Gelée Powder Eyeshadow Palette in Bronze Sands. With its new innovative prisma shine technology, you can create a gorgeous subtle day time look or really vamp it up for night time glamour. Same as the Bronze Goddess Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée, it comes with a tri-brid of a liquid, powder and gel all in one, to give the softest, most blendable shades that can be used wet or dry.
Suggested retail price: CHF 72.-

4. Bronze Goddess Capri is a summer limited edition fragrance, a “solar Oriental fragrance inspired by the seductive Isle of Capri.” It includes notes of blackcurrant, mandarin, lemon leaves, jasmine sambac, lily of the valley, peony, vanilla, amberwood, patchouli, and musk.
Suggested retail price: CHF 78.- (100ml)

Ladies, it is time to head to the nearest Estée Lauder counter!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder and © Sandra Bauknecht

With those freezing temperatures outside, I love to dream of warm weather, the sun, the sea and my new bikini outfit!

Metallic triangle bikini by Gucci, crystal-embellished leather sandals by Giuseppe Zanotti, canvas bag with Hawaiian print by Stella McCartney, round-frame acetate sunglasses by Yves Saint Laurent, gold-plated plexiglass cuff and multi-stone brass ring, both by Emilio Pucci.

It is the time of the year when it is best to get organized for your next trip to a tropical destination. As the lights of fitting rooms are in general not so pleasant for pale skin, I prefer ordering swimwear online.

For the perfect sunkissed make-up look, I recommend those products below:

For radiant skin:
1 - PURE RADIANT TINTED MOISTURIZER SPF30/PA+++ by Nars
Infused with naturally derived ingredients from French Polynesia where François Nars loves to spend a lot of time, this new tinted moisturizer instantly hydrates and evens out the skin tone. It has also been shown that it can reduce the appearance of discoloration and dark spots with regular use. The luxurious, oil-free formula obscures the appearance of lines, wrinkles, pores and other imperfections while providing a translucent veil of broadspectrum sun protection.
Available in 9 shades with beautiful names: 1 Finland, 2 Alaska, 3 St. Moritz, 4 Annapurna, 5 Cuba, 6 Malaga, 7 Seychelles, 8 Martinique and 9 Polynesia.
In Switzerland in stores Mid March, CHF 72.-.

For sun-kissed cheeks and a glowing face:
2 – PURE COLOR ILLUMINATING POWDER GELEE TOPAZ CHAMELEON by Estée Lauder
High polish for your skin: 

This innovative tri-blend liquid, powder, gel formula goes beyond face powder to give you a sexy, sophisticated glow. 

It comes with a perfect mix of pigment and pearls for a multi-reflective finish. 

Smooth it on as an all-over soft sheen or sweep it on the cheeks for a luminous pearl highlighting effect. The perfect companion for the beach.
Available now for CHF 58.-.

For beautiful eyes in the shades of the ocean:
3 – OMBRE MINERALE 4 COLEURS in 08 Blue Sky by Clarins
This eye quartet palette has four long-lasting shades in the hues of the ocean. They can be applied dry or damp for a natural or sophisticated look. 
Available now for CHF 62.-.

4 – PURE COLOR INTENSE KAJAL EYE CRAYON in Dramatic Black by Estée Lauder
Reminiscent of Indian kajal eye crayons, those must-have pencils provide you with intense, smouldering colour in one single stroke. 

It glides on velvety smooth and blends easily.

 Use as a liner along lashline and softly smudge over lids to intensify the smoky look.
Available now for CHF 30.-.

5 – DIORSHOW NEW LOOK in Noir New Look by Christian Dior
A new amazing mascara that delivers infinite volume and an unparalleled lash-multiplying effect. 

Diorshow New Look features an exclusive breakthrough nana-brush to catch and coat every last lash with the precision of a couturier’s hand. The extraordinary formula with a Lash Amplifier™ ingredient provides an instant lash-multiplying action.
Available in Switzerland starting February 8, 2012 for CHF 48.-.

On the lips:
6 – LARGER THAN LIFE® LIP GLOSS in Gold Digger by Nars
The new Larger Than Life® Lip Gloss provides lustrous shine that stays in place for hours, while lips feel protected and moisturized. Natural lip enhancers provide volume while a new, shorter bristle brush delivers a precise application to define and shape lips. 
Available for CHF 35.-.

For eyecatching nails:
7 – PURE COLOR NAIL LACQUER in Topaz Teal by Estée Lauder
Colourful nails are a must and this turquoise shade is the perfect hue for the beach.
Available now for CHF 34.-.

To make sure that your body looks great in the sun, have a look at those upcoming new products that I can highly recommend:

For a healthy-looking tanned body:
DIOR BRONZE AUTO-BRONZANT Self Tanning Oil Natural Glow by Christian Dior

AMAZING MOOD-LIFTING PRODUCT!

Dior Bronze is the perfect replica of all pleasures of the sun to enhance the skin and lift the mood! On the application, the skin is satiny, luminious, perfectly moisturized and progressively recreates a radiant tan.
On the mood, you will feel the perceived pleasure of a unique uplifting action. A plant-based active ingredient helps stimulate the natural production of ß-endorphins, the so-called “pleasure molecules”, for an immediate mood-lifting sensation, as if you just spent time sunbathing!
Available in Switzerland beginning of March for CHF 58.- (100ml).

For a well-toned body:
DIOR SVELTE  BODY DESIRE Integral Perfection Care by Christian Dior

Anybody among you who is not wishing for the perfect well-toned body?! Here is a product that will help you to achieve it in one single step (But you still need to work on your daily sports routine and calories intake, sorry!).

This body care product acts on all of the key characteristics of a desirable body: slimming, firming, moisturrizing, toning and smoothing. How is that possible?
At the “heart” of the skin, adiponectin – a protein with a sensational spectrum of action discovered by Dior science – affects all those features. Stress and the excesses of modern life tend to inhibit the influence of this unique protein. Dior Svelte reactivates the natural synthesis of adiponectin for a visibly enhanced body in 4 weeks.
Available in Switzerland beginning of March for CHF 96.- (200ml).

You have still lots of time left to get in shape for summer! But better get started early…  this is all you need!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Last week, I went to the presentation of the 15th annabelle Prix de Beauté which was held at the Dolder Grand in Zurich. The presentation could be best described as the “Swiss Beauty Oscars”. I felt very honoured because I was asked to be in the jury.

The highly coveted “Anna” trophy.

My task? Test 100 beauty products in the category facial care. No problem at all!

For my Swiss based readers: All the winners of the different categories will be published in the annabelle 04-2012 magazine which will be available starting February 22, 2012. From March 2-17, 2012 all the awarded products will be displayed at Manor in Zurich.

Some of the winners were already featured on Sandra’s Closet such as the Diorskin Forever Foundation or the Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator by Estée Lauder.

Below you can see what I wore to the event. I hope that you will like it.

LoL, Sandra

My look: Bouclé-tweed mini dress by Alexander McQueen (40% off on sale), lace-appliquéd mesh knee boots by Valentino (70% off on sale), pearl necklace by Lanvin, lace-print bag by Prada (from a previous season) and Lady Exalibur watch by Roger Dubuis.

Photos: ©Sandra Bauknecht