YSL Advent Calendar 2021

After severe testing of several advent calendars, I have found my favorite one: An immersive advent calendar with the best of Yves Saint Laurent including travel and full size products from top-selling fragrances, high fashion lipsticks, nourishing sumptuous skincare, and much more.

It is the perfect gift for yourself or a fellow luxury beauty lover who has everything else. Unwrap a new surprise all month long for the ultimate couture experience. The advent calendar is plastic-free, made of 100% cardboard sourced from sustainably managed forests.

TO SHOP THE CALENDAR, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

Spoiler alert, if you scroll further, you will see the content of the calendar with a detailed description.

This set includes 17 miniature products, 6 full-sized goods and an additional YSL gift:
• Touche Éclat Blur Primer 10ml
• Black Opium Eau de Parfum 7.5ml
• Mon Paris Eau de Parfum 7.5ml
• Libre Eau de Parfum 7.5ml
• Le Vestiaire Des Parfums Tuxedo & Saharienne 7.5ml
• Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Sheer Matte 101, 107, & 112
• Rouge Pur Couture 93
• Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick Balm 91
• Rouge Volupté Rock’n Shine 5
• Water Stain 618
• Deluxe Mini Rouge Pur Couture 21, 83, and 1966
• Deluxe Mini Tatouage Couture Velvet Cream 201
• Pure Shots Hydra Bounce Lotion 10ml
• Pure Shots Night Reboot Resurfacing Serum 7ml
• Pure Shots Light Up Brightening Serum 7ml
• Deluxe Mini Curler Mascara
• Deluxe Mini Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils
• Mini Dessin du Regard Eyeliner Pencil 01
• Kabuki Brush

Enjoy this holiday season to the fullest!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography – The photos were taken inside the new Globus.
DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored.

YSL’s New Vinyl Couture Colored Mascaras

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YSL has always been the beauty brand with the best colored mascaras. This May, the House is elevating its expertise to a new level with the launch of MASCARA VINYL COUTURE. By introducing the colorful eye make-up must-have, YSL targets a younger audience, the so-called «millennial women», the between 18 to 34 demographic. The product’s advertising features Cara Delevingne, photographed by Craig McDean, who is an idol not only for this generation.

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The new electric-hued MASCARA VINYL COUTURE is truly a breakthrough product due to its high concentration of lacquer pigments and a translucent liquid base. This creates a vinyl-like texture and shine, with highly saturated colors. It comes in nine shades, including two (sparkling) topcoats.

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MASCARA VINYL COUTURE – CHF 47.00 each
01 – I’m the Clash (Black)
02 – I’m the Unpredictable (Aubergine)
03 – I’m the Excitement (Green)
04 – I’m the Illusion (Hazel)
05 – I’m the Trouble (Blue)
06 – I’m the Madness (Fuchsia) (One shot)
07 – I’m the Craze (Purple)
08 – I’m the Storm (Dark Sparkle) (One Shot)
09 – I’m the Fire (Gold Sparkle) (One Shot)

Available in stores from May 2016.

LoL, Sandra

YSLs New Vinyl Couture Colored Mascaras

Photos: Courtesy of YSL Beauté

My Personal Tribute to Hedi Slimane

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Rumors had been going on already, but only last week we got the confirmation that Hedi Slimane is leaving Saint Laurent. It was only a four-year tenure, but the designer wove a serious fashion tale, definitely in my closet. I went crazy when his first collection (Cruise 2013) for the French Maison hit the shelves.Saint Laurent

In 2012, when Slimane started, he first changed the name YSL to a simple Saint Laurent and ushered in rock ‘n’ roll influences. He included menswear into the women’s runway shows and created iconic pieces such as biker jackets, the Janis heels, the Sac de Jour bag that he presented every season in other shades. Due to this, he designs never went out of style but on the other hand, it got a little boring after a while.

Saint Laurent is under the helmet of the Kering giant and to add fuel to the fire, a likely successor might have been already chosen: Anthony Vaccarello, who was handpicked by Donatella Versace to spearhead the Versus brand, and was named its creative director last September.

French Fashion carrousel is turning as Raf Simons (Dior), Alber Elbaz (Lanvin) and Alexander Wang (Balenciaga) had left their posts last year.

Below you can enjoy some of my favourite outfits that I wore during the last years designed by Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent.

LoL, Sandra

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March 2013: At the Valentino S/S 2013 Fashion Show

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September 2013: Piaget Movie Night in Zurich

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October 2013: Tartan

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November 2013: Driven By Something

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December 2013: It’s a Plaid, Plaid World

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December 2013: I See You in the Stars

Sandra-Bauknecht-Get-the-Look-Place-VendômeJanuary 2014: Place Vendôme

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January 2014: Sense on the Edge

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January 2014: Birthday Girl

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May 2014: Vampires Everywhere

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May 2014: Dressing in Black and White

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July 2014: Party Time in Marrakesh

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October 2014: Leather Rebel

Into-the-Wild-Sandra-BauknechtOctober 2014: Into the Wild

Sandra-Bauknecht-in-Saint-Laurent-In-Milan-GalleriaNovember 2014: Milan

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November 2014: Glitz and Glam

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December 2014: Wherever You Go

Sandra-Bauknecht-Clash-of-the-TartansDecember 2014: Clash of the Tartans

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January 2015: Is It Friday Yet?

Sandra-Bauknecht-in-Saint-Laurent-Gun-Print-DressFebruary 2015: Shoot for the Moon

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April 2015: Oh La La

Sandra_Bauknecht_Get_the_look_leo_Saint_LaurentApril 2015: Leo

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May 2015: Everyone Is Fighting a Battle

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August 2015: At the Alpina Gstaad

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August 2015: Rive Gauche Summer Party

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November 2015: Acid Leopard

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March 2016: Spring Picnic

Photos: Courtesy of Saint Laurent and © Sandra Bauknecht

The YSL Wardrobe of Fragrances

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The House of Yves Saint Laurent celebrates a half-century of fragrance creation. Fifty years marked by unforgettable elixirs, fragrances that have become references, benchmarks, icons.

This fall, «Le Vestiaire des Parfums» will launch, a wardrobe of fragrances, that includes 5 new scents that are inspired by the house’s iconic fashion creations.

THE TRENCH

Trench coat from Yves Saint Laurent’s  F/W 99 collection.

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Trench is a citrusy fragrance with dry cedar and iris.

THE CABAN JACKET

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The first cabin jacket in 1962.

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Caban is a sensual fragrance with notes of pink pepper, rose and tonka bean.

THE SAFARI TOP

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Veruschka in YSL Safari Ensemble by Franco Rubartelli, Vogue Paris July/ August 1968.

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Saharienne is fresh due to its ingredients of neroli, wild herbs and white musk.

THE CAFTAN

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Yves Saint Laurent loved Morocco and caftans himself.

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Caftan is an oriental scent that contains incense, benzoin, galbanum and musk.

THE TUXEDO

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Created in 1966, the ‘Le Smoking’ tuxedo suit for women was the first of its kind to earn attention in the fashion world. Photo by Helmut Newton.

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Tuxedo is the most masculine among the five with notes of patchouli and a spice accord.

Available from November 2015 for CHF 350 (125ml) each.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Yves Saint Laurent

Interview with Jessica Chastain

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During the 30th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, I had the chance to interview one of my favorite actresses, Jessica Chastain, who is the new face of Piaget. The beautiful «redhead» has established herself as one of the finest film actresses of her generation, earning numerous award nominations. In 2012, Time magazine featured her as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World“.

zerodarkthirty1Jessica Chastain is superb as the agent Maya in «Zero Dark 30».

Trained at the Julliard School in New York City, she made her feature film debut in Dan Ireland‘s «Jolene» in 2008. Since then, she has earned critical acclaim for her leading roles in many major movies including among many others Kathryn Bigelow‘s «Zero Dark 30», for which she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama and received her 2nd Academy Award nomination.

AMostViolentYearJessica Chastain in «A Most Violent Year».

Her most recent box office success came from her role in JC Chandor‘s «A Most Violent Year», for which she was honored with a Golden Globe nomination. She will next be seen in Guillermo Del Toro’ latest movie «Crimson Peak» and Ridley Scott’s «The Martian», both set for release Fall 2015.

«I am not so interested in being like everyone else.»

 

Sandra_Bauknecht_Jessica_CHastainJessica Chastain with me at the amfAR gala in 2013.

Two years ago, I met you at the amfAR gala at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d’Antibes and was impressed by your kindness and great aura. What helps you to be that grounded?
Tough thing to answer. I feel so grateful, my whole life I wanted to be an actor and to be part of the magic of what making movies are and I get to do it. There is not one day that I forget how special that is.

Which character would you love to play that you haven’t played yet?
I can tell you for theatre. I would love to play Roselynne in «As You Like It» because it is my favourite Shakespeare character but for film, I don’t know because maybe the role isn’t written yet. When I look back on films that I love from the 30s and 40s, the amazing performances, like Rita Hayworth, it’s I wouldn’t want to make a remake of those roles because it kind of looses what was so special about the original. I am gonna answer perhaps it is not written yet.

Sandra_Bauknecht_Jessica_CHastainDuring our photo shoot for the new Possession campaign for Piaget in Paris recently.

You have the most beautiful hair. Do you think that being a «redhead» has influenced you, your career? How was it in your childhood? Blessing or curse?
If there is something about you that is unique and different, you have to celebrate it. That is what you have to love and this is what you makes you special as you get older. I am not so interested in being like everyone else. I like to meet people that are different, that are strange, that have different point of views and challenge my own way of thinking. When you are in a group, it is so much more interesting when there is so much individuality that becomes the group. So that’s what I think about the red hair.

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You have been also the ambassador of the YSL fragrance, «Manifesto», and now you are the face of Piaget. How do you choose the right brands to collaborate with?
The reason why I love Piaget is first of all their engagement towards the Independent Film Spirit Awards. They have been the main sponsors for eight years. I love independent cinema, this is where my heart lies. Independent cinema celebrates diversity and creativity and for a brand like Piaget to sponsor it, means that it goes along with their believes, with their designs, the artwork is truly important to me, so working with Piaget was a no-brainer.

TT054Her first official appearance as the new ambassador for Piaget: Jessica Chasten with Piaget jewelry at the Globen Globes.

What is your first memory of Piaget?
I think the watches are so incredible. Think about Jackie Kennedy with her most exquisite watch. I have worn Piaget for the first time at the Golden Globes, an amazing bracelet that was all diamonds but is was actually a watch. I have never seen such precision, beauty and art. This is the strongest memory I have of wearing their jewelry.

What was your first piece of jewelry? And can you tell us the story how you got it?
Probably a piece of jewelry that I got from my grandmother. It is not something you could wear. I don’t even know how to call it. It is covered in jewels and you can pull out one section for perfume and in the other section you can put your lipstick in. It is so special and beautiful. It means so much to me because it is from my grandmother that is very close to me.

Would you buy a piece of high jewelry yourself? Or does it always have to be a gift?
Of course, I like jewelry as a gift, jewelry is very sentimental, very emotional. But I have bought jewelry for myself. It makes me feel very independent, very powerful to be able to buy my own jewlery. I don’t require that it is always bought for me.

Jessica Chastain-Sandra BauknechtJessica and my humble self at the 30th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica last February.

What is your favourite piece of jewelry? And why?
I wear earrings right now that I am obsessed with but I don’t own them. For daily life, I have a pair of diamond rose earrings from Piaget which are my favourites at the moment.

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Do you like roses, flowers? What do they mean to you?
Flowers are so beautiful to me. Look at the connection between flowers and art. The sensuality what a flower is. A flower is life. It is life and art together and romance. That is probably why I love the earrings so much.

What is the most beautiful jewelry a woman can wear?
Her smile.

A secret about you that we don’t know yet.
(Laughs). I have a lot of secrets but I cannot think of any that I want to tell to the world.

Jessica Chastain in three words.
I have to give you more than three. I am loyal, very very loyal. I am a hard worker, I work so much and I am passionate.

Thank you, Jessica!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Steve Granitz/WireImage, Courtesy of Piaget and © Sandra Bauknecht
This interview was also featured in L’Officiel Switzerland.

YSL Summer Look 2014: Bleus Lumière

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I love blue eyeshadows and nail polishes. Therefore I couldn’t have been more excited when I spotted YSL‘s new summer makeup look 2014: “Bleus Lumière” that is inspired by the late designer’s fascination with the various hues of blues of the ocean. Capturing the alluring contrast between the fresh Mediterranean sea and the glowing warmth of summer beaches, it offers the perfect products to achieve an amazing glow. Today, I am off to the Cannes Film Festival with Chopard and needless to say, this makeup look is packed in my suitcase!

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Couture Palette Bleu Lumière – New & Limited Edition – CHF 93.00
YSL’s limited edition summer eyeshadow palette draws on inspiration from the sea, with a quintet of hues that work with each other to give you a gorgeous, enviable look.

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Dessin du Regard Waterproof Eye Pencil – CHF 36.00
No.12 Bleu Acqua
No.13 Bleu Indigo

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Vernis a Lèvres Rebel Nudes – CHF 48.00
No.111 Coral Guilty
No.112 Rouge Frondeur

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La Laque Couture – CHF 38.00
No.50 Bleu Celadon
No.51 Bleu Cyclades

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Kiss & Blush Lip & Cheek Stain – CHF 54.00
I adore those new hybrids between a lip color and a blush. A double play of colour for lips and cheeks to be mixed or matched.
No.1 Fuchsia Desinvolte
No.4 Orange Fougueux
No.7 Corail Affranchi
No.10 Nude Insolent

In Switzerland available Mid May 2014.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of YSL

YSL Oriental Collection Splendid Wood

YSL Splendid Wood

After Majestic Rose, Noble Leather and Supreme Bouquet introduced last year, the Yves Saint Laurent Oriental Collection has received the fourth fragrance inspired by wood created in an oriental style: SPLENDID WOOD.

The extremely precious ingredients for this scent to fill the luxurious glass flacon decorated with gold colors were imagined by perfumers Marie Salamagne and Amandine Marie.

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WOODY SPICY
Top notes: Cardamom, Incense and Saffron
Middle notes: Jasmine Sambac and Oriental Woodsy Notes
Base notes: Cypriol Oil, Cedar and Oud

Splendid Wood is available now as 80 ml Eau de Parfum for CHF 250.00.
A beautiful scent for men and women.

LoL, Sandra

YSL oriental Collection

Photos: Courtesy of Yves Saint Laurent

YSL Touche Eclat Wild Edition 2014

Touche Eclat YSL Wild Edition 2014

Yves Saint Laurent‘s iconic must-have highlighter pen gets an animal makeover in this new WILD Edition, boasting an engraved black and gold leopard print design. With a click of Touche Éclat, you can conceal your dark circles and add radiance to your face, you can dance all night and still look glowing in the morning, like the radiance of beauty sleep in a click.
I couldn’t live without it!

The limited edition is available now in N°2 Luminous Ivory for CHF 55.00.

LoL, Sandra

YSL Flower Crush Press Event

YSL Flower Crush Makeup Spring 2014 Collection Press Launch

Recently, we had an eminent visit in Zurich. Llyod Simmonds, Creative Director Make-up Yves Saint Laurent, had flown in to present his newest creation at Aura:
the FLOWER CRUSH Spring Look 2014.

Lovers and collectors of YSL beauty items will be pleased to look at those limited edition beauty must-haves that will hit the shelves in Switzerland in February 2014.

Gloss Volupté

My personal favourites are the new GLOSS VOLUPTÉ lip glosses that replace the brand’s iconic Golden Gloss. This new generation of lip shine will be available in 24 shades in three different harmonies: golden, iridescent and pure. Four of these are already included in the upcoming YSL Spring 2014 Flower Crush Collection. What makes the gloss stand out is its applicator, which is designed to look like a kiss-shape and which allows for precise application.
As Lloyd put it: “An invitation to kiss.”

LoL, Sandra

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Sandra Bauknecht - Lloyd Simmonds

Lloyd Simmonds with me

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PIVOINE CRUSH Palette Collector pour les Yeux CHF 89.00 (One Shot)

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Flower Crush YSL-BlushROSY BLUSH Palette Collector pour le Teint CHF 89.00 (One Shot)

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GLOSS VOLUPTÉ N°104 Prune Organdi –  N°49 Terriblement Fuchsia – N°19 Rose Orfèvre – N°3 Rose Fusion CHF 48.00 each

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Rouge Volupté YSL Flower CrushROUGE VOLUPTÉ N°34 Rose Asarine – N° 31 Fuchsia Tourbillon – N°33 Rose Neillia – N°32 Corail Jalouse CHF 50.00 each

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ROUGE PUR COUTURE VERNIS À LÈVRES N°32 Rouge Avant-Gardiste – N°33 Bourgogne Artistique CHF 48.00 each

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YSL Flower Crush Nail Polishes

LA LACQUE COUTURE N°48 Rose Scabiosa (One Shot) – N°49 Rouge Pablo CHF 38.00 each

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Flower Crush eyes

DESSIN DU REGARD WATERPROOF N°11 Pourpre Intense CHF 36.00
MASCARA VOLUME EFFET FAUX CILS N°22 Violine Ténébreuse CHF 50.00 (One Shot)

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Photos: © David Biedert and © Sandra Bauknecht

YSL Electric Chic Fall 2013 Makeup Look

YSL Electric Chic Fall 2013

No other than Cara Delevingne is the face of Yves Saint Laurent’s campaign for this year’s fall beauty look, so-called ELECTRIC CHIC. As described in the press release as Cara herself, the YSL woman “is urban, strong and self-confident. She knows how to play with cosmopolitan codes and contrasts. She gets inspired by the electric energy of the town. She accentuates all her facettes. She invents herself every day and every night.”

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As always, here is a good look at the collection that is in stores now. The star products pay tribute to pop art and NYC’s street art.

The two limited edition graffiti-embellished eye palettes are called City Drive Classy (black and gold case), and City Drive Arty (fuchsia and gold case).

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Left: PALETTE CITY DRIVE ARTY
Right: PALETTE CITY DRIVE CLASSY
CHF 89.00 each

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BLUSH RADIANCE N°9 and N° 10
CHF 67.00 each

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ROUGE PUR COUTURE N° 50- Rouge Néon, N° 51 – Corail Urbain, N° 53 – Beige Promenade – N° 54 – Prune Avenue
CHF 48.00 each

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From left to right: EYELINER BABY DOLL N° 14 – Reflets Cuivre CHF 51.00
DESSIN DES LEVRES N° 20 – Mocha and N° 21 Sepia, CHF 35.00 each
MASCARA VOLUME EFFET FAUX CILS SHOCKING N° 8 – Noir Asphalte – CHF 49.00

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LA LACQUE COUTURE N° 38 – Gris Underground, N° 39 – Beige Gallery (Limited Edition), N° 40 Sepia 7e Art (Limited Edition), CHF 38.00 each

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of YSL Beauty