Sandra‘s Closet

My mum has always told me about the importance of skin cleansing. She has taught me never to leave my makeup on during night and to take time for my cleansing routine. So I made it my daily beauty ritual that I am looking forward to, those few minutes of pampering that only belong to me. And about the effects, she has been absolutely right.

When bare and perfectly purified, the skin is better able to regenerate itself. This type of ‘breathing’ – a routine prelude to the application of skin care products – is essential to facial youth and beauty. However, whether internal or external, several residues dull the skin’s purity on a daily basis, accentuating the marks of time.

Helena Rubinstein has invented PURE RITUAL, a new range of skin cleansing products, that uses a dual technology to rid skin of the accumulation of external and internal impurities on the outside and strengthen your own skin-cleansing systems from the inside. The powdery scent of white flowers makes the application a true pleasure.

PURE RITUAL CARE-IN-FOAM
DEEP-CLEANSING FOAMING CREAM – SMOOTH & RADIANT SKIN
The softness of a cream combined with the intense effectiveness of a dense and delicate mousse.
CHF 78.00 (125ml)

PURE RITUAL CARE-IN-MILK
INTENSE COMFORT MAKE-UP REMOVER MILK
Pamper your skin with the caress of a milk-based treatment.
CHF 78.00 (200ml)

PURE RITUAL CARE-IN-LOTION
SKIN-PERFECTING LOTION – REFINED PORES & SKIN TEXTURE – RADIANT COMPLEXION
When the purity of water is combined with the effectiveness of a cream, the lotion works wonders by revealing perfect skin.
CHF 74.00 (200ml)

PURE RITUAL CARE-IN-PEEL
BLACK RADIANCE-RESTORING DOUBLE PEEL – RESURFACED & MOISTURISED SKIN
Black rice, skin clarity enhancer. A must-have for beautiful skin.
CHF 74.00 (100ml)

Available from April 2014.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Helena Rubinstein

Pleats are a must this season, spotted at the S/S 2014 runway shows of Haider Ackermann, Victoria Beckham, Proenza Schouler and Dries Van Noten. But how do you wear this trend without looking too conservative? Actually, it is very easy. Calf length skirts are the way to go. Preferably they come with some metallic details to add a little bling to your look.

The three pleated skirts of desire are this summer:

1Plissé cotton-blend midi skirt by Dries Van Noten
2Snake-print pleated crepe maxi skirt by Dries Van Noten
3 Foil-paneled pleated cloqué maxi skirt by Proenza Schouler
(I couldn’t resist this one…).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dries Van Noten, Proenza Schouler and © Sandra Bauknecht

Chicago is, hands down, the best place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, outside of Ireland. As most of you know, I had lived in the Windy City for two years before I moved to Zurich and always loved seeing the Chicago River dyed in a brilliant shade of green (a tradition that dates back to 1962). A great inspiration for today’s post.

Are you in the mood to leave all others green with envy? Here you go, indulge in this great outfit in the must-have hues for St. Paddy’s Day.

Get the look: Emerald green one-shoulder ruffled crepe gown by Lanvin, Amazon cutout suede sandals by Aquazzura, crystal-embellished satin shoulder bag by Burberry and gold-plated, crystal and resin clip earrings by Kenneth Jay Lane.

Looking at the photos below from yesterday’s dyeing festivities makes me really miss Chicago and my friends there…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Chandler West/For Sun-Times Media

Fire it up with COVERGIRL‘s new Flamed Out Collection! The face of the campaign singer P!NK shows off summer’s brightest, boldest eye looks featuring the new bold and blendable colors. For makeup tutorials and your chance to win just scroll through… Hot enough for you?

PRODUCTS

Flamed Out Mascara
Make a bold statement with winged lashes that curve up and out.
• Maximum volume instantly
• Bold winged-out lash look
• Unique wire brush to curve lashes up and out

Flamed Out Shadow Pencil
Two versatile products in one brilliant pencil: vivid, creamy color plus the definition of an eyeliner.
• Gel shadow and liner in one
• Ten hot, blendable shades
• Creamy formula for smooth application

Flamed Out Shadow Pot
Go bold with these perfectly sized pots! Mix, match, and blend to customize those vivid hues.
• Twelve blazing, blendable colors
• Glittery and sparkly effect
• Powder in perfectly sized pots

TIPS & TRICKS

Below you can enjoy three make-up tutorials that show you how you can achieve different looks with the new Covergirl Flamed Out collection. The model is no other than Miss Switzerland Dominique Rinderknecht who looks just like P!NK, don’t you think?!

WHITE EYES

Step 1: Apply Covergirl Flamed Out Shadow Pot Blazing White all over your lid and brow bone generously for a fresh and elegant glow around your eyes.
Step 2: To give your eyes a more intense look use Covergirl Flamed Out Mascara. Depending on your personal taste just keep adding layers in order to accentuate the powerful look.
Step 3: Apply a flashy red, pink or orange lipstick, which matches your outfit or accessories.

METALLIC EYES

Step 1: Apply Covergirl Flamed Out Pencil Lime Green Flame all over your lid and blend with fingers or eyeshadow brush.
Step 2: Apply the Flamed Out Pencil Ashen Glow in the eyelid fold and accentuate the outer eye corner with it.
Step 3: Draw a line along the upper and lower eyelashes with the Flamed Out Pencil Silver Flame and finish off the look with the Flamed Out Mascara.

COLOURFUL EYES

Step 1: Apply the Flamed Out Pencil Hot Pink Flame on your lid.
Step 2: Apply the Flamed Out Pencil Ice Flame along your lower eyelashes.
Step 3: Apply the Flamed Out Shadow Pot Fired Up Pink with an eyeshadow brush in your eyelid fold and blend the color well.
Step 4: Use the Flamed Out Shadow Pot Sapphire Flame with a moist eyeliner brush along your upper and lower eyelashes.
Step 5: Accentuate your brow bone with the Flamed Out ShadowPot Blazing White.
Step 6: Generously apply Flamed Out Mascara on your eyelashes.

CONTEST

Great news is that three of my lovely Swiss readers get the chance to win a COVERGIRL Flamed Out Set which includes the following products: Flamed out Mascara, Flamed out Shadow Pencil Melted Caramel, Flamed out Shadow Pencil Lime Green Flame and Flamed out Shadow Pot Fired Up Pink for a total of CHF 35.60.

To participate in the contest, please send me an e-mail with your postal address and the header “Flamed Out” to . All entries must be received until March 24, 2014. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win this contest. By entering this contest, entrants accept and agree to be bound by these official rules. The winner has to have a Swiss address.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Covergirl

No time to dress in the morning? Some essentials are a great way to save time as they mix and match easily with other pieces from your closet. This season, I recommend a leather biker jacket and a black slim cardigan. They work with everything. Finish off the look with a statement bag and some fun jewelry and you will be ready in a sec!

My look: Leather biker jacket and leopard print scarf, both by Saint Laurent, appliquéd leather and lace skirt by Jason Wu, cashmere and silk-blend cardigan by Miu Miu, white lace bralette by Abercrombie & Fitch, large Pashli satchel by 3.1 Phillip Lim, shoes by Gucci, rose diamond necklace by Piaget and pearl necklace by Chanel.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

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

Hervé Léger’s signature body-con silhouette always works great for a night out. Finish off this studded version by teaming it with towering ankle boots.

My look: Denim jacket by Saint Laurent, embellished bandage dress by Hervé Leger, classic flap bag in quilted lambskin by Chanel, cuff by Stella McCartney, cocktail ring by Roberto Cavalli, Lady Excalibur watch by Roger Dubuis, booties and earrings by Prada.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

As you know, I am travelling like crazy and funnily enough the more I do, the more I like to take only hand luggage. Unfortunately, the amount of liquids to take is strictly limited on flights. Therefore I was very happy when I discovered this amazing travel set by EVE LOM. The brand’s core philosophy is all about a perfectly cleansed, exfoliated skin as the key to a glowing complexion. Their multi-award-winning cult products have become beauty insiders’ secret weapon – and are still unrivalled in a highly competitive market.

EVE LOM‘s Travel Essentials set ensures your skin looks radiant no matter your itinerary. Filled with flight-compliant sizes of the label’s most coveted products – including the cult-status Cleanser and Muslin Cloth, Morning Time Cleanser, Rescue Mask and TLC Radiance Cream – this compilation is a must-have for long or short trips.

TO SHOP THE TRAVEL ESSENTIALS SET, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Last Thursday, the launch party for L’Officiel Switzerland took place in Zurich at Kaufleuten. With a stunning atmosphere, reminiscent of 1920s Paris, where it all began over 90 years ago, the fashionable crowd partied until late. Enjoy some impressions of the night and for my outfit post please click here.

Swiss beauties: Sarina Arnold, Ronja Furrer and Fiona Hefti.

Trio infernal: Photographer Marco Grob, cover girl Patricia Schmid, and my humble self. We shot the first cover and fashion editorial for L’Officiel in Paris together.

L’Officiel is still family owned and I was thrilled to have Marie-José Susskind-Jalou and Benjamin Eymère with us at the launch party in Zurich. Mother and son, President and CEO of this legendary family business that started in 1921 and brings together the very best of French heritage in style, fashion and joie de vivre. To the right: Deputy CEO at L’Officiel Magazine Nicolas Reynaud.

Marie-José Susskind-Jalou framed by Albert Kriemler, Creative Director Akris and me.

CEO IWC Georges Kern with his lovely wife Monika.

Getting excited for my speech!

Looking gorgeous in Dolce & Gabbana Alina Kaltsidou-Poprawski with her husband Patrick.

They came especially for the party from Geneva: Julia Pleynes and Mathieu Arsac.

Clifford Lilley and Swiss male model Fabian Pfenninger.

The lovely Piaget ladies with whom I had just been in Los Angeles one week before: Mousse Jacquier, Nunzia Marsella and Nicole Suess.

Beauty power reunited. The teams from Kanebo Sensai, Dior, L’Oréal Luxe and Marionnaud know how to party.

Special performance by Nicola Hunt from London.

Dancing all night to the tunes of DJ Roger Taylor (Duran Duran) who had flown in from London.

The party was amazing and I am very happy with the first edition of L’Officiel Switzerland that is out now. A huge thank you to my dedicated team that made it all happen! You guys rock!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert and © Sandra Bauknecht

On Thursday evening, we celebrated the launch of L’Officiel Switzerland. Finally, our first edition is at the kiosk. Personally speaking, I couldn’t have been more excited and of course I am wishing upon a star that it will be a success story. To make a dream come true, I thought wearing some stars might eventually help! Supposedly if you make a wish when you see the first star come out at night, the wish will come true. So better to wear many…

Our presenting sponsor, Aston Martin, offered me a car for the day and I loved it!

My look: Lace-trimmed stretch-silk crepe gown by Alessandra Rich, embroidered fur stole by Blumarine, satin clutch and Art Déco earrings, both by Prada, Janis leather pumps by Saint Laurent, Limelight gala watch and rose diamond ring by Piaget.

All party pics will be coming up shortly!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography and © Sandra Bauknecht