Sandra‘s Closet

The Art of Radiance – Discovering Clé de Peau Beauté Key Radiance Care

There’s something almost magical about this skincare that doesn’t just treat your skin but awakens it that I would like to share with you today. Experiencing Clé de Peau Beauté’s signature Key Radiance Care ritual is a journey that transforms skincare into art. Every texture, every step, every touch is designed to bring light back to the skin. I was able to try everything first hand during a beautiful event at Globus Zurich where the products are available.

Step 1: The Purity Ritual

The experience begins with a two-step cleansing ritual, delicate, refined, and deeply sensory.
Watching the creamy foam being whipped to perfection in a porcelain bowl and applied with a soft brush felt like a ceremony. It’s not just about cleansing; it’s about preparing the skin to receive radiance.

Step 2: The Essential 3-Step Routine

Next comes the heart of Clé de Peau Beauté’s philosophy: Key Radiance Care – The Serum, the Hydro-Softening Lotion, and the Cream.
Each product works in harmony to awaken, balance, and seal in hydration. The skin feels instantly smoother, refreshed, and quietly luminous, that signature «Clé de Peau glow.» (If you interested in the full procedure, I invite you to visit this previous blog post here).

Step 3: The Details That Make a Difference

The Eye Cream, applied with the platinum massage tool, turns skincare into mindfulness.
Gentle pressure points release tension, and the skin around the eyes looks lifted and bright.
For mature skin, the Supreme Line takes luxury even further: The Cream, an iconic anti-aging masterpiece, and The Precious Gold Vitality Serum, infused with 24K gold and diamond powder, give tired skin an extraordinary boost of vitality and light.

The extra treat: The Precious Gold Vitality Mask – A Moment of Pure Illumination

There’s a certain magic in a mask that feels like liquid gold.
The Precious Gold Vitality Mask is exactly that, a sensorial experience that merges science and indulgence.
Infused with 24K gold, this luxurious treatment energizes and revitalizes the skin, instantly revealing a renewed radiance.
Its texture is smooth and comforting, enveloping the skin in warmth and light.
In just a few minutes, the complexion appears more awake, more even, and visibly illuminated as if it has captured the glow of the sun itself.

Step 4: Preparing the Canvas

No radiant complexion is complete without protection.
The UV Protective Cream forms the essential bridge between skincare and makeup, followed by the brand’s signature foundations, whether Radiant, Natural, or Matte, depending on your desired finish. My favorite is Le Fond de Teint Foundation that is blending makeup and skincare. Use this foundation instead of your daily moisturizer. It instantly blurs imperfections and reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles for a radiant finish.

Step 5: Complete the Ritual

A touch of color, a whisper of glow, and the legendary Luminizing Face Enhancer, available in different color ways, that is the final, unmistakable Clé de Peau finish.

This isn’t just skincare; it’s a philosophy of light, texture, and transformation.
Clé de Peau Beauté doesn’t promise quick fixes, it teaches your skin to glow from within.
Five minutes, one ritual, infinite radiance.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored. We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

A New Chapter of CHANEL Chance: Eau Splendide Eau de Parfum

Sometimes, a fragrance arrives and instantly rewrites your olfactory memory. CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE by CHANEL is exactly that. I recently had the pleasure of receiving an enchanting press box from CHANEL, complete with a vintage-inspired record player that set the perfect tone for this new chapter in the CHANCE universe.

CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE is vibrant, joyful, and full of contrast, a radiant blend of freshness, softness, and unexpected character. The first one in the CHANCE family with a fruity note. It opens with a juicy raspberry accord, layered with red fruits, a hint of rose and violet, and a soft, velvety nuance that adds roundness and warmth, a subtle nod to the creamy sweetness found in nature’s ripest fruit. In the heart, the fragrance reveals the cool, green facets of mint and geranium, enriched with a powdery touch of iris. The base settles into an elegant, comforting blend of cedarwood and white musk, leaving a sensual and quietly confident trail.

Masterfully composed by Olivier Polge, CHANEL’s in-house perfumer, this Eau de Parfum is a celebration of chance, spontaneous, bold, and unmistakably feminine.

The record player included in the press kit wasn’t just a nod to vintage elegance, it was a beautiful metaphor. Just like putting on a vinyl record, wearing EAU SPLENDIDE is a ritual, an experience. It slows you down, draws you in, and surrounds you with emotion.

I created a reel to share the unboxing and the feeling this scent evokes. I hope you can feel the joy, the elegance, and that little sparkle of magic that only CHANEL can create.

CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE Eau de Parfum Vaporisateur 50 ml CHF 146.-
CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE Eau de Parfum Vaporisateur 100 ml CHF 203.-

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Louis Vuitton is embarking on a bold new chapter with the arrival of La Beauté, its first dedicated make-up line. Rooted in the Maison’s codes of travel, creativity, and savoir-faire, the line promises not just products, but collectible objets d’art designed to be cherished over time.

At the helm of this debut stands Dame Pat McGrath, DBE, appointed as Creative Director, Cosmetics. Known as one of the most influential make-up artists of our era, McGrath brings her signature artistry and innovation to Louis Vuitton, shaping a universe of beauty built on emotion and bold expression.

The initial collection focuses on three pillars: LV Rouge lipsticks in 55 shades, LV Baume lip balms in 10 luminous variations, and LV Ombres eyeshadow palettes in 8 chromatic harmonies. Each product is housed in sustainable and refillable packaging designed by Konstantin Grcic, combining modern responsibility with Louis Vuitton’s heritage of craftsmanship.

To mark the launch, the Maison unveiled a striking campaign captured by Steven Meisel and directed by Damien Krisl. House Ambassador Hoyeon, joined by models Ida Heiner, Chu Wong, and Awar Odhiang, embodies the brand’s vision of empowerment and femininity. Against surreal landscapes of crimson deserts and pink lakes, the imagery blurs the line between dream and reality, presenting beauty as both a lifestyle and an art form.

LV Rouge Complete Lipstick, €140
LV Baume Complete Lip Balm, €140
LV Ombres Complete Eyeshadows, €220
LV Rouge  and LV Baume Refills, €60
LV Ombres Refill, €80

The worldwide launch will be on August 29th, 2025 in a selection of Louis Vuitton stores (in Switzerland, available in Zurich only) and on louisvuitton.com following the worldwide digital pre-orders on August 25th.

While the creative vision and ambition of La Beauté are undeniable, the launch highlights a broader shift within luxury beauty. Over the past two years, prices in fashion and cosmetics have climbed to unprecedented heights, while service and quality often feel as though they are heading in the opposite direction. For many customers, the experience of walking into a boutique to indulge in a small luxury has become complicated: appointments are required, stock is limited, and spontaneity is replaced by waiting lists.

Luxury, at its essence, should feel effortless, joyful, and special. Increasingly, it risks feeling transactional, less about craftsmanship, more about access. Perhaps Louis Vuitton’s new beauty line will deliver on its promise of «heirloom-worthy» products. But as price tags rise, one can’t help but ask: is this still true luxury, or simply the performance of it?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton / Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise

I’m truly delighted to see Nicole Kidman become the new Global Brand Ambassador for Clé de Peau Beauté.

As a former ambassador for the brand myself (check out this beautiful trip with Clé de Peau Beauté to Cannes last year to find out more about the brand), I know firsthand the depth of its values, a commitment to intelligence, empowerment, and purposeful beauty.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Nicole on several occasions over the years at various events and interviews, and was always impressed by her warmth, integrity, and strength. She embodies many of the same values that Clé de Peau holds at its core, and it feels like a natural and meaningful alignment. In her role as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, and through her continued advocacy for gender equality and women’s empowerment, she brings substance and heart to everything she does, a perfect match for a brand that believes in radiance from within.

Radiantly yours!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of Clé de Peau Beauté
DISCLOSURE: This post is not sponsored but we may also earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!
@cledepeaubeaute #cpbcollective #cpb #unlockanewradiance

In Loving Memory of Leonard A. Lauder
1933–2025

It is with deep sadness and immense respect that I bid farewell to Leonard Lauder – a visionary, a gentleman, and a man who shaped not only the global beauty industry but also the lives of countless individuals, including my own.

View from the Estée Lauder Companies headquarters in New York City.

As a long-time ambassador for Estée Lauder Companies, I had the great privilege of working closely with some of the brands he so passionately nurtured. But what I will carry in my heart forever are the personal memories – the kindness he extended, the Christmas cards he thoughtfully sent each year, the warm invitation to his private residence in New York, and our inspiring conversations in his office. He never treated people as roles or titles – only as human beings.

With Leonard Lauder on the terrace of his Upper East Side home.

Leonard Lauder was much more than a business icon. He was a man of integrity, generosity, and deep emotional intelligence. He had a rare ability to make everyone around him feel seen and valued, whether you were a global executive or a young artist just starting out. His devotion to his employees and collaborators was not just professional – it was personal, genuine, and unwavering.

With his brother Ronald Lauder.

He believed in beauty, not only in product or presentation, but in purpose – in the power of elegance, in the strength of people, and in the legacy of family. Through the Estée Lauder Companies, he created a culture of excellence, empathy, and innovation that continues to inspire the industry.

With his granddaughter Aerin Lauder and Estée Lauder face Carolyn Murphy at an event in NYC.

Leonard, thank you for everything you gave to the world – and to me. Your light will continue to shine through every face you helped empower, every story you touched, and every act of grace you lived by.

With deepest admiration,
Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder Companies and © Sandra Bauknecht

Colors leave their own unique mark on a style, an era. For CHANEL, they form a playful language that weaves a common thread through the various mediums of creation. This season, CHANEL is redefining its aesthetic codes: monochrome, the bold art of the all-over look, and audacious twists that unabashedly produce unexpected harmonies.

TWIN SETS, COLOR-BLOCKING, OR MIXING-AND-MATCHING…

No combination is off-limits, and the idea of giving carte blanche to create technicolor makeup looks is what led the CHANEL Makeup Creation Studio and Cometes Collective member Ammy Drammeh to design the S/S 2025 COLLECTION. In this sparkling, playful collection, lively colors cheerfully clash with one another or smoothly combine in a tone-on-tone look. Ever unpredictable, these daring shades are the expression of a timeless style that is invariably chic and refined.

The looks from the collection lend themselves to intuitive experimentation and endless customization thanks to interchangeable color combinations, which were designed to complement one another in the form of a flat wash of color, a halo, or a simple line.

STYLE COMES IN PAIRS
OMBRE ESSENTIELLE – CHF 50.00 / STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF CHF 39.00

The entire SPRING-SUMMER 2025 COLLECTION is structured around four color palettes, uniting the concepts of color-blocking and mixing-and-matching in a true ode to early spring. Each twin set, featuring an OMBRE ESSENTIELLE eyeshadow and STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF eyeliner, comprises a tone-on-tone duo that plays with different finishes.

NEUTRAL TWIN SET
OMBRE ESSENTIELLE LATTE FRAPPÉ: a warm matte beige
STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF BRUN POURPRÉ: a matte red brown

MAUVE TWIN SET
OMBRE ESSENTIELLE Mauve Sucré: a shimmery lilac
STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF Mauve Intense: a deep matte purple

PINK TWIN SET
OMBRE ESSENTIELLE PÊCHE GLACÉE: a satin coppery pink
STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF ROUGE FAUVE: a matte sienna red

GREEN TWIN SET
OMBRE ESSENTIELLE MENTHE À L’EAU: a shimmery mint green
STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF VERT LAGON: a metallic bluish green

ROUGE COCO BAUME – CHF 52.00

The lip balm that is as desirable as an iconic lipstick is now available in a new finish with amplified shine. A lip-conditioning formula that offers up to 16 hours of non-stop hydration, for better-looking lips, day after day.

Its six new shades offer buildable coverage, ranging from a sheer wash of color after a single coat to lipstick-like intensity after three coats, for a customized makeup look.

HONEY BLISS: a shimmery caramel beige
TENDER PEACH: a fresh peachy coral
CHERRY BURST: a fresh red
BLUSHING PINK: a bluish pink
RASPBERRY KISS: an intense bluish pink
CHARMING LILAC: a purple

JEUX DE LUMIÈRES – CHF 95.00

The collection’s star product, the oversize JEUX DE LUMIÈRES palette, is designed to make colors glow. It opens to reveal four illuminating powders for the face, eyes, and décolleté, which can be dabbed onto the desired areas or used as a highlighter.

The four shades complement all skin tones, for a luminous satin finish. Powders that can be worn alone, paired with a second shade, or blended together.

A SHIMMERY PINK CORAL
A PINK GOLD
A SHIMMERY, SILVERY PINK
A SHIMMERY, COPPERY GOLD

LE VERNIS – CHF 38.00

Two soft, milky nail colors complete the look—right down to your fingertips.

POÈTE: a soft peach
ARTISTE: an aqua green

These limited editions are in stores now. Who is ready for summer?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Welcome the Bobbi Brown Mini Bar, an exclusively curated selection of must-have beauty products – thoughtfully sized to fit perfectly into your busy travel days. You’ll find everything you need for effortless holiday glam: from the iconic Vitamin Enriched Face Base and the Skin Full Cover Conceealer to a luminous highlighter, and of course the famous Soothing Cleansing Oil to remove make-up after a long day.

All your favorites in mini format. Try them or take them them with you wherever you go. These minis bring a touch of ease and luxury to your travel adventures.

TO SHOP THE BOBBI BROWN MINI BAR, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Due to my TV appearance on MY STYLE ROCKS, I am really late with unwrapping all my press samples. However, sometimes this is not a bad thing to do as this beautiful holiday 2024 collection by NARS is now on sale for you to indulge.

Unwrap excellence with a limited-edition must-haves, called «The ’24 Karat Collection» featuring the season’s most-wanted holiday gifts decorated in gilded packaging. Spoil yourself and create the perfect sparkling make-up for New Year’s Eve.

PURE LUXURY LIGHT REFLECTING™ CHEEK & EYE PALETTE
CHF 79.00

Swipe on a stroke of luxe with palettes designed to make you look, and feel, your most luxurious, featuring limited-edition, sculptural gold compacts. Prepare for the party circuit with irresistibly silky Light Reflecting™ powders, which impart a natural, luminous wash of color across eyes and cheeks. Pearlescent pigments and polymers create a light-scattering effect for a radiant, soft-focus look with 8-hour wear. Featuring an assortment of powders for highlighting, sculpting, and blushing for next-level luminosity that lasts all night.

GOLD RUSH EYESHADOW
CHF 32.00

Swipe on. Strike gold. It’s your time to shine with a new, limited-edition Single Eyeshadow packed with impeccable iridescence. A rare combination of high pigment with high shine, it features ultrafine blends of shimmer, glitter, and pearl to reflect light for eye-catching effects. Glides on smoothly to layer and intensify the glittering gold color. Dramatic metallic sheen lasts on lids throughout the night. Prized eyes. Look as good as gold.

ULTIMATE LUXURY EXPLICIT LIPSTICK
CHF 52.00

Indulge in the ultimate luxury for lips—Explicit Lipstick—now featuring a limited-edition golden case, exclusively in shades Rendez-Vous 805 and Unauthorized 863. Experience long-lasting comfort and a high-end satin finish, plus pure-color payoff with smudge-resistant wear. Precision-tip bullet effortlessly defines and contours, while Luxe Comfort Complex hugs lips for lightweight, medium-to-full coverage that’s infused with smoothing Rosehip Seed Oil and Hyaluronic Acid to lock in moisture.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © NARS
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

I am obsessed with this exclusive collaboration between Aveda, the purpose-driven pioneer of plant-powered, high-performance hair care, and fashion designer Joseph Altuzarra. The beautiful Holiday 2024 collection features limited-edition hair accessories and gift packaging, available globally in Aveda stores, partner salons, specialty retailers and aveda.com.

ABOUT JOSEPH ALTUZARRA

«There is a strong connection of brand values and creative process between Aveda and Altuzarra, especially around the intersection of nature and beauty. This has harmoniously carried over to our special holiday collection – the products and packaging are so thoughtful and feel so handcrafted.»- Joseph Altuzarra

Founded by creative director Joseph Altuzarra in 2008, Altuzarra is a luxury women’s ready-to-wear and accessories brand. Joseph’s seductive aesthetic combines modernity, femininity, and an unapologetic sexiness. Anchored in artisanal craftsmanship, and a curiosity about the world, the collection is informed by Joseph’s own multicultural background and upbringing. The Altuzarra brand speaks to the power, fearlessness and sensuality of the modern woman’s wardrobe.

Altuzarra S/S 2025

TO SHOP ALTUZARRA, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

For the limited-edition capsule, designer Joseph Altuzarra reinterpreted the watercolors of a 19th-century artist, creating botanical motifs that conjure the elegance and symmetry of nature and the human form.

«Each design serves as a reminder of our inherent connection to the earth,» explains Altuzarra, «I can’t wait to use this and feel like I’m starting the year by taking care of myself’ — that’s the feeling I wanted to convey with the collection.»

nightbloom Cosmetics bag

«What’s special about the design of this bag is that the construction and print placement allow it to double as both a makeup bag and a fashionable accessory for all your holiday parties.»

nightbloom Twist Headband

«When designing this piece, I wanted to create something that served as a wonderful self-care product and could also be elevated enough to pair with a beautiful black dress or holiday party look as a festive accessory.»

Invigorating Hair & Body Essentials Gift Set
Invigorating shower routine for hair and body that features one of our best-selling aromas: rosemary mint.

Strengthening Essentials Gift Set
Bond-building botanical repair™ wash day essentials, for all hair types and textures with damage.

Scalp Care Essentials Gift Set
A regimen that treats key scalp concerns and fights signs of premature scalp aging with skin care-inspired scalp solutions.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Aveda
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

CLÉ DE PEAU BEAUTÉ‘s limited-edition City of Dreamlight collection make the perfect holiday gifts inspired by the magic of Paris. The packaging, designed by Mr. Dalin, is so beautiful and adds magic to the display on your bathroom shelf.

A TALE OF ARTISTRY UNVEILED
At the outset of his medical school studies, Mr. Dalin discovered his true passion for illustration. Opting to leave medical school, he pursued a comprehensive path, including a preparatory course, a diploma in narrative drawing, engraving courses and studies in plastic arts. He also founded the association, Un Fanzine par Mois, which publishes and distributes micro-published books.

Mr. Dalin’s artistic style in boldly modern, unconventional, and distinctly contemporary. His confident strokes bring forth dense compositions with intricate details, showcasing his expertise in architectural mastery that unfolds in graphic landscapes, playing with a juxtapositionof intimate and grandiloquent spaces.

Influenced by the ligne claire movement, Mr. Dalin draws inspiration from luminaries such as Winsor McCay, Schuiten, Moebius, and Pierre Clement, crafting his own unique universe.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Clé de Peau Beauté
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.