Sandra‘s Closet

Multiple Grammy Award winning recording artist Mariah Carey is collaborating with OPI to launch eight gorgeous limited edition nail polish shades, that will hit stores in the beginning of 2013.

The collection includes four studio shades:

PINK YET LAVENDER – a glittery pink and lavender combo
A BUTTERFLY MOMENT – a beige-pink neutral polish
SPRUNG – a shimmery rose-copper
ANTI-BLEAK – a deep, rich aubergine

…and the latest innovation in texture, four new OPI Liquid Sand™ lacquers featuring groundbreaking technology for a sand-like, matte finish infused with reflective sparkle:

GET YOUR NUMBER – a sparkly matte blue
CAN’T LET GO – a sparkly matte purple
STAY THE NIGHT – a matte black with red sparkles
THE IMPOSSIBLE – a sparkly matte pinkish red

Available in Switzerland from January 15th, 2013 for CHF 23.90 (15ml) each.
For store locations, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of OPI and © Sandra Bauknecht

New Year’s Eve is all about sparkling and glittering shades. No reason to be modest, it is that time of the year when more is more. Shine and party all night long. Here are some products that I personally find amazing and that are going easy on your budget.

1 DEBORAH 24ore Velvet Metal Eyeshadow in 03 Brown – CHF 13.90
This metallic eyeshadow can be used dry and wet.

2 T. LeClerc Mascara Céleste – CHF 36.50
For voluminous lashes in black with golden sparkles.

3 DEBORAH Perfumed Illuminating Powder “Totally Shimmer” in 02 Silver – CHF 19.90
The perfect shimmer for face and body.

4 DEBORAH Prêt-à-Porter Nail Top Coat in 72 So Jewels – CHF 5.90
Top off your favourite nail polish with this sparkling top coat.

5 Bourjois Golden Shimmer Mist Hair & Body – CHF 4.90
Golden sparkles for your hair that add enchantment to every movement.

5 Coal Diamond by Sylvie van der Vaart Night Fire – CHF 45.00 (EdP 25ml)
A floral-gourmand scent, seductive and warm with vanilla, jasmine, orchid, plum, orange blossom and tuberose.

7 T. LeClerc Matte Lipstick in 04 Beige – CHF 31.50
The perfect nude shade.

8 Bourjois Khôl & Contour XL in Noir Sparkling XL and Ultra Black XL – € 8.20 each
Intense eye colour in just one stroke.

9 UNE Cheery Lips Gloss in C02 – CHF 21.90
A colourful and nourishing formula that covers the lips beautifully while lasting up to 8 hours.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht

Perfume gift sets are always a nice way of surprising your beloved one. Look for her or his favourite scent to enjoy the complimentary items in the box that mostly are packed in little sizes, which is perfect for travelling. Marionnaud offers 20% on those boxes at the moment and check out Harrods by clicking HERE for up to 60% off during the ongoing beauty sale.

Here are some of my favorites:

Already a classic:
Narciso Rodriguez For Her Eau de Toilette 50ml & Purse Spray 10ml
– CHF 108.- 

Love the orange blossom in this very feminine fragrance:
Elie Saab Le Parfum Eau de Toilette 50ml, Scented Body Lotion 75ml & Shower Gel 30ml
– CHF 106.-

A new scent inspired by the magic of the Provençal woods, a flower boquet of roses, peonies and the sparkeling seduction of red berries:
L’ Occitane Fleur Merveilleuses (Limited Edition) Eau de Toilette 75ml, Shower Gel 75 ml & 250ml, Soap 50g & Hand Cream 30ml
– CHF 109.-

Surprise your newly wed or madly-in-love friends with a fragrance duo that will look beautiful on display in their bathroom:
Bogner Heritage Edition for Woman Eau de Toilette 50ml & for Man Eau de Toilette 50ml
– CHF 59.- each

Last but not least, an exclusive limited edition of her favourite scent will make a wonderful present this Christmas. Sisley has been launching since 2002 each year a new version for the festive season of the house’s iconic Eau du Soir.
Sisley Eau du Soir Limited Edition 2012 (Limited to 8000) Eau de Parfum 100ml
– CHF 265.-

Another French house that is known for their beautifully crafted limited edition bottles is Lalique, a brand that has the art of crystal making in their DNA. For this year’s edition, it showcases an extraordinary dragonfly, the label’s lucky charm, cloaked in black.
Inside a great timeless classic, a majestic pure floral:
Lalique de Lalique Libellule Limited Edition 2013 Parfum 100ml
– CHF 1500.-

Thierry Mugler’s new limited edition collection for winter Les Parfums de Cuir (“The Fragrances of Leather”) is celebrating the twentieth birthday of the house’s perfumes. For the occasion, four new interpretations of the famous fragrances enriched with natural extracts of leather have been created, presented in a beautiful leather pouch.
Thierry Mugler Les Parfums de Cuir Angel Eau de Parfum 30ml, Alien Eau de Parfum 30ml, Womanity Eau de Parfum 30ml and A * Men Eau de Toilette 100ml
– CHF 84.- each (non-refillable)

Looking for an even more exquisite collectable? Guerlain might fulfill this wish. Celebrating the 100th birthday of the house’s legendary scent L’Heure Bleue, famous artists and celebrated houses alike have come together to create something truly special.
Guerlain L’Heure Bleue 1912-2012 Limited Edition, 4 Bottles 30ml (The original extract case and three new interpretations, embroidered by Lesage)
– CHF  4000.-
Guerlain L’Heure Bleue 100th Birthday Edition by Baccarat and Gripoix, Extrait 490ml
– Price on request

Those very limited editions are only available in selected stores worldwide.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bogner, Elie Saab, Guerlain, Lalique, L’ Occitane, Narciso Rodriguez, Sisley, Thierry Mugler Perfumes

Give joy, be happy! That is Bobbi Brown‘s motto for the holiday season. And looking at all those gorgeous gift sets, we have to admit that wish list really do come true sometimes…

Caviar & Oyster Collection Mini Brush Set (Limited Edition) – CHF 105.-
For flawless makeup application wherever you go, this travel brush set is all you will need.

24 Karat Shimmer Brick (Limited Edition) – CHF 75.00
Five bars of pearlescent shimmer highlight the skin for a lit-from-within glow.

Atomic Pink Lip & Eye Palette (Limited Edition) – CHF 65.00
Looking for a new look? This palm-sized palette takes the guesswork out with a perfectly-edited selection of eye and lip shades that are fresh and fun.

Tube Tint Trio (Limited Edition) – CHF 65.00
Grape Glitter Lip Gloss, Pink Violet Lip Gloss, Pink Mist Shimmer Lip Gloss.

Powder Pearl Eye Trio (Limited Edition) – CHF 80.00
Pearly eye powders in shades of Black Pearl, Moonlight, Pink Pearl.

Extreme Party Eye Palette (Limited Edition) – CHF 120.00
Like a jewel box, this palette contains nine luxe shadows designed to instantly make eyes look party-ready. Four professional-quality brushes make the application easy like a pro.

Black Pearl Eye Shadow Palette (Limited Edition) – CHF 88.00
Six velvety-rich shades were handpicked to help you create dramatically smokey eyes.

All those sets will sell out fast and are highly limited, so better hurry up!
In Zurich available at Jelmoli.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bobbi Brown

Doesn’t this look like a good christmas present for your girlfriends? Not only is nail polish a fun present to give, but also, it’s every season’s must-have accessory. Fill a santa bag with some vibrant hues from Maybelline‘s new colorful nail polish collection “Colorama” and add some fun nail stickers plus an express remover that takes off the varnish with one dip (I love those). I am sure that your friends will adore your idea. All products are in stores now.

Colorama Nail Polish (available in 19  shades): CHF 7.90 each
Colorama Fashion Prints Nail Sticker (available in 2 versions, Zebra Night and Metal Heavy): CHF 10.90 each (18 stickers included in each set)
Express Remover: CHF 14.90 (75ml)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Maybelline and © Sandra Bauknecht

Ciaté offers amazing three-dimensional DIY manicures and the newest hit is the British brand’s Sequined Manicure. Just in time for the party season, when sequins are always appropriate if not essential, this nail trend seems just right.

Well… are you ready to try it out for yourself now?

I tried this fabulous mani set that features all the products you need to give your nails a glam-over. As you can see, it works very easily.

The only negative side effect is that the nails are very rough afterwards so that you have to be really careful when putting on your tights or going through your hair. To take it off, you will need a nail polish remover with acetone and plan some time.

Ciaté Sequined Manicure Kits are available in 3 colour blends and retail for £15 each, available for example at Selfridges in the UK or Sephora in the US.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

YSL Holiday look 2012, “Northern Lights”, is probably of the most wanted Christmas makeup collections with its beautiful colour palette inspired by the northern lights.

Lloyd Simmonds, Creative Makeup Director of YSL Beauty, says about the collection: “During my childhood I was fascinated by the northern lights – also known as Aurora borealis – with its incredible vitality and color, which can never forget in life. They inspired me to this collection with exceptionally bright colours, laced with violet and midnight-blue hues and dotted with pearl highlights like a grand night sky! “

My favourite products are from left to right:
PURE CHROMATICS Collector’s Palette Arctic Night (Limited Edition) – CHF 79.00
(It comes with this super-cute sequined pochette.)
LA LACQUE COUTURE Top Coat N°33 Première Neige (Limited Edition) – CHF 38.00
(For an irresistible frosty finish on your nails, reminiscent of the moonshine.)
GOLDEN GLOSS N°55 Bleu Artique & N°56 Rose Polaire (Limited Edition) – CHF 46.00
(Two scintillating sheer lip glosses that can be worn on bare lips or over your favourite lipstick.)

I absolutely adore the combination of LA LACQUE COUTURE N° 18 Bleu Majorelle (from YSL’s summer look 2012) with the Limited Edition Top Coat N°33 Première Neige. Hope that you will like it, too. The collection is in stores now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of YSL Beauty and © Sandra Bauknecht

Today is the 2nd of December, time to open the second door of our Advent calendar and to reveal the secret why I went to Greece with Hermès. It is something for perfume aficionados and beauty lovers:

Jour d’Hermès, the French house’s new women’s fragrance, will hit the shelves on February 15, 2013. Great news is that it is available exclusively now in all Hermès boutiques. Such a fantastic, very selective gift for Christmas. The scent is like the dawn, luminous, sensual, floral and very feminine. In the beginning of next year, I will tell you all about the trip to Delphi and give some more information on the new scent.

LoL, Sandra

Still: Courtesy of Hermès

During the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich 2012, I went backstage several times. I love watching hair and make-up artists at work as you can always learn so much. Paul Mitchell and Marionnaud belonged to the main sponsors of the event. I spotted some great products that I am now completely addicted to and of course, I am sharing them with you.

Me having fun at work.

Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer by Smashbox
Let me introduce you to the first primer dedicated to the delicate skin under the eyes! The brand’s signature silky primer texture keeps your concealer looking fresh and never cakey or settled into fine lines so that your eyes will always look well-rested. 
Available in Switzerland for CHF 33.- exclusively at Marionnaud.

Germany’s Next Topmodel 2012 winner Luisa Hartema‘s hairdo was done with products by Paul Mitchell. Scroll down to see what you will definitely need to get the perfect blow-dry.

Hydromist Blow-Out Spray™
High-performance volumizers prepare hair for a flawless blow-dry. The weightless formula boosts volume, hydrates dry strands and delivers a clean, long-lasting hold while protecting hair from damage.

Shine Spray™
This finishing spray with a light mist adds brilliance and luminous shine to any style while protecting your hair.

Styling Treatment Oil™
The idea of oiling up your hair might sound weird, but rubbing a little of this lightweight formula between your palms and then over strands before blow-drying or ironing adds a beautiful gloss and tames frizz.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

For Christmas 2012, Guerlain launches a gorgeous little trio of options for La Petite Robe Noire, the brand’s freshly re-worked fragrance. Three alternative “little black dresses” are featured on limited-edition bottles, named Ma Petite Robe Noire.

Simply choose which of the three dresses matches your or your gift recipient’s taste and have the bottle calligraphed with your name, initials or a secret message. The perfect fusion for a perfume-loving fashionista!

The complementary calligraphy session will be available in Zurich at Jelmoli only on the following dates: Friday 30st of November and Saturday 1st of December, 2012.

If you like to read my review of Guerlain’s La Petite Robe Noire, please click here for my thoughts on this yummy fragrance and check out this post to get an idea how cute a personalized bottle can be.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Guerlain