Sandra‘s Closet

Lorenzo Villoresi presented his latest fragrance MARE NOSTRUM AURA MARIS during Pitti Fragranze in Florence.

Mare Nostrum is the ancient name of the Mediterranean sea, a theme that the Florentine perfumer has always loved, rich of cultural, historical, mythological, environmental suggestions. Such a variety of different worlds and precious visions cannot be contained in only one fragrance.

This is why he is launching today the first fragrance of the Mare Nostrum collection, Aura Maris, the sea breeze. This fresh and gentle scent will be followed by other creations inspired by the many visions and sensations of the Mare Nostrum concept.

MARE NOSTRUM
Crossed by sweet currents, caressed by the breath of soft breezes and countless changing perfumes. Mighty, generous sea, the scene of exciting visions that cannot be told, salvation and danger alike for men and for heroes. There, skimming the crest of the waves, Poseidon rides his chariot drawn by golden-maned horses. In the deepest seas fair Nereides live, their long locks wafting in the foamy waters, to the sound of the salty surf.

AURA MARIS
The sea breeze gently brushing the ocean waves, bearing happy tidings of the summer sun, with the aromas from the Mediterranean shrubs. The tingling fragrance of the salty foam, the sunlit reflections of citrus fruits the lightest touch of meadow flowers and the golden rays of the sun on a glimmering sea.

Top notes: Fresh, green, citrus with Bergamot notes, Mandarin and soft floral fruity touches.
Middle notes: Fresh, floral with aromatic woods nuances, Narcissus, Patchouli, Jasmine.
Base notes: Fresh citrus floral, with soft ambery, musky and woody touches.

For a previous post on Lorenzo Villoresi, click here please.

LoL, Sandra

Carine Roitfeld elevated the smoky eye to an art form. For her M·A·C collaboration, Carine edits her look into a collection of chic colours and tools for recreating her aesthetic. Full Face Kit contains four Eye Shadows and Cremeblend Blush, Eye Brows in Brunette, Kohl Power Eye Pencil, Fluidline, 49 Lashes and two Mascaras. Tropical Mist Lipstick, Face and Body Foundation, Mineralize Concealer, Nail Lacquer and Brushes create the perfect backdrop for dramatic eyes.

In Switzerland available exclusively at Jelmoli in October 2012.

LoL, Sandra

L I P S T I C K
Tropical Mist Sheer translucent nude
CHF 28.00

K O H L P O W E R E Y E P E N C I L
Feline
CHF 24.00

E Y E B R O W S
Brunette Grey brown
CHF 24.00

F L U I D L I N E
Blacktrack
CHF 26.00

B R O W S E T
Clear
CHF 22.00

M A S C A R A
Studio Fix Boldblack Lash
Zoomfast Black Lash
CHF 27.00

F U L L F A C E K I T
Jungle Camouflage
DEW Soft creamy beige (veluxe pearl)
“CAMO” Muted greyish taupe (satin)
BAD LIEUTENANT Blackened deep brown (matte)
CARBON Intense black (matte)
BOOTCAMP BRONZE Soft sheer chestnut
Desert Camouflage
SAHARA DUST Light neutral beige (satin)
CACTUS THORN Mid-tone brown bronze (frost)
DESERT Shimmering warm taupe (satin)
CARBON Intense black (matte)
SAND STORM Soft sheer warm caramel
CHF 72.00

S T U D I O F I X F L U I D S P F 1 5
NC30 CHF 43.00

M I N E R A L I Z E C O N C E A L E R
NC33 CHF 29.00

F A C E A N D B O D Y F O U N D A T I O N
C4 CHF 51.00

A C C E S S O R I E S
Good Luck Star (for body)
CHF 22.00

49 Lash
CHF 19.00

Tweezer/Slant
CHF 54.00

Full Lash Curler
CHF 30.00

N A I L L A C Q U E R
Undercover Nude Sheer clear nude (cream)
Underfire Red Deep blood red (cream)
CHF 20.00

B R U S H E S
266 Small Angle
CHF 34.00
275 Medium Angled Shading
CHF 40.00
191 Square Foundation
CHF 54.00

Photos: Courtesy of MAC and © Sandra Bauknecht

Last May, Chanel announced that Brad Pitt will be the new face of the house’s iconic scent Chanel N°5 (for the previous post, please click here). It is quite an unusual choice that a man represents a women’s fragrance. Now, this series of portraits shot by Mario Sorrenti have been released as a foretaste of what is to come. Which one is your favorite?

LoL, Sandra

Photos : Mario SORRENTI copyright CHANEL

I have loved Dior’s Nude makeup from its first introduction in 2009. Therefore, I was completely excited to explore this year’s “New Nude”, that is a brilliant step in makeup for a glowing and blushing complexion. Personally speaking, I couldn’t live without it!

The skin, like the dresses in the latest fashion collection, flushes with colour, brighter and more luminous than ever. Dior’s backstage expertise has given rise to the new range of Diorskin Nude foundation, which takes the skin’s natural glow to new heights.

Dior’s “New Nude”: a new signature foundation.

The star product in the Diorskin Nude range, this cult fluid is the essential item on every backstage makeup artist’s table, and is their secret for creating the enhanced nude look envied by all. In 2012, this light fluid acquires a new subtle velvet finish that blends into the skin, to deliver just the right amount of coverage without masking the skin’s texture. This creates a shine-free, natural glow with an idealised bare skin effect. Women who dream of perfect skin texture and a radiant complexion need look no further: this is the must-have product.

Diorskin NUDE Fluid Foundation
CHF 68.50

Nude Compact : the most natural compact powder.

Unique, new and surprising, this compact foundation tops them all. It is the first versatile compact powder to provide coverage that can be adjusted with utmost precision while maintaining the skin’s natural satin sheen, to guarantee a true nude result. Depending on the desired finish, it acts as a foundation or a powder.

The Nude Compact can be applied using either of the double-sided applicators, sponge or brush.

Diorskin NUDE Comapct Powder Makeup
CHF 80.50  
Diorskin NUDE Compact Powder Makeup Refill
CHF 59.-

Nude Shimmer

The quintessential backstage makeup for the spotlight! Nude Shimmer is a magical powder that features a subtle blend of fine micro-pearlisers in a transparent base. Dusted lightly onto the contours of the face, professional style, it captures maximum light, and provides the wet and ‘glowy’ nude effect every woman dreams of having. Nude Shimmer is the ultimate signature product of Nude skin-glow makeup 2012 vibrant, vivid and right on trend.

Diorskin NUDE Shimmer (One Shot)
CHF 75.50

With Diorskin Nude, Dior invites us to rediscover natural beauty. Therefore the French house adds new innovative lipstick colours: ROUGE DIOR NUDE.

Described as a highlighting blush for lips, its treatment formula creates an illuminating semi-sheer effect for instant radiance. Available in 10 shades, of which 4 are essential: Grège, Swan, Charnelle and Trench.

Rouge Dior NUDE
CHF 48.-

For a nude look right down to your fingertips, Dior has launched four new nail polish colours, of which 2 “warm” shades are for golden-beige skins, and 2 “cool” shades for pink-beige skins.
223 Trench, 715 Dune, 115 Charnelle and 413 Grège

ROUGE DIOR Vernis
CHF 37.-

The beautiful NUDE collection is in stores now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Christian Dior

This month, House of Valentino launches its new fragrance Valentina ASSOLUTO created by the master perfumer Olivier Cresp.
The blend of noble ingredients creates a magical formula that comes to life on the skin and transforms it into an unmistakable and necessary final touch: a designer fragrance.

Valentina Assoluto is the first flanker on the theme of Valentina perfume from 2011. It deviates from the floral scent family of the original and offers instead an intense olfactory chypre character, “deeper and more sensual”.

Top notes: Bergamot, peach and white Alba truffle.
Middle notes: Tuberose, jasmine and vanilla.
Base notes: Cedar, oak moss and patchouli for the chypre effect.

Available as Eau de Parfum ASSOLUTO 80ml (CHF154.-) and 50ml (CHF 121.-)
Available in Switzerland end of September 2012.

Intriguing, magnetic, and unpredictable, Valentina plays with seduction as the protagonist of a story full of exciting, quintessential sensations. A mosaic of architectural views, stylistic touches, and period ornamentation. Sensual glimpses of skin and lace, body and couture.

Valentina has a favourite stage. It is Rome at night, full of secret passages for escape and the exclusive private world of brightly lit ancient aristocratic palazzos. This Eternal City full of artistic treasures has also given birth to her innate sophisticated elegance.

What would a modern Valentina wear for a night out during a weekend in Rome?

Lace and cable-knit wool and cashmere-blend sweater, cotton-blend lace skirt, jewel-clasp watersnake clutch, satin and lace pumps, all by Valentino and of course her signature fragrance Valentina ASSOLUTO.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Valentino

This October sees the launch of L’Occitane‘s extremely beautiful limited edition Shea Butter Fortune Flowers collection. The colourful range was inspired by two West African traditions: Basket weaving and storytelling. Decorated with striking motifs that evoke the baskets woven by women, the collection captures the delicate scents of “fortune flowers” whose qualities are praised in popular folklore.

Generosity is another African tradition – so it made perfect sense to include a fund-raising soap in this collection. All profits from the sale of this product – sales price in store minus taxes, transport and production costs – will go towards fighting preventable blindness in developing countries.

The limited editions come in three new scents to captivate the senses:
ROSE PETALS: Evokes the sweet floral notes of rose with a hint of the sugar-coated scent of candied almonds.
DATE BOUQUET: Recalls the mouth-watering essence of this deliciously sweet fruit.
MANGO FLOWER: Reveals a full and zesty aroma – the olfactory signature of the wide open spaces of Burkina Faso.

HAND CREAM (Rose Petals, Mango Flowers, Date Boutique) 30ml (CHF 10.-)
HAND CREAM COLLECTOR 150ml (CHF 27.-)
ULTRA RICH BODY CREAM (Rose Petals, Mango Flowers, Date Boutique) 100ml (CHF 31.-)
LIP BALM (Rose Petals, Mango Flowers, Date Boutique) 15ml (CHF 15.50)
SOLIDARITY SOAP (Rose Petals) 50g (CHF 2.50)
Available Mid October 2012.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of L’Occitane and © Sandra Bauknecht

With Bobbi Brown, I spent a beautiful day in Munich for the launch of Bobbi’s seventh book:
PRETTY POWERFUL.

“Over the years I’ve worked with countless women who have inspired me with their stories. Beyond makeup, we’ve talked about life-altering events. Everything from the joy of being a new mom to dealing with homelessness and divorce. With each conversation, these women have shown that when you have the will and the heart, almost anything is possible—and that’s what Pretty Powerful is all about.” – Bobbi Brown

Sandy decor at Munich‘s hotspot Nektar, colourful goodie bags, hardcover copies displayed on white Nektar-branded crates and a nice crowd of journalists expected me for a wonderful lunch. Flipping through the book, you get immediately inspired. And this is all what renowned makeup artist Bobbi Brown wants to achieve with her do-good attitude towards makeup: To make you feel “pretty powerful” and to be confident.

The tome includes stories in which the beauty guru hand picked celebrities, athletes, and everyday women to pose for before and after makeover shots plus tips how to eat healthy.
In stores now for CHF 49.90.

My look: Knit dress with lace overlay, earrings and suede wedge ankle boots, all by Louis Vuitton, blush jacket by Stella McCartney and brown Pandora bag by Givenchy.

Inspired by Bobbi’s book, Pretty Powerful, Bobbi introduces the Uber Basics collection – shades for every woman. This collection will give every woman – no matter what her skin tone – the essentials she needs to go from pretty to pretty powerful, day to night.

Highlighting the simplicity of Bobbi’s Uber Basic look, the collection is organized into four colour stories, with a corresponding Eye Shadow (CHF 37.-), Sparkle Eye Shadow (CHF 40.-), Blush (CHF 41.-), Rich Lip Color (CHF 35.-) and High Shimmer Lip Gloss (CHF 35.-).
Available now.

“Our most flattering colours. Ever. It’s makeup, simplified.” – Bobbi Brown

And I have more news from Bobbi Brown for you: Actress Katie Holmes is the first celebrity to become the face of beauty brand.
Sounds all pretty powerful to me.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and © Sandra Bauknecht

This weekend, I was invited by Dior to the Zurich Film Festival that is celebrating the art of film in all its facets this year for the 8th time. In a very short amount of time, it has established itself upon the national and international festival landscape.

We started in the afternoon with the vernissage “Stars in Dior”, a beautiful exhibition of photographs featuring celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren and Sharon Stone, who have often worn creations by the house of Dior, whether they were designed by its founder or his successors, on the set, at cinema-related events or simply in their everyday life.

At the vernissage framed by Manuela Pastore (Sales Manager Parfums Christian Dior) to the left and Sonya Burch-Baumann (PR Manager Parfums Christian Dior) to the right.

Later, we went to the screening of “Love is all you need” (Den skaldede frisor), a film directed by Academy Award Winner Susanne Bier and starring Pierce Brosnan plus a famous Danish cast, among them Trine Dyrholm and Kim Bodnia.

The heartwarming story is very moving but at the same incredibly funny with a hint of absurdity. A hairdresser (Trine Dyrholm) who has lost her hair to cancer finds out her husband (Kim Bodnia) is having an affair, travels to Italy for her daughter’s wedding and meets a widower (Pierce Brosnan) who still blames the world for the loss of his wife.
Of course, nothing goes according to plan and yet everything works out in the end. The film was shown in Danish/English with German subtitles and I have to admit that the original soundtrack added even more charm to it.

The Dior after party took place at the Frauenbadi that was beautifully decorated.
What a great night!

My look: Black belted gown by Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, cropped fur jacket by Prada, feather stole, handbag and pearl multi-strand necklace by Dior, pumps by Yves Saint Laurent.

In the end, Dior spoilt us even more with the wonderful coffee-table book “Stars in Dior” (Available in stores for around €45.-) and a bottle of the house’s recently launched fragrance: MISS DIOR – Le Parfum.

The scent is announced as elegant, sensual and intoxicating nocturnal perfume extract. The nose behind this fragrance is François Demachy who said he “wanted to bring something precious and luminous to the composition of Miss Dior Le Parfum, like an oriental jewellery set or the reflections of shimmering fabric.” Yet again, beautiful Natalie Portman is the face for the campaign, formerly she presented Miss Dior Cherie.

MISS DIOR – Le Parfum
Oriental – Chypre

Top notes: Mandarin
Middle notes: Bulgarian rose absolute and Turkish rose absolute
Base notes: Patchouli, amber and vanilla.

Available now for CHF 129.50 (40ml) and CHF 179.50 (75ml).
My new favorite, such a warm, beautiful and very feminine perfume. A must for all lovers of oriental fragrances.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dior, IMDB and © Sandra Bauknecht

Thank God, it is weekend and finally I am feeling better after my stomach flu. A wonderful girlfriend of mine had a little surprise from New York for me. This very cute cosmetic bag. The perfect accessory to store my emergency must-have beauty products.

BLUSH

It is a miracle what a little blush can do for you, add a little colour to your cheeks and you look immediately healthier. The light PHYTO BLUSH ÉCLAT by Sisley works wonders with micronized pigments and light-reflecting powders for a soft focus effect. It includes the extracts of gardenia, linden, and mallow to soften plus rosehip and ginkgo biloba to protect the skin. So it is not just another pretty blush. It is one with benefits. Available in five colours from peach and pink berry, to pink rose, mango and pink coral. Personally speaking, I also adore its “zebra” print design that is nice and flat.
My favourite shade: 5 Pinky Coral

CHF 74.-

LIP GLOSS

Sisley‘s new collection of ultra shiny colours PHYTO-LIP GLOSS have a 3D pouty effect. Active vegetable ingredients help to nourish, moisturize, soothe, heal and protect the lips. Available in seven non sticky shades. Yet again, a lipgloss with benefits.
My favourite shade: 4 Fuchsia

CHF 47.- each

MASCARA

And last but not least, add a little mascara to finish off your 2 minute emergency beauty routine. I became a huge fan of MASCARA VOLUME GREEN PRIDE by UNE. A new invention on planet lashes, a mascara that brings you volume that is as good for your lashes as it is beautiful. Its organic formula is certified by Ecocert and lasts for up to 16 hours. But all it takes to remove it is a simple micellar water cleanser or cleansing milk and lotion! The waxes dissolve gently and totally, leaving no residue on lashes and causing no irritation to eyes. Available in brown and black. A mascara with benefits for you and the environment.
My favourite shade: V01 Black

CHF 26.90

The emergency beauty formula: Mascara, blush + gloss = Looking so much better in 2 minutes.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of Sisley and UNE

The Yves Saint Laurent woman moves through Paris as if it were an urban jungle. Dressed in a tuxedo jacket, leopard-print silk crepe de chine top and stretch-leather leggings, she strides at a determined, steady pace along the streets of Saint-Germain-des-Près, clutching her Cabas Chyc alligator-effect bag close to her, like a talisman. The totally liberated, enticing YSL woman is radiant in her stiletto pumps. She releases a disarming tension created by playing on contrasts to more effectively reveal herself.

Yves Saint Laurent’s fall makeup look “CONTEMPORARY AMAZON” created by Lloyd Simmonds, Creative Director Make-up Yves Saint Laurent, has the same power. It “expresses a desire to get back to the basics, a desire for a luminous matteness that is both natural and sophisticated, with effects that can be tailored to a personalized look. Khaki, black, gold, red, the classics of the contemporary Rive Gauche woman who has a daring approach to colour and a free spirit combined with true Parisian chic.”

STAR PRODUCT

Palette Couture – An alternative to blush, another way to sculpt the cheekbones.
CHF 89.-

Pure Chromatics
CHF 79.-

Harmony N°10 and Harmony N°11

Mascara Volume Effet Faux
CHF 49.-

N°19 Graphite Green

Rouge Pure Couture – The Mats
CHF 48.- each

N°201 Orange Imagine, N°202 Rose Crazy, N°203 Rouge Rock, N°204 Rouge Scandal, N°205 Prune Virgin and N°206 Grenat Satisfaction

La Lacque Couture
CHF 36.- each

N°31 Khaki Arty (on my nails below) and N°32 Rouge Expressioniste

Dare to Glow – A silky complexion illuminator, between a highlighter and an enhancer.
(Limited edition)
CHF 34.- each

N°1 Tempting Gold, N°2 Fatal Red and N°3 Naughty Pink

And don’t miss the following product:

Le Teint Touche Éclat
CHF 67.-

One word: Amazing! Classical foundation formulas contain varying amounts of opaque powders that result in a diffused reflection – a “masked” effect that leaves skin looking grey and dull, especially on darker complexions. Now, for the very first time with LE TEINT TOUCHE ÉCLAT, Yves Saint Laurent resolves this dilemma by replacing the powder with a soft focus gel. Through a diffusing and translucent texture on the skin’s surface, this unique soft focus gel smoothes away imperfections without ever masking the skin, ensuring skin colour purity for a natural-looking and sophisticated glow.

Available in 22 shades, organized in colour families, from beiges to golden and rosy hues, from the lightest to the darkest tones, corresponding to the 7000 skin tones identified in the world.

In stores now!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Yves Saint Laurent and © Sandra Bauknecht