Sandra‘s Closet

The last days have just been amazing. My blog has taken me on such a wonderful journey that I sometimes think it must be a dream. After getting back from NYC Fashion Week on Wednesday, I had a little time to pack a new suitcase. Thursday morning, I flew to Paris for a fairytale-like event hosted by Dior.

Together with other bloggers from all over the world, I was invited to explore the Dior Addict Extrême experience. The new nail polish and lipstick collection which is taking the iconic Dior Addict to a new “extreme” level will be available in Switzerland from the second half of March. As you can see, Kate Moss is again the face of the advertising campaign.

I stayed in an awesome suite at the Plaza Athénée which is just across from 30, Avenue Montaigne, the home of the house Dior.

Arriving at the Dior Haute Couture Salons felt like “Sandra in Wonderland“, no wonder looking at the gigantic chair and all those dreamlike Haute Couture creations. This place is full of magic and the people working at Dior are all extremely lovely.

Love for detail: Even the sweets came in the shades of the four new must-have lip colours.
Below from left to right: Lucky (coral pink) is the “It”-colour (on Kate Moss), Riviera (orange), Incognito (nude beige) and Plaza (creamy pink).

A detailed post on the amazing make-up I wore for the shoot and the official photos will follow soon! In the meantime, enjoy this little teaser below.

Thank you, Dior, for letting me be part of this fairytale!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Have a look at the new Holland Collection by OPI: Inspired by the country’s range of beautiful shades – as seen in vivid tulips, windmill-dotted hillsides and bustling canals – the collection’s twelve colours offer a mixture of sophisticated neutrals and highly-pigmented brights.

My favourite colour is the shimmery “I don’t give a Rotterdam” (Photo: ©Sandra Bauknecht).

The new collection will be available in Switzerland starting February 15, 2012 for CHF 23.90 each.

LoL, Sandra

With those freezing temperatures outside, I love to dream of warm weather, the sun, the sea and my new bikini outfit!

Metallic triangle bikini by Gucci, crystal-embellished leather sandals by Giuseppe Zanotti, canvas bag with Hawaiian print by Stella McCartney, round-frame acetate sunglasses by Yves Saint Laurent, gold-plated plexiglass cuff and multi-stone brass ring, both by Emilio Pucci.

It is the time of the year when it is best to get organized for your next trip to a tropical destination. As the lights of fitting rooms are in general not so pleasant for pale skin, I prefer ordering swimwear online.

For the perfect sunkissed make-up look, I recommend those products below:

For radiant skin:
1 – PURE RADIANT TINTED MOISTURIZER SPF30/PA+++ by Nars
Infused with naturally derived ingredients from French Polynesia where François Nars loves to spend a lot of time, this new tinted moisturizer instantly hydrates and evens out the skin tone. It has also been shown that it can reduce the appearance of discoloration and dark spots with regular use. The luxurious, oil-free formula obscures the appearance of lines, wrinkles, pores and other imperfections while providing a translucent veil of broadspectrum sun protection.
Available in 9 shades with beautiful names: 1 Finland, 2 Alaska, 3 St. Moritz, 4 Annapurna, 5 Cuba, 6 Malaga, 7 Seychelles, 8 Martinique and 9 Polynesia.
In Switzerland in stores Mid March, CHF 72.-.

For sun-kissed cheeks and a glowing face:
2 – PURE COLOR ILLUMINATING POWDER GELEE TOPAZ CHAMELEON by Estée Lauder
High polish for your skin: 

This innovative tri-blend liquid, powder, gel formula goes beyond face powder to give you a sexy, sophisticated glow. 

It comes with a perfect mix of pigment and pearls for a multi-reflective finish. 

Smooth it on as an all-over soft sheen or sweep it on the cheeks for a luminous pearl highlighting effect. The perfect companion for the beach.
Available now for CHF 58.-.

For beautiful eyes in the shades of the ocean:
3 – OMBRE MINERALE 4 COLEURS in 08 Blue Sky by Clarins
This eye quartet palette has four long-lasting shades in the hues of the ocean. They can be applied dry or damp for a natural or sophisticated look. 
Available now for CHF 62.-.

4 – PURE COLOR INTENSE KAJAL EYE CRAYON in Dramatic Black by Estée Lauder
Reminiscent of Indian kajal eye crayons, those must-have pencils provide you with intense, smouldering colour in one single stroke. 

It glides on velvety smooth and blends easily.

 Use as a liner along lashline and softly smudge over lids to intensify the smoky look.
Available now for CHF 30.-.

5 – DIORSHOW NEW LOOK in Noir New Look by Christian Dior
A new amazing mascara that delivers infinite volume and an unparalleled lash-multiplying effect. 

Diorshow New Look features an exclusive breakthrough nana-brush to catch and coat every last lash with the precision of a couturier’s hand. The extraordinary formula with a Lash Amplifier™ ingredient provides an instant lash-multiplying action.
Available in Switzerland starting February 8, 2012 for CHF 48.-.

On the lips:
6 – LARGER THAN LIFE® LIP GLOSS in Gold Digger by Nars
The new Larger Than Life® Lip Gloss provides lustrous shine that stays in place for hours, while lips feel protected and moisturized. Natural lip enhancers provide volume while a new, shorter bristle brush delivers a precise application to define and shape lips. 
Available for CHF 35.-.

For eyecatching nails:
7 – PURE COLOR NAIL LACQUER in Topaz Teal by Estée Lauder
Colourful nails are a must and this turquoise shade is the perfect hue for the beach.
Available now for CHF 34.-.

To make sure that your body looks great in the sun, have a look at those upcoming new products that I can highly recommend:

For a healthy-looking tanned body:
DIOR BRONZE AUTO-BRONZANT Self Tanning Oil Natural Glow by Christian Dior

AMAZING MOOD-LIFTING PRODUCT!

Dior Bronze is the perfect replica of all pleasures of the sun to enhance the skin and lift the mood! On the application, the skin is satiny, luminious, perfectly moisturized and progressively recreates a radiant tan.
On the mood, you will feel the perceived pleasure of a unique uplifting action. A plant-based active ingredient helps stimulate the natural production of ß-endorphins, the so-called “pleasure molecules”, for an immediate mood-lifting sensation, as if you just spent time sunbathing!
Available in Switzerland beginning of March for CHF 58.- (100ml).

For a well-toned body:
DIOR SVELTE  BODY DESIRE Integral Perfection Care by Christian Dior

Anybody among you who is not wishing for the perfect well-toned body?! Here is a product that will help you to achieve it in one single step (But you still need to work on your daily sports routine and calories intake, sorry!).

This body care product acts on all of the key characteristics of a desirable body: slimming, firming, moisturrizing, toning and smoothing. How is that possible?
At the “heart” of the skin, adiponectin – a protein with a sensational spectrum of action discovered by Dior science – affects all those features. Stress and the excesses of modern life tend to inhibit the influence of this unique protein. Dior Svelte reactivates the natural synthesis of adiponectin for a visibly enhanced body in 4 weeks.
Available in Switzerland beginning of March for CHF 96.- (200ml).

You have still lots of time left to get in shape for summer! But better get started early…  this is all you need!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Yves Saint Laurent’s Spring 2012 make-up collection, created by Lloyd Simmonds, is called “Candy Face”. Those shades are so fresh and beautiful with melting textures and transparent effects that they seem sweet enough to eat! I am talking about sparkling sugar eyes, delicious cheeks and a gleaming smile.

I took a photo of my favourites:

VOILE DE BLUSH – Feathery light blush  in 04 Mauve Veil (to the right)

The gel texture is in osmosis with the skin. Impalpable, it forms a satiny veil, soft to the touch. Ultra melting, it “plumps” the cheekbones with a sublime effect, CHF 43.-.

MANUCURE COUTURE – Edition N°8 Nail Colour (to the left)

A nail polish duo that can be worn alone or together as a colourful French manicure. The small bottles are great to travel with, CHF 49.-.

Here is another new highlight from Yves Saint Laurent:

ROUGE PUR COUTURE – Vernis à Lèvres in 15 Rose Vinyl and 17 Encre Rose

A new revolutionary lip make-up. It is not really a lipstick, not really a lipgloss – and much more than a lip stain. Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres is a glossy stain. It comes with an applicator that is different than others providing you with a modern technology to keep your lips soft, coloured and sheer. The texture is new and not as you would expect it. Very light, not sticky, it just tints your lips with a coloured veil.
Available starting this month in 19 shades, CHF 48.- each.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Yves Saint Laurent and © Sandra Bauknecht

Eres will dip into the nail polish market for the first time this March. The trendy lingerie and swimwear brand will launch worldwide in its own stores and franchises a limited-edition line of three nail varnishes — in colours that are inspired by its S/S 2012 swimwear collection, yellow, pink and brown. Each polish will be around € 16.

Matching your outfit to your nail polish or vice versa is quite the thing at the moment  and honestly it is a clever strategy of Eres. I like it!

LoL, Sandra

The pink of “Bengale” is as deep as a Byzantine gladiolus.

The brown of “Damas” is gloriously reminiscent of melted chocolate.

You can almost taste cardamom in the yellow of “Soufi”.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Eres

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and Lancôme has come up with a pretty cool idea.

For the launch of “Rouge in Love”, its new range of lipstick, Lancôme sets the web buzzing with a unique video clip directed by Adria Petty and set to music by Brigitte.

“Rouge In Love” is Lancôme’s new it-lipstick. Available in 24 trendy colours and endorsed by the British actress Emma Watson, it will be available from the beginning of February 2012. To celebrate it over the Valentine’s Day period, Lancôme has chosen Publicis 133 Lux and Digitas France to create a film event directed by the New York director Adria Petty, famous for her video clips for Beyoncé and Regina Spektor.

In a demonstration of style and creative daring, the director gives us her vision of ultra-modern glamour in 60 seconds bursting with cutting-edge pop references. Taking you through dynamic, colourful urban environments from London to New-York via Paris, the clip shows women’s lips tinted in pink, red or purple, all singing the same song – “Oh La La” by the popular French duo Brigitte (Aurélie Maggiori and Sylvie Hoarau).

The duo has rewritten the lyrics of its iconic track especially for Rouge in Love. This film, a declaration of love and desire for colour in all its forms, was revealed yesterday worldwide on the web! What is more to say than love your lips!

And enjoy the beautiful photos and the video at the end of this post.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: ©Lancôme/2012

Here is your rockstar look:

Satin-trimmed wool-crepe jacket and stretch-leather skinny pants, both by Balmain, printed cotton-jersey tank and skull leather box clutch, both by Alexander McQueen and Masako silk-satin pumps by Charlotte Olympia.

Here is your rockstar scent:

Paco Rabanne Black XS L’Excès and Black XS L’Excès For Her embody the excess of the rock world.

Black XS L’Excès combines top notes of Calabrian lemon and lavender with an ozonic, cypriol and citrus accord and a deep, sensual amber woody base.

Eau de Toilette Intense
100ml CHF 99.00 
50ml CHF 77.00

Black XS L’Excès For Her opens with top notes of neroli and black pepper, leading to heart notes of jasmine queen of the night and rose absolute and a base of cashmere wood.

Eau de Parfum Intense
80ml CHF 106.00 
50ml CHF 87.00
30ml CHF 62.00

Available now!
With a skull on the packaging and the bottle!

Punk rock icon Iggy Pop is the face for Black XS L’Excès and the beautiful Sasha Pivovarova stars in the video campaign alongside Nick Rea, see below.

Now it is time for you to put your rocker face on!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Paco Rabanne Fragrances

With the ongoing neon trend, Bobbi Brown’s spring 2012 collection Neons & Nudes is the perfect make-up look to complement your new bright outfits. This season, Bobbi’s mixing easy-to-wear neutrals with bright jolts of colour.

„I love the juxtaposition of subtle with not-so-subtle colours – it’s about highlighting one feature at a time.“

–Bobbi Brown

I recommend getting a bright orange lipstick and wearing it for example with a neon pink sweater. Keep the rest of your make-up simple and neutral.

NEW! Limited Edition
Lip Gloss
Citrus, Cosmic Pink and Ultra Violet, each CHF 35.-

NEW! Limited Edition
Lip Colour
Atomic Orange, Neon Pink and Ueber Beige
each CHF 35.-

NEW! Blush 
Nude Peach and Nude Pink, each CHF 41.-

NEW! Limited Edition
Ultra Nudes Eyeshadow Palette

Including 6 classic shades: Stone Eye Shadow, Chino Eye Shadow, Pink Chandelier Metallic Eye Shadow, Praline Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow, Champagne Truffle Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow and Cocoa Berry Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow.
CHF 88.-

Cosmetic Bag, CHF 48.-

As for me, I like to emphasize my eyes and therefore love Bobbi’s new two bright eyeshadows:
Bluebell Eyeshadow and Ultra Violet Shimmer Eye Shadow, each CHF 37.-

I freshen the look then with a nude blush and neutral lips. My favourites: Blush in Nude Pink, Lip Colour in Ueber Beige and Lip Gloss in Ultra Violet.

All products are in stores now!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of Bobbi Brown

The three well-known fragrances from the Chanel Chance family, the original Chance (2003) with amber and spicy elements and a floral top note, the Chance Eau Fraîche (2007), a sharper floral scent with fresh vetiver, citron and teak wood notes and the Chance Eau Tendre (2010), a “fruity floral” with grapefruit, white musk and jasmine scents, come now in a handy “twist & spray” version.

Choose your favourite “Chance” version and get it in an atomiser that fits in the palm of your hand, making it easy to use and easy to carry in your handbag. It is the perfect addition for all “Chance” fans among you.

Chanel has also created three new Chance body products. Available in Switzerland in the end of January 2012.

LoL, Sandra

CHANCE

The decidedly young scent for those who dare to dream.

– Eau de Toilette Vaporisateur  Sac 3 x 20 ml CHF 118.-

CHANCE Eau Fraîche

The unexpected fragrance. . . Sparkling, spirited, surprising.

– Vaporisateur Sac 3 x 20 ml CHF 118.-
– Lait Fondant pour le Corps 200 ml CHF 68.-

CHANCE Eau Tendre

Tender yet vibrant. . . the fragrance of a woman who embraces her chance

– Vaporisateur Sac 3 x 20 ml CHF 118.-
– Lait Fondant pour le Corps 200 ml CHF 68.-
– Gel Moussant pour la Douche 200 ml CHF 60.-

Today, I would like to introduce you to the new extra-firming range of Clarins. The reason for my trip to the Royal Monceau in Paris last month.

Clarins Multi-Régénérante has been the anti-age cream in France since 15 years with 1.9 million sold each year. You might ask what is the reason for changing such a bestselling product?

Dr. Lionel de Benetti with me

Dr. Lionel de Benetti, Clarins’ chief scientist, who has dedicated over 30 years to the brand’s development and who is probably the most charismatic scientist on earth with the capability to explain his research findings in a fun and easy-to-understand way has found new little molecules that helped him to reveal the links behind firmness.

So-called emilin-1 is a component of the elastic fibre which acts to keep the collagen fibres together. After 40, its release diminishes and the skin looses its firmness. Lionel de Benetti has found out, that organic lemon thyme extracts can help to augment the emilin-1 synthesis more than 50% and that green banana in combination with bocoa tree extracts preserve the connections between fibres and cells.

The result: The appearance of wrinkles is visibly reduced, facial contours are reshaped and features are younger-looking.

An immediate “lifting” effect. Oat sugars instantly smooth away fine lines, while hyaluronic acid replenishes skin. 
The texture is the most sensual that you can imagine, inspired by the most luxurious fabrics. It leaves the skin velvety-soft with a matte finish allowing for easy make-up application.

Multi-Régénérante Jour – Crème lift anti-rides – Toutes peaux 50ml
(Extra-Firming Day – Wrinkle lifting cream – All skin types) 1.7 Oz.
CHF 109.-

or

Multi-Régénérante Jour – Crème lift anti-rides – Spéciale peaux sèches 50ml
(Extra-Firming Day – Wrinkle lifting cream – Special for dry skin) 1.7 Oz.
CHF 109.-

or

Multi-Régénérante Jour – Fluide lift anti-rides SPF 15 – Toutes peaux 50ml
(Extra-Firming Day – Wrinkle lifting lotion – All skin types) 1.7 Oz.
CHF 105.-

Me at the press conference in Paris trying out the new products.

Below you can find the ideal component to Extra-Firming day care:

Multi-Régénérante Night (Extra-Firming Night) tones the epidermis for firmer skin with a peptide coming from the stem cell research, so-called Survixyl IS™. It is similar to a protein in the skin and protects stem cells at the origin of epidermal renewal. Stimulen®, a combination of vitamin E and amino acids, reinforces this regenerating action by preserving Langerhans cells, “guardian” cells of the epidermis which defend skin against aggressions.

The result: Because it renews and defends itself better, your skin appears smoother and firmer. The appearance of wrinkles is reduced, facial contours reshaped and features are more defined.

A more even complexion is achieved through lotus extract which prevents the appearance of dark spots. Skin looks rested and radiant.

Multi-Régénérante Nuit – Crème raffermissante – Toutes peaux 50ml
(Extra-Firming Night – Rejuvenating cream – All skin types) 1.7 Oz.
CHF 116.-

or

Multi-Régénérante Nuit – Crème raffermissante – Spéciale peaux sèches 50ml
(Extra-Firming Night – Rejuvenating cream – Special for dry skin) 1.7 Oz.
CHF 116.-

Available end of January 2012.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Clarins, © Sandra Bauknecht