Sandra‘s Closet

“Swept over cheeks or dabbed on lips, nothing lights up your face like shimmer.”
– Bobbi Brown

Add a little sparkle and outshine the Christmas tree! For the holiday season, Bobbi adds the limited edition Party Shimmer Brick to her iconic collection. This high luster combo of silver and gold will brighten your face for a glowing effect or will work perfectly as a highlighter for the eyes. It makes a great gift for a lovely girlfriend.

Using the two shades separately or together provides more options than you might expect.
I even use it over my body lotion. My must-have for New Year’s Eve!

Available now for CHF 69.

LoL, Sandra

ANGEL

Sautéed duck breast in a pink praline crust,
beets, turnips and raspberries, beet and citrus sauce

Intense Mexican mole sauce

Serves 4

Preparation time: 45 min.

Cooking time: 7 to 8 min. (cooling time: 5 min.)

Duck breast

• 4 duck breasts
• 100g (1cup) of pink pralines
• 50g (1/5 cup) of duck fat
• Salt
• Espelette pepper

Cut the skin of the duck breasts very thin with a small knife, taking care not to cut the fat all the way through to the meat.

Crush the pralines by wrapping them in a towel. Use the bottom of a heavy pot to crush them so that the pralines “burst”.

Season the duck breasts with salt and Espelette pepper. Place them in a very hot pan, skin side down, in a small amount of duck fat.

Cook on high heat for 4 to 5 minutes to sear the fat, which will melt.

Remove pan from heat and remove the separated fat from the pan, turning the duck breasts over to the meat side. Finish cooking them for 3 minutes in an oven preheated to 350° F (180°C).

Remove from the oven and take the duck breasts out of the pan. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

Finally, dip the skin side of the duck breasts in the crushed pralines and continue to sauté the “skin and pralines side” for 2 minutes in a very hot pan.

Garnish

• 1 bunch of red beets
• 1 bunch of yellow beets
• 1 bunch of new turnips
• 50g (1/5 cup) of butter
• Salt
• Espelette pepper

Peel the beets and turnips. Boil them separately in salted water.

Just before serving the dish, melt some butter in a pan and roll the beets and turnips in it to glaze them.

Beet sauce

• 250g (1/2lb) of beets
• Lemon zest cut with a peeler
• Grapefruit zest cut with a peeler
• Orange zest cut with a peeler

Use a juicer to extract beet juice. Pour it into a small saucepan with the citrus zest.

Reduce the sauce by ¾ over gentle heat until it becomes syrupy.

The little extra: mole sauce

• 25cl ( 1 cup) of the cooking juice from poultry
• 25g (1.1/3 tbsp) of Mexican mole paste (otherwise, bitter cocoa paste)
• Raspberry vinegar
• Salt
• Espelette pepper

Melt the mole paste in a small pan, pour in the cooking juice and reduce by 1/3.

Season with salt and Espelette pepper and add a few drops of raspberry vinegar.

Presentation:

• 30g (1/3 cup) of beet sprouts
• 50g (1/2 cup) of raspberries

Cut each duck breast into 3 pieces and set them out on 4 plates.

Display the beets, turnips and a few raspberries on a serving plate, then pour a thin line of beet juice over the vegetables and top with beet sprouts.

Taste as is at first, then add the mole sauce.
Bon appétit!

LoL, Sandra

Thierry Mugler continues to overstep the boundaries of traditional perfume-making with his exceptional and legendary perfumes to launch more of his extraordinary creations. By venturing into unexplored territory, he appears where he is least expected.

The idea: experimenting beyond the innovative production processes
to create breathtaking perfumes.

The challenge: alter the structure without distorting the nature
of the four iconic fragrances by Thierry Mugler.

With the 2009 introduction of ‘Liqueurs de Parfum’, he drew on the ancestral know-how of winemakers to age his fragrances in wooden casks.

This year, Thierry Mugler Parfums continues to experiment, focusing its research on one of the senses showcased with its very first creation: taste.

With the 1992 release of Angel, Thierry Mugler invented a new olfactory family of “Oriental – Gourmand” fragrances, based on a “delicious” facet featuring red berries and praline notes.

In 2010, he repeated the experience with Womanity, creating the very first “Sweet – Savory” fragrance, which utilizes an exclusive molecular extraction process to achieve the fig and caviar accords.

An unforgettable experience… Today, Thierry Mugler invites perfume lovers on a journey of fragrances and flavors with his new collection: the Taste of Fragrance.

With the ‘Taste of Fragrance’, the precursor of Haute Gourmand Perfumery is guilty of twisting fragrances, offering the rediscovery of Angel, Alien, Womanity and A*Men through their fantasized flavors.

Thierry Mugler allowed the perfumers full freedom, challenging them to broaden their palettes of ingredients and introducing into each composition a “taste enhancer”.

An explosive collection of four gourmand fragrances,
with superbly concocted notes that will nearly make your mouth water…

Angel More Gourmand Than Gourmand (CHF 99)
– spiked with cocoa powder for a sweet and angelic scent.

Alien Carnal Sensuality (CHF 85)
– floral notes added with wood, amber and salted butter caramel for a sensual-sophisticated scent.

Womanity Sweet Femininity With A Savory Kick (CHF 109)
– sweet notes added with fig chutney which creates a feminine scent.

A*Men Spicy Instinct (CHF 105)
– enhanced with red pepper to bring out contrasting scents making a powerful fragrance.

All four limited editions are available now.

Taking this exercise in style a step further and establishing a genuine parallel between Haute Cuisine and Haute Perfumery, Thierry Mugler Parfums called on Hélène Darroze, one of the leading Michelin-starred French Chefs, to invent four recipes inspired by the new interpretations of these four fragrances.

Four sensory dishes for a ‘Taste of Fragrance’  MUGLERIAN dinner to be published on Sandra’s Closet during the next days. Probably an inspiration for your holiday feast…

LoL, Sandra

“I loved working on the Lady Dior handbag. Most of my work builds on objects that already exist, which I then transform. I applied the same philosophy.”

– Anselm Reyes

When Fashion meets Art… Dior is collaborating with Berlin artist Anselm Reyle for S/S 2012. The original and vibrant collection of leathergoods, accessories and makeup, currently presented exclusively in a Miami pop-up Dior store during the Art Basel show is a dream and will be available worldwide in January 2012.

Dior has given to the artist total freedom on the creation of this collection and the outcome is vibrant and colourful. I definitely would like to own one of those bags!

ANSELM REYLE’S MAKEUP COLLECTION FOR DIOR

A „Camouflage“ Eyeshadow Palette
Adorned with the „Camouflage“ motif created for Dior, an eyeshadow palette offers a mixed harmony of violet, grey and black. Shiny and matt effects recall the artist’s leitmotifs and compose sophisticated eyes.

High-Impact Nail Lacquers
The nail lacquers are playful complements that set the tone in explosive colours. Bold violet of ultra-violet, deep black of untitled black, vivid pink of pink graffiti, vibrant blue of electric blue and a subtle silver of metallic silver compose an electrifying quintet that brings to mind Anselm Reyle’s passion for neon shades.

Here are some photos of the Dior pop-up store,
Miami Design District, 191 NE 40th Street, Miami, FL

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dior

In winter, skin tends to be dry and sensitive. Low humidity, cold temperatures, and strong winds deplete skin of its natural lipid layer. Now it is time for an extra-treat! To keep skin soft and supple, your goal is not only to add moisture to skin, but to keep moisture in.
Here are some new products that I have tested during the last weeks and that have absolutely convinced me.

Let me get started with an amazing foundation that will help you through the day to enhance your complexion and to achieve an instantly smoothed and luminous skin:

Skinleÿa – The Anti-Aging Foundation by Sisley
available in 9 different shades, $190 (30ml)

Its “second skin” make-up effect also reduces signs of aging and fatigue in appearance. It is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. The application is very easy due to its very own brush and the velvety texture.

The best is that Skinleÿa protects skin against free radicals and moisturises it deeply thanks to the extract of Cherry blossom and pro-Vitamin B5 (D-Panthenol) and Alpha-Bisabolol. For all actions, please click here.

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Black Rose Cream Mask by Sisley
$158 (60ml)

The Black Rose Cream Mask by Sisley is a soothing skin care mask rich in trace elements, vitamins and plant extracts which acts instantly on the signs of aging and fatigue to rejuvenate skin and restore vitality.
I love roses. Therefore I adore its very gentle rose scent blended with flower oils that are reminiscent of a beautiful summer garden. Exactly what you need during winter!

I apply two times a week a generous layer of the mask to the face and neck and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping the excess off. Its is unbelievable how soft and full my skin feels after, almost like a rose petal.

Dior Prestige
Crème Satin Regard Revitalisante – Satin revitalizing cream, CHF 383

Another great product that uses the strength of rose ingredients, the Rose Satin™. This sensuous creme intensely nourishes the skin and envelops it in absolute comfort. The skin regains its strength, suppleness and softness. I use it each morning for the entire face and neck. (Perfect for sensitive skin.)

The story behind the discovery of Rose Satin™  is just lovely:

In the house of Christian Dior in Granville was a magnificent garden that stretched over the cliff. One night, there was a violent storm. The day after, Christian Dior strode along the devastated garden. He was amazed to discover a rosebush that had remained miraculously intact, flowering with sumptuous rose blossoms trimmed with petals as tender and luminous as satin. Christian Dior’s garden had just revealed its treasure: the Rose Satine™. A unique flower endowed with extraordinary resistance whose beauty becomes each year even more stronger, overturning the laws of time.

Today the Rose Satine™ is grown in the best French region for rose cultivation. A Dior Garden, exclusively reserved for this flower, features cultivation methods that are totally organic. Highly qualified craftsmen work by hand to preserve the Rose Satine™ exceptional properties. After eight years of trailblazing research, Dior unveils the secret of the Rose Satine™ extraordinary resistance. One thousand Rose Satine™ flowers and a unique craftsmanship know-how are necessary to make a powerful anti-aging elixir: Rose Satine™ Nectar. Ultimate quintessence of the Rose Satine™ powers, this precious nectar is delicately infused in each Dior Prestige skincare.

More products from this line: 
Crème Satin Regard Revitalisante Yeux – Satin revitalizing creme,  CHF 199
Nectar Satin Revitalisant – Satin revitalizing nectar, CHF 397

Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator – CHF 57

Clinique has updated its Moisture Surge franchise, introduced in 1988, with a new product, Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator. A double hit of moisture for parched skin, this rich cream-gel instantly recharges and locks moisture in.
In one week, I have already seen dramatic skin improvements. It contains Olive Squalane and red algae extract to maintain skin water balance, intensively recharge moisture to make skin healthy, supple and moisturized up to 24 hours. I like to use at night.

Visionnaire by Lancôme
Advanced Skin Corrector – CHF 110 (30ml) and CHF 159 (50ml)

The Lancôme ad promises:
“Our new vision of skin perfection. One out of two women tempted by a cosmetic procedure decided to postpone it.”

So, I was pretty curious to try this product. And there is just one word for it, amazing! I have used it now for over two months and it works its magic. Much more than a wrinkle-corrector, it is a skincare capable of fundamentally re-creating more beautiful skin. The first skincare with LR 2412 (12 years of research. 20 international patents), a molecule designed to propel through skin layers. On its path, it triggers a cascading series of micro-transformations: On the surface wrinkles and pores are visibly corrected, imperfections like signs of UV damage and acne marks appear diminished. It is very light and easy to use. Apply it morning and evening as your first skincare step!

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Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Serum, $105 (30ml)

I adore this rich treatment serum for very dry skin that instantly hydrates with a concentrated blend of natural ingredients. Olive Oil and Meadowfoam Seed Oil intensively moisturize for an immediately softer, smoother complexion. I apply it morning and night before my moisturizer and after Visionnaire.

Anti-Aging Neck Cream by La Prairie
CHF 254 (50ml)

My mum has been telling me about the importance of neck skincare ever since I can remember. It is true, your neck can hint at your age as it ages differently from the skin of the face. With time, the chin may lose its youthful streamlined look and show easily signs of aging that once they are there, are hard to fight.

Therefore I was delighted to receive the new Anti-Aging Neck Cream by La Prairie. The scientist at La Prarie have developed a formula containing a complex to help re-contour the targeted area while hydrating, smoothing and promoting an even skin tone.

Le Petit Marseillais Beurre Réparateur
CHF 4.95 (125ml)
(This is not a typing error, this phenomenal product has an outstanding price!)

Le Petit Marseillais Beurre Réparateur is a special care cream for very dry skin. With its shea butter enriched formula, it also contains soothing aloe extracts and protective beeswax so your skin gets the perfect care mix.

This authentic French product is intended to be used for the body but it works amazingly for the face. Be a risktaker and try it! You will thank me forever.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Kiehl’s – Since 1851, the venerable New York-based purveyor of fine quality skin and hair care was founded as a classic pharmacy in the East Village neighborhood 160 years ago.

Kiehl’s founding family established their apothecary to fulfill the individual needs of every customer who came through its doors. Assuming the establishment from Mr. John Kiehl, the Morse family nurtured their community, cared for their customers as neighbors, and welcomed every visitor to Kiehl’s as if it were home.

In doing so, Kiehl’s founding pharmacists and chemists launched a tradition of personalized service that’s become legendary. Nearly 160 years later, the magic that is the “Kiehl’s experience” extends around the world as the company continues to delight patrons with its high quality products that assure the health of their skin and hair.

Today, the family’s message endures: “We are delighted to serve you.” In honour of this tradition, Kiehl’s proudly introduces the Limited Edition New York Heritage Collection, only available for a limited time in Kiehl’s stores worldwide now.

Comprised of four historical formulations that are still customer favorites today, adorned with limited edition black and gold packaging inspired by Kiehl’s New York roots, the collection features: Ultra Facial Cream and Moisturizer, Calendula Toner, and Original Musk Oil.

Ultra Facial Cream, CHF 39.90 (50ml)
Ultra Facial Moisturizer, CHF 39.90 (125ml)
Calendula Toner, CHF 59.50 (250ml)
Original Musk Oil, CHF 76 (50ml)

Last night, Zurich Kiehl’s store celebrated its 5th anniversary with the launch of  a special limited edition I LOVE ZURICH Ultra Facial Cream by Tara LaTrash.
Proceeds from each sale will go 100% toward Swiss Aids Charity.

CHF 39.90 (50ml), CHF 75.00 (125ml)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Kiehl’s and © Alexandra Pauli

A few weeks ago, I introduced the new YSL Holiday 2011 makeup look to you. Yesterday, I finally found the time to test the nail polish duo “N°6 Duo Terriblement Noir”. I am so happy with the result and hope that you will like it, too.

The two blacks, one matte and one glossy, have a wonderful texture and look great worn alone. But I couldn’t resist reproducing the French manicure look from YSL’s ad campaign using the matte polish as the base and the glossy one for the tips. The only bummer is that you have to be really careful when using hand cream or cuticle oil as this will damage the matte effect easily.

LoL, Sandra

Manucure Couture n°6  – CHF 49,00

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Just around the corner of the Dream Downtown hotel in the trendy Meatpacking District is the beautiful Bond N. 9 store on Washington Street. In case that you are not familiar with the brand, Bond N. 9 is a major, full-blown fragrance collection that was launched as an homage to New York City. The name is also the address of its headquarters boutique at 9 Bond Street in NoHo.

The Bond No. 9 collection of women’s, men’s, and unisex eaux de parfum has a dual mission: To restore artistry to perfumery, and to mark every New York neighborhood with a scent of its own. Each fragrance represents a specific downtown, midtown, or uptown locale or a city-wide sensibility. With new introductions in the coming seasons, Bond N. 9 infuses the island of Manhattan with scents.

Also available are scented body creams and candles.

One of my favourite Bond N.9 fragrances is Chinatown with notes of peach blossoms, gardenia, tuberose, patchouli, and cardamom.

A new addition to the Bond N°9 New York Midtown family is New York Amber with notes of bergamot, saffron, nutmeg, white peppercorn, magestic rose, jasmine, osmanthus, oud, amber, sandalwood, musk, myrrh and benzoin tears. 
This eau de parfum has a different, interesting twist to the classic note of amber. I absolutely love it. To be launched in Switzerland this December.

Another new eau de parfum is I LOVE NEW YORK which exists for her, for him and in an unisex version. I LOVE NEW YORK for Her is an easy-to-wear; easy to love pastry gourmand fragrance with notes of mandarin zest, spicy nutmeg, blueberry accord, roses, pink peonies, patchouli, musk, vanilla, sandalwood and leather accord. So yummy!

Outside of the store, you can see the I LOVE NEW YORK car! Pretty cool, isn’t it?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

For all beauty junkies among you, check out the fabulous Christmas sets by Origins. Those kits packed with their bestselling products mean huge savings while being the perfect gifts for your loved ones or of course for yourself!

Don’t waste your time with gift wrap this season. Instead opt for one of these ready-made luxury box sets. Here are some of my favourites:

GO GINGER

I am especially in love with the idea of gingering myself this winter! The GO GINGER gift box comes beautifully packaged, with a travel-size Ginger Souffle™ whipped body cream, an Incredible Spreadable™ ginger body scrub that I am addicted to, and a Ginger Bust™ savory body wash. CHF 32.00

FAMOUS FAVOURITES

Give it all with this tremendous collection of Origins favourites! This set includes: Plantscription™ anti-aging serum, Starting Over™ age-erasing moisturizer with mimosa, Starting Over™ age-erasing eye cream with mimosa, Modern Friction™ nature’s gentle dermabrasion, Ginger Souffle™ Whipped body cream and Incredible Spreadable™ ginger body scrub, CHF 129.00.

PERFECTLY PROTECTED

Sneak nature’s age-fighters under their tree. This value set includes: full-size A Perfect World™ white tea skin guardian, A Perfect World™ SPF 25 age-defense moisturizer with white tea, A Perfect World™ antioxidant cleanser with white tea. CHF 84.00

MASK DUO

Purifies and hydrates – oh, what fun! The Origins Mask Duo set includes Clear Improvement® active charcoal mask to clear pores and Drink Up™ intensive overnight mask to quench skin’s thirst. CHF 46.00

As you know, I am a huge fan of Origins products and not only because of the amazing quality but due to its packaging. If you travel a lot like I do, you will appreciate less packaging. Many high-end creams come in gigantic pots to appear even more luxurious and of course bigger. Origins can do without that! Thumbs up for this ecofriendliness!

If you are at the Origins counter, have a look at another new product, so-called Super Spot Remover™ blemish treatment gel that has advanced blemish-fighting super powers. (It is true! I am completely sold on this product.)

Designed to treat and manage breakouts, it is formulated with powerful naturally-derived ingredients that penetrate pores to eliminate stubborn, embarrassing blemishes. Skin is allowed to heal while existing scarring is visibly reduced and the development of new blemishes is prevented. Skin emerges spotless. 10ml – CHF 24.00

No more pimples, praise the Lord!

LoL, Sandra

39-year-old Latin singer Ricky Martin and 28-year-old rapper Nicki Minaj took over as faces from Lady Gaga for MAC’s new 2012 Viva Glam campaign. Shot by famous photgrapher David LaChapelle, the two stars pose next to a giant lipstick.

The collection is for a good cause. Every cent of the selling price of MAC VIVA GLAM lipstick and lipgloss is donated to the MAC AIDS fund.

LoL, Sandra