Sandra‘s Closet

I am so proud to announce that I am a new ambassador for BOBBI BROWN. I have been a huge fan of the global prestige beauty brand that empowers women to embrace and enhance their individual beauty. In 1991, makeup-artist-turned-entrepreneur Bobbi Brown launched her namesake label. Since then, the brand has offered universally flattering products created with uncompromising quality and an intuitive sense of what every woman wants: to look and feel like herself, only prettier and more confident.

The first new product I would love to introduce you is a lipstick. But it is not «just another lipstick», it is a true upgrade. I wear lipstick everyday. I just love it.

The new LUXE LIPSTICK is inspired by New York City with its NYC-inspired case featuring a skyline silhouette and shades that tell a story. The slogan is «the color that never sleeps.» Personally speaking, I love lipsticks that are skincare-infused. The new LUXE LIPSTICKS promise 10-hour moisture and 10-hour wear. I tried them and it is true. The new creamy formula boosts color payoff while nourishing and conditioning lips thanks to an infusion of flower extracts and wax. The all-day wear resists fading, feathering, and smudging, providing the ultimate lip- loving comfort.

Available in a large selection of tempting 36 shades, you can create your own The Luxe Lip Wardrobe. Visit the nearest BOBBI BROWN counter next to you and indulge in this expanded range of wearable bolds and power neutrals. Or just get inspired by the color swaps, and order them online. The new lipsticks are available now for CHF 52.00 each. I am wearing 318 Rose Blossom in this post.

LoL, Sandra

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

10 years ago, I attended the launch event of Lancôme’s iconic «La Vie Est Belle» Eau de Parfum on a rainy day at Dolder in Zurich. This September, the French beauty house invited me again to celebrate one decade of its intoxicating notes with a fun party at Samigo Amusement. The weather was much better and the location offered all sorts of instagrammable spots and entertainment, from glitter tattoos to turning the wheel of fortune.

Until today, Julia Roberts is the face of the campaign. Her radiant personality and iconic smile symbolize the epitome of feminine grace and happiness that the scent aims to capture. With notes of Iris spring flowers, intoxicating patchouli, delicious praline and sensual warm vanilla, it is a gourmand scent. Over the years, several flankers have been launched. The fragrance is a true embodiment of Lancôme’s heritage with the «Crystal Smile» bottle, first designed in 1949 by Georges Delhomme.

Top notes: Pear and black currant
Middle notes: Orange blossom, jasmine and iris
Base notes: Praline, tonka bean, vanilla and patchouli

Life is beautiful – this was the message of the night! A beautiful event with memories to be cherished for a long time.

LoL, Sandra

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

Before leaving on my digital detox holidays, I attended the beautiful Hair Ritual by Sisley Paris Summer Party at the Signau House & Garden Boutique Hotel in Zurich, which is a real oasis in the city. The weather was beautiful and the garden offered the most instagrammable spots. The reason for the party was the launch of the newest addition to the Hair Ritual by Sisley Paris: the Gentle Purifying Shampoo with Java Tea extract. It gently cleanses and refreshes the scalp while instantly eliminating surface impurities, sebum and styling product residue, leaving a fresh and delicately scented trail.

We could see first hand during the product presentation on the models how their hair was left looking fresher, lighter, more voluminous, glossy, and radiating vitality.

On display was the complete product range. Another recently launched product that I can highly recommend after having tested it for some weeks now is the Restructuring Nourishing Balm. I love this «silky balm» that instantly transforms into an oil for a sensorial experience. Especially created for damaged, dry and brittle hair, this deeply nourishing pre-shampoo balm acts on the hair fibre to intensely nourish, repair and restructure. You don’t need a lot of product. It’s best used as an overnight application for an intense restorative action: instantly, the texture of the hair is visibly transformed. The hair is intensively nourished and restored and left feeling glossy, silky, and shiny.

If you need a speedy effect, you can also apply it for around 30 minutes for an immediate result. The hair is more supple, and the frizz is controlled.

Last but not least, if you are leaving for warm weather destinations, don’t forget to get the Hair Protective Fluid which forms a film that protects the hair from the harmful effects of the sun, sea and swimming pool water. The formula also contains two filters for an optimal protection against UVA and UVB rays. The colour of natural, coloured, bleached or highlighted hair is protected. More than a protector, it has a beautifying action as well. This lightweight textured spray delightfully fragrances the hair with citrus and woody notes of verbena, lemon, peach blossom and amber.

TO SHOP HAIR RITUAL BY SISLEY PARIS ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

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

SYCOMORE AND MAISONS D’ART
AN EXCEPTIONAL FRAGRANCE COFFRET, MADE SUBLIME BY MAISONS D’ART
In 2022, CHANEL and Maisons d’art combine their expertise once again to design an exclusive coffret dedicated to SYCOMORE Parfum. The highly precious nature of this new interpretation of the iconic SYCOMORE Eau de Parfum is showcased in an ultra–limited edition case, crafted as a series of 20 numbered pieces.

VETIVER AT ITS FINEST
For this exclusive creation, CHANEL In-House Perfumer-Creator Olivier Polge composed SYCOMORE Parfum, a woody fragrance with notes of vetiver, cedar, and vanilla. SYCOMORE Parfum features intensified accords of SYCOMORE Eau de Parfum. It leaves a powerful and enveloping trail, amplifying its sensuousness. Paired with notes of iris and subtly enhanced by accents of leather and vanilla is lively —nearly frenetic— vetiver.

BACCARAT CRYSTAL AND MAISON LESAGE EMBROIDERY
Presented in a Baccarat crystal bottle, sealed with a fine baudruche and stamped with the CHANEL double C to preserve its precious scent, SYCOMORE Parfum is displayed in a luxurious coffret embroidered by Maison Lesage artisans.
The finest raw materials that compose the new Parfum are represented through embroidery in a rich autumnal scene depicting the olfactory atmosphere of SYCOMORE. The coffret acts as a canvas for amethyst bicone beads and passementerie pearls, symbolic of pink peppercorns and juniper berries. Thin wood shavings intertwined with golden threads recall the amber hue of the fragrance and the sycamore forest floor, littered with samaras and transected by rays of light.
Each numbered piece is a true collector’s item; «SYCOMORE and Maisons d’art» celebrates both the excellence of CHANEL Parfumeur and the unique craftsmanship of embroiderer Lesage.

The «SYCOMORE and Maisons d’art» coffret with Parfum Flacon 50 ml will be available in September 2022. Twenty ultra–limited edition numbered pieces. CHF 10’900.-
Sycomore Parfum Flacon 15 ml CHF 274.-

LoL, Sandra

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

Meet NOIR ALLURE, the new all-in-one mascara by CHANEL that fans out the lashes for a four-dimensional result: volume, length, curl and definition.

For the first time, the House of CHANEL has infused a black mascara with a touch of red to intensify and add depth to the eyes. The new brush also boasts a hint of red: slim, flexible and elegant, it captures every last lash, creating an optimal fanned-out effect.

Like the famous lipstick ROUGE ALLURE, NOIR ALLURE makes the everyday extraordinary and restores its beauty step to full splendor. For the first time, the iconic CHANEL click mechanism is featured in a mascara design. The click mechanism transforms this mascara into a luxury item that opens instantly. Due to its patented opening and closing system, its airtight case remains perfectly sealed.

COMPOSITION
Enriched with provitamin B5, the formula helps fortify and protect the lashes. Three naturally derived waxes – including rice wax and beeswax – deliver volume, curl and length.

HOW TO USE
To apply, sweep onto the lashes from root to tip using a slight zigzag motion.
Each stroke of the brush immediately intensifies the makeup look.

HOW TO COMBINE
Pair NOIR ALLURE with a LES 4 OMBRES called INTENSITÉ exclusive creation, which reveals a palette composed of four natural satin shades. The new, limited edition shade of STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF, BLEU CARBONE, both enhances and intensifies the eyes.

MASCARA NOIR ALLURE Noir CHF 54.-
LES 4 OMBRES Intensité (Limited Edition) CHF 77.-
STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF Bleu Carbone (Limited Edition) CHF 32.-

The new products will be available in Switzerland in the beginning of September 2022.

LoL, Sandra

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

Right now I am enjoying the essence of summer to the fullest. Spending my days at the beach, drinking coconut cocktails and lathering milky sunscreen on my skin, I indulge – after a great time in Saint Tropez – in the Myconian sun. Opulent, golden sunrays warming my naked skin while I would like to show you some amazing products.

The Tom Ford Soleil Summer 2022 collection, inspired by SOLEIL BRÛLANT, is here and as always it is absolutely stunning. There are some well known products as some new additions you shouldn’t miss.

SOLEIL BLANC EAU DE PARFUM

My summer classic! Soleil Blanc, this addictive solar floral amber and coco de mer-infused scent, evokes remote, private islands where summer lasts all year and one day seamlessly blends into the next. Alive with seductive cardamom and refreshingly decant yang yang, Soleil Blanc unapologetically exudes the endless pursuit of sun and luxury.

SOLEIL BRÛLANT SHIMMERING BODY OIL

This silky scented oil adds a seductive gleam to the skin while tempting the senses with the scorching sensuality of SOLEIL BRÛLANT – the Private Blend fragrance mingling sunlit florals with warm amber. The luxurious, lightweight oil illuminates the skin with delicate flecks of golden-toned leaf, without leaving it greasy or sticky.

SOLEIL LIP BLUSH

This decadent, uniquely shade-shifting balm perfectly captures the gilded glow of the Soleil collection with exclusive gold-toned flecks and packaging. Swipe it on, and it transforms into a sultry pink stain unique to you. It reacts with your skin pH.

SOLEIL SHEER CHEEK DUO IN ÉCLAT NU

This new duo adds natural dimension and sensuous color that effortlessly glides onto skin with a soft, even finish. You can use the shades alone or together to built up depending on desired intensity.

The collection is in stores now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Michael HJ Lopez Photographie / Sandra Bauknecht
Courtesy of Tom Ford
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Ground yourself in color with the OPI Fall Wonders Collection for Fall 2022. Featuring a down-to-earth palette that harnesses the healing power of nature, this collection of 12 shades in three different formulas channels the calming and colorful hues found in natural wonders around the world.

Earthy mauve, clay and dark brown ground and balance consumers, while warm hues of purple, yellow, rust and red reflect the mineral and ruddy tones found in natural rock formations. Meditative color-scapes in hues of blue, metallic gold, tin and black pearl reflect elements of wellness rituals (think sound vessels, water and stones) and evoke a sense of introspection.

«Nature is imbued with color, and that color has the power to lift your mood and offer balance,» remarks OPI Co-Founder and Brand Ambassador Suzi Weiss-Fischmann. «The energy of the earth is like a balm for our mind and body. With Fall Wonders, consumers can use color as an escape into nature, allowing them to detach from reality and connect with the feelgood world outdoors – from anywhere.»

«This collection taps into classical elements – water, earth, air, fire,» adds OPI Global Director of Color Collections Jill Bartoshevich. «The idea of using color to ground yourself rests on the intuitive assumption that connecting to the energy of the earth through these elements can soothe, empower or motivate you when needed. Hero shade Midnight Mantra is a dark navy crème that inspires deep serenity and peace. This shade is perfect for day-to-night looks thanks to its timeless style that sets a complementary canvas for other fashion and accessory color trends.»

Fall Wonders Collection shades will be available in GelColor, Infinite Shine and Nail Lacquer formulas, including:

Peace of Mined
An earthy créme mauve that will create a mined shift.
Claydreaming
A neutral brown-purple créme that will make you sedimental.
Medi-take It All In
A balancing purple créme that’s a rich-ual on your nails.
Brown to Earth
Ground yourself in this dark brown créme lacquer.

Ochre the Moon
Lift your mood with this warm créme yellow.
Rust & Relaxation
Take (re)charge with this warm rust créme.
Red-veal Your Truth
A warm red créme that will make you rock steady.
Suzi Takes a Sound Bath
An earth toned blue you’ll feel in your mind, body, and soul.

Midnight Mantra
A dark navy créme that will take you from clay to night.
I Mica Be Dreaming
A shimmery metallic gold lacquer that’s set in stone.
Clean Slate
Get tin your element with this dark metallic gray.
Cave the Way
A black pearl lacquer you’ll cave for.

GelColor provides a professional salon finish with up to three-week wear, while Infinite Shine offers a high- shine finish with gel effect and traditional lacquer application. Nail Lacquer features a highly-pigmented, rich formula for even application without streaking.

The collection will launch in Switzerland on August 22, 2022.
Infinite Shine 15 ml: 24.90 CHF – Nail Lacquer 15 ml: 19.90 CHF

Click here to find out where to get professional OPI nail service.

LoL, Sandra

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

Having explored the olfactory culture of the Middle East since 2018, Les Parfums Louis Vuitton now make a new stopover. Following Ombre Nomade, Les Sables Roses, Nuit de Feu and Pur Oud, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud composes a tribute to three native Middle Eastern flowers that over the centuries have become emblematic of perfumery all over the world: jasmine, a symbol of beauty from the Far East to the Mediterranean; orange blossom, which has been used in the region since Antiquity; and rose, one of the most famous varieties of which originated in Damascus. For the fifth opus in this collection, Louis Vuitton’s Master Perfumer wanted to capture these natural wonders in their original setting: gathered in a «nectar of flowers,» they blossom at the heart of a rich and resolutely sophisticated oriental composition. More than a perfume: a signature.

The Splendors of the Desert

In the desert, everything is magnified. This theater of extremes has fascinated and inspired stories since the dawn of time. Its immensity invites us to dream even further. Despite its hostile environment, the desert conceals spectacular wonders. Unforgettable emotions…

Amid the expanse of sand, a touch of color catches the travelers’ eye and makes them stop in their tracks. A corolla of petals. The unexpected presence of a plant in a vast, mineral ocean. At once fragile and strong, this flower has braved the omnipotence of the elements to express a beauty that is all the more sumptuous. It is life that springs forth against all odds, foiling the impossible. A miracle, poised at the boundary of reality and magic.

A Nectar of Flowers

From his many visits to the Middle East, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud carries in his memory striking contrasts. Arid dunes skirting the sea. Scorching days succeeded by freezing nights. A sumptuous palace rising from the heart of the desert, an architectural treasure breaking the monotony of sand like a mirage. To compose Fleur du Désert, he immersed himself in the «absolute beauty» of an oasis with lush vegetation, encountered during a morning walk in the Saudi Arabian desert not far from Jeddah. Moved by the power of such life defying the aridity of the landscape – an «eminently optimistic symbol» – Louis Vuitton’s Master Perfumer captured the image in a colorful signature brimming with contrasts. The delicacy of a bouquet of fresh flowers, exalted by the depth of an oriental trail.

Jasmine, orange blossom, rose: originally from the Middle East, these three flowers became emblems for Western perfumery. «They were brought to Europe by caravan from different regions in the Orient,» explains Jacques Cavallier Belletrud. «My idea was simply to stage these natural wonders in their original setting.» Directly inspired by the history and origins of perfumery, Fleur du Désert celebrates the essential contribution of the Middle East, the birthplace of this millennia-old art.

The House’s Master Perfumer selected the finest qualities of these flowers that he knows by heart as they are redolent of his native region: Grasse. Two essences obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction faithfully reproduce the scents of the fresh flowers at the center of his composition: Grandiflorum jasmine, tinged with the honeyed accents of orange blossom absolute, emanates its delicately radiant scent, while the Centifolia rose reveals the sublime softness of its petals. This precious bouquet is an ode to the art of perfume, enveloped in an oriental accord with original tonalities of spices and honey.
«I didn’t want an oriental accord in the Western sense of the term, but rather one that truly speaks of the culture and beauty that are unique to that region,» the perfumer explains. Oud Assam, also known as «black gold» — a treasure of Middle Eastern perfumery — expresses its unprecedented olfactory richness through an exceptional essence, distilled for two centuries by a family of producers in Bangladesh who have become the exclusive supplier to Louis Vuitton. Woody, animalic, spicy, amber… its deep scent is rounded by a honeyed note that responds to the suavest facets in the floral bouquet. Touched by a whisper of cinnamon, warm as the desert wind, this opulent trail embraces the skin with the sensuality of Ambrox, then melts into the naturally musky softness of ambrette seed. Enveloped in precious ingredients, this «nectar of flowers» reveals its absolute sophistication as the hours pass…

Louis Vuitton and the Middle East: A Legacy of Signatures

Introduced with Ombre Nomade in 2018, Les Parfums Louis Vuitton‘s tribute to Middle Eastern olfactory culture is not limited to its ingredients, nor to its territories of inspiration. Fragrance after fragrance, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud reaffirms the connection between his personal creative process and Middle Eastern perfumery, which share a singular love for textured, sophisticated fragrances. The son and grandson of perfumers, he observes that «Truly great perfumes have olfactory imprints that are distinctive and instantly memorable.» In a word: they are signatures. Guided by this conviction from his earliest creations, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud has naturally developed a strong affinity with lovers of Middle Eastern perfumery. Through this collection, he reveres the culture and curiosity that drives them to explore all olfactory families, well beyond the clichés to which Western perfumery sometimes confines them. «What defines a »Middle Eastern» perfume is not a question of notes, in my opinion,» he «It is rather a matter of textures and complexity. Undeniable elegance and presence.»

The Colors of the Desert

With the perfumes in this Middle Eastern-inspired collection, Louis Vuitton offers a palette of vibrant blacks that capture the colors of the desert and the multiple nuances of its mysteries. Crafted in precious glass that appears black at first glance, the House’s iconic perfume bottle reveals a deep, intense cast when touched by light. Fleur du Désert reveals pinkish reflections evoking the sumptuous hue of a freshly bloomed flower. Like the desert surrendering its most beautiful secrets to those who know how to look…

Eau de Parfum Fleur du Désert 100ml, 320€
In-store refill 100ml, 190€

Eau de Parfum Fleur du Désert 200ml, 495€
In-store refill 200ml, 380€

Available at select Louis Vuitton stores and from louisvuitton.com.

LoL, Sandra

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

Finally I am on vacation, ready for some days of digital detox which doesn’t mean I am not keeping you updated. I indulge in those carefree days at the beach in the South of France and brought my new CHANEL LES BEIGES summer essentials that embark this season on an oversized journey.

The extravagance of head- to-toe makeup and the radiance of a naturally luminous complexion, CHANEL is thinking BIG this summer with XXL product formats, multiple uses, and ultra-sensorial textures for the face, body, and hair.

SIMPLE, SWEEPING, GENEROUS makeup application.
For a FRESH, LUMINOUS, and effortlessly NATURAL look.

The OVERSIZE HEALTHY GLOW SUN-KISSED POWDER warms the skin, giving it the radiance of a summer day spent by the sea. It offers the freedom to wear it on the face, but also on the shoulders, décolleté, and even the arms and legs. This exclusive creation features a rounded square shape —emblematic of the LES BEIGES line—and its pearly, lightly creamy powder formula comes in three ideal summertime shades.
The new OVERSIZE KABUKI BRUSH completes the experience, for flawless application to the face and body.

Available in three shades:
Sunshine Light – Light satin shade
Sunkiss Medium – Medium satin shade
Sunbath Deep – Deep matte shade

LES BEIGES MAXI POUDRE BELLE MINE ENSOLEILLÉE CHF 90.-
MAXI PINCEAU KABUKI CHF 60.-

My absolute favorite is the HUILE ILLUMINATRICE, that envelops the body in soft copper and gold shimmer. This large-sized (250 ml) dry oil is designed for generous application to the face as well as the hair. It subtly enhances the shoulders, legs, and décolleté. Apply liberally, to your heart’s desire. Skin that reflects the sun’s rays is a sign that summer is here. The sheer shade comes with subtle copper shimmer.

LES BEIGES HUILE ILLUMINATRICE Flacon 250 ml CHF 96.-

This limited edition mini collection is available now to celebrate summer in grand style.

LoL, Sandra

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

Cologne is classic. Kologne, shield of protection by KILIAN PARIS is next generation.
Splash into a Kool summer with an incredible sensory trip across freshness, intensity and time. Perfume is like a shield of protection to Founder Kilian Hennessy, emboldening our unconscious fears with a sense of security and the new Kologne is the ultimate olfactive expression of this belief. He created a scent for feeling protected anywhere, anytime, as an aura of purity and vitality in an instant spritz.

Cologne is named after the German city, where Italian perfumer Giovanni Maria Farina created the citrus, rosemary and alcohol blend Eau de Cologne in 1709; yet its origins go deeper.
Eau de Cologne was inspired by recipes from the Middle Ages, «versatile remedies» called Aquae Mirabile, or mixtures of antiseptic aromatic herbs used to «cleanse» the air. It also referenced L’Eau de la Reine de Hongrie, an herb blend used in the fairytale ‘Sleeping Beauty’ to awaken the legendary princess.

Founder Kilian Hennessy had been developing his own cologne for years, sparked by a desire to return to the roots and meaning of this unique genre of perfume. Together with perfumer Calice Becker, his own ‘shield of protection’ has been forged.

A playful garden of delight, Kologne, shield of protection debuts with luminous citrus notes of green mandarin, bitter orange leading into a heart of rosemary, mint and neroli. A sophisticated, woodsy dry-down is built upon cedarwood, cashmeran and a distinctive ‘sap’ accord composed of green vegetal notes.

Kologne, shield of protection’s perfume bottle is vivid blue, colored like the perfect summer night pool party with gun metal hardware accents. The bottle features KILIAN PARIS’s signature style: angular and elegant with art deco design undertones, as well as its iconic motif along the sides: concentric circles inspired by the divine shield crafted for the ancient Greek warrior, Achilles.

An olfactive armor, a source of personal power, and an immediate uplift for the Kraziest KILIAN PARIS summer. The new Kologne Kilian Paris is available now for CHF 240 (50ml). In Switzerland at Jelmoli Zurich, Globus Zurich and Globus Geneva.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © KILIAN PARIS
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise
www.bykilian.com @kilianparis #KILIANPARIS #KOLOGNEBYKILIAN