Sandra‘s Closet

Let me introduce you to my favorite body lotion at the moment. SISLEY‘s ‘Black Rose Beautifying Emulsion‘ is a lightweight cream that easily absorbs into the body without residue. It’s blended with Black Rose, Camelina Oil, and White Ginger to deeply moisturize and soothe. With regular use, it’ll help to maintain the skin’s natural elasticity.

It smells very subtly and wonderfully of damask rose while providing the natural radiance and suppleness of youthful skin.

To shop the SISLEY Black Rose Beautifying Body Emulsion, click here please.

LoL, Sandra

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

Inspired by the emblematic creations of Yves Saint Laurent, Le Vestiaire des Parfums is a collection of fragrances that each interprets a centrepiece of the couturier’s wardrobe.

Young Yves Saint Laurent wearing a caftan in Marrakech

With its its loose-fitted and floating cut, the caftan sums up the Eastern world. Yves Saint Laurent fell in love with this traditional piece of clothing during his Marrakech stays and reinterpreted it through his own signature and compelling modernity. By turning the fluid lines of the traditional caftan into a strikingly modern, iconic piece, it immediately became a welcome alternative to the classical evening dress.

The couturier’s oriental reveries have in turn inspired the scent CAFTAN, whose mysterious allure blends dark, velvety incense with lush, radiant benzoin. Mysterious and vibrant, CAFTAN is a tribute to far-flung journeys. A floating veil of incense embroidered with vanilla lightly drapes the skin in the same way that the fluidity of the caftan caresses the body. Inspired by the vibrancy of Moroccan culture, CAFTAN calls upon all the bursting and colorful fabrics of the East. The shimmering amber deploys deep sensual promises that mirror the exuberance and warmth of ochre and sandy shades.

CAFTAN is part of the Haute Parfumerie collection of Yves Saint Laurent. It is a woody leathery, spicy unisex fragrance, and definitely a great fall /winter scent. I have fallen immediately in love with it. It is seductive and warm, however not too gourmand, yet very flamboyant with its notes of amber, incense and vanilla. A great gift for a scent-loving friend or just to spoil yourself.

TO SHOP CAFTAN, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

Enjoy your holidays!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography / Sandra Bauknecht and © YSL Beauty
DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored.

Launched in 2015, Le Vestiaire des Parfums is a tribute to Yves Saint Laurent’s style.
The collection translates into unique scents the Couturier’s singular flair for turning the most basic garments into sophisticated, androgynous, timeless silhouettes. That special twist defining the Saint Laurent attitude.

TASTE FOR TENSION
Inheriting the couturier’s spirit, Le Vestiaire des Parfums is a collection of bold signature fragrances, each inspired by one of the house’s iconic pieces, materials or addresses. Each expressing Yves Saint Laurent’s taste for tension, his effortless singularity, his instinctive and elegant sense of provocation.

TRANSCENDING CODES
The pieces of this Vestiaire complement each other. Blending classic notes with high-quality ingredients, they transcend the codes of gender to reveal an attitude. Le Vestiaire des Parfums is the story of Saint Laurent told in another language, just as universal as haute couture’s. And like haute couture, the collection is made to measure: the measure of each wearer’s imaginary world.

TUXEDO
ÉPICES – PATCHOULI

THE INSPIRATION
In 1966, Yves Saint Laurent invented his version of the Tuxedo by turning it into women’s eveningwear. Matching the authority of masculine tailoring with provocative femininity, he introduced a novel, androgynous attitude in couture.

THE OLFACTION
TUXEDO is as troubling as the iconic suit whose name it borrows. The lushness of Patchouli attracts and embraces, while the sensual intensity of Spices mesmerizes and arouses. Charismatic, TUXEDO captivates.

BLOUSE
ROSE – ANGÉLIQUE

THE INSPIRATION
In 1962, Yves Saint Laurent turned the humble cotton smock into a delicate silk blouse. Finding inspiration in a functional garment to invent a sophisticated weapon of seduction: the gesture sums up the couturier’s boldness and freedom.

THE OLFACTION
This taste for creative transgression is reflected by the scent of BLOUSE: a single, fragile Rose draws unexpected energy from vibrant green Angelica and cool Pink Pepper. In its duality, BLOUSE reveals its perfect modernity.

GRAIN DE POUDRE
ACCORD VIOLETTE – SAUGE

THE INSPIRATION
In the mid-60s, Yves Saint Laurent borrowed this strict, grainy fabric from the masculine wardrobe to design timelessly sophisticated couture dresses and suits.

THE OLFACTION
The scent of GRAIN DE POUDRE translates this bold alchemy by draping the familiar, powdery fragrance of Violet in the coolness of Sage. A subtle, elegantly modern interplay between the masculine and the feminine.

SAHARIENNE
NÉROLI – MUSCS BLANCS

THE INSPIRATION
By adapting the Safari jacket for women in 1968, Yves Saint Laurent combined freedom with elegance. In his hands, the symbol of exotic adventures became seductive and alluring.

THE OLFACTION
SAHARIENNE captures this perfect balance between animal magnetism and extreme sophistication, blending the addictive sensuality of a creamy white Musk with a fresh, vibrant Neroli. Troubling, SAHARIENNE reveals a fascinating, untameable nature.

TRENCH
AGRUMES – IRIS

THE INSPIRATION
With Yves Saint Laurent, the quintessentially virile trench-coat became a symbol of femininity. The couturier endowed it with a mysterious, intense charm that gave off a whiff of danger and of the forbidden.

THE OLFACTION
As chic as the piece that inspired it, TRENCH wraps a velvety, dark Iris in the purebred delicacy of Neroli. A play on light and shadow, the legend of TRENCH is still utterly contemporary.

CABAN
POIVRE ROSE – TONKA

THE INSPIRATION
The sailor coat was introduced in the Saint Laurent wardrobe in 1962, its pared-down lines resonating with the couturier’s innate sense of style.

THE OLFACTION
CABAN translates its commanding style into scent by matching the sharp radiance of Pink Pepper with the lush warmth of Tonka Bean. Sleek and empowering, CABAN claims simplicity as the ultimate form of elegance.

CAFTAN
ENCENS – BENJOIN

THE INSPIRATION
His time in Marrakesh and Tangier inspired Yves Saint Laurent, who turned the fluid lines of the traditional caftan into a strikingly modern, iconic piece.

THE OLFACTION
The couturier’s Oriental reveries have in turn inspired CAFTAN, whose mysterious allure blends dark, velvety Incense with lush, radiant Benzoin. Mysterious and vibrant, CAFTAN is a tribute to far-flung journeys.

JUMPSUIT
MAGNOLIA – BERGAMOTE

THE INSPIRATION
JUMPSUIT. In 1968, the functional overall of car racers, aviators, parachutists – hence its name, the «jump» suit – and astronauts ascended into the stratosphere of high luxury. Daring, dashing yet unexpectedly elegant, Yves Saint-Laurent’s first short evening jumpsuit in black silk jersey was acclaimed by the fashion press as a bold new fashion statement. The couturier had discovered the true beauty of a utilitarian garment, turning it into an archetype of fashion.

THE OLFACTION
Colourful and empowering. The scent of spring, when its giant, tulip-shaped flowers bloom on trees. Joyful, captivating, as bright as the morning light. The citrusy brightness of Bergamot picks up when magnified by the full radiance of Magnolia Flower, in an echo of the House’s vibrantly coloured jumpsuits.

CAPELINE
LYS – VANILLE

THE INSPIRATION
Throughout his career, Yves Saint Laurent would play on the capeline’s paradox: a nonchalant way of going incognito that is also the most spectacular of accessories. Worn since the Middle-Ages as a protection against the sun, the wide-brimmed hat sailed to catwalks. A centerpiece crowning a sleek silhouette.

THE OLFACTION
Sensual and nonchalant. The majestic Lily bloom could inspire the form of an extravagant capeline. Its name in French_LYS_ forms the anagram of Yves Saint Laurent’s initials_YSL. No wonder the heraldic Lily was the couturier’s emblem. It embodies a sensual grace with its pure, elegant white, and its sophisticated facets. Twisted with the warm, creamy, and suave Vanilla absolute, it reveals a sensual and nonchalant character.

Stay tuned as I will show you soon my new scent from the YSL – Le Vestiaire des Parfums. Do you have an idea for which I went?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © YSL Beauty
DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored.

Gift sets are a great way to treat a fellow beauty lover or yourself. Whether your complexion needs lifting, smoothing, brightening or plumping, it will always benefit from a targeted regimen. Enjoy these three curated sets of skincare saviors.

Best for smoothing lines and wrinkles: DR. BARBARA STURM – The Super Set

Any good anti-aging approach takes hands into consideration – they’re exposed to the wind, UV rays and pollutants as much as our face, and are even more prone to dehydration and premature aging with today’s stringent handwashing demands. That’s why this super trio from Dr. Barbara Sturm pairs the brand’s Anti-Aging Hand Cream – packed with mega-hydrators aloe vera, prickly pear and hyaluronic acid – with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredient-rich Serum and Face Cream from the same range. All three come housed in a reusable, grey velvet pouch that’s as coveted as the firmer, smoother, plumped-up skincare results delivered over time.

Best for head-to-toe hydration: AUGUSTINUS BADER – The Icons with the Cream

The skin on your body deserves as much attention as the skin on your face, and this double act from Augustinus Bader will help you elevate these two self-care rituals. Both The Rich Cream – a more indulgent, extra-hydrating version of the original cult moisturizer – and The Body Cream are infused with the brand’s Trigger Factor Complex, a bespoke blend that activates the body’s own stem cells so you get major anti-aging benefits (think fewer lines, less redness and pigmentation). Really knead the body cream into particularly dry areas, including knees, elbows and over hips and thighs to address cellulite, too.

Best for clearing congested skin: EVE LOM – Rescue Ritual Gift Set

Pore size and texture make a big difference to the look of your complexion, and these two full-sized iconic products work in tandem to purify and clear skin that’s prone to blemishes and visible pores or in need of a deep cleanse. On top of effortlessly removing waterproof makeup, Eve Lom’s signature cleanser blends four aromatic plant oils to open pores, tone skin and boost circulation without overtaxing the skin. Apply the kaolin clay-packed Rescue Mask to really draw out impurities and grime from pores, while buffing away dead skin cells with the set’s muslin cloth.

LoL, Sandra

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

You know how much I love the LA MER Moisturizers. I have a moisture wardrobe for every moment, no matter the season, style or destination.
Infused with cell-renewing Miracle Broth™, the famous moisturizer collection delivers healing moisture and potent renewal. From ultra-rich to refreshingly cool, they adapt to your moisture needs no matter the occasion or destination.

Below you will find the five different textures. I compared them to fabrics to give you an idea how they feel like. It is up to you to find your favorites. Go to the counter and try them. I use them according to my daily needs, the weather conditions and my mood.

So let’s have a look at the 5 different options – that all provide your skin with this extra kick of moisture:

THE MOISTURIZING MATTE LOTION
This ultra lightweight hydrating lotion gives skin a smooth, healthy-looking matte finish, ideal for oilier skin.

If it was a fabric, it would be a fine wool …

THE MOISTURIZING SOFT LOTION
This lightweight lotion absorbs quickly, delivering all day healthy moisture. Ideal for combination skin.

If it was a fabric, it would be a soft satin …

THE MOISTURIZING COOL GEL CREAM
This lightweight gel cream leaves the skin feeling cooled and soothed with a fresh, healthy radiance. Ideal for combination / oily skin.

If it was a fabric, it would be a cool silk …

THE MOISTURIZING SOFT CREAM
With Miracle Broth™ infused Moisturizing Spheres, this lighter-weight cream renews skin’s barrier for a naturally vibrant radiance. Ideal for combination / drier skin.

If it was a fabric, it would be an exquisite cashmere …

CRÈME DE LA MER
This luxuriously rich cream helps heal dryness by immersing skin in deep, soothing moisture. Fine lines appear softened over time. Ideal for drier skin.

If it was a fabric, it would be a rich velvet …

Great news is from November 25 – 27, 2021, you can enjoy a «Black Friday» special. You will receive automatically 4 LA MER deluxe samples, a silk scarf and a make-up pocket mirror for every order over CHF 130 at checkout – only while stock lasts.

Here are some ideas how to wear the beautiful silk scarf. My favorite is to wrap it around the handle of a bag.

Happy Black Friday weekend!

TO SHOP THE LA MER MOISTURIZERS, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and David Biedert Photography 
DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored. #LaMer #LoveLaMer

After severe testing of several advent calendars, I have found my favorite one: An immersive advent calendar with the best of Yves Saint Laurent including travel and full size products from top-selling fragrances, high fashion lipsticks, nourishing sumptuous skincare, and much more.

It is the perfect gift for yourself or a fellow luxury beauty lover who has everything else. Unwrap a new surprise all month long for the ultimate couture experience. The advent calendar is plastic-free, made of 100% cardboard sourced from sustainably managed forests.

TO SHOP THE CALENDAR, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

Spoiler alert, if you scroll further, you will see the content of the calendar with a detailed description.

This set includes 17 miniature products, 6 full-sized goods and an additional YSL gift:
• Touche Éclat Blur Primer 10ml
• Black Opium Eau de Parfum 7.5ml
• Mon Paris Eau de Parfum 7.5ml
• Libre Eau de Parfum 7.5ml
• Le Vestiaire Des Parfums Tuxedo & Saharienne 7.5ml
• Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Sheer Matte 101, 107, & 112
• Rouge Pur Couture 93
• Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick Balm 91
• Rouge Volupté Rock’n Shine 5
• Water Stain 618
• Deluxe Mini Rouge Pur Couture 21, 83, and 1966
• Deluxe Mini Tatouage Couture Velvet Cream 201
• Pure Shots Hydra Bounce Lotion 10ml
• Pure Shots Night Reboot Resurfacing Serum 7ml
• Pure Shots Light Up Brightening Serum 7ml
• Deluxe Mini Curler Mascara
• Deluxe Mini Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils
• Mini Dessin du Regard Eyeliner Pencil 01
• Kabuki Brush

Enjoy this holiday season to the fullest!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography – The photos were taken inside the new Globus.
DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored.

Let me introduce you to NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment, a highly pigmented, full coverage liquid lipstick with a matte finish without drying them out. Now available in three new shades:

«Lips are all about fun. Virtually every color can work on everyone. Paired with a soft eye, even the darkest o brightest shade of lip color can create a striking makeup look on its own.» – François Nars, Founder and Creative Director of NARS Cosmetics

Potency and precision—the ultimate power couple. A powerful concentrate of the most powerful matte yet. Fluid Pigment Complex, liquefied pigment with a zero-gravity feel, introduces infinite matte color saturation with ultra-flexible long-lasting wear. Sensorial, lightweight texture that applies like an ink on lips. It dries down to lock in formula for a smudge-resistant, carefree wear. Available for € 26.00.

LoL, SandraPhotos: © NARS

One of the best press happenings of the year is always the famous Sephora Christmas event to discover the most exciting beauty novelties for this holiday season.

I discovered exclusive holiday collections, limited-edition beauty sets and the bestselling products of the year. In this post, you will find a lot of fun products to show you care or just indulge yourself. Get ready for the holidays with beauty advent calendars and some amazing gift ideas.

One of my favorites. The famous «Holiday Vibes» advent calendar is a must for every beauty lover. 24 surprises for only CHF 49.90.

The «All Beauty Stars» advent calendar in gold and pink contains 12 new beauty brands that Sephora specifically casted for the holiday event. 7 original sized products along with 2 surprises, once the box is empty, you can reuse it every year. Available for CHF 159.90 (worth around CHF 450 if you bought the products alone).

The «Holiday Vibes»  Sephora collection includes many amazing gift ideas, such as the set of 8 face and body masks to pamper your skin from head to toe.

The Too Faced Cinnamon Swirl Holiday 2021 collection offers so many amazing products in warm brown shades.

Prepare yourself for New Year’s Eve with the Too Face Hangover Collection. I love the Replenishing Face Primer that can repair a beauty hangover. The replenishing skin booster hydrates, smooths and brightens for a dewy, refreshed, and revitalized complexion.

In the mood to try a new mascara? I can recommend this mudge-proof, easy to apply and intensely black, award-winning Volume Disturbia Mascara by Givenchy.

Completely obsessed with the Naughty Nude Eyeshadow Palette by Huda Beauty. A versatile palette with 18 shades in five ultra-wearable textures to create dramatic smoky eyes, as well as a variety of natural and sultry looks.

3 Little Wonders® by OLEHENRIKSEN promises to transform your skin in 7 days: The signature professional-strength age-defying regimen brightens, firms, evens skin tone, smoothes skin texture and reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

The cutest Christmas decoration… get a mini ornament for maximum effect under the tree.

All these products are available now at Sephora. Hurry up, as they will be selling out fast.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Andrea Monica Hug for Sephora
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

At Editions de Frédéric Malle, matching a person to the right perfume – whether in person or virtually – has always been a crucial part of the brand’s mission. «From the get-go – twenty years ago – I thought that, while a face-to-face session with one of our specialists was always going to be the ultimate, you shouldn’t have to go to a store to get a great experience or find the right match,» says Frédéric Malle today. «Not everyone was able to visit our stores, but we had a perfume for almost everyone. That’s why we were the first perfumers to launch a website, which at the time seemed to many people counterintuitive. I always knew that a virtual experience could eventually be just as fun and accurate – a similar type of exchange, but in a way, more intimate, and quite extraordinary.»

With Frédéric Malle

The original e-commerce site contained the first attempt, an almost Proustian questionnaire that – seemingly by magic, or intuition – produced amazingly accurate recommendations. At first, Malle answered each one personally. It was so good it’s still there, 20 years later.

This acuity was a triumph of study and observation of people’s visual language, individual style choices, and aesthetic preferences. In the early years, Malle had made a point of personally working the floor at the rue de Grenelle boutique, getting to know the clientele, learning the art of pairing customer and scent, and training his perfume consultants to be expert matchmakers. This felt crucial: the combination of rationality and instinct, meticulous refinement and fantasy, was to Malle the ethos of the company embodied. «By simply observing and really listening to people, we learn so much,» he says, «and as a result, we can give really precise advice. And this made-to-measure, very careful way of looking at people, helps them to find the freedom they really want – the freedom to be themselves. And they, in turn, because they are so varied and multifaceted, allow us the freedom of incredible creativity and the desire to generate an even-more eclectic perfume collection.»

Enter Kakanias. The Athens-born, LA-based artist, known for the whimsy and theatrical drama of his illustration, would seem at first glance an unlikely match for the painstaking Malle. «When I work with him, I try to get into his skin,» says Kakanias. «He’s so precise – and I’m not.» And yet, the two are not only longtime collaborators, but have become dear friends. Their skill-sets are in fact complementary and both share a fascination with observing and capturing the world in all its fabulous, glamorous, complex dimensions. Together, they combined their different landscapes, experiences, and intuitions to create a series of deft visual character sketches.

The Find your Match quiz combines both: at first glance a beautiful collage of images, of characters, the questionnaire will, in fact, result in the perfect perfume. What’s your ideal setting?  What shoes do you wear – what coat – and what underwear? What do you drive? This self representation is reflected by an algorithm, based on Malle’s years of observation, that he calls «a true representation of my brain,» translated into images with Kakanias‘s inimitable whimsical grace («It wasn’t easy – there were so many objects!») and leads to a result of uncanny accuracy.

What starts as a delightful escape from your day can become so much more. How do you want to use perfume – as weapon, as seduction, as discretion, as disguise? Will you want to sparkle, dominate, charm? What are the important moments in life, when you want to shine? Do you see yourself running a board meeting in Louboutins? Trysting in the woods with abandoned hair? Meeting in-laws while carrying a Birkin? Riding a Vespa across the Bridge of Sighs at midnight, en route to a highly exclusive and vaguely sinister after-hours club, with Dante in your pocket? Maybe all four at once!

It’s almost like going to a psychologist, a meeting of the minds in your telephone – but at the end, you’ll have the perfect scent. Who are you? Who do you want to be? What was your childhood like? (OK, maybe not that – but who knows? This stuff is powerful.) You’ll gradually hone in on a reflection of how you see yourself, and how you wish to be seen: your perfect match. And it will change your life.

Here are my results. Musc Ravageur is one of my favorite scents. So the quiz truly works… have fun! YOU CAN START THE QUIZ HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Frédéric Malle and © Sandra Bauknecht
#fredericmalle – #whoareyou? – #findyourperfume
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Last week, I attended an interactive digital event to celebrate the awe of nature with the new Aveda x 3.1 Phillip Lim Holiday Collection.

Barbara De Laere, Aveda Global Brand President, and Phillip Lim, Co-Founder and Creative Director of 3.1 Phillip Lim, shared firsthand the inspiration behind the collection, their favorite holiday traditions, and what they see as the future of sustainability for their respective industries. The event was hosted by Aveda’s Global Advocate for Sustainability, Arizona Muse.

«Our shared values to protect and care for the planet will manifest beauty. It is a beautiful cycle, a cycle of gifts.» – Phillip Lim

Aveda’s collaboration with 3.1 Phillip Lim is inspired by a mutual awe of nature, each element a celebration of botanical forms and expressions. The power of nature is in full bloom this holiday season as those two like-minded brands are bringing the botanical world of beauty to life thorough special-edition accessories and gift packaging created with sustainability at heart. The Aveda x 3.1 Phillip Lim collaboration includes four covetable, limited-edition hair accessories – a hair towel wrap & carrying bag, scrunchie trio, detangling comb, and wooden paddle brush –  as well as special-edition gift packaging, all featuring striking prints that combine the joyful colors of the holiday seasons with those found in the natural world.

Made with no compromises, the detangling comb for example is produced with recycled materials as post-consumer recycled polypropylene, and the hair towel wrap is made from 100% organic cotton.

The most amazing part are the gift boxes that can be reused and are made with 100 % recycled paper.  As they are so beautiful, you don’t need extra wrapping paper. Less layers that make the box a gift itself. The artwork that is featured was designed in collaboration with botanical artist, Sophie Parker.

Available globally beginning November 1st at Aveda salons, spas, stores, select retail partners and online, each element of the Aveda x 3.1 Phillip Lim collection pulses with botanical-inspired graphics and vivid colors from nature for a joyous and unexpected expression of the holiday season.

Botanical Repair Light Set – CHF 68.00
Botanical Repair Rich Set – CHF 68.00
Botanical Repair Strengthening Collection – CHF 84.00
Cherry Almond Softening Hair & Body Essentials – CHF 51.00
Hand Relief & Foot Relief Home and Travel Essentials – CHF 77.00
Moisturizing Travel Trio – CHF 36.00 / CHF 28.00
Feed My Lips Lip Gloss Duo – CHF 24.00

As Phillip said, «it is about the 3 Ps. The people, the planet and the products.»

Happy Holidays!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Aveda, © Sandra Bauknecht