Sandra‘s Closet

Kilts, bagpipes, unicornsand the legendary Loch Ness monster –experience all this and more with the Scotland Collection by OPI!

Inspired by fashion trends for the season, including windowpane plaid and classic houndstooth in unique fabrics with detailed embellishments, this collection includes 12 new shades for F/W 2019 in various shades of purple, blue andred, along with pops of orange, dark green and taupe.

The striking landscapes of Scotland are represented in these hues, from rolling hillsides filled with purple heather bloom (Good Girls Gone Plaid (hero shade), Boys Be Thistle-ing at Me, You’ve Got that Glas-glow, Edinburgh-er & Tatties) to fiery foliage in brilliant shades of red, orange and deep green (A Little Guilt Under the Kilt, Red Heads Ahead, Suzi Needs a Loch-smith, Things I’ve Seen in Aber-green) to thousands of miles of coastline and numerous lakes and rivers in every shade imaginable of blue (Rub-a-Pub-Pub, Nessie Plays Hide & Sea-k, OPI Grabs the Unicorn By The Horn, and Nice Set Of Pipes).

“After seeing so many variations of plaid forecasted for fall fashion, we knew we’d end up in Scotland for inspiration this season,” declares OPI co-founder and brand ambassador Suzi Weiss-Fischmann. “The collection’s hero shade, Good Girls Gone Plaid, captures the moody, ethereal beauty of Scotland in autumn. Its dark amethyst hue takes on the appearance of super trendy black in certain light, but with much more dimension thanks to the jewel undertones.”

Scotland Collection by OPI is available in Nail Lacquer (CHF 19.90), Infinite Shine (CHF 24.90) and GelColor formulas for in-salon treatments from Mid August 2019 for at least 6 months.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © OPI

These specialized powders are perfect for frequent flyers. 15th Degree created its ‘JetFuel‘ sachets to help you feel your best before, during and after long or busy periods of travel. Divided into three powder supplements – ‘Performance‘, ‘Rest‘ and ‘Health‘ – each dose is packed with highly absorbable active ingredients to reduce tiredness and fatigue, boost energy and support normal cognitive function. Happy Holidays!

To shop the JetFuel Travel Fatigue Set, click here please.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of the Brand

So, if you’re ready for some time spent under the summer sun and want to make sure your routine protects your skin during this time, check out these products below. Sun-smart must-haves to get you through the holiday season.

CAUDALIE Beautifying Suncare Oil SPF 30
Innovative filter system, hydration, luminous tan, water-resistant – CHF 32.90

BIOTHERM Waterlover Sun Mist SPF 30
Eco-designed, water-friendly, invisible, hydrating formula enriched with Life Plankton™ – CHF 51.90

ST. TROPEZ Bronzing Water Face Mist (LOVE!)
Ultra-lightweight skin protecting, tropical scented, tanning water mist – CHF 36.00

SHISEIDO Sports Invisible Protective Mist SPF 50 (LOVE!)
Ultra lightweight, water and sweat resistant, very high protection, easy application – CHF 52.90

CLARINS Refreshing After Sun Gel
For face and body, deep hydration, helps promote a longer-lasting tan – CHF 39.00

ANTI BRUMM Night
Protects from insect bites, great for travelling, hydrates – CHF 15.00

Enjoy your holidays wherever you are going. For my favorite facial sunscreens, click here for the previous post.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Blurring the lines between art and fashion, Dutch icons Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren constantly push the boundaries of conceptual design. Last season, we’ve all seen the showstopping, statement-making couture gowns walk down the runway demanding ‘no photos please’ or just simply saying ‘NO’. The S/S 2019 couture show, titled «Fashion Statements», presented those language memes in tiers of tulle and had an outstanding viral response.

Backstage with Viktor & Rolf last week in Paris

But how to top this collection? I was curious. Last week I was invited to their F/W 2019 Haute Couture show in Paris not only to see the new breathtaking défilé, called «Spiritual Glamour» but also to experience the connection between art, fashion and beauty. The mission? To make the world a better place.

When I went backstage before the show, I experienced their unmistakable artistic craftsmanship first hand, which can also be found in their iconic fragrance Flowerbomb which got a new addition to the perfume family with Flowerbomb Midnight, a mysterious, floral and sensual facet, enveloped for the first time in a sumptuous radical black bottle. Spellbinding and captivating, sparkling and intimate, this eau de parfum for women celebrates midnight, a moment of transformation where women can let their sensuality explode.

Flowerbomb Midnight is a long-lasting floral-chypre-fruity perfume, an olfactory bomb of sensuality designed around night-blooming jasmine. Also called «queen of the night,» this mysterious flower only blooms and reveals her captivating scent when the day falls. Layered with the intoxicating second-skin patchouli and musk accord, vanilla and praline, it gives Flowerbomb Midnight its tremendous depth and contrast. The powerful fruity notes of blackcurrant and pomegranate accord sparkle while bergamot adds a fresh, zesty note enhanced by spicy, aromatic pink pepper. This mouth watering new fragrance was created by four famous noses, Dominique Ropion, Domitille Michalon-Bertier, Carlos Benaïm and Fanny Bal. In Switzerland, Flowerbomb Midnight is exclusively available at MARIONNAUD.

On the runway, Viktor & Rolf showed magical dresses for the «queen of the night». The moon, the stars, the sun appeared as applications and addition to their futuristic fabrics. With the help of Claudy Jongstra, who has been developing her own textiles over decades, Viktor & Rolf created a collection that is different, almost an epiphany for the fashion savvy.

The artist has her own biodynamic dye garden in the Northern Netherlands where she produces botanical pigments to create dyes for the final artisanal touches to these extraordinary pieces. She is even raising rare Drenthe Heath sheeps, reimagines and reconstructs textile production systems, demonstrating deep respect for the interwoven narratives of materials, landscape, and making processes. A highly innovative artist, Claudy Jongstra has created new territory for wool as a contemporary artistic medium, captured and processed by the designer duo Viktor & Rolf.

The collaboration is outstanding as both partners treat couture like a laboratory and show that haute couture is not outdated yet. That it can be a leader in terms of sustainability.

Furthermore, «spiritual glamour» can be found everywhere, in a rare flower used in a scent, in a fabric that creates a gown or in an artist that wants to make the world a better place with his or her designs. The world of fashion, art and beauty are all interlinked, it is up to us how we want to transport the message ourselves. Let’s drop a bombshell and be our own muses.

Celebrity spotlight at the show: Miss Fame and Christina Aguilera, both boasting the Viktor & Rolf’s unapologetic irreverent slogans and unmistakable artistic craftsmanship from the S/S 2019 Haute Couture collection.

Enjoy more of my impressions below, especially my favorite moment at the end when I met Christina Aguilera.

LoL, Sandra

I got a little shaky… so excited to meet the singer in person!

Everything before a fashion show is last minute.

Personally speaking seeing the craftsmanship and outstanding fabrics so close…

… was a true pleasure and makes you appreciate the work of couture even so much more.

I love watching the make-up artists doing their job.

The eye make-up was outstanding.

Belgian make-up artist Peter Philips, who is currently the creative and image director of Christian Dior makeup, doing the final check-up of the model’s look.

Lots of L’ORÉAL hair spray and fake hair needed for the volume.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht 

Today’s post is dedicated to my favorite facial summer 2019 sunscreens that will protect your skin from harmful rays with these trusty products that work as make-up or do their job without. They won’t make you look pale or will clog your pores, but they will prevent your skin from aging through the sun.

Let’s start with the basics. The number on the container means it will last times that amount it takes your skin to burn in the sun. For example, if you’re a whiter shade of pale and it takes five minutes for you to feel the burn, and you have an SPF 15 on, you’re going to last 75 minutes before you need to reapply. So keep a handy reinforcement in your bag to keep topping up as the number is individual to the wearer. Check in with yourself to see what fits throughout the day.

Personally speaking, I love these cushions. Healthy glow make-up, that you can take with you wherever you go this summer thanks to their travel-friendly packaging. In the blink of an eye, the complexion is warmed up and corrected with a lightweight, non-cakey finish. Applied all over the face or in touch-ups, it instantly creates an endlessly buildable, glowing natural tan, while offering sun protection.

GUERLAIN Fresh Bronzing Fluid Make-up
Buildable sun-kissed glow – SPF 20 (available in two shades, I wear «natural») – CHF 40.00

CLARINS Mineral Sun Care Compact
Enriched with antioxidants –  SPF 30 (universal nude beige) – CHF 45.00

SHISEIDO Sports BB Compact
Very water-resistant – SPF 50 (available in three shades, I wear «medium») – CHF 43.20

For a more classical application to protect your facial skin, I recommend these products that also work perfectly under foundation without leaving your skin pale and white. Both provide instant hydration and long-lasting comfort for face, neck and décolleté. Skin’s youthfulness is preserved at all times.

CHANEL UV Essentiel Complete Protection
UV – Pollution – Antiox – SPF 50 – CHF 68.00

SISLEY Super Stick Solaire Teinté
Tinted sun care – very high protection – SFP 50 – CHF 70.00

Better looking skin starts with healthy habits. Therefore I recommend LA ROCHE-POSAY’s wearable sensor and the companion app to measure your exposure to UV, pollution, pollen and humidity. No battery is needed. You will get personalized advice and product recommendations as well, a skincare regimen tailored to you.

LA ROCHE-POSAY My Skin Track UV
Available on apple.com – CHF 69.95

LA ROCHE-POSAY Anthelios Shaka Fluide 
Invisible ultra-resistant for sensible skin – SPF 50 – CHF 31.90

Wishing you a beautiful and wrinkle-free summer!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Bid farewell to the heavy oriental, woodsy fragrances you wore on those cold days. Summer is here, and your perfume wardrobe is due for an update. As you are sporting your espadrilles with your favorite sundress, reach for fresh citruses, florals, and other sparkling uplifting notes to wear on your escapades in the sun, salt, and sand. Below my three favorites that fit the bill.

LIGHT BLUE SUN by Dolce & Gabbana
Inspired by sunny days and romances, this delicious fragrance is conveyed with a summery coconut water accord.

Fruity Floral
Top Notes: Lemon, Granny Smith Apple, Ozonic Notes and Coconut Nectar
Middle Notes: Jasmine, White Rose and Frangipani
Base Notes: Ambergris, Bourbon Vanilla, Cedar and White Musk
Eau de Toilette CHF 68.40 (25ml) and CHF 91.80 (50ml)

RISING SUN by Shiseido
Specially formulated without photosensitive or phototoxic ingredients, this mood-lifting Eau de Toilette can be even worn in the sun.

Fruity Floral
Top Notes: Lemon and Mineral-Marine Accord
Middle Notes: Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine Absolute and Rose
Base Notes: Coconut, Mirabelle Plum, Cashmerean and Musk
Eau de Toilette CHF 75.60 (100ml)

ANGEL EAU CROISIÈRE by Thierry Mugler
A new summer edition of the iconic gourmand perfume inspired by the leisure atmosphere of summer cruises and flavours of fruity cocktails.

Fruity Gourmand
Energetic Cocktail Facet (Top Notes): Mango, Grapefruit and Black Currant Sorbet
Voluptuous facet (Base Notes): Patchouli and Pralines
Eau de Toilette CHF 69.00 (50ml)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht  and Courtesy of the Brands

From bright sparkling eyes to bronzers, here are the key must-haves for summer 2019 to get on your radar. My beauty mantra for the hot season is simple: the less work I have to do, the better. As it turns out, we should all be embracing the fact that wearing a ridiculous amount of makeup in sweltering temperatures is never a good look. I recommend some sparkle for your eyes and the right amount of bronzer for a sun-kissed complexion. Enjoy!

NARS Exposed Cheek Palette (top left)
Cheeks are up front and versatile with a limited edition palette of six universally flattering shades in a breakthrough formula that delivers unparalleled color. LOVE! CHF 66.60

CHANEL Bronzer and Highlighter Duo in 317 Medium (top right)
Part of the Maison’s Cruise 2019 collection, this two face powders palette, consisting of a matte bronzer and a pearlescent highlighter, fits in every bag for immediate touch-ups. CHF 78.00

TOM FORD Soleil Contouring Compact in Bask (center left)
Blush, highlighter and bronzer in one for the perfect complexion. CHF 100.00

NUXE Multi-Usage Compact Bronzing Powder (center right)
Beautifying and long-lasting, this multi-usage powder with its yummy Huile Prodigieuse® fragrance (orange blossom, magnolia and vanilla) provides an immediate «healthy glow». CHF 35.00

ESTÉE LAUDER Desert Heat Eyeshadow Palette (bottom)
Turn up the heat with 9 silky shadows to emphasize, customize and dramatize your eyes. Matte and shimmer finishes, limited edition. CHF 72.00

BOBBI BROWN Molton Drama Eye Shadow Palette
Brighten your eyes with these ten highly pigmented colors in four different finishes, including 5 Chrome Metal Eye Shadows for a hypnotic glow. My favorite this summer! CHF 84.00

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

This week, parts of Europe have to experience an extreme heatwave as exceptionally hot weather is pulled from Africa northwards across our Northern hemisphere. In some parts of the continent, temperatures are rising as high as – and surpass – 40 degrees.

The only thing that helps to beat the heat is a cold shower. Pick one of these new summer shower gels and stay fresh. They will stimulate the senses, give you a great bathing experience and leave you with a rejuvenating feeling.

This summer, LE PETIT MARSEILLAIS launches two new scents inspired by the Provence, «Fig» and «Lavender» to make it even more fun to gently clean your skin. The foam reveals a sweet and romantic fragrance while leaving your skin moisturized and nourished.
250ml for CHF 3.50 each

WELEDA invites you to get aways from the everyday in a lush summer with the limited edition «Summer Garden Shower». Step into the summer scents of exotic ylang ylang, fresh lemon and woody copaiba. The 100% plant-based surfactants cleanse gentle while organic sesame oil cares for your skin.
200ml for CHF 10.50

BIOTHERM‘s «Delighting Blend» cleansing gel is infused with grapefruit and sage for the ultimate indulging moment. When in need of a detox – for your skin and for your mind – this uplifting fragrance will help your mind disconnect while the fresh formulas will leave your skin purified and lightly perfumed.
400ml for around CHF 28.90

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Just for you, Clarins has created three scrubs with active, sensorial textures and instant actions. With natural beads from wood cellulose, lava and sugar from beetroot, they refresh, purify or nourish the skin and adapt to the needs of all skin types. So, are you ready to exfoliate?

Fresh Scrub – A refreshing cream scrub for soft, supple skin
Comfort Scrub – A comforting oil scrub for silky, smooth skin
Pure Scrub – A foaming scrub to dislodge and remove impurities

Available from August 12, 2019 for CHF 42.00 each.

Below are some frequently asked questions about the importance of exfoliation for your skin:

Is exfoliation good for keeping my skin young?
Absolutely! Regularly exfoliating your skin removes dead cells and stimulates cellular renewal.

How many times a week should I exfoliate my skin?
To remove deep-set impurities, exfoliating once or twice a week is recommended. Particularly for more mature skin which naturally eliminates dead cells slower and less efficiently than young skin.

What happens if I don’t exfoliate my skin?
Dead cells which accumulate on the skin surface, make the complexion look dull, create a barrier to skin products and hinder the boosting of cellular renewal. Also, unexfoliated skin is not as soft and is more prone to imperfections and roughness.

Can you exfoliate all skin types, even sensitive skin?
Oh yes. For particularly sensitive skin, exfoliation should be carried out with very light, gentle movements. Never rub the skin, or you risk weakening it further.

Happy scrubbing!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Clarins

Ladies, here are your next-level neons. The summer glo-up gets glossy with Converse x OPI Neons Summer Collection 2019. From your flashy nail art to your neon Chucks, stay shining.

This electric-charged collaboration features Converse One Star slides plus Chuck Taylor All Star High and Low Top silhouettes in shades to match new Neons by OPI nail lacquers, available in a fun and playful palette including bold neon hues of yellow, orange, purple, teal, blue and hero shade pink.

Great combination (the name of the nail polishes are in parentheses): Chuck Taylor All Star Low Tops are available in neon purple (Positive Vibes Only) and yellow (PUMP Up the Volume).

The Chuck Taylor All Star High Tops are available in bold shades of pink (V-I-Pink Passes) and blue (Music is My Muse). The shade names are inscribed on Converse’s iconic vulcanized rubber sole.

Converse One Star Slides are available in bright hues of pink (V-I-Pink Passes) and teal (Dance Party ‘Teal Dawn). Another shade featuring the bright monotone aesthetic is Orange You A Rockstar, which is also part of the 4-piece mini nail polish pack (CHF 24.90).

The Neons by OPI will be available in GelColor, Infinite Shine (CHF 24.90) and Nail Lacquer (CHF 19.90) formulas. PUMP Up the Volume (yellow) and Music is My Muse (blue) will be available in GelColor and Nail Lacquer formulas only.

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

The Converse capsule will be available globally from Converse.com and select retailers. The Neon by OPI collection will be available from mid-June 2019, for at least four months in Switzerland. The Converse x OPI shoes can be purchased from SCHUH and delivered to Switzerland here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of OPI, Collages: © Sandra Bauknecht