Sandra‘s Closet

This week, I was surprised by Panamy with a beautiful box of roses (best floral deliveries in Switzerland) accompanied by a new beauty must-have I want to introduce in this post. My avid readers know how much I love NUXE‘s Huile Prodigieuse® Dry Oil (see last year’s post here). This summer, NUXE is reinventing its cult beauty product, that was launched in 1991 and that is ranked as the number-one product in the dry oil category in Europe, by creating a new fresh and floral scent, offering women two choices from now on depending on their mood.

Huile Prodigieuse® Florale features the same natural composition and the same benefits as the original product, containing 7 precious botanical oils, such as repairing Argan oil and moisturizing Tsubaki oil. Its new floral scent reveals a sweet, velvety and sensual base in a floral iteration. Truly addictive.

As an all in one product it can be used in many ways: skin is nourished, smoothed, evened out and beautified; hair is soft and shiny. Furthermore, it has a proven efficacy on antioxidant properties and on the ability to help reduce stretch marks’ appearance.
Available for CHF 34.90  (100ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Ladies, it is time for a lipstick upgrade as I have an amazing surprise for you! Mother’s Day is coming up and you might be looking for a great surprise for your mum. Now, it is the moment to gift her and yourself! If you shop at BOBBI BROWN one lipstick (Crushed Lipstick, Lip Color, Luxe Lipstick or Extra Lip Tint) or one mascara and use the code SANDRABB, you will receive a free lipstick as a gift as well as skincare starter set.

My favorites are:

• Lip Color in Pale Pink
• Lip Liner in Pale Pink
• High Shimmer Lip Gloss in Bare Sparkle
• Smokey Eyes Mascara

TO SHOP WITH THE PROMO CODE SANDRABB, CLICK HERE PLEASE.
Valid until May 26, 2019 (only in Switzerland).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

In the mood for immediate boarding with CHANEL? For those who wish to discover LES EAUX DE CHANEL or travel with them by land, air or sea, the French Maison proposes an elegant set of the three eaux de toilettes PARIS-DEAUVILLE, PARIS BIARRITZ and PARIS-VENISE available in limited edition. Presented in 50ml bottles, they come with a jersey pouch bag and three postcards to send from one of your getaways.

PARIS-DEAUVILLE: essences of orange and basil, vivacious, elegant and
full of character.
PARIS-BIARRITZ: an invigorating scent like a splash of sea spray, bursting with top notes of grapefruit and mandarin, accompanied by a lily-of-thevalley accord.
PARIS-VENISE: a gentle vapor that brings the subtle promise of the Orient on the skin, through the presence of neroli softened by an ambery accord.

LES EAUX DE CHANEL Travel Set Limited Edition CHF 297.-
PARIS-DEAUVILLE Vaporisateur 50 ml CHF 99.-
PARIS-BIARRITZ Vaporisateur 50 ml CHF 99.-
PARIS-VENISE Vaporisateur 50 ml CHF 99.-

Available from the beginning of June 2019.

Yesterday, CHANEL‘s Cruise 2020 show took place in Paris and travel was very much on the Maison’s new artistic director Virginie Viard who wrote the next chapter in the history of the House that had been synonymous with Karl Lagerfeld for 36 years. Train tracks, but no train, the audience seated on wooden benches waiting to board the CHANEL Express. The ambiance, the invite, everything was more minimalistic than what we were used from Emperor Karl. Very cool though was the Belle Epoque café that carried the name «Le Riviera», reminiscent of CHANEL’s newest limited edition fragrance PARIS-RIVIERA, that resembled Le Train Bleu at the Gare de Lyon train station in Paris.

Inside, guests were served a three-course lavish champagne lunch. CHANEL knows how to wet your appetite… enjoy the best looks below. A collection that I would call extremely beautiful yet not super exciting.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of CHANEL, via Instagram @chanel 

To accompany the launch of MIU MIU‘s newest fragrance TWIST that stars MIU-se Elle Fanning as the face of the campaign, the Italian fashion house has launched a limited edition collection of TWIST WITH ME T-shirts that celebrate the invigorating spirit of the MIU MIU girl.

Available from now in white in MIU MIU stores worldwide for €390, and from May 14th in black exclusively at miumiu.com. Will you Twist in it?!

Sensual and surprising, the new scent capture the quirky spirit of the MIU MIU girl according to her own Miu-d.

Fresh Top Notes: Vert de Bergamot & Apple Blossom
Sensual Heart Note: Pink Amber Accord
Irresistible Base Notes: Tonka Bean & Cedar Wood

The new Miu Miu TWIST is available for CHF160 (100ml), CHF110 (50ml) and CHF84 (30ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Miu Miu

This spring, embrace soft, sheer color with Always Bare for You by OPI! Six shades in the prettiest neutral, feminine hues offer a hint of color – ideal for anyone seeking a delicate nail look, especially brides and brides-to-be. Inspired by weddings and all the joy surrounding this season of love, Always Bare for You features shades of pink, nude and rose gold in crème and shimmer finishes, as well as pale lilac and soft blue grey rounding out the collection.

A beautifully manicured hand will always command attention especially when showing off your ring. OPI Co-Founder and Brand Ambassador Suzi Weiss-Fischmann suggests for brides to wear a hue like Ring Bear-er, an elegant blue grey, on fingers or toes and check «something blue» off their list.

Always Bare for You by OPI includes these shades in classic Nail Lacquer, Infinite Shine and GelColor formulas: Baby, Take A Vow – Throw Me A Kiss – Chiffon-d of You – Bare My Soul – Engage-meant To Be – Ring Bare-er.

French manicure is trending again.

These new shades are for everyone looking for the perfect nude shade to complement every outfit. Mother’s Day, baby showers, Easter, and even just a sunny morning are all good excuses to embrace a sheer nail.

Available now as Nail Lacquer CHF 19.90 (15ml), Infinite Shine CHF 24.90 (15ml) and as GelColor in-salon treatments for around 6 months.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of OPI

Got a jam-packed summer of festivals lined up? Whilst letting loose and embracing the dirt is all part of the festival experience, a few days of minimal showering and little sleep doesn’t exactly make for the best look. The key is to pack light, look after your skin and keep to multitasking makeup in your beauty bag. Below are some tent-proof products to get you festival-ready:

Luminizing Powder – Grande Dame by RMS Beauty
This pressed powder imparts a subtle yet radiant glow that’s perfect for every day to achieve a fast and lasting complexion.

Amethyst Bottle by GLACCE
Childhood friends Sharon Leslie and Julia Schoen grew up in New Orleans and were affected by Hurricane Katrina, so they decided to use crystal healing to spread comfort, gratitude, and love in the community – that’s how GLACCE was born. The removable amethyst crystal is thought to emit calming and creative energy.

A Social Life For Your Hair Finishing Cream, 80ml by Larry King
London’s celebrity hair stylist’s new product line includes this finishing cream that can be used to tame curls and flyaways or to smooth tresses. It’s fragranced with a ‘cloud watching‘ scent, perfect for Coachella.

Boost Supplement (30 capsules) by Form Nutrition
Whenever you need a hit of energy before dancing through fun Coachella Parties, this calming boost formula is a natural caffeine supplement to get you in the zone. Each tablet contains calming Amino Acid L-Theanine to improve attention and alertness, plus a powerful dose of CDP-Choline to maintain healthy mental function and focus.

The Icon Palette by Charlotte Tilbury
Inspired by the musicians and dancers the makeup artist used to party with in her heyday, it offers everything you need to enhance eyes, lips and cheeks. Don’t forget, festival season is not for the shy!

Holi(stick) N3 Deodorant, 50ml by Agent Nateur
Dancing around in the sunshine all day long means you’ll require a reliable, high-performing deodorant. This aluminum-free deodorant is formulated to keep odors at bay without the use of toxic chemicals.

Facial Cleansing Wipes x 15 by Cleanse by Lauren Napier
After a long day soaking up the festival vibes, all you’ll want to do when you get back to the tent is remove your makeup – and the many layers of dirt and grime. Cleansing wipes are the perfect tool to leave you feeling as fresh as a daisy – or near enough!

The Broad Spectrum SPF50 UV Protecting Fluid, 50ml by La Mer
Of course we’re always hoping the sun shines for our festivals, but the truth is, whatever the forecast, protection from the sun’s radiation is an essential. You’ll want to choose a broad-spectrum high SPF sun fluid, that is lightweight like this one by La Mer.
For my Swiss followers: the promo code sandralamer is still active on the Swiss La Mer website until April 30, 2019. Receive some amazing goodies. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE ONLINE SHOP DIRECTLY.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Net-à-Porter

«PARIS-RIVIERA is a floral and luminous fragrance that reflects the joyful, sunny spirit of the Côte d’Azur in the 1920s.» – Olivier Polge

Launched in 2018, the LES EAUX DE CHANEL collection opened a whole new realm of olfactory sensations in the world of CHANEL fragrances : one of freshness and elegance in any situation. Woven with Sicilian and Calabrian citrus, these eaux de toilette invite you to travel, to escape without reason and sail away. With LES EAUX DE CHANEL, there is no need to go anywhere to savor the scent of faraway places on the skin.

Inspired by destinations dear to Gabrielle Chanel, and created by Olivier Polge in cooperation with the CHANEL Laboratory of Fragrance Creation and Development, LES EAUX DE CHANEL are adds a new destination: PARIS-RIVIERA. Rare and exclusive, the new motionless escape will be available for one year starting June 1, 2019.

Gabrielle Coco Chanel and Misia Sert

The mere mention of its name conjures up images of a coastline winding its way between the Alps and the Mediterranean. Bringing the promise of azure blue and dancing sunlight, the Riviera evokes an enveloping softness and the lazy days of summer. From the far south bordering Italy and Monte Carlo to the Var, artists and creators from around the world were drawn to this Mediterranean coast as early as the 1920s. Thanks to her friend Misia Sert who introduced her to Venice, the gateway to the Orient, Gabrielle Chanel began sojourning on the Riviera in 1920.

Gabrielle Chanel and Count Sala at the Hôtel de Paris in Monaco.

She loved driving to Monaco with the Grand Duke Dimitri or travelling south on the Train Bleu, a means of transport made famous by Serge de Diaghilev who wrote a ballet by the same name and entrusted the costume design to Mademoiselle Chanel. She could often be found on the Côte d’Azur during the Roaring Twenties, one day on the Duke of Westminster’s yacht in Monte Carlo, another at her regular haunt, the Hôtel de Paris in Monaco, or at the Société des Bains de Mer resort
known for its legendary parties. Gabrielle Chanel also frequented Cannes, where she opened a boutique, and joined the painters and writers who flocked to Saint-Tropez, which was but a fishing port at the time.

Gabrielle Chanel at her villa «La Pausa»

But a little to the East, on the heights of Roquebrune, is where she chose to point her compass and have her villa «La Pausa» built. Mademoiselle oversaw every last architectural detail, and had olive groves and fields of lavender planted. She made it her permanent vacation home, where she entertained a number of celebrities such as Jean Cocteau and Salvador Dalí. There in her beloved southern France, Gabrielle Chanel wove a tapestry of moments suspended in time and joyful memories.

Her bathroom inside «La Pausa»

The fantasy-filled world of the Riviera inspired perfumer-creator Olivier Polge to compose a luminous and elegant fragrance. «The dream Côte d’Azur of the 1920s is what guided the development of this new fragrance,» explains Olivier Polge. «A sun-filled Eden that was a magnet
for artists. The flawless architecture of the villas in those days. The
bright and happy atmosphere of party nights…»

The perfumer noticed a remarkable lightheartedness in the pictures of Gabrielle Chanel surrounded by friends, her face upturned to the sun, and incarnated it with a fragrance of Mediterranean flowers bathed in fresh citrus. He teamed jasmine with a unique quality of neroli from the orange
blossoms found in the South of France. «For years, we have worked with a cooperative in Vallauris that distills orange blossoms grown in the region’s private gardens», recounts Olivier Polge. «The owners of bitter orange groves bring the petals picked from their trees to this cooperative to be processed on location. The local climate yields an extremely pure essence.»

Les Eaux de CHANEL collection: Paris-Deauville, Paris-Venise and Paris-Biarritz

The airy signature scent of the LES EAUX DE CHANEL collection is instantly recognizable on the skin: a refreshing veil of orange peel and petit grain. Then emerges the pairing of jasmine and neroli with enveloping fullness. Over time, an irresistible softness fuses with the floral impression : it is the work of benzoin balm and sandalwood. The PARIS-RIVIERA eau de toilette creates a snapshot of summer with a single spray. A promise of azure blue and sun on the skin. A one-way trip to a legendary Mediterranean coast.

Available in limited edition from June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020 at CHANEL stores and on chanel.com. Paris-Riviera Eau de Toilette Vaporisateur 125 ml for CHF 155.00.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL, © Monte-Carlo SBM archives

A weekend of beauty! For the 23rd time the Gruner + Jahr SPA AWARDS (formerly GALA SPA AWARDS) were awarded in the end of March in Baden-Baden at the beautiful Brenner’s Park Hotel that is part of the Oetker Collection. My avid readers might remember my time to unwind at Villa Stéphanie, their «House of Wellbeing» next door. For me, it was an absolute pleasure to be back at one of my favorite places to detox and relax. I enjoyed the warm temperatures in the garden next to the blossoming cherry blossom trees after a wonderful facial and massage before getting ready for the night.

How beautiful is Brenner’s Park Hotel’s pool when you see the cherry blossom trees blossoming outside?!

The Gruner + Jahr SPA AWARDS are among the most important international beauty and spa awards. In addition to winners in six categories, two outstanding personalities are awarded the «Beauty Idol» and the «Special Prize». Personally speaking, I have a close relationship to Gruner + Jahr as my first job after my studies was at German Marie Claire magazine that belonged 50% to the  publishing house.

Spoiled upon arrival in the room…

Over 200 invited guests from the cosmetics industry, well-known representatives of the luxury hotel industry, from culture and show business gathered at the Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, among them Franziska Knuppe, Eva Padberg, Motsi Mabuse, Joachim Llambi, and Verona Pooth. Scroll through the best moments of the weekend, the bright winners and the glamorous looks of the evening that was hosted by Barbara Schöneberger, who is truly one of the most entertaining women I know.

Model Miranda Kerr is Beauty Idol 2019
The «Beauty Idol» was awarded to Miranda Kerr, the famous Australian «Victoria’s Secret» angel. Miranda is known not only as a top model, but also as an entrepreneur. Together with her mother Therese Kerr, she runs a beauty brand for sustainable natural cosmetics under the label «KORA Organics» (TO SHOP KORA ORGANICS, CLICK HERE PLEASE.). In addition, Miranda Kerr, a certified health coach and practicing buddhist, has dedicated herself to the topic of empowerment: In 2010, she published her first book «Treasure Yourself», followed by «Empower Yourself» in 2013. Despite her success, Miranda Kerr is very much down to earth and announced that she is pregnant with baby number three that night. For this inspirational personality, the jury honored her this year as «Beauty Idol» in 2019.

To read a previous interview I did with Miranda about her travel tips for Australia, click here please.

Special Prize for Günther Bonin
This year, the «Special Prize» went to environmental protector Günther Bonin, who set up the organization «One Earth – One Ocean». Together with his team of experts and volunteers, he developed the concept for a «maritime garbage collection». This special coastal waste collection catamaran, the so-called «SeeKuh», fishes floating plastic parts on the water surface with the help of a net. It uses solar energy and can pick up two tons of garbage per trip, which can then be recycled ashore. In addition to cleaning up the waters and seas, Günther Bonin wants to provide information in the long term, so that not so much garbage gets into the environment. The jury thanked Günther Bonin for his special commitment with the «Special Prize».

All other award winners at a glance:

Category «Luxury Concepts»: Shiseido – Future Solution LX / Intensive Firming Contour Serum

Category «Innovation Concepts»: Foreo – Foreo Ufo

Category «Cult Concepts»: Nivea – Q10 Series

Category «Organic Concepts»: Dr. Hauschka – Regeneration Day Cream 

Category «Medical & Health Concepts»: Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa – Spa Nescens, Switzerland

Category «Spa Concepts»: – Corinthia Hotel London – ESPA Life at Corinthia, United Kingdom

From left to right: Award winners Thomas Kochs (ESPA Life at Corinthia), Hans-Peter Veit (Victoria Jungfrau Frau Hotel & Spa), Maren Speckmann-Munz and Nicoline Woehrle (Dr. Hauschke), Kerstin Unger (Nivea), beauty idol Miranda Kerr, Editor-in-chief Gala Anne Meyer-Minnemann, host Barbara Schoeneberger, winners Günther Bonin, Johannes Scheer (Shiseido Group Germany) and Audrey de Saint Priest (Foreo) with their awards.

Switzerland in the house: with my dear Alana Netzer.

Barbara Schöneberger and CEO Oetker Collection Frank Marrenbach on stage.

A true beauty idol: Miranda Kerr

Eva Padberg with me

Anne Meyer-Minnemann and Cathy Hummels

Franjo and Verena Pooth

GNTM juror and celebrity make-up artist Armin Morbach with me

Franziska Knuppe

Always fun times with Princess Lilly Sayn-Wittgenstein

Let’s Dance: Motsi Mabuse, Joachim Llambi and Victoria Swarovski

The night culminated in a fun after party… thank God we had lots of beauty products in our room to look fresh the next day.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of GALA, © Axel Kirchhof/Gala, the respective locations and © Sandra Bauknecht

The new PRADA CANDY NIGHT Eau de Parfum, the new edition within the youthful Prada Candy line, is sensual and addictive. It opens with vibrant, fresh notes of neroli and iris, countered with notes of bitter orange. The heart notes of tonka bean, caramel and vanilla evoke the first Candy fragrance. Finally, chocolate and patchouli add a sensuous touch to the base notes.

It is a sensuous, addictive and vibrant fragrance: a more mysterious and seductive version of the first Candy EDP.
Prada Candy (2011), Prada Candy L’Eau (2013), Prada Candy Florale (2014), Prada Candy Kiss (2016), Prada Candy Gloss (2017) and Prada Candy Sugar Pop (2018).

The new PRADA CANDY NIGHT is available now for CHF 88.80 (30ml) and CHF 118.30 (50ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of PRADA
#PRADAFRAGRANCES – #PRADACANDYNIGHT

Deep, intense ingredients born in the desert. Musk, amber and oud. Blended with quintessentially English florals. Captured in two mysterious scents.

Jo Malone’s Head of Global Product Development, Céline Roux, and Master Perfumer, Anne Flipo embarked on this journey to create something completely new for the brand.

Left: Anne Flipo – Right: Céline Roux

What inspired the concept of Absolu?

Céline: «It all began with my travels to the Middle East – I’ve visited a few times and have always been inspired by their passion for scent and ritual of layering fragrance. As you walk around all the markets and souks there, you’ll notice the air is infused with rich, deep, warm scents. So, I started to think about how we could interpret this, but with a Jo Malone London signature.»

Anne: «Together we identified the elements that are key in the Middle East – amber, oud and white musk. Not only are they in the air, but people also use them to scent their clothes and their hair. We then created a base around these three ingredients. The result is something truly unique and exclusive to Jo Malone London.»

Céline: «The thought of flowers came naturally after we’d worked on the base. We asked, ‘how could we combine the Middle Eastern air with an imaginary English garden?’ It felt like the perfect way to give each Absolu scent our signature freshness, and that Jo Malone London twist.»

Rose & White Musk Absolu
An English rose. Flowering in the heart of the Arabian desert. Unexpected. Mysterious. Enfolding with petal-fresh sweetness. Rich with oud and amber. Balanced on a powdery clean base of white musk. Soft and sensual. A mesmerising treasure. Brought to life in Jo Malone’s first Cologne Absolu. A bold new innovation in scent that dives straight into the heart note of the cologne, keeping our signature freshness, while leaving a beautiful, lingering trail of scent.

What makes Absolu different to other Jo Malone London Colognes?

Céline: «Absolu combines base and heart notes alone, to exude both warmth and freshness, woods and flowers, earth and air – creating captivating scents that evolve on contact with the skin and continue to inspire the senses after they are applied. We approach an Absolu in a very different way to our classic Colognes. Instead of starting with the top notes and the first olfactive impression, we work from the base up and emphasise one of the ingredients to complement each of the flowers we chose. So for Rose it was White Musk, and for this one we really pushed the amber to complement the elusive aroma of violet. We also eliminated the top notes entirely, so you go straight into the heart of the fragrance.»

Violet & Amber Absolu
In the Arabian night, an ethereal violet mysteriously blooms. Beloved of the British flower bed, its elusive scent of darkly purple petals and violet leaves wraps around oud and white musk, anchored by warm, sophisticated amber.

Why did you decide to work with violet?

Céline: «Violet is one of the most-loved flowers in the British flower garden! It was also a favourite among royals and poets. There are many quotes about violet in Shakespeare – one of my favourites is from Sonnet 99, “The forward violet thus did I chide. Sweet thief, whence didst thou steal thy sweet that smells, if not from my love’s breath?” So, it’s something of a classic.»

How would you layer and combine Violet & Amber Absolu?

Céline: «I recommend pairing it with Bronze Wood & Leather Cologne Intense – it brings even more depth and sensuality to the scent.»

Anne: «I combine it with Wood Sage & Sea Salt – it really amplifies the woody notes in the base and creates a very enthralling fragrance. It’s also intriguing to layer Violet & Amber with Rose & White Musk – the two Absolu scents together have such intensity and a really addictive quality.»

Both are available now ONLINE and in Switzerland at Jelmoli Zurich, Globus Zurich, Globus Glatt, Globus Bellevue, Globus Lucerne, Globus Geneva, Globus Lausanne and at Perfumery Hyazinth in Basel for CHF 280.00 (100ml) each.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Jo Malone London and © Sandra Bauknecht
@JoMaloneLondon #ScentAbsolu