Sandra‘s Closet

Hailed as one of fashion’s rebels, Jeremy Scott creates decadent high fashion from American cultural obsessions. With a fanatical following of pop music’s biggest icons, the irreverent designer provokes and pushes into fashion’s outer limits. Scott’s collection for M·A·C introduces manic colour for eyes, lips and cheeks specially packaged in cheeky tribute to the days of mixtapes, boomboxes, new music and unhinged creative expression taking root on city streets.

What is your relationship with M·A·C and how did you choose M·A·C to partner with?
M·A·C has been my partner for creating the looks for my shows for so many years. They’ve been a wonderful partner whose support has helped me to create my own vision in so many different endeavors. M·A·C has not only supported my designs from a cosmetic perspective, but they’ve helped to bring my documentary to life, and their philanthropic efforts separate them from any other brand. M·A·C is really the makeup that’s used by professionals and comes from the origins of high fashion – the purest connection to fashion of any other makeup company. M·A·C is the real deal.

What is the inspiration behind your M·A·C collaboration?
Music is a constant in my life. When I’m prepping for my show or dressing a pop star for her tour, I put music on and we use it as a muse to bring these different images and visions to life. I thought I could take this idea of taking a makeup palette and turning it into a boom box, cassette, and CD and it would pay homage to music which I find so important. We created these pieces with the outer packaging box just like it. It doesn’t look like a makeup packaging box and,I think that’s the purist expression of my creativity right now. So much of my outlook on fashion and beauty is about what I do, the humor I have and the way I see things and how I alter them and blur these lines. I can’t wait to share this collection with the world.

Model Jasmine Sanders backstage at Jeremy Scott’s S/S 2018 show

What does makeup mean to you and how does it affect fashion?
Makeup is such a big tool for creating and fulfilling my life’s work. Models walking down the runway is a silent film showcasing my designs. Makeup captures the mood that I’m trying to express and helps me with the message. It’s a great way to change your mood. Putting on a bright lipstick or a bold smoky eye can impact a look so drastically. Pairing a statement makeup look can turn simple jeans and a T-shirt into a totally different look. There are many men around me that inspire me and many women that inspire me to see different things in my designs. It’s really important to let people interpret my work in their own way.
I put it out there as a proposal with my own inspirations behind it. It’s for everybody else to take and process it for it to become theirs. I love that different people can perceive my designs in different ways. For both beauty and fashion, I would encourage everyone to follow your own instinct. If you feel beautiful using a certain lipstick or colour or texture, that’s where you’re going to experience the triumph of the individual. Confidence is true beauty.

What defines beauty to you?
There is so much versatility in makeup. During a certain period of time it creates a different expression or emotion and goes even beyond what apparel can achieve. As a designer, I tell my story through my fashion shows. The models are silent, so we use the lighting, the makeup and the music of the soundtrack to bring it to life in the moment. It’s the moment I’m trying to capture for the viewers and want them to stay in it for as long as possible.
I really hope that this collection with M·A·C invites new customers to both M·A·C and Jeremy Scott. There are so many more people that we have to touch and think people can find themselves through the excitement and a part of the world that I created with M·A·C.

Karlie Kloss on the Jeremy Scott S/S 2018 runway

What do you predict will be the main trends of 2018?
Honestly, when I look at makeup I think of it as something that is so individual. It is really time for the person wearing it to be themselves. There are endless styles, tastes and opinionsthat you can tune into. This collection with M·A·C, undoubtedly has opened more people to be a part of my fashion world and to experience this expression. Fashion and beauty to me is so much more exciting than an “inor an out list.” People should follow their instincts, bold, fun, or personal.

What are some of your fashion tips for the everyday and for the runway?
I think fashion is so amazing because it’s so individual. Everyone has different body parts that they want to be shown or love to see. Fashion is about dressing for the things you find beautiful in a way you feel confident. Even when I’m doing a show, I’m constantly trying to find the right outfit for the model to convey and characterize the look. All of these beautiful women and personalities, it’s so fun to match them to particular pieces. It can really create a moment that is so individual just by the way that she carries the clothes and how it speaks to their reality.

Gigi Hadid on the Jeremy Scott S/S 2018 runway

Please describe the Jeremy Scott woman!
The Jeremy Scott woman is always musically involved. She’s the one that’s on stage at the concert, or she could be backstage. She could be the lead singer or a fan with the enthusiasm of a girl going to her first concert. Music is a constant inwho the Jeremy Scott girl is.

What is one motto that you choose to live by?
I guess it’s really to never wait for yourself. There was a time period when I was first starting out and I would tell myself things like “that’s for later when you have more success.” I would think that I needed to give it more time or that I wasn’t just ready for it yet. I recently came to realize that everyone needs to live their life in all of its capacities and not wait for your ideas. I constantly remind myself of that. It’s the right time to stretch out of your comfort zone and embrace the fear that comes with the unknown.

What is your favourite item in your collection with M·A·C?
If I really have to pick, I would choose the boombox which is my M·A·C Jeremy Scott Lo-Fi / Eye Shadow x 29. It’s so strong and bold withall of the different colours. It really makes a statement. It truly suits all of the different beauties who love and wear my clothes. Everyone’s skin colour is different and everyone’s personality is so unique. I wanted my products to represent many different moments and didn’t want to leave any of my beauties out. I wanted this collection to offer out diversity and versatility and what we created allows me to put my arms around so many people.

FUTURE EMOTION / LIP X 9
LIVING IN STERE: WARM NUDE (MATTE)
VIOLETTA: BRIGHT COOL PURPLE (AMPLIFIED)
WILD MEMORIES: WARM INTENSE RED (MATTE)
BREATHING FIRE: BRIGHT WARM PINK (MATTE)
NIGHT CLUB SCHOOL: DEEP WINE (AMPLIFIED)
CARMINE ROUGE: COOL DEEP RED (MATTE)
DIGGING IT: DEEP DUSTY BROWN (MATTE)
MORANGE: LOUDMOUTH ORANGE (AMPLIFIED)
HAPPY SONG: MID-TONE ROSY PINK (MATTE)
CHF 49.00 

ACOUSTICA / CHEEK X 3
HEAVEN IN YOUR SMILE IRIDESCENT POWDER: PALE FROSTY HIGHLIGHT (FROST)
ACOUSTICA BRONZING POWDER: WARM BROWN (MATTE)
WALL OF DESIRE POWDER BLUSH: MID-TONE PINK (SATIN)
CHF 49.00 

LO-FI / EYE SHADOW X 29
LO-FI: SOFT BEIGE WITH GOLD SHIMMER (SATIN)
CREATIVE COPPER: PEACHY GOLD WITH SHIMMER (LUSTRE)
BITE THE BEAT: MID-TONE WARM BROWN (MATTE)
ENDLESS FREQUENCY: MID-TONE PEACH (MATTE)
DISCO THERAPY: BRIGHT MUTED ORANGE (MATTE)
SUPERIOR SOUND: SOFT CREAMY PINK (FROST)
HAPPY SONG: BUBBLEGUM PINK (SATIN)
BIRD’S EYE VIEW: BRIGHT FUCHSIA PINK (SATIN)
WALKING HEARTBEATS: MID-TONE RED (MATTE)
VACATION SPEED ZONE: DEEP PLUM WITH RED PEARL (VLXP)
GHOST STORY: CREAMY WHITE WITH ICY SHIMMER (FROST)
MORNING TICKET: SILVER METALLIC FROST (VLXP)
US DANCE REMIX: FROSTY COOL GUNMETAL (VLXP)
SUBTLY ELEGANT: MUTED PALE GREY (MATTE)
BONUS TRACK: WARM BROWN WITH SILVER SPARKLE (FROST)
BEAUTIFULLY CHARRED: MID-TONE BROWN WITH GOLD SHIMMER (FROST)
RAVEN EYED: TRUE BLACK (MATTE)
VIDEO EMOTIONS: BLACK PURPLE (MATTE)
MEMORIES OF SPACE: BRIGHT TRUE YELLOW (MATTE)
REMIXOLOGY: MUTED LIME GREEN (MATTE)
BEATALLICA: DEEP FOREST GREEN (MATTE)
SYNTHESEYES: PALE MINT GREEN (SATIN)
OLDIE BUT GOODIE: LIGHT SEA FOAM (MATTE)
POWERFUL PERFORMANCE: AQUAMARINE BLUE (SATIN)
AT THE TURNTABLE: SKY BLUE (MATTE)
ELECTRIC EEL: BRIGHT BLUE WITH SHIMMER (FROST)
SHE’S A MACHINE: LAVENDER WITH SHIMMER (FROST)
JAM SESSION: BRIGHT LILAC (SATIN)
NEW WAVE MIX: BRIGHT VIOLET PURPLE (MATTE)
CHF 148.00

Exclusively available at selected M·A·C Manor Counters and M·A·C Store Lucerne & Zurich and at www.maccosmetics.ch from today!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics
#MACJeremyScott

Natacha Ramsay-Levi is the first French woman to take the helm at Chloé since 1998. Incorporating the signature edge we saw from her at Balenciaga while maintaining Clare Waight Keller‘s sense of lightness, her debut S/S 2018 collection includes feminine dresses for which she has reworked iconic house codes, the new Rylee motorcycle boots and a new much-anticipated fragrance: Chloé Nomade. I am completely in love and you will see me wearing a lot of the French house in the next months!

My look: Appliquéd shearling-trimmed denim jacket by Gucci, paneled lace, stretch and jacquard-knit mini dress, and Rylee cutout woven leather knee boots, both by Chloé
, Bayswater shoulder bag by Mulberry, leopard sunglasses by Dolce & Gabbana, rose diamond ring and necklace, both by Piaget.

Where would you call home? Encounter the world with Chloé’s new floral chypre scent Nomade that includes notes of oak moss, Mirabelle plum and freesia. It’s about discovering your daring and adventurous side. It is all about crossing the next frontier, always pushing the boundaries of who you are. Start with the fragrance and work your way up to the collection – you will surely love it!

Chloé Nomade Eau de Parfum 30ml (CHF 97.00), 50ml (CHF 128.00) and 75ml (CHF 150.00).
Shower Gel 200ml (CHF 52.00) and Body Lotion 200ml (CHF 57.00)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Dancing through the streets. Soaked in sunshine. Streaked with colour. Surrounded by tropical fruits and flowers.

For the brand’s first fruit-inspired Blossom Cologne, JO MALONE  leaves the English countryside and takes us to the beach with a new limited edition duo: TROPICAL CHERIMOYA Cologne and CATTLEYA FLOWER Body Mist. Together they comprise the HOT BLOSSOMS collection. «The inspiration came when I was travelling around Brazil. We loved the flamboyant vibrancy of the flowers and the sumptuous textures of the fruits there, so we thought why not create two fragrances instead of one?» explains Céline Roux, Jo Malone London Head of Fragrance Development.

TROPICAL CHERIMOYA Cologne
«A sea of green cherimoya fruit. Basking in the heat. Mouth-watering. Tempting. Topped with juicy pear. The sun-filled notes of passion flower. Warmed by Brazilian copahu resin and creamy tonka bean.»
Jo Malone Tropical Cherimoya Cologne 30ml (CHF 72.00) and 100ml (CHF 135.00)

CATTLEYA FLOWER Body Mist
«A delectable beach-side cocktail. Cattleya, queen of the wild. Sumptuous orchid petals. Fresh and exotically floral. Stirred with sparkling citrus fruit. A splash of bitter gentian. Deepened by intoxicating vetiver. A spritz of pure sunshine. Lightweight yet luxurious, Jo Malone Cattleya Flower Body Mist refreshes skin whilst enveloping you in the velvety scent of the Cattleya Flower.»
Jo Malone Cattleya Orchid Body Mist 100ml (CHF 59.00)

Both are designed to be worn alone or layered together. In Switzerland, the limited edition will be exclusively available at Jelmoli Zurich, Globus Glatt, Globus Bellevue, Globus Lucerne, Globus Geneva and Globus Lausanne for a limited time starting from May 2, 2018.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht –  Stills: Courtesy of Jo Malone
The fragrances were sent to me as samples.
@JoMaloneLondon #BrilliantBlossoms #HotBlossoms

Since Maria Grazia Chiuri has taken the helmet at Dior, she has not been afraid of delivering powerful statements. Last year, she already gave us one politically charged look with her famous «We Should All Be Feminists» T-shirt, and now she is back for another round.  To open the S/S 2018 show, Sasha Pivovarova went down the runway in a Breton-striped shirt that read «Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?», a direct reference to historian Linda Nochlin’s 1971 essay on patriarchy’s lasting effect on art. It is absolutely worth reading.

But personally speaking, I think Maria Grazia has forgotten one tiny thing:-) …, most of us are great artists on a daily basis. And our skin is our canvas. Dior has come up with some great painting tools this S/S 2018, enjoy this quick insight of what I can recommend for the perfect oeuvre.

PREPARE YOUR CANVAS

DIOR HYDRA LIFE Balancing Hydration
2 in 1 Sorbet Water
It is as yummy as it sounds. This new generation waters highly concentrated in a bouquet of Jasmin, mallow, haber lea and fine mineral powders of natural origin. It immediately moisturizes and rebalances for skin so naturally beautiful you will prefer it bare.
CHF 47.00 (175ml)

DIOR HYDRA LIFE Cooling Hydration
Sorbet Eye Gel
A must for summer and after a night out. This ultra-fresh eye gel moisturizes, balances and revitalizes the delicate skin around the eyes while mineral pearls illuminate it. Best if you keep it in the fridge for an extra cooling effect.
CHF 66.50 (15ml)

PREP YOUR CANVAS

DIOR PRESTIGE Le Cushion Teint de Rose
Fond de Teint Revitalisant d’Exception
Rose Glow – High Correction
SPF 50 – PA+++/ Long Wear

Dior’s first revitalizing foundation concentrates the power of at least 500 rose petals for the most radiant rose-petal complexion. It ideally evens out the complexion with a weightless finish while enhancing the rosy glow on the skin’s surface. Available in 5 shades. Love, love, love!

COLOUR YOUR CANVAS

DIOR ADDICT Lacquer Plump
Plumbing Lacquered Lip Ink
Long-Wear Colour
CHF 50.00

In mere seconds, its fine formula delivers color with intense lacquer shine and fusional hold. Enriched with hibiscus extract and hyaluronic acid, it plumps and deeply hydrates lips (+78% hydration after 24 hours) to achieve a fuller effect. You don’t need much more during warm summer days. My favorite shades are: 456 Dior Pretty, 538 Dior Glitz and 758 D-Mesure

FINISH OFF YOUR ARTWORK WITH A TOUCH OF PERFUME

MISS DIOR Blooming Bouquet
Roller-Pearl Eau de Toilette
CHF 52.50 (20ml)

A beautiful glass bottle in the right size for your handbag topped with a delicate pearl for discreet and sensorial fragrance application that offers you to wrap yourself in the fresh floral scent of Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet anywhere, anytime.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior and © Sandra Bauknecht

Mother’s Day is around the corner, so why not getting prepared on time to give a little unexpected surprise to your beloved mum. Here are some of my favorite new beauty products for Spring 2018. To shop, click on the highlighted text to be transferred directly.

ALAÏA PARIS Eau de Parfum Nude, 30ml
also available as 100ml
After black and white was nude the third important color for the late designer. He took the art of fragrance even a step further by saying: «the foundation of beauty is the body,» and your fragrance is the first step. Alaïa’s new Nude Eau de Parfum is an evocative, exotic scent that’s layered with orange blossom. It has warm tonka bean, cardamom and suede at the base, while woody top notes of cedar and sandalwood give it a luxurious finish. Just wonderful for a warm summer night.

TOM FORD Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette – Soleil D’Ambre
Perfect for traveling as everything you need is housed in a sleek compact that comes with a mirror for touch-ups on the go. This limited edition «Soleil D’Ambre» palette contains a coral-pink blush and antique-rose highlighter to give your cheeks a pop of color, with four shimmering eyeshadows ranging from cream to an aubergine chocolate. Time to get your subtle sun-kissed glow.

BY TERRY Baume de Rose Body Scrub, 180g
A gift your mum will surely love. Adding this scrub into the daily regime will keep the skin smooth, soft and radiant (also a prefect preparation for applying self tanning products). Infused with multiple elements of precious rose including butter, oil and extracts, this rich formula hydrates, repairs and protects dry and fragile skin. The naturally moisturizing sugar crystals will gently remove dead cells.

LA MER The Moisturizing Cool Gel Cream, 60ml
As a huge La Mer fan, I can only recommend this new texture of the famous cream which is so lightweight that it is just perfect for the warmer summer months. It is also infused with the brand’s signature Miracle Broth™ formula that works to heal skin down to its core, while soothing irritation and leaving you feel refreshed.

NURSE JAMIE Neck & Décolleté Wrap – Skin Perfecting Silicone Treatment
When you mum thought there might be no help, you will surprise her hugely with this new «Neck & Décolleté Wrap» that helps minimize the signs of aging caused by sun damage, gravity and sleeping on your side tremendously. Something we will all experience when we get older. Inspired by scar treatments that have been used in the medical field for years, it works by blanketing the chosen area and amplifying the effects of your favorite moisturizer – for best results, the brand recommends leaving it on for at least 20 minutes. Great news is that it is reusable for up to 20 treatments.

TOM FORD Eau de Parfum – ******* Fabulous, 50ml
This is highly exclusive and you better order it fast as this bottle is something really special. After Tom Ford had sent out 300 of those bottles of its new fragrance «F***ing Fabulous» with the invites to his S/S 2018 show, fashionistas started craving for it after the first pictures appeared on Instagram of some of the lucky guests. The name was created the second Tom smelled the scent during a business meeting and proclaimed those very words and after that no other name could compete. It is an alluring leathery Eau de Parfum infused with spicy and bold notes of bitter almond oil, tonka resinoid and cashmeran, but there are also hints of lavender and vanilla for freshness, too. What a lovely way of telling your mum that she is f***ing fabulous!

FREDERIC MALLE Essentials Collection, 5 x 7ml
If your mum is a fragrance lover, she will adore this curated selection of Frederic Malle’s most-loved scents. Each bottle is perfectly sized for travel and bears the name of the perfumer who created the fragrance. Included are Carnal Flower, Magnolia, Iris Poudre, Musc Ravageur (my favorite) and Portrait of a Lady.

ANYA HINDMARCH Baby Powder scented candle, 700g
Evoke some of your mum’s happiest times with this candle that smells reminiscent of newborn babies and the memories they create. Set in a black glass vessel with hand-poured wax, this «Baby Powder» version blends notes of bergamot, Italian mandarin and rose petal with a base of vanilla, tonka bean and musk – reminding your mum of sleepless nights and first smiles… and that it was all worth it!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

When it comes to evening make-up, I love anything glittery! Therefore I would like to introduce you to those amazing new bold shapes and shades, M·A·C‘s pro-approved glitter is now available to sprinkle its twinkle! From cheeky pink hearts to mesmerizing holographic flecks, you no longer have to be a make-up artist to enjoy this flash of panache. Rounding out the shiny new lineup is an extended range of the much-loved Lipglass in even more stellar hues.

LIPGLASS
Very Go Lightly shimmering champagne
Mystic Powers creamy peach
Good Juju sunrise pink
Shapeshifting Peach pinky nude with gold pearl

Magically Delightful shimmering coral
Elemental Focus dusky rose
All Things Magical muted rose pink
Signs of Spring soft pale pink w/ subtle shimmer

Soar neutral brown pink
Misbehaving creamy lavender purple
New Galaxy blue grey w/ purple & blue pearl
Lustrewhite clear-glazed with white sparkle
Steel Kiss dirty mauve with green pearl
*SRP 26.00 CHF

HOLOGRAPHIC GLITTER
Lavender Hologram purple flashing multicolour holographic
Pink Hologram pink flashing multicolour holographic
Gold Hologram gold flashing green holographic
Iridescent White iridescent white flashing pink and blue
*SRP 35.00 CHF

COSMETIC GLITTER
Platinum glittering silver
Yellow Gold glittering gold
Bright Bronze sparkling bronze
Copper sparkling copper
Rose sparkling rose
Heliotrope sparkling vivid purple
Black multi-dimensional black
*SRP 35.00 CHF

SHAPES
Pink Hearts heart shaped pinks and lilacs
Silver Stars star shaped silver glitter
*SRP 35.00 CHF

Available from now at all M∙A∙C locations and stores and at maccosmetics.ch.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of M∙A∙C

History does repeat itself, and so do trends. Here’s another throwback to ’90s hair must-haves (after the revival of the barrettes) that is celebrated this S/S 2018 season: SCRUNCHIES.

Sarah Jessica Parker with a perm and a scrunchie in 1988.

It was no other than Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City who sentenced scrunchies in one episode to the purgatory of style faux pas with her portentous proclamation to her boyfriend Berger for mentioning a scrunchie in his novel, claiming that no New Yorker in her right mind would ever wear one. Love them, hate them, but you cannot ignore them, scrunchies were making a comeback even on the catwalk, and funkier than the ones we had been wearing decades ago.

Times change. Would it be controversial to say that now looking at those fabulous Balenciaga leather ones, I actually disagree with Carrie Bradshaw and totally think that they really are rather fabulous?!

YOU CAN SHOP THE BALENCIAGA SCRUNCHIES IN DIFFERENT COLOURS AT BROWNS FASHION AND NET-A-PORTER. FOR AROUND €150 EACH.

Styling tip: Because those leather scrunchies tend to keep sliding down your hair, I recommend giving it a good grip by applying SACHAJUAN’s Hair Powder to the part where the base of your ponytail will be. This will give your hair texture, fullness and help keep your scrunchie stay in place without adding any weight to your tresses.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Balenciaga and © Getty Images

A NEW SERUM FOR THIRSTY SKIN
HYDRATE WELL, AGE WELL
Every day, our skin is subjected to the ill effects of the cold, wind, pollution, UV rays, stress, fatigue and unhealthy lifestyles. These aggressors weaken and disrupt the skin’s natural hydration mechanisms. As a consequence, fine dehydration lines appear, the skin feels tight, and it loses its plump, supple and radiant appearance. As optimal hydration is the key to keeping skin youthful, Sisley created HYDRA-GLOBAL in 2007 to solve these problems. This hydrating anti-ageing product can restore the skin’s hydric balance while promoting the circulation of water within the epidermis to transport moisture deep down.

IN 2018, SISLEY’S RESEARCH IS GOING EVEN FURTHER BY CREATING HYDRA-GLOBAL SERUM Anti-Aging Hydration Booster – a «super-product» that boosts hydration and deeply quenches the thirstiest skin by helping it to restore itself by means of its natural hydration mechanisms. Hydra-Global Serum kick-starts intense and autonomous hydration by reteaching the skin how to take in water, circulate it through the different skin layers and retain it as much as possible.

THREE ACTIONS
1. Boosts water reserves
2. Promotes water circulation in the epidermis
3. Retains water at the skin’s surface – for longer.

Filled with water, the skin is more supple and more bouncy. The complexion is radiant and wrinkles are softened. Continuously moisturized, the skin is ready to withstand the hands of time and the gel-serum texture leaves a bare-skin sensation. Apply it morning and evening to face and neck as it perfectly complements the moisturizing action of all daily skin care products.

HYDRA-GLOBAL SERUM Anti-Aging Hydration Booster will be available from May 2, 2018 for CHF 247.00 (30ml).

Don’t forget, hydration is the first step in anti-ageing. As I am having very dry skin, I am totally in love with this new serum. After only a few days of having used it, I can see a big difference!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sisley Paris

In 2016, Christine Nagel took over the reigns as the resident nose at Hermès. Breathing new life into the Maison’s fragrance world while living up to the traditional elements and quality the brand is famous for, Nagel seeked inspiration from the orient and its long history of perfumery for the house’s first foray into fragrance oils which are part of the new HERMESSENCE collection.

«I wanted to return to the origins of perfumery and immerse myself in its history. Each of these five creations is an individual expression of a dream of Orient.»
– Christine Nagel

Originally created by Nagel’s predecessor, Jean-Claude Ellena, around six years ago, the ten eaux de toilette – all made of exquisite and unexpected notes – are now joined by three new unisex contributions, that are based on oriental notes such as cedar, agarwood, and myrrh.

For her new concept, Nagel ties to ancient scent applications and suggests layering them with one of the two oils from the collection, both grounded by musk, one laced with cardamom, the other enchanted by iris.

HERMESSENCE Eaux de Toilette
Myrrhe Elegantine – Agar Ebène – Cèdre Sambac
CHF 278.00 (100ml)

HERMESSENCE Essences
Cardamusc – Musc Pallida
CHF 402.00 (20ml)

My personal favorite combination is Cèdre Sambac together with Musc Pallida. Warm, sensual and extremely yummy. Try for yourself – Hermès is about craftsmanship – so now it’s up to you to use your skin as your canvas! Enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès and © Sandra Bauknecht

«Give yourself a break.
Give yourself time.
Give yourself love.
Make YOU a priority.»
– Margo Marrone, Founder of The Organic Pharmacy

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure to meet Margo Marrone, founder of THE ORGANIC PHARMACY, for the opening of the brand’s first spa in Switzerland at MARIONNAUD‘s Bahnhofstrasse shop in Zurich. Margo and I have clicked in a second. She is such an inspirational, passionate lady who’s story reads like a book, a real business woman with a heart of gold.

Her story begins over 27 years ago as a Saturday girl in her local pharmacy. Fascinated by the rows and rows of amber bottles, she watched person after person come in asking the pharmacist for help on their various ailments and was enthralled as he expertly blended from the amber bottles lining those shelves.

Later, she decided to study pharmacy and six years later she embarked on her career as a pharmacist specialising in herbal medicine, nutrition and well being with a focus on natural and alternate medicine. It wasn’t until several years later that she discovered homeopathy, a form of medicine that completely changed her life and that of her family.

Being shocked at the level of toxins in our food and cosmetics, which she became aware of whilst studying homeopathy, she truly understood what organic means and decided to use her herbal, homeopathic and pharmaceutical knowledge to create a shopping haven free from chemicals found in other stores. She took the idea to her husband Franco whose design skills and vision turned THE ORGANIC PHARMACY into a modern day health and beauty centre. The first store opened in 2002 in London on Kings Road. Today they have shops and distribution all over the world.

THE ORGANIC PHARMARCY skin care is based on homeopathic and herbal medicine with the principles that the quality of the ingredients and the purity of the formulation is paramount as well as the dosage. One of the things that makes them different is the science that the couple put into their formulations, with their own factory in London, they oversee the careful preparation and manufacture of the products, from start to finish. The high tech natural extracts, the pharmaceutical grade ingredients and their dosage in their products at levels that really count means serious results for healthy glowing skin.

Margo took the experience one step further by extending her offering to high quality supplements and spa treatments for her customer’s health and beauty needs. The touch of a fantastic therapist, the advice of a homeopath who knows you well – she is convinced that it all helps to live a balanced healthy life. Managing stress, cleansing our bodies, feeding our cells essential nutrients are key to a healthy anti-ageing lifestyle.

Maria, therapist at THE ORGANIC  PHARMACY Beauty Spa in Zurich has magic fingers! During the press conference she gave us a great insight about the different treatments available. Thank you to Katrin Roth of Sonrisa for being such a great model!

I had the pleasure to experience the ROSE DIAMOND FACIAL in Zurich at THE ORGANIC PHARMACY SPA with the most amazing therapist, Maria (sorry, I was so relaxed that I forgot to take a photo of me before and after). The brand’s most luxurious facial truly restores, hydrates and rejuvenates the skin with the power of diamonds and cosmeceuticals. Both are combined to moisturize, firm and brighten skin. A deep exfoliation using diamond dust, an enzyme peel and hydra-diamond exfoliation are followed by an intensely lifting massage leaving the skin looking instantly refreshed and rejuvenated. 

«The treatment that irons your wrinkles away…» – the Radio Frequency Facial…

… that therapist Maria only performed to Katrin’s right side left a spectacular result. Especially the fine lines under her right eye are almost gone.

All aesthetic facials combine the very latest technologies (including the most advanced tools to let the products penetrate the skin easier and deeper) with organic cosmeceuticals to dramatically reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, acne and pigmentation for a healthier, plumper, firmer and more radiant skin.

My favorite products that I can only recommend to you are the following:
Honey & Jasmine Mask – a rich, deeply moisturising and nourishing mask.
Carrot Butter Cleanser – a balm cleanser that melts on contact with the skin.
Superantioxidant Capsules – a potent all-in-one anti-ageing antioxidant mixture, protecting the cells and system from the inside.

I love Margo’s approach to beauty from the inside and outside!

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht