Sandra‘s Closet

Ladies and gentlemen, this is amazing! For the festive season, Kilian Hennessy and Jennifer Zuccarini unveil a capsule collection of scented lingerie, combining the expertise and aesthetic unique to each brand. And it is perfumed with one of my favorite fragrances: KILIAN’s LOVE, don’t be shy.

KILIAN Love, Don’t be Shy Eau de Parfum –
Orange Blossom, Vanilla and Marshmallow, 50ml

Each piece in the collection features handcrafted Leavers lace from the Solstiss lace mill in Caudry, France that is woven from threads scented with microcapsules holding KILIAN’s LOVE, don’t be shy fragrance. Taking inspiration from the marshmallow, this fragrance is a sweet treat for sensuous connoisseurs that perfectly compliments Fleur du Mal’s feminine chic designs and continues KILIAN’s mission to make perfume visible.

Great news is that you can wash your lingerie pieces up to 10 times by keeping the encapsulated fragrance within the lace.

Those will vamp up every outfit: Lace cuffs by Fleur du Mal x Kilian

The pieces are now on sale on the fleurdumal.com website and will be as well available in Kilian boutiques and exclusively at Printemps department store (Boulevard Haussmann) in Paris from November 15, 2017.

So sexy: Thong and collar by Fleur du Mal x Kilian

I am so in love with this collection, sexy, sophisticated and scented. Why would you ask for more?
TO SHOP THE COMPLETE COLLECTION NOW, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Fleur du Mal x Kilian

If you’re like me, you always get excited when you see an announcement of a new MAC collaboration. Today, it won’t be different as the most recent collection will definitely not disappoint.

German-born jewelry designer and sculptor Robert Lee Morris is teaming up with MAC for a collection that is inspired by his unique jewelry pieces. Attributing much of his inspiration to forms he admires in nature, his imaginative yet architectural designs are exploring the boundaries between fashion and sculpture. With that in mind, MAC created 16 new, brass-packaged products that belong in an artist’s collection and that will bring out your fancy side.

As we head into the season of gift-giving, you might want to take note of all those must-haves included:

Pro Longwear Pressed Powder – CHF 55.00
Light Plus, Medium Plus, Dark

Powder Blush – CHF 49.00
Peach, Linda, Rhubarb

Matte Lipstick – CHF 32.00
Lychee, Persimmon, Pumpink, Concourd Grape, Fig, Pomegranate

Brush Roll – CHF 145.00
Large Flat Powder Brush 135 – CHF 87.00
Large Angled Contour Brush 168 – CHF 68.00
Small Mirror Compact – CHF 25.00

The collection is in stores from now for a limited time only.
In Switzerland exclusively available at Jelmoli Zurich, and at MAC stores Zurich Bellevue and Lucerne as well as online at www.maccosmetics.ch.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics and Robert Lee Morris

One thing I believe in is that the right lipstick gives you more power. Pumpkin-inspired hues are the color palette for Halloween and are perfect for transitioning into fall as they help tired faces to look more vibrant. Incorporating a fresh contrast to every fall look, try to make your pout take center stage.

Here are my favorite lip products for orange lips:

Phyto-Lèvres Perfect Lipliner – 8 Coral by Sisley

Phyto-Lip Twist Tinted Balm – 3 Peach by Sisley

Baume De Rose Nutri-Couleur – Mandarina Pulp by By Terry

Lips & Boys – Connor 97 by Tom Ford

Lip2cheek – Curious Orange by RMS Beauty

Audacious Lipstick – Geraldine by NARS

Lip & Cheek Bloom – Orange Blossom No.07 by Burberry Beauty

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Beauty-lovers around the globe will adore the new NARS 2017 Holiday collection. The brand has previously partnered with various artists for its winter lineups. This season, the creations are inspired by iconic photographer MAN RAY and its electrifying art. Featuring vibrant new shades of lip gloss, eye shadow, lipstick, and blush, there is also a must-have golden highlighter that works for a wide range of complexions. But the excitement doesn’t stop there if you see the packaging.

My personal favorites: Duo Eyeshadow in «Montparnasse» (shimmering gold / iridescent orchid), Love Triangle mini gift set featuring the famous «Orgasm» shade in a Mini Blush and Lipstick and Overexposed Glow Highlighter in «Double Take».

Moreover, NARS is also releasing amazing gift sets which include mini iterations of its classic blush and lipsticks, along with new eye and face palettes.

In store now. It’s safe to say that we would love to add all of it to our wish lists.
TO SHOP NARS ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of NARS and © Sandra Bauknecht

October is breast cancer awareness month and this year marks Estée Lauder‘s 25th anniversary of the iconic Pink Ribbon collection, a special range of beauty products with 20 per cent of the profits donated to research. A movement that started with one woman, Evelyn H. Lauder in 1992, The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign was born when the visionary became troubled by the lack of awareness, funding and resources necessary to overcome the disease.

Evelyn H. Lauder co-created the pink ribbon 25 years ago.

In the beginning, the brand started the campaign by handing out pink ribbons at its beauty counters around the world, and one year later, Lauder went on to establish the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), a non-profit organisation, to generate funding that would be solely dedicated to the study of the disease. A quarter of a century later, The Estée Lauder Companies’ beauty brands – among them La Mer, DKNY, Jo Malone London, Tom Ford Beauty just to name a few – continue to create a breast cancer-free world by raising funds.

Interesting to know is that a touch of blue in the design represents the less than 1% of men who are diagnosed with breast cancer. For more information on The Breast Cancer Campaign, visit bcacampaign.com.

For more information on the Pink Ribbon products, click here please.

By shopping one of the specially created products, you can support the campaign. Moreover for every post on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtags #PinkRibbon25 and #ELCdonates @bcacampaign until October 31, 2017, The Estée Lauder Companies will donate $25 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to fund a half-hour of breast cancer research. The goal is to finance 500 hours worth $25.000.

Time to end breast cancer!

LoL, Sandra

My Instagram post with my beloved Advanced Night Repair in pink by Estée Lauder.

Photos: Courtesy of The Estée Lauder Companies and © Sandra Bauknecht

Are you one of my beauty-obsessed readers who’s quick to notice even the most minor cosmetic tweak? Then this post is for you. Today, I would like to share my time-tested recommendation for the perfect concealer, foundation and powder trio.

One lovely morning in Zurich‘s Park Hyatt Hotel, I had the pleasure to try the three products by one of my favorite brands LA MER. All enriched with the brand’s coveted, ultra hydrating Miracle Broth™, the nourishing formulas blend seamlessly into the skin to conceal pores and even out texture. Forget the drying, cake-y powders of your makeup bag’s past, this is the answer to nailing the flawless complexion of everyone’s dreams. It is make-up that looks like no make-up.

Dream trio: Concealer, Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation, Powder and don’t forget to use the right Powder Brush.

New to the family: Sheer Pressed Powder (to the left) is the ideal compact companion to create a healthy matte finish – wherever you go.

In the beautiful ambiance of one of the suites at Park Hyatt Zurich, we were able to explore the products and enjoy some yummy food. What a great idea to serve desert in your used cream pots (see photo below) … ladies, keep collecting!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of La Mer and © Sandra Bauknecht

The illustrious fashion designer Alber Elbaz has met his match in the perfume world with this beautiful collaboration with Frédéric Malle. Created together with perfumer Dominique Ropion, the ever-mysterious Superstitious Eau de Parfum captures the elusive, unidentifiable scent of a woman’s dress.

Dream team: Frédéric Malle and Alber Elbaz

A classic floral aldehydic perfume structures Elbaz’s free-flowing vision of an elaborate fabric in which everyone can find their own beauty: Turkish rose oil and Egyptian jasmine, enhanced by a touch of peach, rest on a bed of amber and frankincense imbued with Haitian vetiver. A final touch of aldehydes sharpens the perfume’s opulence with an urban edge.

TO SHOP THE NEW SUPERSTITIOUS EAU DE PARFUM, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Frederic Malle, Madame Le Figaro
Frederic Malle und Alber Elbaz – © But Sou Lai

Only two weeks ago, I cruised around the beautiful Amalfi Coast and enjoyed the flamboyant and vibrant lifestyle on the streets of Naples. Now, I have found the perfect fragrance that is dedicated to this South Italian lifestyle and pure femininity: DOLCE & GABBANA THE ONE Eau de Toilette.

Such a beautiful scent, a new fresh version of the celebrated fragrance classic that is available now. It is more powdery than the 2015 launched THE ONE ESSENCE Eau de Parfum and the original THE ONE Eau de Parfum from 2006. I am a big fan and needless to say… don’t we all wanna be THE ONE?!

DOLCE & GABBANA THE ONE Eau de Toilette
Oriental Floral

Top Notes: Lily, Bergamot, Mandarin, Lychee and White Peach
Middle Notes: Ylang-Ylang, Orange Blossom and Honeyed Broom
Base Notes: Vanilla, Vetiver and Musk

30ml : CHF 69.00  –  50ml : CHF 93.00  –  100ml : CHF 121.00

The talented British actress Emilia Clarke («Game of Thrones») is the face of the campaign, the new ambassador, gifting the beautiful photos with her irresistible smile and genuine warmth. She’s the one!

Shot in the streets of Naples, with real people living their daily life, the new advertising campaign for The One was directed by the Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone.

Combining swing and jazz, the Neapolitan joyful soundtrack “Tu vuò fa’ l’americano” (“You want to be an American”) conveys even more happiness and togetherness while celebrating the genuineness and the charm of the Italian culture.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana Beauty
#DGBeauty #DGTheOne Follow @DGBeauty

“No matter your origin, no matter your tribe. Come together, be seen, be heard. Because we are all worth it.”
Olivier Rousteing, Creative Director, Balmain Paris

Two years ago, Balmain already made a foray into the world of affordable luxury with its H&M designer collaboration. This fall, the #BalmainArmy will find new members of the tribe as L‘Oréal Paris has joined forces with Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing for a collection of twelve limited COLOR RICHE couture lipsticks. One shade more beautiful than the other.

Olivier Rousteing with me

Needless to say that Olivier Balmain’s knows how to run a social media hype. For the launch of the French house’s first lipstick, he is accompanied by twelve model muses that each has inspired one of the dozen shades.

This collaboration with L’Oréal is the perfect fit to provide customers with access to the bejeweled splendor of the long-established fashion house that was founded by Pierre Balmain in 1945 who defined France’s fashion renaissance after World War II. Continuing in the trailblazing spirit of the brand’s founder, Olivier Rousteing is inspired by the confident style of modern women and incorporates the maison’s mastery of embroidery and embellishment into his collections. His love for detail can also be seen in the amazing packaging of the lipsticks: a decadent ode to precious materials, such as emerald-green malachite, blue lapis lazuli, and onyx.

Three colour collections embody three femininities:

SAFARI TRIBE (Green Case)
905 BALMAIN INSTINCT: Ysaunny Brito (Star Shade)
647 URBAN SAFARI: Alexina Graham
648 GLAMAZONE: Luma Grothe
469 FEVER: Maria Borges

ROCK TRIBE (Blue Case)
467 FREEDOM: Soo Joo Park ( Star Shade)
650 POWER: Valentina Sampaio
902 LEGEND: Neelam Gill
901 REBELLION: Grace Bol

COUTURE TRIBE (Black Case)
356 CONFIDENCE: Doutzen Kroes (Star Shade)
355 DOMINATION: Lara Stone
468 LIBERATION: Cindy Bruna
256 CONFESSION: Ming Xi

I was over the moon when this exclusive box arrived at my door step a few weeks ago so that I could test each one of the shades. Being a huge Balmain fan as you know, this is a collector’s piece that I will keep forever.
(The golden clutch is a vintage Balmain piece.)

My favorite shade of all? 256 CONFESSION. It is the perfect nude shade.
(Metallic jacquard jacket by Balmain.)

Time to have a piece of Balmain on your lips. The L’Oréal Paris x Balmain Paris capsule lipstick collection launches today September 20, 2017 for CHF 21.90 each, in Switzerland at Coop and Manor.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Balmain and © Sandra Bauknecht

«All Art is Erotic» –  Gustav Klimt

KILIAN HENNESSY celebrates ten years of redefining the art of modern perfumery and invites us into a new Golden Age, inspired by the sensual glamour and sumptuous luxury of fin de siècle Vienna, and its most subversive artist, Gustav Klimt.

Kilian Hennessy with me

«Klimt is the authority when it comes to gold artwork, gold leaf,» says Kilian. The universe he created full of seduction and opulence represents «a cultural reference, a touchstone – more than just decoration.»

Two new fragrances, each of which experiments with dualties: darkness and light, feminity and masculinity, modernity and proud tradition. Let me introduce you to WOMAN IN GOLD and GOLD KNIGHT, one more beautiful than the other. Launching in the end of September 2017, I don’t want you to miss those richly textured and mysterious scents.

«It doesn’t interest me to provoke just to provoke. I need artistic reasoning,» Kilian goes on. «The idea was to play on the contrasts between shadown and light, to express that we are all made of good and bad – but within light and dark there are a myriad of facets. I wanted to achieve this duality with perfume.»

WOMAN IN GOLD

Inspired by the 1907 portrait of Leading Viennese art patron and taste-maker Adele Bloch-Bauer, the only woman Klimt painted twice.

Top Notes: Bergamot
Middle Notes: Rose, Vanilla Absolute
Base Notes: Akigalawood, Patchouli

GOLD KNIGHT

Inspired by the dashing, gold-armored chevalier in Klimt’s 1902 Beethoven Frieze.

Top Notes: Anise, Bergamot
Middle Notes: Honey, Vanilla
Base Notes: Patchouli

The extremely beautiful cases are inspired by Klimt’s works and are inspired by the Byzantine mosaics the Viennese painter saw at the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy.

«True luxury is meant to last» – Kilian Hennessy

The faceted flacon, inspired by the timeless cognac carafe, is an object of uncompromising elegance and artisanship. The 250-ml bottles are refillable and accompanied by a black travel spray.

Mini Carafe 250ml (CHF 720)
Refillable Spray 50ml (CHF 335)

TO SHOP KILIAN ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Kilian Hennessy and © Sandra Bauknecht