Sandra‘s Closet

Estée Lauder has launched a new fragrance, so-called MODERN MUSE. It is the first major perfume launch in a while and the brand’s attempt to get back to the top of the perfume houses.

MODERN MUSE stands for the contemporary woman, who is independent, self-confident and sure of her style. Model Arizona Muse is the face of the new fragrance and her name fits obviously perfectly. During New York Fashion Week, the launch of this new fragrance was celebrated with an amazing party at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in NYC (post coming up shortly), where both, the print and TV campaign for Estée Lauder’s new fragrance, were shot.

Before the event took place, I had the honour to meet and interview Arizona herself. There is something undeniably charming about her… enjoy her answers!

Your name is already telling it. You are a muse to many women around the globe, a modern women – a single mother and a famous model. How do you manage both parts of your life successfully?
I would like to ask this question to all the other mums. I am lucky to have the most amazing help, great nannies and my mum, even that she is not living like me in London, she is extremely close to me. I used to take my son on my business trips when he was smaller. He is now 4 years old, in school, so he stays in London.

Your secret to success?
(Laughs). I don’t see myself that successful. Everyone is so much more successful than me. I look up and admire so many people. There is a lot more to climb. I still feel so young, I am 24 now, but feel younger now than I did when I was 16.

Have you ever felt pressure to inspire people? To be a role model?
I start beginning to feel that. I look to everyone else around me. So it is interesting to feel that other people look at me. I hope that I am setting a good example.

Do you think that your beauty helps you in daily life?
I am a model. So yes, it kind of helps. But I don’t notice things like that. Maybe I should use it more often. (She smiles and asks me the same question. How can I not love her?!)

How did you get your amazing body back after your pregnancy?
I would tell other mothers not to rush it, take one year, be relaxed about it. Breastfeeding helps to burn a lot of calories.

What exercise do you do to stay in shape?
I love yoga. It is more than just physical fitness. It is about balance in your emotional life as well.

Which ones are your favourite fashion designers?
Right now, Louis Vuitton! And also Tregar Delaney. They are an English duo who are friends of mine and they design beautiful clothes with high quality fabrics. They have such great integrity.

Arizona Muse in three words.
Curious – shy – warm-hearted.

Are you nervous before the big event tonight?
Yes, I am nervous. I am even nervous now…

One last question. What do you think of MODERN MUSE?
I love the fragrance because it has a duality to it. It is feminine yet strong. The woods give it a richness, but it also has a lightness with the florals. It is now my signature scent – of course!

Thank you, Arizona!

MODERN MUSE
FLORAL WOODY MUSK

Top notes: Mandarin orange
Middle notes: Tuberose, fresh lily, honeysuckle, dewy petals, Sambac jasmine and Chinese Sambac jasmine absolute
Base notes: Patchouli, Madagascar vanilla, amber wood and soft musk

Available as 30, 50 and 100ml Eau de Parfum.

The fragrance has an innovative ‘dual-impression’ structure of a jasmine and a wood accord. The flowers are most noticeable but not as prominent as you might imagine. The scent is very soft and develops in a very nice and musky way. Personally speaking, MODERN MUSE is an easy-to-wear scent, extremely pleasant and sophisticated. In stores now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder and © Sandra Bauknecht

Italian jewelry brand Pomellato has launched three amazing fragrances inspired by their iconic Nudo collection of rings with colored gemstones. The scents are designed for women who are independent and sophisticated in terms of style.

POMELLATO NUDO AMBER – inspired by Madeira quartz.

FLORAL ORIENTAL

Top notes: Orange blossom and Bulgarian rose
Middle notes: Sambac jasmine and amber
Base notes: Musk and vanilla from Madagascar

POMELLATO NUDO BLUE – the scent of London Blue topaz.

MUSKY FLORAL

Top notes: Bamboo, lemon and black currant
Middle notes: Peony, iris, freesia and magnolia
Base notes: White musk, amberwood, vanilla and heliotrope

POMELLATO NUDO ROSE – inspired by the Rose de France amethyst.

FRUITY FLORAL

Top notes: Pink grapefruit, peach, bergamot and watery fruits
Middle notes: Rose, water lily of the valley and pink freesia
Base notes: White musk, white cedar, sandalwood and cashmere

Pomellato Nudo Amber, Nudo Blue and Nudo Rose are available as Eau de Parfum Natural Spray 25ml (CHF 58.00), 40ml (CHF 82.00) and 90ml (CHF 114.00), Body Lotion 200ml (CHF 49.00) and  Body Cream 200ml (CHF 96.00).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Pomellato

Time is flying and you might want to get in the Christmas mood just looking at your nails. OPI‘s new 2013 holiday nail polish collection in collaboration with no other than Mariah Carey contains 18 different limited edition nail polishes which are of course heavy on red and glitter. No doubt, those must-have shades are for Christmas.
CHF 23.90 (15ml) each

The 18 colors come in three textures: cream, glitter and the famous liquid sand. The names are all dedicated to the famous singer.

“Mariah Carey is truly synonomous with the holiday season,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “People around the world listen to her festive, iconic songs – ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ is a personal favourite – and these 18 lacquers evoke the warmth, beauty, energy and positive spirit that’s present in Mariah’s music.”

My favourite that I am wearing today is: “Underneath the Mistletoe” – a dark red with just enough glitter to give it a nice little twist.

In addition to this beautiful winter collection, a limited edition “Pure 18K White Gold & Silver Leaf Top Coat” (similiar to last year’s “The Man with the Golden Gun”) adds precious metal texture over any OPI shade or can be worn alone for a subtle but luxurious look. This genuine18 karat white gold & silver leaf top coat comes packaged in a special limited edition collectable box.
CHF 49.90 (15ml)

All colours will be in stores in Switzerland starting October 28, 2013.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of OPI and © Sandra Bauknecht

HAIR CHALKING is the newest craze in temporary hair colour. Add new shades with hair chalk, without the long-term commitment of dying. Right now I am kind of obsessed with rainbow coloured hair. Whether it’s all over, dip-dyed or just one off streaks, you can play around without any serious hair damage.

Last week, I went to the press conference held at the new hair salon Art of Ghel in Zurich where you can get your hair chalked (around CHf 15.00 for the service) or buy the product (each colour CHF 30.00 for 50ml) to do it at home by yourself. All by L’Oréal Professionnel.

How does it work?

Step 1: Every colour and shade of the rainbow is available, so get creative! Just choose your favourite(s). From left to right: Sweet Sixteen Pink (pink), First Date Violet (purple), Blue Ocean Cruise (royal blue), Garden Party (turquoise), Coral Sunset (coral), Coffee Break (light brown), Bronze Beach (gold-bronze) and Black Tie (black).

Step 2: This technique works on any length or depth of base hair colour. The chalk is applied to dry hair.

Step 3: Once the hair is completely drenched in colour, lock it in with the help of a hair dryer.

Try what everyone’s chalking about – I love it! It washes out after 2-4 shampooings.

Art of Ghel in Zurich offers also cool birthday parties for children with hair chalk or other fun beauty treatments. CHF 95.00 per child.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Courtesy of L’Oréal

It was fall’s most amazing fashion event, when Vogue Fashion Night took over the most prestigious streets of the big metropoles for a unique shopping experience. CHANEL has been launching new collections to celebrate this fabulous night since its beginning. Do you remember when the nail hype in 2009 started with the mint-green shade Jade, followed by Les Khakis de Chanel (2010) Les Jeans de Chanel (2011), Les Twin-Sets de Chanel (2012), all launched at Fashion’s Night Out.

This year, the CHANEL Creative Makeup Studio designed the NUIT MAGIQUE collection, a nail colour trio which expresses the richness and depth of dark or shimmering fabrics as seen on the F/W 2013 runway. Eyes dress up with a simple line of scintillating eyeliner, the everyday version of the sequins worn by the runway models at the base of their lashes at the last fashion show.

LIGNE GRAPHIQUE
NOIR SCINTILLANT An intense black sparkling with silver.

LE VERNIS
ELIXIR A milky pink, worn at the F/W 2013 runway show.
MAGIC An incredible deep blue.
COSMIC Intense black sparkling with blue and silver.

Great news is for my Swiss readers that the new creations presented during VOGUE FASHION NIGHT will be available exclusively at Jelmoli from October 23, 2103. See you there!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chanel

From catwalks to ad campaigns, LAURA MERCIER‘s eponymous makeup line is used to create natural and photo-ready complexions. Known for her artistry, Laura personally created colors based on a classic and always-current palette. Available at NET-A-PORTER are her innovative foundations, concealers and setting powders that give skin the perfect canvas for a flawless face.

Some of the cult favorites are the Secret Camouflage Concealer, the must-have Tinted Moisturizer and my daily obsession, the Foundation Primer Radiance that I like to wear in winter under my foundation for a radiant complexion and in summer just alone.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of net-à-porter and © Sandra Bauknecht

No other than Cara Delevingne is the face of Yves Saint Laurent’s campaign for this year’s fall beauty look, so-called ELECTRIC CHIC. As described in the press release as Cara herself, the YSL woman “is urban, strong and self-confident. She knows how to play with cosmopolitan codes and contrasts. She gets inspired by the electric energy of the town. She accentuates all her facettes. She invents herself every day and every night.”

As always, here is a good look at the collection that is in stores now. The star products pay tribute to pop art and NYC’s street art.

The two limited edition graffiti-embellished eye palettes are called City Drive Classy (black and gold case), and City Drive Arty (fuchsia and gold case).

Left: PALETTE CITY DRIVE ARTY
Right: PALETTE CITY DRIVE CLASSY
CHF 89.00 each

BLUSH RADIANCE N°9 and N° 10
CHF 67.00 each

ROUGE PUR COUTURE N° 50- Rouge Néon, N° 51 – Corail Urbain, N° 53 – Beige Promenade – N° 54 – Prune Avenue
CHF 48.00 each

From left to right: EYELINER BABY DOLL N° 14 – Reflets Cuivre CHF 51.00
DESSIN DES LEVRES N° 20 – Mocha and N° 21 Sepia, CHF 35.00 each
MASCARA VOLUME EFFET FAUX CILS SHOCKING N° 8 – Noir Asphalte – CHF 49.00

LA LACQUE COUTURE N° 38 – Gris Underground, N° 39 – Beige Gallery (Limited Edition), N° 40 Sepia 7e Art (Limited Edition), CHF 38.00 each

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of YSL Beauty

Flying, time difference, being sleep-deprived, and not eating the healthiest food is stress for your body which shows in your face. But it is common practice during NYFW. Due to the weight limit for the luggage on the plane, I like to take as less as possible with me. Here are some beauty products that work their magic instantly to make sure you look like coming from a spa treatment, nothing more needed.

RODIAL Glam Balm™ Hand

This innovative cream gently repairs, protects and moisturises skin. It is wonderfully scented, reminiscent of almonds and coconuts, like a mini holiday at the beach. Perfect to comfort you if you cannot fall asleep because of your jet-lag. Exclusively available in Switzerland at Marionnaud. CHF 63.00

CLINIQUE Moisture Surge Overnight Mask

Drinking lots of water is indispensable for a radiant complexion. But you can also replenish lost moisture (perfect after a long flight) by using this creamy, oil-free, penetrating night mask which helps skin drink deep to build reserves for the next day. All night long, it soothes and nourishes  so that you wake up with soft, dewy, glowing skin. CHF 52.00 (100ml)

SISLEY Eau Efficace Démaquillant Doux

This product is perfect for travelling as it combines three cleansing steps in one. You can remove your face and eye make-up, cleanse and tone the skin in one single sweep. CHF 105.00 (300ml)

SHISEIDO Bio-Performance Advanced Super Restoring Cream

A powerful time-fighting cream for day and night that is formulated with Rose Apple Leaf Extract to protect skin from harmful environmental aggressors and maintain youthful looking skin. Super Bio-Hyaluronic Acid N supplies a high level of moisture which helps maintain a positive cycle in the skin. Perfect for travelling! CHF 152.00 (50ml)

This post is available in German and French on the Marionnaud blog.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of the Brands

Mercedes-Benz is not only about high end cars, the German brand has become a fixed entity in the fashion world as a sponsor and partner of the world’s most major fashion events, such as the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week or the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich which will be taking place again from November 13-16, 2013. The key visual has been created in collaboration with fashion icon Carine Roitfeld.

This season, the luxury car brand has added a women’s fragrance to their lifestyle portfolio, created by Michel Almairac, who was named Perfumer of the Year 2012.

Mercedes-Benz Perfume is a fresh, floral and powdery scent showcasing the unusual accord of mimosa and violet.

MERCEDES-BENZ PERFUME

Top notes: Bergamot and peach
Middle notes: Mimosa-violet, rose and lily-of-the-valley
Base notes: Patchouli, vanilla and white musk

Available as Eau de Parfum 30ml (CHF 65.00), 60ml (CHF 85.00) and 90ml (CHF 115.00). Shower Gel 200ml (CHF 35.00), Body Lotion 200ml (CHF 39.00) and Deo Spray 100ml (CHF 31.00).

YOU CAN SHOP THE NEW FRAGRANCE BY CLICKING HERE.

Great news for my Swiss readers: 5 of you have the chance to WIN A BOTTLE (60ml) of this fantastic new scent. To participate in the contest, please send me an e-mail with your postal address and the header “Mercedes-Benz Perfume” to . All entries must be received until October 20, 2013. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win this contest. By entering this contest, entrants accept and agree to be bound by these official rules. The winner has to have a Swiss address.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

When I heard that Shu Uemura Art of Hair has launched two new shampoos to cater to the needs of clients with oily or dandruff-prone hair, I was curious but thought that – as I am not affected by both problems -, they won’t be something for me. That was a mistake.

Recently, I complaint to my hair dresser that my hair seems kind of dull and  he recommended those new powerful products to me. After having tried them, I am absolutely convinced of their delicate formula that transforms quickly into a rich foam that effectively draws out the impurities and build-up on the scalp without stripping the natural oils. The cleansing process leaves hair naturally radiant, soft and in balanced state – volumized and moisturized. Oil that removes oil, who would have thought that… in stores now.

NEW CLEANSING OIL SHAMPOO
ANTI-OIL ASTRINGENT CLEANSER

Enriched with yuzu extract, which blossoms on the flanks of Mount Fuji, it’s renowned for its astringent properties.
400ml – CHF 61.00

NEW CLEANSING OIL SHAMPOO
ANTI-DANDRUFF SOOTHING CLEANSER

Enriched with shiso extract, a plant cultivated in South East Asia, it’s well-known for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
400ml – CHF 61.00

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Shu Uemura