Sandra‘s Closet

Looking outside at this dreadful weather, I love taking a hot shower. LE PETIT MARSEILLAIS has launched three new shower gels for the fall season, of which one is for men, that give you a little mood boost during this stormy season.

Verveine & Citron (Verbena & Lemon) Shower Gel gently cleanses, nourishes and hydrates the skin. Its scent is fresh and fruity.

Lait d’Acacia (Acacia Milk) Shower Gel comes with a delicate smell of flowers. It contains milk from acacia blossoms which is very soft and extremely moisturizing.

Bois de Cade & Fougère (Cade & Fern) Shower Gel for Men has a masculine woody smell and promises to nourish the skin while stimulating his (and probably also her) senses.

In Switzerland available at Coop for CHF 3.95 each (250ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht

The new scent ANYWAY by Juliette has a Gun is different from what you would expect. Romano Ricci surprises with his new creation that brings a breath of freshness, simplicity and softness with the unusual mixture of citrusy and woody-floral components.

It symbolizes simplicity in the face of frivolity with just fifteen ingredients, going right back to basics, only keeping the best. Anyway is a signature fragrance ready to unite with the feminine as much as the masculine.

Top notes: Neroli and Lime
Middle notes: Jasmine
Base notes: Musk, Hedione and Ambrox Molecules

Available now as Eau de Parfum for CHF 117.00 (50ml) and CHF 153.00 (100ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Juliette has a Gun and © Sandra Bauknecht

Being a huge fan of Tom Ford‘s Jasmin Rouge scent, I couldn’t have been more excited about the new matching color collection. There almost nothing as sexy as red lips and nails. Cherry or crimson, mix and match, the latest launch for the season is a fun one with names such as Rouge Fatale and Vampire Kiss for your lips while you can paint nails in Trophy Wife (my favorite as seen on my nails below, the perfect red with a hint of pink shimmer) and Shameless. Love it.

Prices are CHF 62.00 for the lipstick and CHF 42.00 for the nail polish.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Tom Ford and @ Sandra Bauknecht

Yesterday, Essie‘s Winter 2013 Collection was in the mail and couldn’t wait to share it with you! The cold season is coming – and with it, a lavish lineup of the season’s nicest necessities in six smashing shades. Pastels and saturated deeps, enjoy the new must-have hues including from left to right:

Parka Perfect: Shimmering cashmere mint grey
Warm & Toasty Turtleneck: Lavender angora
Toggle To The Top: Sparkling garnet red
Mind Your Mittens: Black teal
Sable Collar: Pearlescent cocoa plum
Shearling Darling: Ebony red

In stores now for CHF 20.00 each.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Essie and © Sandra Bauknecht

Let me introduce you to a groundbreaking, skin-optimizing serum that boosts hydration, clarity and luminosity and supercharges skin’s cellular functions to counteract the signs of aging immediately and over time: AHAVA Dead Sea Osmoter™ Concentrate.

In 1989, AHAVA scientists performed fundamental research on the shores of the Dead Sea that gave birth to the Osmoter™, a perfectly balanced concentrate of Dead Sea minerals. This serum features a new technology with the ability to deliver 3 times the Osmoter™ to skin cells. The delivery of highly concentrated Dead Sea minerals to the skin results in supercharged benefits.

Rehydrate – skin feels intensely moisturized and supple.
Illuminate – skin appears clearer, more radiant and youthful.
Recharge – skin is optimized to fully absorb nutrients from skincare regimen.
CHF 69.00 (30ml)

I recently tested the brand new AHAVA Dead Sea Osmoter™ Concentrate as a part of my daily beauty routine and was impressed by how radiant my skin started to look.

Great news for my Swiss readers: Five of you have the chance to win a bottle of AHAVA Dead Sea Osmoter™ Concentrate. To participate in the contest, please send me an e-mail with your postal address and the header “Ahava Concentrate” to . All entries must be received until November 16, 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 Ahava

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