Sandra‘s Closet

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

This morning, Lancôme has announced the arrival of Lily Collins as its new brand ambassadress. A rising Hollywood star and daughter of famous musician Phil Collins, the beautiful actress divides her time between England, the country of her birth and the United States, where she currently lives. European and American, granddaughter of a ballerina, Lily was raised in a world that encouraged curiosity of mind, artistic pursuits and a thirst for discovery. She initially set her sights on journalism before making a dazzling debut in The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock and then in 2009 in Mirror Mirror, alongside Julia Roberts, another Lancôme face.

She will next be on screen in 2014 in Love, Rosie, a romantic comedy adapted from the novel Where Rainbows End by the Irish author Cecelia Ahern. A free-spirited, confident, sparkling and delicate beauty, Lily Collins – who bears a singular resemblance to the iconic Audrey Hepburn – will bring her talent and freshness to Lancôme as of January 2014, starting with the Spring make-up collection French Ballerine.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Barwerd van der Plas for Lancôme ©2013

As you know, my daily beauty obsession is to clean my skin with my beloved Clarisonic PLUS Sonic Skin Cleansing System. In case you are not yet familiar with this amazing product, I would love to invite you to visit my previous post for all the details here.

Great news for my Swiss readers is that finally the smaller version Clarisonic MIA 2™ Skin Cleansing System will be available exclusively at Marionnaud for CHF 189.00 next month in three hip colors (pink, ipanema and lavender) with a travel case and a small charger which is perfect to take on your next trip.

I couldn’t resist the lavender one and it is already packed for my flight tomorrow to Paris Fashion Week! Stay tuned for more…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Clarisonic and © Sandra Bauknecht

Spotted backstage at the Tibi S/S 2014 show during New York Fashion Week: Baby Lips® – the new lip balm by Maybelline.

Applied to the lips, its exclusive formula protects and moisturizes them for a full 8 hours. After 1 week, your lips are visibly renewed, virtually reborn. It comes in six varieties (in Switzerland only four) that all smell and taste extremely yummy.

In Switzerland available from mid September 2013 for CHF 5.00 each.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Maybelline and © Sandra Bauknecht

Sunday afternoon, Thakoon Panichgul showed his S/S 2014 collection, which was soft, delicate and very feminine. A lot of all in white looks, something that I have spotted quite often during the last days at New York Fashion Week.

I have especially adored the long pearl chains on Thakoon’s bags, created in collaboration with the Japanese jewelry company Tasaki, with whom Panichgul has a long-running partnership. Before the show started, I was able to explore the collection backstage. Funnily enough, I arrived with Anna Wintour at the same time.

It was great to see Thakoon again whom I had met for the first time in London at the Net-à-porter headquarters two years ago (For the previous post, please click here).

Lead Artist Diane Kendal for NARS Cosmetics created a look that was ”all about a beautiful fresh look for spring.” A little bit of spot concealing, she worked mainly with the new three matte multiples that will be newly launched for Spring 2014. So beauty addicts, it is time to get excited!

FACE: Sheer Glow Foundation
NEW Anguilla Matte Multiple (Launching Spring 2014)
NEW Cappadoce Matte Multiple (Launching Spring 2014)

EYES: Larger Than Life® Lengthening Mascara

BROWS: Bali Eyeshadow

LIPS: NEW Laos Matte Multiple (Launching Spring 2014)

Stay tuned for more from New York Fashion Week coming up soon!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Style.com

Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Co. all came to watch Opening Ceremony‘s runway debut that took place yesterday evening at Pier 57 in New York City. The runway felt like a scene of Fast & Furious when the audience spotted a row of very luxurious cars of which the models were exiting.

The collection was, of course, ultra-cool, coming from designer duo Humberto Leon and Carol Lim (who are also the masterminds behind Kenzo’s success) and inspired by street-racing with layers, buckles, visible zippers, and parachute-like shapes.

I had the honour to go backstage before the show and to meet Carol Lim in person.

Another amazing highlight was the interview with Tom Pecheux, Creative Makeup Director for Estée Lauder, who was in charge for the runway show’s makeup look.

I love Tom, he is so sweet with his very charming French accent. It is always a pleasure talking to him and listening to his beauty secrets. I had interviewed him already two years ago (For the previous post, please click here).

Estée Lauder and Opening Ceremony have teamed up to dress Estée Lauder’s beauty advisors around the globe. Please tell me a little more about it.

It was a big challenge. You need to create clothes for different countries, different characters, bodies, you have to be able to wash and dry them easily, best without ironing, so you have to find the right material. Makeup should be like that, too.

What do you hope that stands out the next season?

Beauty and indivisuality. The makeup is not about looking good is about feeling good. My job is to bring a proposal, like every fashion brand does. Afterwards you will have to decide if you like to embrace it. I don’t like to dictate a rule.

Is there a special reason why you give a kind of massage to the models in the beginning?

The models are working very hard, much harder than we do. They need a little bit of love, it is a great way to connect, to relax. You do a better job if the person on the chair feels good. When you do a massage, you relax all the muscles, you activate the blood circulation. By performing the massage, in terms of skin quality, you get a much better result. The makeup stays longer, the complexion looks more radiant.

The cheeks for your look seem very contoured?

Yes, because the young girls with their baby cheeks love to have a little bit of contour.

Do you have a favourite product right now?

Every day is different, every model and skin texture is different. A good concealer, a nude lipstick, a white and black eye pencil are among my essentials.

Do you think the red lips will stand out the next season?

The red lips will always be in. Orange will go, red will stay. It is pure femininity.

Personally speaking, what are you doing to find always new inspirations?

I work with talented people. I have been working for three decades and I am terribly afraid to work by myself. I love to meet new people, like Humberto and Carol, Derek Lam, all such creative people. The sharing is the most important thing.

MAKEUP: Tom Pecheux for Estée Lauder

Eyes: Pure Color Stay-on Shadow Paint in Halo, Pink Zinc or Chained (Matched with Skintone)

Lips: NEW Pure Color Envy Lipstick in Insatiable Ivory – launching March 2014

Cheeks: Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer (Matched with Skintone)

Brows: NEW Double Wear Stay-in-Place Brow Lift Duo – launching January 2014

Face: Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup
Lucidity Translucent Loose Powder in Transparent
Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer

Skin: NEW Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging Creme – launching November 2013
Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher
Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II Male

NAILS: Naomi Nails for Estée Lauder

Nails: Nail Lacquer in Blue Blood
Overlay design: White and light blue acrylic paint

The hair was kept in a low tousled ponytail for the show. I have just loved every single detail of this look and hope that you have enjoyed it, too.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Getty and Estée Lauder