Sandra‘s Closet

She’s elegant, chic, superb and totally effortless. The Lancôme Fall 2013 L’ABSOLU DESIR Collection is a tribute to the Parisian woman – always sophisticated and never overstated. Kate Winslet is the face for this beautiful makeup look that is in stores now.

L’ABSOLU ROUGE
Rose Nu (06), Rouge Rayonnant (07), Caprice (132), Rouge Désir (186), Rose Désir (322) and Prune Désir (386) – CHF 45.00

The signature of Parisian elegance: timelessly red lips. To celebrate this symbol of French beauty, Lancôme pays homage to its cult lipstick, L’Absolu Rouge. Which is your colour for the week?

BLUSH DESIR
A Kiss from Paris (01) – CHF 65.00

I love this product! A precious powder with orange and pink-toned shades, specially crafted to bring out your skin’s radiance. Like a postcard from Paris, the gold-embossed black case features the Eiffel Tower, roses and lipstick kisses… a real collectible!

VERNIS IN LOVE
Purple Fiction (185), Black Sepia (385) and Grey Lumière (485) – CHF 26.00

For fall, Lancôme brings to you black, reinvented! Discover the 3 new Vernis in Love limited edition shades – enlivened with captivating colour and pigments in intense plum, brown and grey!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Lancôme

When creating new nail polishes (remember the Sequined Manicure), U.K. brand Ciaté, helmed by Charlotte Knight, always surprises us. Imagine my excitement when I got the news about their upcoming launch this September: the FEATHER MANICURE.

Knight took inspiration from the runways when formulating this eye-catching trend, which involves gluing an actual feather on your tips.

Here’s how it works: Apply two thin coats of the nail polish, followed by a layer of Speed Coat Pro, and lay the feather on your nail before it dries. Seal in the plume with a second top coat and clip any excess feather overhang. One final top coat layer, and you’re done!

The three different kits will be available in September 2013.
In the U.K. and US: Sephora – In Germany: Douglas (Snow Owl- What a hoot) and Karstadt – In Switzerland, Austria and other countries: www.ciate.co.uk.

LoL, Sandra

All a Flutter

What a Hoot

Ruffle my Feathers

Photos: Courtesy of Ciaté

When I received the new Chanel skincare range, I have been without doubt all over the moon to try it. I can assure you that you will be blown away by this amazing trio!

According to the French Maison, our skin is programmed to know when it’s day and night, or even when it’s weekend time. Inspired by this fact, this new weekly wardrobe helps you to get radiance back, restore balance and to achieve a gorgeous glow. Within the first fifteen days, I have already felt a difference. This trio makes your skin look great and also your bathroom shelf – so worth the investment.

FOR DAY Le Jour de Chanel contains jasmine to energize and salicylic acid to exfoliate and brighten. CHF 105.00
FOR NIGHT La Nuit de Chanel. Its frankincense extract soothes the skin while hyaluronic acid plumps. CHF 105.00
FOR THE WEEKEND Le Weekend de Chanel is infused with rose water to comfort and soften, plus glycolic acid to smooth skin. (This product is a secret weapon. I like to use it when I need an instant boost.) CHF 130.00

In Switzerland available end of August 2013.
TO SHOP ONLINE, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Chanel – Photographer: Benjamin Henon

Before Chanel’s F/W 2013 makeup collection Superstition (post coming up soon) will finally become available here in Switzerland at the end of this month, we can indulge in the beautiful Chanel COLLECTION ROUGE ALLURE MOIRÉ which will hit the shelves this week. Inspired by the beauty and refinement of overflowing fabrics and ribbons, the warm and delicate moiré colours heighten the charm and mystery of intangible makeup.

Let’s take a closer look at those new irresistible products:

ROUGE ALLURE – CHF 48.00

Each name of the eight shades could be used to describe a seductive and mysterious woman. You just have to find out which one suits you best! Do you feel stunning, fierce or mysterious?

122 FAROUCHE A sensual and luxurious chocolate gleaming with silver shimmer.
124 AMBIGÜE A rosy brown warmed by bronze and violet plum pearl.
125 INDÉCISE A natural rosy beige enhanced with a coppery effect.
129 SURPRENANTE An intense pink with ultra-luminous fuchsia shimmer.
131 ÉTONNANTE A satiny apricot with golden pearl, both delicate and elegant.
132 IMPULSIVE A stirring reddish pink, enlivened with gold and silver.
134 AUDACIEUSE A bold rosy red with a more intense moiré effect.
135 ÉNIGMATIQUE A deep brownish red, lit up with gold and silver pearl.

ROUGE ALLURE EXTRAIT DE GLOSS – CHF 48.00

Ultra-shiny and highly concentrated with pigments, it combines the easy application of a gloss and the lasting hold of a lipstick.

71 RÉFLEXION A reddish pink glowing with freshness.
72 CONTROVERSY (pictured to the left) An intense violet plum.

LE CRAYON LÈVRES – CHF 34.00

The smile and the intensity of colour are accentuated by a pencil line tracing the lip contours.

68 ROSE POUDRÉ A slightly greyish pale pink gives precision to delicate shades.
69 ROSE ARDENT (pictured) A reddish pink with a bold character offers vibrancy to the most dazzling shades of the collection.

LE VERNIS – CHF 35.00

Always in movement, painted nails naturally play with the light. The partner of a bewitching smile, LE VERNIS comes in two satiny shades with shimmering reflections.

593 ROSE MOIRÉ A greyish pink for a delicate version.
595 ROUGE MOIRÉ A raspberry red for a seductive version.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chanel

Switzerland has a new beauty oasis, a very urban one: ease DESIGN SPA. A paradise in the city with a vibrant vibe, located in Zurich-West on the first floor of Puls 5. Of course, it doesn’t have this typical zen ambiance but that is on purpose. I enjoyed the facial treatment to funky music in a relaxing ambiance created by award-winning interior designers Dyer-Smith Frey very much.

The highly qualified team offers top quality service and a bundle of experience along with the comfort of a spa in the city.

Ease DESIGN SPA works with SALIN de BIOSEL from Italy. All products and treatments have been designed to be personalised “à la carte”. How does this work? By adding precious components aimed to solve your specific beauty problem, like a unique cosmetic recipe, you enjoy a treatment made exclusively to suit your skin needs.

Everything at ease DESIGN SPA is easy, even the online booking service. I hope that you will feel as much at ease as I did.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Ease Spa and © Sandra Bauknecht

ITALY MEETS ARABIA

Acqua di Parma‘s new Colonia Intensa Oud is absolutely wonderful, something we would like to smell on our men. Bringing together two different worlds, this unique fragrance blends the distinctive Italian freshness of the cologne with the richness of the finest ingredients of the Middle East. The fragrance is the portrait of a man who embodies the best of different cultures, and confident in his own unique identity.

Congratulations! Last month, Acqua di Parma Colonia Intensa Oud won the 2013 Fragrance Foundation Award in the Men’s Luxury category in New York.

Top notes: Orange and Calabrian bergamot
Middle notes: Coriander, Amyris wood and Agarwood essential oil
(Agarwood essential oil is known to be a sign of charismatic, ancestral virility in the worlds of incenses, balms, particularly found in male Middle Eastern fragrances)
Base notes: Sandalwood, ceadrwood, patchouli, musk, wood and forest notes

A complete line for those who love this captivating fragrance in every aspect of their lives. The Eau de Cologne is available in 180ml and 100ml sizes, as well as in a Travel Spray 30ml format for those who want to enjoy the pleasure of this Eau de Cologne at any time and place.

Colonia Intensa Oud is now also available as a Shampoo and Shower Gel, Perfumed Deodorant and as a skilfully crafted Cube Candle for those who would love to spread the enigmatic notes of this Eau de Cologne in their daily routine and in their homes.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Acqua di Parma

Recently, I was invited by Bobbi Brown Switzerland for an afternoon tea at the Widder Hotel in Zurich to view the new fall launches which left me breathless.

If you love chocolate as I do, you will adore the new RICH CHOCOLATE COLLECTION. Those calorie-free treats will make every beauty addict’s heart leap with joy. Gorgeous shades in different hues of brown and beige will might just leave a mark in your wallet, but definitely not on your hips.

The star product: RICH CHOCOLATE EYE PALETTE – CHF 89.00
Bone Eye Shadow, Cocoa Eye Shadow, Stone Eye Shadow, Frappe Eye Shadow, Champagne Truffle Shimmer Wash Eye Sahdow, Caramel Sparkle Eye Shadow, Rich Chocolate Eye Shadow.
(Limited Edition)

LIP COLOR
Berry, Baby Pink (Both Limited Edition)– CHF 38.00

LIP GLOSS
Chocolate Raspberry, Pale Pink (Limited Edition), Tea Berry (Limited Edition) –  CHF 35.00

BLUSH
Pink Coral (Limited Edition), Berry – CHF 41.00

LONG-WEAR GEL EYELINER
Dark Chocolate Ink (Limited Edition) – CHF 34.00

LONG-WEAR CREAM SHADOW STICK
Bittersweet (Limited Edition) – CHF 40.00

EXTREME PARTY MASCARA
Black Chocolate (Limited Edition) – CHF 34.00

In stores in September 2013.

And the best is yet to come… this fall, a limited edition “book“ including everything you need for the perfect look will be launched celebrating the collaboration between Bobbi Brown and the brand’s face Katie Holmes. Could it be any cuter?! Ahhh, I just love Bobbi Brown products!

And if you like my look, click here for all the details.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bobbi Brown and © Sandra Bauknecht

My lovely colleague Katrin Roth from annabelle’s beauty blog (a must-read) spotted me recently at a press conference retouching my makeup and fell immediately in love with my little emergency mascara pouch. Today, she wrote a very funny post about it (Thank you!).

This bag was a souvenir from a dear friend after her recent trip to the US. It is from Californian designer Pamela Barsky, who creates all sorts of fun accessories.

TO SHOP, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Right before I left for China, I attended several press conferences. This is something I truly love about my job, being able to try the newest products before anybody else. Of course, I took some of the items that interested me most on my trip.

After having used them for over four weeks, I can recommend those ones with a good conscience as they have convinced me of their quality and effectiveness.
(Photo taken in Lijiang which was one of my favourite places that I visited in China).

ELIE SAAB  Le Parfum – Eau de Parfum Intense

Every day, I was so much looking forward to taking a shower before going to dinner and to spray myself with this amazing new scent. Especially after all those odors you smell during the day, it feels like heaven… I am sure that you know what I mean.

I have been a fan of the Elie Saab perfume line from its first launch. The scents of orange blossom and rose honey composed by perfumer Francis Kurkdjian are what makes me adore it so much. Every version of the perfume depicts a period of daylight, the original from 2011 is dedicated to the day, the lighter EdT version to the morning and now the new sensual intense fragrance is inspired by the magic moment of dusk.

ORIENTAL FLORAL
Top notes: Orange blossom
Middle notes: Honey, rose and ylang-ylang
Base notes: Amber and patchouli

ELIE SAAB, Le Parfum Eau de Parfum Intense CHF 80.00 (30ml)  and CHF 120.00 (50ml)
Available in Switzerland in September 2013.
(In August exclusively at the Elie Saab store Geneva).

DREAMTONE by Lancôme
The Ultimate Dark Spot Corrector

Dare to go bare, Lancôme has developed a breakthrough brightening product for an even skin tone. It helps you to correct the appearance of dark spots which may be related to sun exposure (perfect to use it during your summer holidays), aging or hormones and to erase irregularities that make your complexion look uneven. Your skin looks immediately improved and more radiant. To be applied before your moisturizer. During my holidays, I just used my sun cream on top.

Available in three different pigmentation profiles:
1 Fair skin tones (targeting dullness and redness) – the one I used
2 Medium skin tones (targeting dullness and pale skin complexion)
3 Dark skin tones (targeting dullness and blemish marks)

In Switzerland available from Mid August 2013 for CHF 129.00 (40ml).

SHEER and PERFECT FOUNDATION by Shiseido

A sheer liquid foundation that evens your skin tone and provides a healthy, glowing finish that lasts all day, even in humid and very hot temperatures. Its refreshing texture feels like a soft veil. Another advantage is the design of the bottle, tiny (great for traveling) and eco-friendly.

In Switzerland in stores in September 2013 for CHF 37.00 (30ml).

BIO-PERFORMANCE SUPER CORRECTIVE EYE CREAM by Shiseido

This time-fighting eye cream counteracts the tired look that appears with age around this area and while traveling due to long-distance flights and climate changes. The youthful vitality is immediately restored. The advanced technology maintains optimal levels of hyaluronic acid, which is a key element for keeping the eye contours firm.

In Switzerland available from September 2013 for CHF 110.00 (15ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the brands and © Sandra Bauknecht

“Sì is my tribute to modern femininity, an irresistible combination of grace, strength and independent spirit.” – Giorgio Armani

When I came back from my holiday, a lovely surprise waited for me. A personalized, engraved bottle of Giorgio Armani‘s newest scent Sì.

Chic, sultry, intense and soft at the same time, this chypre scent is captivating all senses. Like a forbidden fruit, the creative mixture exposes all of its femininity and its passion – it is the power of darkness. Kind of sweet, but still warm and deep, this intoxicating nectar has absolutely convinced me. The face of the campaign is famous actress Cate Blanchett.

CHYPRE
Top notes: Cassis
Middle notes: Freesia and May Rose
Base notes: Woody Notes, Ambroxan, Patchouli and Vanilla

The nose behind this fragrance is Christine Nagel.
Available in Switzerland from September 2013 as Eau de Parfum 30ml (CHF 85.00), 50ml (CHF 123.00) and 100ml (CHF 156.00), plus Shower Gel 200ml (CHF 62.00) and Body Lotion 200ml (CHF 66.00).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Giorgio Armani and © Sandra Bauknecht