Sandra‘s Closet

Davis Factor, the renowned fashion and celebrity photographer, is the grandson of Hollywood makeup legend Max Factor. Together with his brother Dean, he founded Smashbox Studios in 1990, followed by their own make-up line six years later that is dedicated to work best in the tough studio environment (Smashbox products are exclusively available at Marionnaud in Switzerland). Davis lives in the third generation in Beverly Hills which is his favourite place on earth. Below you can enjoy his tips for the City of Angels.

Your favourite city?
LOS ANGELES – This is my home, where my family roots are. I am a surfer, I love the weather and the waves. It is spread out but peaceful. I love the mixture between the nature and the city.

Your favourite hotel?
BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL – I have spend my whole life there. They have a great pool, great atmosphere. The restaurants cater and they love me as I eat there 3-4 times per week. But  I have never stayed there as I live too close.
9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, +1 310 276 2251

Your favourite restaurant?
MR.CHOW – I love Chinese food a lot and I am great friends with Michael Chow’s daughter China. It’s the place for the who is who.
344 N Camden Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, +1 310 278 9911

Your favourite dish there?
I love their Shrimp and Oyster sauce.

Your favourite bar or nightclub?
HYDE LOUNGE – Best on Fridays. A friend of mine owns it and I feel comfortable in there, it’s not like a big club, it’s not too loud, more lounge style with great food.
8029 W Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, 90046, + 1 323 655 8000

Your favourite sightseeing spot?
SUNSET IN MALIBU – Very Californian! My brother has a fabulous house in Malibu where I like to watch it.

Your favourite beach?
MALIBU BEACH – The sand is fantastic.
MANHATTAN BEACH – I surf there a lot, great community, classic beach with a family atmosphere.

Your favourite shop?
MAXFIELD – I buy for myself in there. Great selection of designer clothes and I love their Hermès vintage collections.
8825 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90069, +1 310 274 8800

Your must-have accessory in Los Angeles?
A CAR – I drive a Mercedes-Benz. I have such a great experience with their service.

The best book to read while being on vacation there?
WONDERLAND AVENUE by Danny Sugerman.
It’s about his life as a troubled Beverly Hills kid who ended up being Jim Morrison’s best buddy. He hang out with all the rockstars of the ’80s and it all happens in the area where I grew up. It reminds me so much of Los Angeles and his brother is my doctor.

Thank you, Davis, for sharing your insider scoop on Los Angeles with us.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Locations and Smashbox Studios

While being in Los Angeles last week with Smashbox, I visited the Max Factor Hollywood museum, a real treasure box for all makeup and movie addicts. I will soon tell you more about it. Later, Davis Factor invited me to his amazing mansion for lunch. It was truly the perfect day not only because of the sunshine…

My look: Chain trim dress, logo bucket shoulder bag and pearl necklace with bow, all by Moschino, sunglasses by Miu Miu and shoes by Prada.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Being in my favorite city, Los Angeles, always makes me happy. Therefore I was over the moon when Smashbox (in Switzerland available at Marionnaud) invited me to come here for a truly amazing experience that I will tell you all about.

The first night I had dinner at Chateau Marmont. Here you see me leaving my hotel, Sunset Tower, which is right around the corner.

My look: Lampion dress, leather waist belt, platform shoes and stingray clutch, all by Azzedine Alaïa, Limelight Gala watch and rose diamond ring, both by Piaget, diamond ring and bracelet by Vainard Fine Jewellery.

TO SHOP A GREAT SELECTION OF ALAÏA ACCESSORIES, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Santigold is Santi White: an artist whose perseverance relies on invention, a major muse watched by the inspired world, an American singer-songwriter and producer. She is neither calm nor mayhem, but from her lungs burst every color in between.

Exclusively for Smashbox, she designed an amazing colorful limited edition collection inspired by the idea of a post-apocalyptic golden age. In this world she imagined, the earth, the stars, mankind and aliens co-exist in perfect harmony.

BE LEGENDARY LIPSTICK RING – CHF 68.00
Still Kickin’

EYE SHADOW COLLAGE – CHF 47.00 each
Earth As We Know (left) and Apocalypse Now (right)

BE LEGENDARY LIPGLOSS – CHF 30.00 each
All Gold E’rything (left) and Hot Lava (right)

DOUBLE-ENDED LIMITLESS EYE LINER – CHF 33.00 each
Azurite Is Never Wrong (left) and Yellow Dwarf/Green Martian (right)

In Switzerland available exclusively at MARIONNAUD from April 15, 2014.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Smashbox

This Valentine’s Day make her blush with something from this gift guide. Of course, those ideas work perfectly for every woman you love, your girlfriend, your mother, your daughter and your wife. If nobody is treating you, treat yourself and say be mine!

BEAUTY

Valentine’s Day is getting close, what if he offered you the new fruity floral KENZOAMOUR I♥U ?
A bouquet for every day, a subtle love message every morning.

Top notes: Grapefruit and black currant
Heart notes: Rose, cherry and lilac
Base notes: Musk and cedarwood
Available now. CHF 80.50 (40ml)

When it comes to the art of gifting, Jo Malone offers some of the most beautiful choices. For Valentines’ Day, the brand’s Red Roses fragrance is lovely, composed of seven types of roses from around the world.

Celebrate the essence of romance with the Red Roses Fragrance Chronicle™. A trio of exclusive accords to layer with voluptuous Red Roses. Create individual effects: Sweet Lemon brings tantalising transparency; Scarlet Velvet Rose adds richness; and Honeycomb, a nectar-like warmth. Write your own love story…
Available at Jelmoli Zurich and Globus Geneva for CHF 130.00

For Valentine’s Day, Bobbi Brown recommends to mix unusual colour combinations, her favourite at the moment: pink and red.

PINK & RED COLLECTION (New and limited edition shades from left to right):
Sheer Colour Tint in Sheer Pink and Sheer Cherry, CHF 39.00
Sheer Lip Gloss in Cheery (new) and Pretty in Pink, CHF 35.00
Nail Polishes in Pink Valentine and Valentine Red, CHF 27.00
Creamy Matte Lip Color in Hot (new) and Heart, CHF 38.00

The message that street artist Curtis Kulig spreads is amazing: Love is universal. Everything about the newest Smashbox collection “Love Me” is true to Curtis, to his art. Cute, beautiful and cool in one with hearts allover.

LOVE ME COLLECTION (In Switzerland exclusively availabe at Marionnaud)
Eye Shadow Palette in Admire Me (pink-brown) and Entice Me (blue-purple), CHF 44.00
Be Legendary Lipstick in Love Me (red) and Tempt Me (coral), CHF 26.00
Blush in Idolize Me (light pink), CHF 40.00
Paint Pen Eye Liner in Jet Black, CHF 29.00
Lip Enhancing Gloss in Adore Me (coral red) and Charm Me (bubblegum pink), CHF 24.00

FASHION

Declare your love with this playfully embellished jersey T-shirt by Lanvin. 
Blooming with vinyl flowers and sparkling with crystals, it will make the heart of every fashionista girlfriend leap with joy!

You cannot go wrong with a pair of fabulous shoes:
Love Me heart-appliquéd suede pumps by Charlotte Olympia

The Valentines Bayswater leather clutch by Mulberry is the perfect gift for your beloved one.

This beautiful Valentine bag by Gucci is part of a whole collection dedicated to love.

WATCHES & JEWELRY

You’re crazy in love? Say it out loud! Make it perfectly clear with A LA FOLIE (GZ281) — the Swatch watch that says,” I’m mad about you. True love has nothing to hide”, created especially for Valentine’s Day.

Model: Gent
Dial: pink with heart-shaped opening revealing some pink components within
Case: 34 mm solid mat white plastic
Bracelet: bi-colour mat white and pink silicone, smells like vanilla
Available now for CHF 70.00.

How cute is Montblanc‘s Valentine necklace?! It pairs a large heart in warm pink gold combined with the house’s star emblem in stainless steel. The two pendants are firmly tied together with an adjustable leather cord which is available in black or brown.
Available for CHF 325.00.

I hope that I could inspire you a little. And last but not least, here is an amazing contest for you:

VALENTINE’S DAY SSENSE Selfie Contest
To celebrate love in the modern world SSENSE is hosting a contest. The idea is simple: participants take a photo of themselves and upload it to Instagram with the hashtag #SSENSELOVESME. Two entries will be picked on Valentine’s Day, and the winners will receive a $2,500 gift card to use on ssense.com.

To participate: Follow @SSENSE on Instagram. Take a photo of yourself. Post that photo to Instagram with the hashtag #SSENSELOVESME and mention @SSENSE. The contest ends at 12:00pm EST on Valentine’s Day.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the brands, © Sandra Bauknecht

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During the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich 2012, I went backstage several times. I love watching hair and make-up artists at work as you can always learn so much. Paul Mitchell and Marionnaud belonged to the main sponsors of the event. I spotted some great products that I am now completely addicted to and of course, I am sharing them with you.

Me having fun at work.

Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer by Smashbox
Let me introduce you to the first primer dedicated to the delicate skin under the eyes! The brand’s signature silky primer texture keeps your concealer looking fresh and never cakey or settled into fine lines so that your eyes will always look well-rested. 
Available in Switzerland for CHF 33.- exclusively at Marionnaud.

Germany’s Next Topmodel 2012 winner Luisa Hartema‘s hairdo was done with products by Paul Mitchell. Scroll down to see what you will definitely need to get the perfect blow-dry.

Hydromist Blow-Out Spray™
High-performance volumizers prepare hair for a flawless blow-dry. The weightless formula boosts volume, hydrates dry strands and delivers a clean, long-lasting hold while protecting hair from damage.

Shine Spray™
This finishing spray with a light mist adds brilliance and luminous shine to any style while protecting your hair.

Styling Treatment Oil™
The idea of oiling up your hair might sound weird, but rubbing a little of this lightweight formula between your palms and then over strands before blow-drying or ironing adds a beautiful gloss and tames frizz.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

SMASHBOX – Created. Tested. Photographed at Smashbox Studios LA.

Smashbox Cosmetics is an American makeup brand, founded by Dean and Davis Factor in 1996, with the focus on meeting the needs of “a high definition world”, the needs of a photo shoot brought to daily life.

Their goal has always been to demystify makeup and to help every woman to be her own makeup artist.

From finding quick beauty fixes to easy makeup application, Smashbox offers innovative products for everyone, everywhere. I recommend to visit their homepage for awesome makeup tutorials and more by clicking here.

Smashbox’s most important products are the legendary PRIMERS, with 23% of the company’s overall business.
11 different primers are offered to choose from. To find out which one works for you, try the primer finder or visit the nearest Smashbox counter for a personalized shopping experience.

My personal favourite is the new oil-free Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer (blue, second to the left) that delivers immediate hydration to the skin and seals it in for hours while smoothing fine lines and pores, CHF 44.-.

Smashbox products are exclusively available in Switzerland at selected Marionnaud stores.

Click, you’re it! It is your flawless-looking skin…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Smashbox and © Sandra Bauknecht