Sandra‘s Closet

My dearest readers, today, I have the most amazing contest for you: win a spa weekend for two with SISLEY and great news is that the lucky winner can choose the destination.

Two options are available, which are both absolutely amazing, Le Richmond Geneva or the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz.

With email at your fingertips, nonstop group texting, and around-the-clock social media delights and distractions, actually making the time to unwind is overly important. Take your loved one on a weekend trip that will boost your energy level, get your glow back and will leave you with some beautiful memories.

Personally speaking, friends are often asking me how I can keep up with my level of stress, the constant travels and permanent social media activities. My key is taking some time off in between. So I went for a great spa weekend to the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz which is one of the destinations you can choose from.

Taking a break from everyday life at Grand Resort Bad Ragaz.

Being just four miles from the Tamina Gorge, where the physician and alchemist Paracelsus documented the healing powers of the Bad Ragaz spring water in the 16th century, the Grand Resort is comprised of two hotels: Grand Hotel Quellenhof & Spa Suites and Grand Hotel Hof Ragaz. It continues this tradition of health and wellness with its 12,800-square-meter spa, one of the largest in Europe. The sprawling complex features ten spring-water-filled indoor and outdoor pools, three sauna and steambath zones, Asian treatment suites and a private spa.

If you are looking for regeneration from the inside out, this place sets you on the right path. The best? Some amazing treatments by SISLEY.

Some of my Sisley favorites…

As you know, I am addicted to some of the beauty brand’s products, such as the So Intense Mascara, the Black Rose Cream Mask and the Sisleÿa Global Anti-Age Cream among many other. Launched in 1976 by Hubert d’Ornano, the private skin care and fragrance company is still owned by the family. The company’s production, administration, and research laboratories are located in France. Sisley high end products are primarily manufactured in its ultra-modern factory in Blois, located in the Loir-et-Cher department.

Relaxed and happy after the Sisley treatments at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz.

To participate in the contest and discover all the details, click HERE please.
The deadline for the raffle is January 6, 2017.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Many of my girlfriends have been asking me for advice about the right mascara. Personally speaking, it depends on my eye makeup. If I go for a nude look, I tend to wear a light not too clumpy mascara. If I want to achieve a smokey eye, I like something more dramatic. But bying a whole collection of different mascaras can be quite expensive therefore I was immediately taken by EYEKO’S MASCARA WARDROBE. It offers all you need to achieve every lash look – from smudge-proof definition and dramatic volume, to sleek length for a reasonable price.

Black Magic Mascara is enriched with Keratin and Shea Butter and will create an elegant curl with serious staying power.
Skinny Brush Mascara‘s slim wand has dispersed bristles to capture and coat even the shortest of hairs.
Fat Brush Mascara is perfect if you love bold, thicker body and length.
Sport Waterproof Mascara‘s smudge-proof formula withstands even the most high-intensity workouts.
Eye Do Mascara delivers a falsie effect.
Rock Out & Lash Out Mascara has a gel finish for superior hold and impact.

Housed in a smart black presentation box, this set which is filled with six of the brand’s best-selling styles will make a perfect gift for yourself or a discerning friend.

TO SHOP EYEKO’S MASCARA WARDROBE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Eyeko

The packaging of five of Jo Malone‘s most beloved soaps will be redesign by British artist Michael Angove in the beginning of 2017.

A passion for pattern: Michael Angove

Exhaling pure cuteness, those beauty must-haves make the perfect hostess gift when you are invited for a dinner.

Lime Basil Mandarin 100g
English Pear & Freesia 100g
Blackberry & Bay 100g
Red Roses 100g
Pomegranate Noir 100g

The limited edition soaps will be available from February 2017 for CHF 23.00 each. In Switzerland at Globus Geneva, Globus Lucerne and Jelmoli Zurich.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Jo Malone

«I love seeing a woman in a man’s suit. Why not have a lipstick named after a man?» – Tom Ford

My dearest ladies, it is time for you to meet the new boys. Tom Ford has it all worked out for us, lipsticks and the stronger sex, what else do we need. LIPS & BOYS is a 50-piece lipstick lineup that unveils now 25 new shades, literally 25 new boys, including for the first time, 10 modern matte shades, all available now for CHF 39.00 (2g) each.

From nuanced nudes like Bradley and Alexander to the unabashed bold reds of Nicholas and Dominic, all lipsticks come with specially-treated pigments that deliver pure color to suit our every mood. What I love most about them is the small size as they fit perfectly in my evening clutches.

My favourite shades? Patrick, a fresh and vibrant coral and Ashton, a rosy berry.

If you are living in Zurich, come and visit Jelmoli this weekend. You are invited to experience the new lipstick collection in the presence of some handsome male models – each of them representing another type of boy. And of course your favorite one will pose with you for a cute selfie that you can share on instagram with the hashtag #TFLIPSANDBOYS.

For all living abroad, the new shades are also available online HERE.
Have fun!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Johannes Diboky and Courtesy of Estée Lauder

Mariah Carey, «songbird supreme», has once again teamed up with M·A·C Cosmetics for a second holiday-themed makeup collection. The singer has dazzled us with her songs and timeless contributions to music for decades and now brings her extraordinary glamour for the second time to an iconic makeup collection with M·A·C that’s all you’ll ever want. After a successful 2015 partnership, Carey and M·A·C are ready for round two and we are, too.

Needless to say, there is plenty of glitter incorporated into the collection itself, which includes many beautiful sparkeling products that I can absolutely recommend for the festive season. I am anyway a «smokey eyes – nude lips» type of girl and Mariah Carey x M·A·C offers everything I adore.

#MACMariahCarey is available now. Have a look at all the products below and happy weekend shopping:

LIPSTICK – CHF 31.00
All I Want – champagne shimmer (Frost)
Bit of Bubbly – soft pinky nude (Cremesheen)
Dahhlinggg! – pinky peach (Cremesheen)
MCizzle – cool peach (Cremesheen)
I Get So OOC – shimmering brown (Frost)

LIPGLASS – CHF 29.00
It’s Just Like Honey – tan shimmer
Rainbow Interlude – soft white shimmer
Little Miss Monroe – true gold shimmer
Dreamlover – dirty pink shimmer
Butterfly Bling – pink bronze shimmer (Online Exclusive)

PRO LONGWEAR LIP PENCIL – CHF 33.00
So Dramatique – deep brown
New Ombre – cool peach

I’M THAT CHICK YOU LIKE EYESHADOW X 4 – CHF 60.00
Whenever You Call – yellow gold (Veluxe Pearl)
Can’t Escape Me – dirty mocha with gold pearl (Satin)
Golden Petals Scattering – cool brown shimmer (Frost)
How You Thrill Me – rich dark brown (Satin)

IT’S EVERYTHING EYESHADOW X 4 – CHF 60.00
Diamond Butterfly – silver white shimmer (Frost)
I’d Give My All – muted mid-tone grey (Lustre)
Images of Rapture – muted black with red shimmer (Velvet)
Twinks – deep plum with pearl (Veluxe Pearl)

LIQUID EYE LINER – CHF 31.00
This is My Night – rich brown-black

POWDER BLUSH – CHF 36.00
You’ve Got Me Feeling – light candy pink
Sweet Sweet Fantasy – deep coral

LOOSE POWDER – CHF 49.00
Touch My Body – radiant gold shimmer

EXTRA DIMENSION SKINFINISH – CHF 56.00
My Mimi – warm gold shimmer

BRUSHES
183 Buffer – CHF 69.00
239 Eye Shader – CHF 40.00

LASHES – CHF 19.00
05 – 36

On my shopping list:
Extra Dimension Skinfinish, Buffer Brush, Lipstick in Dahhlinggg! and Lipgloss in Dreamlover.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics and © Sandra Bauknecht

This summer, Clarins has opened the doors of a new beauty temple in Zurich. Hard to believe, this new concept marks the first of its kind for the French brand in Europe.

Located in the city center at Gebergasse 6, just around the corner of the prestigious Bahnhofstrasse and very close to the Jelmoli parking, the new Clarins Boutique & Skin Spa houses the complete range of products, from fine scents to high performance skin care on the ground floor.

One level up, the skin spa welcomes its customers for the most exclusive skin treatments. The second floor is reserved for the in-house training center. Altogether, the shop has a size of more than 280 square meters.

Clarins Boutique & Skin Spa opening party in Zurich

I truly recommend a visit to indulge into the world of Clarins. In 1954, Jacques Courtin-Clarins had a pioneering vision when he opened his first Clarins institute in Paris. Still today, the house is known for creating luxury products based exclusively on plants as the eternal source of inspiration and innovation.

Flown in for the occasion: Prisca Courtin-Clarins (SPAs, My Blend and Retail Director Clarins), Laurent Malaveille (General Manager Clarins Switzerland) and Natalie Bader (CEO Clarins).

During the hectic holiday season, let time stand still while you enjoy a treatment, and some time for yourself. Or find a little gift for a loved one as this very cute advent calendar that I got for myself.

24 days filled with little surprises, beauty products in small sizes that I love to take with me when travelling. Available for CHF 99.00.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Clarins

Jo Malone will launch Myrrh & Tonka, a new unisex fragrance in the Cologne Intense Collection, in January that follows 2015’s Orris & Sandalwood.

This amazing addictive scent uses the potent sap of the Namibian myrrh tree and blends it with a little dose of warm almond and lush vanilla from the tonka bean. It was developed by perfumer Mathilde Bijaoui.

What was the inspiration behind the fragrance?

The idea of Namibia, with its sand dunes and warm desert colours, conjured up the romance and emotion of faraway lands. Myrrh felt like the perfect note to use for a new and innovative Cologne Intense. Once enriched with the note of tonka, the fragrance gives a real sense of richness, travel and escape.

The Cologne Intense collection works with rare, ritualistic ingredients; what makes Myrrh & Tonka an ideal addition to this collection?

Both the myrrh and the tonka have a decadent and addictive quality that chimes with the Cologne Intense concept of rarity and opulence. I felt that the collection was missing a fully warm, sensual and rounded Oriental feel. We do already have a resinous incense note elsewhere in the collection, in Incense and Cedrat, but it’s cut through with a citrus that amplifies the fresh nature of the Incense. However for Myrrh & Tonka, we headed in the opposite direction and reinforced the richness of the resin rather than trying to contrast it. Even though the final fragrance is deep, it stays true to our philosophy of simplicity and clarity; that’s because it’s a short formula with very few extra ingredients, making it easy to layer with our existing fragrances through our Fragrance CombiningTM ritual.

How was the Myrrh harvested?

We wanted to go to the source of the myrrh and I had the privilege of travelling to Namibia to be part of the harvesting process. It’s a long, long journey and, once there, it feels like a very distant land. Once we landed in the country, it was another eight hours travelling into the mountains to get to our destination.
The trees they collect the myrrh from are called Omumbiri trees – they seem almost dead when you look at them as they grow in the dryness of the desert. But a few times a year the trees produce a sap that comes out like a resin; it’s a mechanism that the tree harnesses to fight potential bacteria, and the myrrh has a wonderful purity to it because of the altitude and climate.
Accumulating the resin is a ritualistic process in itself. The sap is very gluey so traditionally they would cut the tree trunks to get it. But in this region, to preserve the tree, they don’t touch it at all: they wait until it’s become dry and either scrape it from the tree or they wait until it falls off. With their method there’s no waste, the trees aren’t damaged and the whole experience is very simple and clean. And because of the nature of the crystals you can keep them for a week or two, unlike flowers that you have to work with immediately as they’re so fragile. I’ve never seen something so beautifully uncomplicated.

How would you describe Myrrh & Tonka as it warms and develops on the skin?

Right at the top there is a hint of lavender and a little floral to make the opening effect comforting and voluptuous. The big, rich heart and base note of myrrh is sensual and balsamic, with hints of amber and licorice. And the tonka brings generosity. There is also a touch of vanilla, cypriol and gaiac wood, which together deliver a smoky tobacco note to the perfume.
It’s a fragrance that’s quite linear: that means that from the top to the bottom it more or less stays the same. It’s very stable in its evolution, and that’s something quite rare in perfumery.
It’s sensual and addictive, captivating and mesmerising.

Top Note: Lavender
Middle Note: Omumbiri Myrrh
Base Note: Tonka Bean

Jo Malone Myrrh & Tonka will be available as 100 ml Cologne Intense for CHF 165.00 from January 2, 2017. In Switzerland at Globus Geneva, Globus Lucerne and Jelmoli Zurich.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Jo Malone

Recently I was invited to preview M·A·C‘s beautiful Christmas collection «Nutcracker Sweet» and the holiday kits at the brand’s store at Bellevue in Zurich (Rämistrasse 2, 8001 Zürich). It was a very sweet event with a ballerina and tons of fun make-up products to try.

Leap into a magical land that’s a bit nutty, a little naughty, bursting with whimsy. Lose yourself in an eccentric kingdom of oversized treats and rosy-cheeked nutcrackers.
Twist, turn and tumble deeper into the land of dolls. Our story has only begun…

Who knows what thrilling adventures are in store? A collection of kits invite the unexpected, with fabulous hues leading the way for an imaginative evening.

LIPSTICK – CHF 31.00
Kingdom of Sweets soft, milky pink (cremesheen)
Flamboyish hot deep pink (matte)
Saucy Little Darling deep coral red (amplified crème)
So Good For You Furiously Festive intense cool red (matte)
Leap of Delight deep plum purple (matte)

MAGIC DUST EYE SHADOW – CHF 31.00
Dance Flowers Dance light pink
Pretty Dainty pink coral shimmer
Rabblerouser bright intense pink
Forward March peachy gold shimmer
Dark Lullaby midnight purple
Mustache black with gold sparkle

MAGIC DUST POWDER – CHF 45.00
Yum Yum Yum soft pink with gold pearl
Sweet Vision pinky peach with gold pearl

PIGMENT – CHF 35.00
Rose rose with copper sparkle
Process Magenta bright magenta

KOHL POWER EYE PENCIL – CHF 24.00
Powersurge bronzed brown with golden shimmer
Prunella purple
Feline black

Don’t miss the holiday kits that make a great gift for your mum, a beloved friend or yourself. Here are some of my favorites. You can explore more in stores.

NUTCRACKER SWEET RED LIP BAG – CHF 68.00
Vamplify in Suggestive intense blue-red
Lipstick in Candy Cane intense blue-red
Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Trust In Red bright cool red cream

NUTCRACKER SWEET NUDE LIP BAG – CHF 68.00
Vamplify in Tuned In mid-tone rosy nude
Lipstick in Magic Spell mid-tone mauve nude
Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in In Control brown mauve

NUTCRACKER SWEET COOL EYE COMPACT – CHF 64.00
Enchanted Beauty pale pink shimmer (lustre)
Absurdly Pretty matte raspberry (matte)
Plum Darling metallic charcoal plum (lustre)
Performance Art mauve with silver pearl (lustre)
Nutcracker deep blackened purple (satin)
The Wrong Man pale cool pink (satin)
Sugar Plum dirty grape (matte)
Marzipan muted plummy taupe (matte)
Quite Spoiled muted mid-tone lilac (satin)
214/213 Dual-Ended Brush

The collection is now available at all M·A·C counters, M·A·C Stores and www.maccosmetics.ch.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics and © Sandra Bauknecht

Sure, anyone can make her face look perfect in any photo (Thanks, Instagram filters!), but the same can’t be said for in real life. Exception: TEMPTU‘s innovative Air Glowing Complexion Kit makes creating an airbrushed, flawless look at home a breeze, thanks to its amazing technique that shortcuts you to Photoshop-esque perfection.

Suitable for all skin types, its easy-to-use dual voltage system quickly delivers sheer, buildable coverage that’s natural-looking and virtually weightless. It has three speeds that allow you to customize the level of coverage, focus on specific areas and erase blemishes. You can achieve pro results in less time than it takes to apply traditional makeup. The portable device has a globally-compliant micro-USB port and rechargeable battery that lasts up to three weeks.

Find the right foundation shade here.

Airpod Makeup is dermatologist recommended, oil free, and hypoallergenic.
– The oil-free Champagne highlighter will brighten your complexion
– Create or enhance a sun-kissed glow with the Warm Glow bronzer

Something else that I find absolutely an amazing idea is TEMPTU‘s haircare system that temporarily colors roots in between salon visits. I don’t color my hair so I didn’t try it but I remember my days as a blonde and those horrible times in between when the outgrowing roots really got on my nerves.

As I am convinced about the innovative technology for the make-up appliance, I am pretty sure it will also work for the hair. This non-greasy, vitamin-enriched formula uses the brand’s airpod™ airbrushing technology to seamlessly tint your tresses and is transfer and water-resistant for up to 24 hours. It’s weightless texture won’t leave a stiff or sticky residue so your hair will feel soft and touchable.

Just choose the right Airbrush 24-Hour Root Touch Up & Hair Color as they are compatible with the portable device that you are using for your make-up. You can also use it for your eyebrows.

Have a lovely weekend!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Temptu

Thierry Mugler takes the success of his famous gourmand scent Angel from 1992 a step further with the launch of «Étoile des Rêves», a special reinterpretation made specifically for the night and its rituals, available as Eau de Parfum and scented candle. Enriched with large quantities of soft white musk it provides the illusion of silk lingerie and cashmere blankets.

Wrap yourself with a delicate negligee of scent as you unveil a new night ritual with the sensual ANGEL «Etoile des Rêves» Eau de Parfum. This new star product is an intimate, intense version of ANGEL with an intoxicating fragrance that lasts… all night long. Even the stars won’t resist you!

Fragrance notes: bergamot, praline, vanilla, patchouli, musk
CHF 125.00 (100ml)

Reinvent your night ritual with the ANGEL «Etoile des Rêves» Scented Candle. Inspired by the glamorous boudoir tradition, this delicious scented candle diffuses the intimate, sensuous atmosphere of ANGEL Eau de Parfum all night long…

Fragrance notes: bergamot, tropical fruits, vanilla, caramel, patchouli
CHF 84.00 (160gr)

Both products are available now only for a limited time.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Mugler