Sandra‘s Closet

La Roche-Posay‘s skincare line LIPIKAR has offered the perfect nourishing products for extremely dry skin. Moreover the brand has been supporting families with children who suffer from atopy to help them make their daily life easier. If you are not familiar with the term, here is a brief explanation: atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Patients have defective skin permeability and a hyperreactive, unbalanced immune system. The skin is very dry, sensitive and tends to be red and itching.

Filaggrin, a protein of the skin which ensures adhesion between cells in the outermost layer of the skin, is deficient. In addition, the skin lacks the lipids which are naturally found on its surface and which protect it from potential allergens. Under these circumstances, irritants found in the environment and which are usually well tolerated, such as pollen, dust and certain hygiene products, can penetrate the skin and cause a flare-up of eczema.

From November 1 to December 31, 2016, La Roche-Posay is launching a great campaign in Switzerland. People are encouraged to post a photo with a blue balloon on www.laroche-posay.ch. For every 500th shared balloon, one Swiss child will receive for one year free LIPIKAR products.

LIPID-REPLENISHING BALM LIPIKAR BAUME AP+
soothes immediately the skin and spaces out flare-ups of severe dryness.
Available now for CHF 22.00 (200ml) and CHF 28.50 (400ml).

LIPID-REPLENISHING CREAM WASH LIPIKAR SYNDET AP+
helps reduce severe dryness starting in the shower.
Available from November 2016 for CHF 24.50 (400ml)

Don’t forget, sharing is caring!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of La Roche-Posay and © Sandra Bauknecht

She’s back! Play it nice and charming in Ariana Grande’s shimmering neutral mauve lipglass, or get fresh and cheeky in matte orchid pink lipstick. Wear each shade alone, or layer together. Be a doll, and go GLAM! If you are interested, click here to see her first collaboration with the iconic beauty brand that was available last January.

Every cent of the selling price of M·A·C VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipglass is donated to the M·A·C AIDS Fund which to date has raised $425 million. Well done, bravo!

Lipstick
VIVA GLAM ARIANA GRANDE 2 in Deep Cool Pink (Matte)
CHF 28.00

Lipglass
VIVA GLAM ARIANA GRANDE 2 in Neutral Nude Pink
CHF 26.00

Available in Switzerland now at all MAC counters and online.
Shopping for a good cause, let’s do it!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of M·A·C Cosmetics

THE 500TH LAFERRARI TO BE BUILT TO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE EARTHQUAKE

On the occasion of the bilateral summit between the Italian and German governments that took place at Ferrari on the 31st of August, Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne announced that FERRARI will produce an additional LaFerrari, one more than the original 499 planned.

The 500th LaFerrari of this limited edition series, the first hybrid supercar by the Prancing Horse, will be sold at auction to benefit the people of central Italy affected by the earthquake of the 24th of August.

LaFerrari literally means “The Ferrari” in most Romance languages, in the sense that LaFerrari is the ‘definitive’ Ferrari.

The project of the LaFerrari (project name, F150) was first unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Auto Show. Only 499 units have been built, and each cost more than 1 million US dollars.

THE FERRARI WATCH
HUBLOT MP-05 LAFERRARI SAPPHIRE

A new piece for 2016, the HUBLOT MP-05 LaFerrari Sapphire dresses Hublot’s Ferrari engine-inspired movement in an all-sapphire case so that you can match your watch to your car.
For more information, visit the Hublot website.

FERRARI RED LIPS
GIORGIO ARMANI ROUGE D’ARMANI LIPSTICK in 409 Ferrari Red

And ladies, relax, to enjoy something in Ferrari style, we don’t need our wallets to explode. Just a gorgeous lipstick for ultimate red lips and the attention will be all yours… which means a Ferrari driver might not focus on his car but on you:-).

Watches, lipstick and cars – Ferrari Red is the common thread!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Mid February, St. Moritz hosted for the first time a Swiss Red Cross Gala, also marking the 150th anniversary of this institution. In celebration of this great cause, the iconic White Turf tent was supposed to be the stunning location on the frozen lake to welcome over 300 guests from the business, economic, political and cultural worlds. Unfortunately due to the warm weather conditions, the event had to shift to Badrutt’s Palace Hotel.

My look: Patchwork lace peplum gown by Alessandra Rich, Janis leather pumps by Saint Laurent, diamond ring by Vainard Fine Jewellery, ice cube bag and pearl earrings, both by Chanel.

The evening’s theme was: «clean water for every day». The gala’s proceeds will therefore go towards helping the victims of forgotten disasters and the water program in Nepal.
Clean drinking water and functioning sewage treatment systems are things we take for granted in Switzerland. They are part of our lives. However, the daily lives of well over 700 million people around the world are very different. They have no access to even a minimum of clean water.

If you would like to donate something to the Swiss Red Cross, please find herewith the details:

Credit Suisse AG, 8070 Zurich
BIC: CRESCHZZ30A IBAN: CH35 0483 5082 7306 1100 1
Endorsement: SRC Gala 2016

Thank you for your donation!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography and © Sandra Bauknecht

“I wanted a name that I use, and which represents the community. This is who I am: Finally Free.”
– Caitlyn Jenner

Caitlyn Jenner has fearlessly shared her transition with the world.
Her new M·A·C Lipstick, «Finally Free», champions all ages, all races and all sexes.
100% of the selling price goes to the M·A·C AIDS Fund Transgender Initiative, to further its work in support of transgender communities.

FINALLY FREE
mid-tone rosy nude (cremesheen)
SRP $17.00 US/$21.00 CAD
Available April 7th, 2016 (in Switzerland May 12th, 2016) exclusively on maccosmetics.com.

Show your love for the collaboration using the following hashtag:
#MACCaitlynJenner.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Mac Cosmetics

One beautiful sunny day last fall, I flew to London to follow Lalique‘s very exclusive invitation to have tea time at Elton John’s gorgeous home. The reason for this once in a lifetime experience was the launch of the ELTON JOHN MUSIC IS LOVE FOR LALIQUE collection that includes four exceptional crystal sculptures. As you can imagine, the estate is breathtaking and Sir Elton John is absolutely lovely to talk to.

Inside Sir Elton John’s beautiful home

«The ultimate goal of this project is to raise money to support urgently needed projects that address the continuing challenges of the AIDS epidemic across the globe. In doing so, we also want to create beautiful and meaningful pieces for people to purchase that speak to the high standards of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Lalique. Through purchasing one of these crystal pieces, people are also learning something about EJAF’s work and helping to make a real difference in the lives of people in need.»
– Sir Elton John

Inside the house’s art gallery where Sir Elton John and David Furnish officially tied the knot in 2014.

David Furnish and Lalique designer Marc Larminaux listen to Sir Elton John’s speech.

Four Special Editions (the unique Angel Cire Perdue, the Heart in platinum enamelled red crystal, the Heart in gold enamelled clear crystal and the Angel in gold-stamped clear crystal) each signed by Sir Elton John, will be auctioned during this weekend’s 2016 Academy Awards, in partnership with Paddle8, to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

The unique Angel Cire Perdue.

«I don’t think that I have ever seen a more beautiful piece of glass than the big Angel. It is breathtaking!»
– Sir Elton John

The standing Angel in clear crystal and the Heart in clear or red crystal are available at Lalique boutiques and their select retailers. Lalique will contribute 10% of sales to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

The socle of the statue engraved by Sir Elton John.

Sir Elton John, the theme of the pieces is ‘Music is Love’. Why do you think music and love have always been so intricately entwined?

Love is one of the primary forces that can unite us and bring us together despite our differences. Indeed, love shows us that the differences dividing us from each other are ultimately very superficial, that we have so much more in common than not. Music is a powerful medium for expressing all the many faces of love, and it is a participatory medium. Music draws us together. It is a universal language. We come together to make music, to listen to music, to share music. This is why I believe that music and love are synonymous, that music IS love.

Music is your passion and your most widely-known medium of expression. How have you found working in sculpture, particularly in crystal?

The process of artistic creation – whether for music or dance or visual art – arises from the same impetus, the same need to express thoughts, feelings, ideas. I found the entire design process for this project – from theorising, to working and revising with drawings, to realising the concept as a three-dimensional object – to be absolutely exhilarating. Working in crystal is fascinating, and Lalique crystal has an amazing way of constantly changing with light and shadow, the time of day… Such a beautiful, magical medium!
The finished piece is even more exciting and beautiful than I ever could have imagined. I’m completely thrilled with it and really looking forward to the auction in February 2016.

You’re a collector of glass and crystal, and have a number of Lalique pieces in your collection. What is it that you appreciate about crystal and Lalique in particular?

For me, Lalique stands for craftsmanship, luxury and a strong tradition of devotion to the art of producing the highest quality, most beautiful objects using these materials. Lalique sets a standard of craftsmanship that is simply unparalleled in the world. I think glass is a much underappreciated art form. That is why I collect it and I love it very much and Lalique to me represents the Rolls-Royce of glass.
As an oral artist who makes music, the visual arts of glass inspire me when I write a song or when I play the piano, because every day I get up and I am surrounded by glass and a lot of Lalique. Subconsciously, it inspires me to do better things, I think.

MUSIC IS LOVE Heart Red Crystal (limited edition of 499 pieces) and Heart Clear Crystal (limited edition of 999 pieces).

«The heart is a universal symbol of love.»
– Sir Elton John

You have also been working with the Lalique design team to create three other sculptures – a smaller angel and two heart sculptures, with part of the proceeds going to the Foundation. What do these symbolise for you?

The heart is a universal symbol of love, as well as the Angel. Love is ultimately what guides and inspires the work of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and love is what we need to end this epidemic. Science has made amazing advances in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. But unless we love each other enough to make sure that everyone – no matter who they love, what they do, how they look or what they believe – has the resources to stay healthy and prevent further transmission of the disease, then all the science in the world will be for naught. LOVE is the ultimate solution to AIDS.

Thank you, Sir Elton John, for this amazing invitation!

To visit the Lalique website where you can shop the limited edition pieces or bid for the collector’s items, click HERE please.

LoL, Sandra

The beautiful library.

The estate is truly breathtaking.

Sir Elton John in front of the three other sculptures that are available in stores.

Sir Elton John is a dedicated art collector.

Art plays a very important role in the life of the famous singer.

I loved this statue inside the guest bathroom.

With Lalique owner Silvio Denz in front of the unique Angel Cire Perdue.

Being at Sir Elton John’s home was a truly special experience that I will treasure forever. I am wishing Lalique and him good luck this weekend to achieve the best result possible in the auction.

Stay tuned for more coming up from Los Angeles where I will be from Thursday on…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of Lalique

LOUIS VUITTON and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the leading humanitarian and development organization, have signed a global partnership to support the most vulnerable children around the world. The aim is to raise funds for UNICEF and help support children that are exposed to conflict, diseases, natural disasters and other situations that threaten their safety and well-being.

Children are too often at risk during emergencies and humanitarian crises and are especially vulnerable to disease, malnutrition and violence. For those living in conflict zones, the situation is worse. They are more likely to be denied an education or access to clean water, and more likely to die before their fifth birthday. UNICEF is present before, during and after a crisis, providing children with essential protection, health care, safe water, nutrition and education.

Through the partnership with LOUIS VUITTON, funds raised will support UNICEF’s efforts to provide the essential interventions required to protect, save lives and ensure the rights of all children, everywhere. During 2016, a specially designed product, the Silver Lockit, will be available in Louis Vuitton stores worldwide and online.

For each sale of the Silver Lockit pendant or bracelet, $200 will be donated to UNICEF. The Silver Lockit, inspired by the unpickable tumbler lock invented by Georges Vuitton in 1890 to protect clients’ most precious belongings, is a symbol of protection. It also seals one’s promise to help children in urgent need.

Shopping for a good cause. Share your commitment by making a pinky promise with the hashtag #MAKEAPROMISE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

Ariana Grande has been named as the new MAC Viva Glam frontwoman following in the same footsteps as Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna among other celebrities.

The 22-year-old singer will represent the Viva Glam branch of the famous beauty brand, which sells limited edition products with the proceeds going to charity.

Good girl? Bag girl? Ariana’s range includes her dark matte plum lipstick (CHF 28.00) and her shimmering light baby pink lip gloss (CHF 26.00). Show your both sides and don’t forget it’s for charity, every cent from the selling price of Viva Glam lipstick and lipgloss goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Available in Switzerland from January 21, 2016 at all MAC counters and online.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

Two weeks ago, I attended Switzerland’s first «Amour de Vie – a fabulous night for a good cause“» charity event at the Park Hyatt in Zurich. A special benefit auction in collaboration with Sandra Nedvetskaia and top live entertainment ( The Bourbon Street Band from Manchester and DJ Young Bugs) guaranteed a unique, young fest to gather fundings for RIGHT TO PLAY. 100 % of all auction and Tombola proceeds raised CHF 27.450 that night.

A great cause and a fun party! We at L’Officiel Switzerland knew immediately we had to be part of it and became media partner ofd this fab event!

LoL, Sandra

The two masterminds: event organisator Sophia Marti (SVM Events) and auctioneer Sandra Nedvetskaia.

Park Hyatt’s famous chef Frank Widmer was “auctioned” off himself…

Great conversation with golf pro Roger Furrer, ambassador for Right to Play, during the dinner.

 The beautiful crowd…

Our newly wed Livia Zafirou, Managing Editor at L’Officiel Switzerland.

Photos: Courtesy of SVM Events and © Sandra Bauknecht

Last Saturday, I attended the Kispiball 2015 (Kispi is an abbreviation for Kinderspital which means children’s hospital in German) that takes place each year at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich. It is one of my favorite charity events of the Swiss social calendar that raises money for the city’s children’s hospital.

My look: Dark blue Colette bandage gown by Hervé Léger, Monogram fringed shoulder bag and pointed leather Mary-Jane pumps, both by Saint Laurent, Tank Américaine in yellow gold with diamonds by Cartier, Diorette ring and Rose des vents bracelet, both by Dior Haute Joaillerie and necklace by Dior.

LoL, Sandra

Thank you David Biedert Photography for the photos at the gala.
Photos: © David Biedert Photography and © Sandra Bauknecht