Sandra‘s Closet

This holiday season, Caudalie offers all sorts of amazing gift sets to surprise your loved ones.
One has caught my eye… as the set leaves you looking runway-ready in seconds. Unlock the mystery to naturally glowing skin with the Caudalie Eau de Beauté set.

This limited edition gift set (CHF 42.20) contains:

– Beauty Elixir (100ml): The iconic refreshing and toning mist sets make-up, tightens pores and provides an instant boost of radiance to the complexion. (The beauty secret used by makeup artists backstage at shows.)

– Instant Foaming Cleanser (50ml): This gentle, soap-free formula purifies and cleanses while respecting the natural balance of the skin. Leaves skin feeling soft, comfortable and radiant.

– Instant Detox Mask (15ml): The clay mask that deep-cleanses and tightens pores.

And great news is that five lucky readers can win it!

To participate, please send me an e-mail with your postal address and the header «CAUDALIE» to . All entries must be received until December 17, 2019. 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.

Good luck!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Caudalie

So, if you’re ready for some time spent under the summer sun and want to make sure your routine protects your skin during this time, check out these products below. Sun-smart must-haves to get you through the holiday season.

CAUDALIE Beautifying Suncare Oil SPF 30
Innovative filter system, hydration, luminous tan, water-resistant – CHF 32.90

BIOTHERM Waterlover Sun Mist SPF 30
Eco-designed, water-friendly, invisible, hydrating formula enriched with Life Plankton™ – CHF 51.90

ST. TROPEZ Bronzing Water Face Mist (LOVE!)
Ultra-lightweight skin protecting, tropical scented, tanning water mist – CHF 36.00

SHISEIDO Sports Invisible Protective Mist SPF 50 (LOVE!)
Ultra lightweight, water and sweat resistant, very high protection, easy application – CHF 52.90

CLARINS Refreshing After Sun Gel
For face and body, deep hydration, helps promote a longer-lasting tan – CHF 39.00

ANTI BRUMM Night
Protects from insect bites, great for travelling, hydrates – CHF 15.00

Enjoy your holidays wherever you are going. For my favorite facial sunscreens, click here for the previous post.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

As you already know, I have just finished a week of detox at Villa Stéphanie in Baden-Baden, something that I absolutely recommend. If you don’t find time in the near future, I would like to share with you my favorite products to help you start a detox plan at home.

1 Botanical D-Tox by Sisley Paris
Purify and awaken fatigued skin with this powerful, month-long detoxifying treatment.

2 9-Day Detox by Bodyism
Conveniently split into three categories – ‘Cleanse’, ‘Rebuild’ and ‘Maintain’, this set works to repair the digestive system, remove toxins and balance the mind using a combination of supplements, clean eating, guided exercise and meditation.

3 Instant Detox Mask by Caudalie
This detoxifying mask is the perfect cleansing treatment for spot-prone complexions. It absorbs excess oils and sweeps away impurities, leaving your skin’s texture refined and pores tightened.

4 Marula Detoxifying Salt and Sugar Body Scrub by African Botanics
A gentle exfoliant that lifts dead cells and reveals refreshed, smoothed skin.

5 Hair Detox & Renewal Treatment Kit by Rahua
Enriched with healing oils, this kit is designed to revive damaged hair and nourish your scalp. It removes synthetic build-up and environmental residue, while infusing your strands with plant-based nutrients.

6 Overnight Detox Mask by Nails Inc
Designed to regenerate nails overnight, this treatment is perfect for those in between gel manicures. Its water-based formula is blended with antioxidant-rich ingredients to stimulate the nail bed, strengthen and promote growth.

7 Natural dry body brush by Mio Skincare
Proven to exfoliate, stimulate circulation and detoxify, body brushing is an easy yet effective way to rejuvenate tired skin as it helps to reduce toxins, bloating and cellulite.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Greetings from beautiful Bordeaux where I spent the last two days as guest of CAUDALIE, the French beauty brand that is committed to delivering all natural, anti-aging skincare with the power of the vine. The port city on the Garonne River in southwestern France is home to the vineyard-inspired luxury house.

Despite the cold temperatures and the rain, I walked around the streets of this extremely picturesque town that is the world’s major wine industry capital. Its historic part is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as “an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble” of the 18th century.

I had so much fun that I was jumping around…

Water mist effect

Located between the Garonne and beautiful 18th century architecture of the Place de la Bourse, the Mirroir d’Eau is the most-photographed site in Bordeaux and is listed as a contemporary World Heritage Site by Unesco. Designed by landscape artist Michel Corajoud, it alternates a mirror effect and artificial misting in an extraordinary way.

Pool mirror effect

In front of the fountain at Place de la Bourse

Place de la Bourse, also known as Place Royale, is one of Bordeaux’s most beautiful squares.

The cutest stores can be found in the streets of Bordeaux.

At the Place de la Comédie

Place de la Comédie is a place where the main streets of Bordeaux converge, including the 1200 meters long promenade Sainte Catherine, which is said to be the longest pedestrian shopping street in all of France. Mind the trams and settle on the terrasses to enjoy the beautiful sight of la vie bordelaise going by. A huge statue of a woman’s face, so-called «Sanna» by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa, has been standing there since 2013.

Walking towards the Eglise Notre Dame la Grande.

The name loosely translates as the «Church of Our Great Lady». It is an 11th century Gothic church located at Rue Marbly and one of the city’s most popular buildings. Built by Pierre Duplessy, a renowned architect and town planner in the late 17th century, it is a listed historical monument.

Bordeaux is an extremely beautiful city that I can only recommend to visit. Stay tuned as I will tell you more about my hotel, Les Sources de Caudalie and all my little adventures here soon.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Nine years and two million bottles after its launch, Caudalie founder Mathilde Thomas called upon fashion designer L’Wren Scott (for a previous post on her, please click here) to decorate a limited edition bottle of the brand’s cult facial mist EAU DE BEAUTÉ. Based on a 17th Century elixir used by the Queen of Hungary, this powerful plant-based formula tightens pores, boosts radiance and sets makeup in one quick spritz.

“About fifteen years ago, I was in Paris and it was hot,” explains Scott. “A pharmacist suggested Beauty Elixir to moisturise my skin, and I was really impressed by the results. Ever since then, I’ve been using it when I wake up in the morning to set my make-up, and several times throughout the day, like when I need a refreshment. It’s part of my travel ritual, too; I use it on aeroplanes to moisturise my skin.”

Printed with an illustration inspired by Gustav Klimt, mosaics and the female form, let the pretty bottle take pride of place on your dressing table. This herbal blend of myrrh, orange blossom, rosemary, peppermint, rose and rosemary balm belongs in a modern-day beauty must-have list.

TO SHOP THE LIMITED EDITION EAU DE BEAUTÉ ONLINE, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Caudalie