Sandra‘s Closet

Sephora is one of the best places to find amazing gifts to spoil all of your beauty-loving friends. When I went to the Sephora press day, I narrowed down the best skin-care, makeup, hair, and fragrance sets, so you can cross all of your beauty-obsessed friends and relatives off your list in the last minute.

In fact, there’s so much holiday goodness that it can be a little overwhelming to start from scratch. So I did the hard work for you and compiled the most affordable and breathtaking options.

Happy Holidays!

LoL, Sandra

Sephora Collection Palette Blockbuster – CHF 39.90
88 shades: 60 eyeshadows, 6 face powders (2 highlighters, 2 blushs and 2 bronzer), 16 lip glosses, 3 eyebrow powders and 3 cream eyeliners.

Nars Explicit Content Climax – Duo De Mascaras – CHF 45.90
A makeup set featuring two full-sized Climax Mascaras in attractive packaging.

Drunk Elephant Drunk Break Weekend Edition Holiday Kit – CHF 88.90
This is a complete facial routine featuring a pro-quality AHA/BHA mask.

Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Jet Set – CHF 50.90
Featuring the award-winning, cult favorite Brazilian Bum Bum Cream that is a must for all beauty lovers.

Fresh Cleanse & Moisturize Set – CHF 28.90
Your skin care prep essentials in one set.

Too Faced Better Than Sex – Ornament – CHF 19.90
Trim your tree with a limited-edition holiday ornament with a travel size version of the #1-selling prestige mascara in America! Makes the perfect gift!

Pumpkin Spice Second Slice Eye Palette – CHF 57.90
Capture all the sexy colors of fall with our phis palette, made of 18 fragrant, warm and spicy shades.

Kenzoki Youth Flow Set – CHF 49.90
The perfect mix of global anti-ageing action and feel-good formula.​

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored. We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

Jo Malone London presents a rip-roaring Christmas. It is time to enter the season of extravagance. Fizz flows frequently, and fragrant gifts fill every space. By the glow of candlelight, Bright Young Things kick up their heels, carrying the revelry long into the night. Discover indulgent presents for him and for her. From coveted Colognes to Bath & Body delights and luxurious gifts for the home.

I have a special surprise for my Swiss readers or everybody from abroad visiting Zurich. From today until November 30, 2020, you can pick up a small gift at the Jo Malone counter at Jelmoli Zurich when you present this post, my Instagram post or a screen shot of my story (1 x per person, while stocks last). No purchase needed.

Although if you buy something, when you visit the counter and show the post, photo or screenshot, you will receive an additional special gift with a purchase of CHF 100 or more (1 x per person, while stocks last). I hope that you will enjoy my little treat for you!

Here are some of my personal favorites:

ADVENT CALENDAR, CHF 490. – *
A magnificent countdown to Christmas, filled with 24 fragrant treats including
signature scents, travel-size Bath & Body treats and miniature Candles.

SCENTED BODY POWDER, CHF 86. – *
A pearlescent powder to scent your skin, infused with English Pear & Freesia. Perfect for party season, it’s encased in a sleek mirrored compact and presented in a pouch with a kabuki brush for touch-ups on-the-go.

COLOGNE COLLECTION, CHF 110. – *
Spoil them with five fragrant miniatures: Dewy Wild Bluebell. Mellow English Pear & Freesia. Spirited Wood Sage & Sea Salt. Happy Honeysuckle & Davana. Daring Pomegranate Noir.

MIDNIGHT MUSK & AMBER COLOGNE 100ML, CHF 142 . – *
A charismatic Bright Young Thing and my favorite. Revelling in the season of extravagance, sensual midnight musk dances with the glowing warmth of amber. This alluring scent leads the decadent celebrations through till dawn with its entrancing spirit.

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT, CHF 35.-*
Dress the tree with a decorative ornament, filled with a duo of treats:
a Wild Bluebell Cologne (9ml) and an English Pear & Freesia Body Crème (15ml).

CHRISTMAS CRACKER, CHF 42 . – *
Pull to reveal a fragrant trio of treats: a Peony & Blush Suede Cologne (9ml), Wood Sage & Sea Salt Body & Hand Wash (15ml) and a Wild Bluebell Body Crème (15ml).

The collection is available now. Don’t forget to pick up your gift at the Jo Malone Counter at Jelmoli.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Jo Malone London and David Biedert Photography
*Suggested Retail Price
@jomalonelondon, #SeasonOfScent

When I spotted these limited edition vanity cases filled with the most amazing products, I knew I had arrived in beauty heaven. The only problem is that those Selfridges exclusives are only available for UK shipping only or in store which means I have to find an angel who will bring me one of those boxes to Switzerland.

The Tom Ford Beauty Trousseau showcases a collection of transforming tools and products from sumptuous colours for lips, eyes and cheeks to complexion perfecting makeup, plus the essential makeup brushes to create a captivating, sensuous Tom Ford look. Discover the ultimate indulgence this Christmas and personalize your own makeup vault.

In honour of the brand’s 20 year anniversary, The Vault from NARS includes a stunning collection of lip and nail colours personally chosen by François Nars. A unique gift; each of the colours in this special edit were specifically chosen for their strength, character and timeless appeal. In Switzerland available at Jelmoli for CHF 590.00.

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté is bringing a couture touch to your fingertips this Christmas season with the lavish limited edition La Laque Couture Colour Collection. Comprising the entire collection of La Laque Couture nail polish in one luxurious black acrylic box, it features 24 iconic YSL shades. One for each mood and outfit, now you can change your enamel as often as you change your handbag or shoes.

Welcome to the Ciaté Nail Lab, the ultimate at home nail studio. Create your own glitter combination and mix with clear Suspension Top coat for classic glitter polish finish or roll your wet nail into the glitter blend for a textured look. Also included are six of Ciaté London’s iconic highly pigmented professional crème shades with a super-blendable formula, allowing you to direct your own nail look by mixing custom-made nail colour. You’ll find the essential elements to help you create and master pro nail looks, including dotting tool, ombré sponge and striping brush. Crown your creation by giving it its own name using the enclosed nametags, perfect for creating a special gift.

Step into the splendour of the holiday season with a colour-filled countdown. Be swept away with this extravagant 24 piece mini nail collection, hidden behind each window of this fairy-tale worthy gift set. The perfect slice of nostalgia this holiday time! Ciaté’s Mini Mani Manor advent calendar includes 17 of Ciaté’s most popular shades including Mistress, Amazing Gracie and Cupcake Queen, five exclusive textured polishes, one exclusive full size Paint Pot and one set of festive nail transfers. Mini Mani Manor comes in three different variations; which one will you discover? Step inside the wonderful Mini Mani Manor and start your Christmas with Ciaté!

If you cannot make it to London on time, I recommend this exclusive Net-à-Porter holiday kit including 14 of the online giant’s favorite must-have skincare, makeup and hair products that can be shipped internationally to your doorstep. This luxurious set makes the perfect gift for beauty enthusiasts or the friend who has everything.

Aren’t all those sets to die for? Which one is your favorite?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the brands, © Selfridges and © Net-à-porter

For all beauty junkies among you, check out the fabulous Christmas sets by Origins. Those kits packed with their bestselling products mean huge savings while being the perfect gifts for your loved ones or of course for yourself!

Don’t waste your time with gift wrap this season. Instead opt for one of these ready-made luxury box sets. Here are some of my favourites:

GO GINGER

I am especially in love with the idea of gingering myself this winter! The GO GINGER gift box comes beautifully packaged, with a travel-size Ginger Souffle™ whipped body cream, an Incredible Spreadable™ ginger body scrub that I am addicted to, and a Ginger Bust™ savory body wash. CHF 32.00

FAMOUS FAVOURITES

Give it all with this tremendous collection of Origins favourites! This set includes: Plantscription™ anti-aging serum, Starting Over™ age-erasing moisturizer with mimosa, Starting Over™ age-erasing eye cream with mimosa, Modern Friction™ nature’s gentle dermabrasion, Ginger Souffle™ Whipped body cream and Incredible Spreadable™ ginger body scrub, CHF 129.00.

PERFECTLY PROTECTED

Sneak nature’s age-fighters under their tree. This value set includes: full-size A Perfect World™ white tea skin guardian, A Perfect World™ SPF 25 age-defense moisturizer with white tea, A Perfect World™ antioxidant cleanser with white tea. CHF 84.00

MASK DUO

Purifies and hydrates – oh, what fun! The Origins Mask Duo set includes Clear Improvement® active charcoal mask to clear pores and Drink Up™ intensive overnight mask to quench skin’s thirst. CHF 46.00

As you know, I am a huge fan of Origins products and not only because of the amazing quality but due to its packaging. If you travel a lot like I do, you will appreciate less packaging. Many high-end creams come in gigantic pots to appear even more luxurious and of course bigger. Origins can do without that! Thumbs up for this ecofriendliness!

If you are at the Origins counter, have a look at another new product, so-called Super Spot Remover™ blemish treatment gel that has advanced blemish-fighting super powers. (It is true! I am completely sold on this product.)

Designed to treat and manage breakouts, it is formulated with powerful naturally-derived ingredients that penetrate pores to eliminate stubborn, embarrassing blemishes. Skin is allowed to heal while existing scarring is visibly reduced and the development of new blemishes is prevented. Skin emerges spotless. 10ml – CHF 24.00

No more pimples, praise the Lord!

LoL, Sandra

Christmas trunk in Monogram canvas

Last week, I went to the Louis Vuitton Christmas collection press preview that took place in the beautiful Schloss Sihlberg in Zurich.
The gorgeous presentation with vintage toys from the Zurich toy museum (Züricher Spielzeugmuseum) put me directly into the gift giving mood. It is true, Holiday 2010 is almost upon us, so let’s better get organised.

All I want for Christmas…

LoL, Sandra

The Neverfull bag (left) comes in the Mon Monogram design where you can choose the colour of the lining and how your personal initials should look like.

The Artsy python bag is the new It-piece (approximately €5650.-).

The Stellar bags in Mahina leather start at approximately €2190.-.

I love the Tambour Blush watch (right).

Totally cute are the little pouchettes (from €205.-) with the first LV advertising printed on them. Adorable!

Photos: ©Louis Vuitton/Koto Bolofo