Sandra‘s Closet

The skin around the eyes is the most hard-working part of the face – we blink up to 28,000 times a day – but it can also be fragile and under-nourished. Here are the best eye creams and treatments to strengthen this sensitive area.

THE EVERYDAY ESSENTIAL
The Eye Concentrate by La Mer
This light, deeply conditioning cream comes with an applicator that doubles as a massager. Use the cool metal tip from the inner corner of the eyes outwards to get rid of puffiness.

THE DAILY ANTI-AGER
Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix by Estée Lauder
This lightweight eye serum tackles all the major problems that we have around the eyes: puffiness, dark circles, dry and crepey skin. The skin around the eye doesn’t produce natural oils, so the high dosage of hyaluronic acid deeply hydrates before applying your eye cream – and don’t be fooled by the name, you can use it in the mornings, too.

THE MASK
Eye Contour Mask by Sisley Paris
One of my favorites as you’ll see instant results from the first use! Apply a thick layer of this transparent gel and gently tissue off 10 minutes later to look refreshed, rested and rejuvenated. 

MASK ON THE GO
All Natural Retinol Infused Eye Mask by KNC Beauty
I always have them in my pocket and take them on my trips. Playfully shaped like shooting stars, they’re infused with retinol to improve texture and stimulate blood flow. The plumping collagen, soothing aloe and moisturizing hyaluronic acid help reduce swelling and diminish dark circles in no time.THE DE-PUFFER
Eye Express Radiance Ice Cubes by Anne Semonin
Perfect ahead of a big event or to counter the effects of jetlag, these clever cubes use cryotherapy to refresh tired eyes. Keep them in the freezer for at least three hours before use, remove the cube and gently run along the contours of your eyes. The freezing temperature firms the skin and helps to eliminate toxins and lessen the effects of eating too much salt or a night of drinking a few too many mojitos.

THE GADGET
SpectraLite EyeCare Pro by Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare
Fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet are reduced by 72 LED lights penetrating the skin to stimulate collagen production. Use for two weeks, three minutes per day, for noticeable results.

THE COVER UP
The Cure Sheer Eye Cream & Concealer by Natura Bissé
This multitasker, infused with water lily and caffeine, acts as an anti-aging eye cream and a concealer. The perfect mix of skincare and coverage, it goes on like a lightweight foundation while the added serum brightens and hydrates.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Last summer Estée Lauder made a huge move and tapped self-taught makeup artist and YouTube Star (violette_fr), Violette, to be its global beauty director. It might seem like an unexpected decision for such an established brand but personally speaking it is a statement and proves the power of today’s digital world. You have to think in new, different ways and real talent gets a chance.

Violette to the left applying the limited edition blush from her first collection with Estée Lauder.

34-year-old Violette, a French-born art school alum, obviously was a great choice. The partnership has already taken off with the first summer collection «Poppy Sauvage Collection by Violette» that is surely about to invade your makeup bag.

The seven-piece line, which is available now, is inspired by fire-red poppies and golden wheat in the South of France. Think of this beautiful shimmering landscape translating into eye shadows and products for lips and cheeks, causing a viral sensation.

Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipsticks in Poésie / Vin Noir – CHF 45.00
Pure Color Sculpting 5-Color Eye Shadow Palette Les Nudes de Soleil – CHF 74.00
Pure Color Sculpting Blush Duo in Doré/Camélia – CHF 54.00
Deluxe Eye Crayon in Terre d’Or – CHF 29.00
Pure Color Paint-On LipColor in Poppy Sauvage – CHF 44.00
Soft Glow for Lips & Cheeks in La Rose – CHF 42.00

My favorites are those products:

Pure Color Sculpting 5-Color Eye Shadow Palette Les Nudes de Soleil
This superluxe powder shadows feel so plush and creamy. Go natural, intensified or dramatic, you can create multiple eye looks with one palette which I adore. Can be applied dry, or wet to intensify.

Pure Color Paint-On LipColor in Poppy Sauvage 
Intense, smooth, ultra-comfortable color that makes painting your lips a true passion. It saturates lips with a boldly seductive matte finish.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder and © Sandra Bauknecht
@esteelauder #EsteeLauderxViolette #EsteeBeautyDirector

Each summer, Estée Lauder is launching new sun-inspired make-up and fragrance collections under the name of BRONZE GODDESS to complement the existing range.

Included this year is one of the brand’s hero products, the limited edition Illuminating Powder Gelée in Heat Wave (CHF 62.00), which has been formulated using prism technology with three different components: liquid, powder and gel to sculpt and highlight the perfect «natural glow».

Meanwhile, the limited edition Bronze Goddess Beauty Look Palette (CHF 72.00) features six beautiful shadows in matte or shimmers finishes and the limited edition Bronze Goddess Blooming Lip Balm (CHF 34.00) is said to soften and tint lips with its tropical fruit oil blends.

Completing the new range is Estée Lauder’s Bronze Goddess fragrance collection, which includes its new amazing Cooling Body Spray (CHF 45.00), Cooling Body Gelée (45.00) and Summer Waves Salt Spray for Hair (CHF 45.00). All limited editions.

All of the products will launch this month. Hurry as they will sell out fast.
TO SHOP ESTÉE LAUDER ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder and © Sandra Bauknecht

My avid readers know that I am totally addicted to yoga and ESTÉE LAUDER‘s Advanced Night Repair (please don’t laugh about the combination, it is actually a match made in heaven). For me, there is not one beauty regime happening without a drop of this beauty elixir before. I use it day and night, but the latter is the most important, this is when my night time ritual starts – along with the Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix for the delicate eye area that repairs, fortifies and hydrates. After I applied the products, I start my bedtime yoga session. This calms me down, helps me to digest the impressions of the day and relaxes me after a busy day.

Carolina Fischer-Waibel with me at her ATHAYOGA studio in Zollikon.

To give you an impression we took some photos at the beautiful ATHAYOGA studio in Zollikon (there is also one in Zurich city) while training with Carolina Fischer-Waibel who owns the studio along with her husband Roland Fischer (he photographed me – thank you!).

Strong pose – the Dancer’s pose

Some of the poses are pretty strong, so you have to be careful when doing them before bedtime as they might give you energy on the spot. Just do this routine one or two hours before laying down. Other exercises are more gentle and a great remedy to anyone feeling stress, anxiety or tension in the mind or body. It will help you to decompress and prepare for a good nights rest.

Yoga before bedtime can calm down your mind which helps you to sleep better.

Did you know that yoga before bed can be some of your best defense against insomnia? By calming down your body and your mind, you’re putting yourself in a better position for sweet and restful slumber. Stretching is so important for your body. A flexible body makes a flexible mind. If you add a little beauty secret, the effect is even better.

Never without my Advanced Night Repair!

Personally speaking I like to apply Advanced Night Repair before starting my 15 minute yoga bedtime routine, as I have the impression that my skin is perfectly prepared for extra pampering afterwards due to the activation of  the blood circulation through the yoga flow.

But why is this product so great? Here are some facts:

In 1982, Estée Lauder revolutionised the beauty world with Night Repair being one of the first beauty companies to make the link between DNA damage and skin ageing. Moreover, it was the first ever serum to launch, the first ever repair product and the first skincare product to use hyaluronic acid. The packaging of the little brown bottle was groundbreaking by being reminiscent of a pharmacy product. Over the last 30 years, many scientists have worked on Advanced Night Repair to constantly improve it.

In 2013, a new formula Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II was launched that has won 127 beauty awards worldwide (pretty impressive, isn’t it?!). The new pioneering product has patents valid until 2033. Every 8th minute, a ANR bottle is sold worldwide, which are around 4.5 million bottles a year.

I truly recommend trying ANR as you can easily apply it before the beauty products you like to use in general. I am sure you will see the difference after a few weeks and might be interested in other products of the Advanced Night Repair family such as the Advanced Night Repair Ampoules (I like to use them as a cure for two weeks four times a year) and the Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery PowerFoil Mask, a weekly treatment ask that resets the look of your skin after the visible assaults of modern life. Your skin looks instantly fresher and renewed. For cleansing, I absolutely recommend the Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm, a lightweight balm that melts to a cleansing oil to remove makeup and impurities. You’ ll love it!

If you like my outfit, visit SPORTLES (Thank you Megan Herak!). I am wearing Drapey V back by Onzie, Shakedown bra by Vimmia, and Captain ankle tight leggings by Alala.

Happy Weekend!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Roland Fischer for Estée Lauder Switzerland

October is breast cancer awareness month and this year marks Estée Lauder‘s 25th anniversary of the iconic Pink Ribbon collection, a special range of beauty products with 20 per cent of the profits donated to research. A movement that started with one woman, Evelyn H. Lauder in 1992, The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign was born when the visionary became troubled by the lack of awareness, funding and resources necessary to overcome the disease.

Evelyn H. Lauder co-created the pink ribbon 25 years ago.

In the beginning, the brand started the campaign by handing out pink ribbons at its beauty counters around the world, and one year later, Lauder went on to establish the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), a non-profit organisation, to generate funding that would be solely dedicated to the study of the disease. A quarter of a century later, The Estée Lauder Companies’ beauty brands – among them La Mer, DKNY, Jo Malone London, Tom Ford Beauty just to name a few – continue to create a breast cancer-free world by raising funds.

Interesting to know is that a touch of blue in the design represents the less than 1% of men who are diagnosed with breast cancer. For more information on The Breast Cancer Campaign, visit bcacampaign.com.

For more information on the Pink Ribbon products, click here please.

By shopping one of the specially created products, you can support the campaign. Moreover for every post on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtags #PinkRibbon25 and #ELCdonates @bcacampaign until October 31, 2017, The Estée Lauder Companies will donate $25 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to fund a half-hour of breast cancer research. The goal is to finance 500 hours worth $25.000.

Time to end breast cancer!

LoL, Sandra

My Instagram post with my beloved Advanced Night Repair in pink by Estée Lauder.

Photos: Courtesy of The Estée Lauder Companies and © Sandra Bauknecht

I am having such a lash obsession this fall with the launch of ESTÉE LAUDER‘s Pure Color Envy Lash Collection. You might ask why this new launch is so special. Here is the answer.

This brand new mascara – Pure Color Envy Lash Multi Effects Mascara (CHF 39.00) – comes with a dual hybrid brush that is said to do the work of three mascaras with just one twist. It has two sides – a nylon fibre bristle side which builds full on volume and lift to the lashes, and a silicone moulded side to provide limitless length and separation. You can use both sides at one for the full effect or just one side for a custom-made look. The mascara also nourishes your lashes.

But all those advantages or the waterproof version are not the reason why I am so excited about this launch. It is the coloured versions in purple, blue and green that I like so much along with the limited edition Crystal Lash Top Coat (CHF 35.00) that offers liquid pearls that surround lashes with a multi-faceted lighting effect that adds extra sparkle to your eyes. You will also love it!

If you are at the Estée Lauder counter, get also a bottle of the new Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix (CHF 88.00/15ml) This worldwide first ultra-nourishing, skin strengthening formula with an innovative 360° Matrix Technology gives eyes a fresh, “wide-open” look.

I am using it right now and it absolutely reduces the look of lines, wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles. Moreover it intensely nourishes with the help of hyaluronic acid. I apply it morning and evenings with the included massaging applicator by gently rolling it under each eye three times. Then I massage it in a 360° circle under the eye area and above the lid and finish it off by patting the rest with my finger until it is fully absorbed.

All products are available now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder

Fans of all over natural glow will love this summer’s bronze blush tones that made runway waves at many designers. Whether your personal style is bohemian or sophisticated chic, you can’t argue that naturally bronzed bone structure will make you look fresh-faced, which is perfect for the beach.

When you opt for some color, you should go for turquoise, wether on your eyes or your nails. You don’t have to be that dramatic, just a little turquoise liner is all you need to stay on trend this season. Here is what you will need (all limited edition):

ESTÉE LAUDER
Summer Look 2017 «Bronze Goddess»

Bronze Goddess Summer Look Palette – CHF 70.00
Bronze Goddess Summer Lip Glow in Sunlit Nude – CHF 34.00
Double Wear Highlighting Cushion Stick in Champagne Glow – CHF 44.00

GUERLAIN
Summer Look 2017 «Terracotta»

Terracotta Sun Tonic Waterproof Bronzing Powder – CHF 69.00
Météorites Baby Glow Touch CC Luminizer for easy strobing – CHF 45.00

LANCÔME
Summer Look 2017 «Summer Swing»

Belle de Teint Bronzer & Blush in 01 Patio Méditerranéen – CHF 75.00
Le Stylo Waterproof in 06 Tempo Méditerranéen – CHF 34.00
Vernis in Love in 103 L’Esprit Libre – CHF 26.00

By the way the straw bag is exactly the same one by Sensi Studio for Eden Being I showed you a few days ago (click here please for the previous post). On one side it says «Making Memories», on the other side it has this hand-painted palm and waves. My favorite!
TO SHOP IT, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Today, I had an amazing day in NYC that was filled with so many outstanding impressions and special moments. One of them was meeting Carolyn Murphy, who has been the face of Estée Lauder for 15 consecutive years. The minute we spoke, it was a match made in heaven.

She is not only so beautiful from the outside but also from the inside. Before I tell you more about this special encounter, I would like you to get inspired by her extraordinary outfit.

Get her look: Printed midi dress by Saint Laurent, embroidered suede shoulder bag by Aerin, Nim patent-leather sandals by Alexandre Birman.

Stay tuned for more…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

«All great things begin with a vision… a dream.» – Estée Lauder

On Tuesday, I flew to New York City as the first digital influencer for Estée Lauder Switzerland. During the next days, I will experience and share with you some really amazing moments. I will be meeting with Aerin Lauder and Carolyn Murphy, who has been the face for the American beauty brand since 15 years. I will visit the brand’s archives and be celebrating six decades of limitless luxury as the famous «Re-Nutriv» cream turns 60. In 1956, Estée Lauder introduced the «cream of creams» that marked the first milestone in creating a beauty empire. She was a true visionary and sold the product for $115 at a time when the average price of a moisturizer was $10.

A warm welcome by Aerin and Carolyn with a handwritten note and some of my favourites.

Today, the American beauty brand is as trendsetting as 60 years ago, catering to different needs of women of all age groups. Their newest coup? The absolutely mind-blowing collaboration with Victoria Beckham.

«I love to make women feel like the best versions of themselves.» – Victoria Beckham

That was Victoria’s vision for her collaboration with Estée Lauder. Incorporating her taste for wearability, quality and femininity, this makeup collection includes flattering hues, sleek packaging and blendable formulas.

Don’t miss my hero buys that I brought with me to NYC (from left to right):
Eye Metals – Bitter Clove, Lipstick – Brazilian Nude, Lip Pencil – Victoria and Lip Gloss – Moroccan Heat.

The collection is inspired by four different metropoles that you can buy as a set, just click on the highlighted text to be transferred directly:

New York City Look

Paris City Look

London City Look

LA City Look

TO SHOP THE COMPLETE VICTORIA BECKHAM x ESTEE LAUDER COLLECTION ONLINE, CLICK HERE. In Switzerland, it will hit the shelves on October 13, 2016.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder and © Sandra Bauknecht

The beautiful AERIN Fragrance collection was first launched in 2013. Curated by Aerin Lauder, granddaughter of the famed Estée, and created with the finest ingredients, each of the fragrance bottles represents an aspect of the gorgeous brunette.

First, five distinct scents have hit the shelves– Gardenia Rattan, Amber Musk, Lilac Path, Ikat Jasmine and Evening Rose. They are now complemented by three new scents, all perfect for summer. The sun is shining today, I can smell spring being around the corner, isn’t that the best feeling ever?!

MEDITERRANEAN HONEYSUCKLE
Floral Citrus

Escape to the sun-drenched, azure-blue Mediterranean. Sweet Honeysuckle and sparkling Grapefruit take you there, evoking lush flowers and shimmering beaches. Italian Bergamot, sun-warmed and citrusy and Mandarin Oil impart lasting freshness. Lily of the Valley and lush Gardenia build to the sensuality and richness of Jasmine Sambac Absolute. A fragrance as magical and elegant as its inspiration.

For the packaging, Aerin got inspired by the different shades of the ocean and the sky.

WATERLILY SUN
Floral Watery

Like sunlight reflecting on water, bright Sicilian Bergamot and Lush Dewy Greens entice the senses for an invigorating, luminous first impression. Delicate, yet alluring Waterlily and softly exotic Jasmine Sambac add layers of depth and intensity, warmed by sweetly inviting Musk. The effect is bright, dewy and fresh.

The box is reminiscent of vibrant flowers in Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny.

IRIS MEADOW
Floral Green Woody

Like walking through an open field wild with flowers, Iris Meadow beckons with crisp green notes infused with lush florals and deepened by warm, energizing woods. Effervescent Mandarin and vibrant Blackcurrant blend with fresh florals. Iris, emboldened by Egyptian Jasmine, balances the scent with vibrant depth while Cedarwood melts into creamy, woody musks.

During spring time, Aerin loves to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco. She mostly stops at Paso Robles for a wine degustation. There she loves to look at the delicate desert flowers that bring a touch of green to the vast landscape.

All three new scents come in two different sizes as Eau de Parfum Spray, CHF 132.00 (50ml), CHF 200.00 (100ml). Also available as Body Cream for CHF 80.00 (150ml).
Finally in stores in Switzerland exclusively at Globus.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder