Sandra‘s Closet

Last week, I received a lovely surprise from the Estée Lauder Companies. A box filled with all sorts of amazing products from several of their brands (I am always amazed how many beauty labels actually belong to the American conglomerate…) that are perfect for a spa day at home. Thank you!

With all of the stresses of the current crisis, it’s important to indulge sometimes. I am truly missing seeing my friends, dressing up to go out and having a spa treatment. The latter can be achieved easily at home and why not make it a monthly at-home regimen in the future to relax and revitalize while saving some money.

I am planning to look all radiant and glowing when social life will finally back on. Working from home can also be seen as some kind of holidays. Always see the good side of life and enjoy those products here that I can truly recommend for some pampering at home. You can order them all online.

LoL, Sandra

GLAMGLOW Bubblesheet™ Oxygenating Deep Cleanse Mask
This carbonated fizzy foam mask effectively removes dirt, excess oil, and makeup buildup. The translucent cleanser begins the oxygenating transformation into a face-forming foam cushion and 3-D microbubbles foam in all directions for the ultimate detox.

AVEDA be curly™ intensive detangling masque
Easily separate the most tangled curls and coils while moisturizing with certified organic babassu oil and shea butter. Fight frizz and improve the look of curls with every use. My daughter says AMAZING!

AVEDA beautifying composition oil™
Aromatic, nourishing oil for body, bath and scalp softens and moisturizes skin with a nourishing blend of certified organic olive and safflower oils. Also excellent as a bath additive, massage oil or hair and scalp treatment.

AVEDA stress-fix™ concentrate stress-relieving aroma
The aroma proven to reduce feelings of stress includes certified organic lavender, lavandin and clary sage and is formulated using the science of aromaology and the power of pure essential oils. Glide rollerball over pulse points and enjoy aroma any time you’d like to reduce feelings of stress.

CLINIQUE clinique smart clinical
 Two innovative moisturizers, one jar. An instant-tightening gel-cream and an instant plumping dense-cream that resculpts, revolumizes and reshapes your appearance.

ORIGINS Never A Dull Moment™
Skin Brightening Face Polisher
Achieve a glowing complexion with this face polisher with fruit extracts, an exfoliating face scrub enriched with extract of crushed papaya to slough away surface grime and makeup. Its blend of fruit extracts work in synergy to impart a radiant, polished complexion.

BOBBI BROWN Makeup Melter & Cleanser
A gentle cleanser that bubbles into a lightweight foam to melt away impurities and long-wearing makeup, leaving skin feeling soft, soothed and comforted.

DARPHIN 8-Flower Golden Nectar
Youth Renewing
Your daily elixir for rejuvenated skin with 8 Precious Flowers, 24K Gold and over 20 botanical and essentials oils. Beneficial for all skin types.

ESTÉE LAUDER Advanced Night Repair
Synchronized Recovery Complex II
Powerful nighttime renewal serum for radiant, youthful-looking skin. Instantly adds radiance. Intensely hydrates and significantly reduces the look of key signs of aging.

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands and © Sandra Bauknecht 

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

Origins was kind enough to let me try out some of their amazing products. I’ve been a fan of all-natural skin care brand for quite a while and was eager to test their newest addition PlantscriptionTM . I wanted to use it for a couple weeks before I shared my thoughts with you.

Plantscription™ Anti-aging serum with Anogeissus.

Although it’s not a prescription, in just 4 weeks nature’s next generation power plant has noticeably reduced wrinkle length and depth without the irritation.

It has visibly helped repair the vertical fret lines between the eyes, the stubborn  furrows across the forehead and the deepening frownies that frame the mouth.

The skin is firmer, smoother and more lifted-looking. With continued use, the results have improved. And for CHF 95.-, satisfaction is guaranteed (or your wrinkles back).

Drink Up Intense Overnight Mask

This is my favourite Origins product. I am having very dry skin so this works its magic for me. Instantly, the skin feels replenished, smoothed and soothed.

Use it twice a week or as desired, gently massage onto the clean skin at bedtime and tissue off excess. It smells so good that it is a true pleasure going to sleep with it.

Skin depends on water for its youthful functioning. But all day long, skin loses vital moisture. And the busier you are, the more it loses. This intense moisture replacement mask with Avocado and Apricot Kernel Oil deeply and instantly quenches compromised moisture reserves and builds a reservoir for tomorrow.  Japanese Seaweed repairs skin’s barrier to prevent future dehydration and signs of premature aging. It truly works. CHF 35.-.

LoL, Sandra

This morning, I took the flight at 7am to London and hadn’t gone to bed at all before. Too much excitement and packing stress… it is London Fashion Week.
I still don’t look like a zombie thanks to those lifesaving products. Let me introduce you to my 5 minutes radiance treatment:

Lancôme Rénergie Yeux Multiple Lift

This amazing eye care product combines 2 formulas for 6 different results. A unique treatment that addresses both wrinkles and lost firmness, featuring the GF-Volumetry™ complex, shown to help support cellular communication

A dual action lift: The cream texture helps to prevent sagging eyelids and to recover a young, lifted look. The natural firmness is visibly regained and the eye contour appears redefined.
The tinted texture (works like a highlighter) makes dark circles and puffiness to disappear.
Youthful eye contours return: skin is visibly lifted, firmer, and reshaped.
Available in Switzerland in March 2011, (15ml, CHF 125).

La Prairie Cellular Radiance Emulsion SPF 30

A gossamer-light, skin-brightening, moisture-replenishing lotion with a high level of SPF protection and multiple anti-aging benefits.
Quartz crystals and reflective pigments, imbedded in La Prairie’s Radiance Complex, filter environmental light through miniscule prisms to soften the effects of harsh lighting and give the skin a subtle radiance. This action is intensified by the presence of colloidal gold, which has a warming effect on these radiant substances.
The product will be in stores in Switzerland end of March 2011, (50ml, CHF 570).

Origins Vita Zing™ SPF 15 Energy-boosting moisturizer

This multi-tasking moisturizer handles the vital jobs of hydrating, energizing and protecting to maintain skin’s momentum all day. Gives skin the refreshing zing of antioxidant-rich Mangosteen. And adds a healthy hit of radiance that mimics the glow you get from a week’s vacation. All in 10 seconds max. Slip it on first thing tomorrow – you’ll look like you eat right, sleep tight & don’t
have a worry in sight, (50ml, $35.-).
Estée Lauder DayWear Sheer Tinted Release Moisturizer SPF 15

You won’t believe your eyes once you have tried it. The light texture that smells so lovely like cucumber, transforms into an ultra sheer tint when applied, enhancing any skintone with a healthy, even-toned glow. Moreover, the moisturizer is a super effective anti-oxidant and broad-spectrum sunscreen protection to help prevent and diminsh the appearance of the first signs of aging.
Apply as your last step. Available now (50ml, CHF 72).

You don’t need to use all of the products together. I do so in case of a facial emergency like today and believe me, those products work their magic…

Stay tuned, will be heading to Matthew Williamson’s F/W 2011 show this afternoon.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of the Brands