Creating new routines

Voluntary quarantine or not – right now many of us are working from home to help reducing the spread of the virus. I find it quite hard to keep up good routines and for me, it really takes some discipline and effort to get things organized. Having two children at home who have distance education doesn’t make it any easier.

Planning your day, preferably including both work, exercise, family and routines, can be a challenge. Just like with my skincare routine, I try to find a good everyday routine even when having to work from my kitchen table.

07:00 – Good morning! If I have the energy, I start the day with 30 minutes of yoga, bringing out the yoga mat and putting on a pair of comfortable tights.

07:30 – Morning skincare routine. I take a quick shower and wash my face with cleansing facial wash. Thereafter I take care of my body with some body lotion and deodorant before continuing with my everyday skincare routine. Right now, I am using niacinamide formula, serum, eye cream and day cream with SPF (I go for the ultimate-series).

And a little bit of makeup… As I have a lot of video meetings I put on a light, natural makeup even though I work from home. This includes a CC cream, concealer, mascara and a cream rouge. Also a little super balm on both lips. Finally a quick blow-dry and a quick-fix hairstyle.

08:00 – Clothes. Wearing sweatpants all day makes me lose focus. Put on something that you feel comfortable in, but that you would also wear at the office. My go-to outfit right now is a pair of comfortable jeans, a blouse or a nice sweater.

8:30 – Finding focus. I try to have a clear agenda and prepared to-do list and like to put my phone in flight mode if I can so that I can work an hour or so without getting interrupted.

12:00 – Go for a walk. I always try to get some air and usually go for a walk around Hagaparken here in Stockholm. Afterwards, my teenagers (who are studying from home) and I eat lunch together.

13:00 – Some work again with digital meetings.

14:30 – Quick stretch. I go and make some coffee, do a quick stretch and spray on some refreshing face mist.

17:30 – “Go home”. It easily happens you never leave work when you are working from home. But try to leave the computer at the same time you usually leave the office. I often go for a walk with my neighbour Eva. Time flies by when I am with her and we talk uninterruptedly about everything. She is a doctor and I, of course, have a thousand questions and she has all the answers.

20:00 – get active /do something. Play cards with the teenagers, clean the closet (again), bake a sponge cake or watch a movie. In my family, we take turns in choosing a film for the night and the latest we watched was Francis Ford Coppola’s classic ”Apocalypse now”

21:00 – night routine. I always use a good cleanser, maybe an extra face mask and then, if I have the time, some polish and shaping of my nails.

How to spring detox your bathroom shelf

Like many of us working from home, you might find yourself with a little extra time on your hands. Maybe you have already gone through and cleared your closet, but when was the last time you gave your bathroom shelf the same attention?

Most creams and beauty products have an expiration date and when you really start looking, you usually will find some products that have been around for over a year. Truth be told – when did you really buy that serum, day cream or mascara hiding in the back?

Here is a simple guide to the different symbols on the back of your beauty products, and how the symbols can help you sort and recycle your old products.

What the symbol means:

Open jar. The open jar symbol shows how long a product stays fresh starting from the day you opened it. Most common is 6 months (6M) or 12 months (12M). If the product has been open for longer, there is a risk it may have oxidized and turned bad. Some makeup products like mascara you should change even more often (every 3rd month) while others like powder-based eye shadow will last you much longer.

Recyclable. This symbol specifies that the packaging is made of recyclable material. Don’t forget to separate the lid from the tube if they are made out of different materials, like e.g. rigid plastics and flexible plastics.

Flammable. This symbol indicates that the product is flammable and should not be exposed to high temperatures, and that it should be brought into a recycling station when empty. Do not throw away in the normal trash or empty in the sink since it may be hazardous for the environment. The symbol is common on beauty products such as nail polish, hair spray, perfumes and nail polish removers.

Tips!

  • Generally, creams in tubes stay fresh for longer than creams in jars since they are less exposed to air and bacteria as you don’t stick your fingers into the product in the same way.
  • Products that are exposed to sunlight or heat can go bad faster than products that are stored in a cooler and darker place.
  • Pay extra attention to your sunscreens as they are often exposed to both heat and sunlight. An easy-to-follow guideline is to simply update your products every new season.

Under-eye bags – not my favourite kind of luggage


Under-eye bags are not fun. Sometimes when I wake up, they’re just there like small, annoying, fluffy pillows. It’s not always clear why they’ve decided to pay me a visit, but it can be anything from lack of sleep (or actually too much sleep), dehydration or the wrong kind of food. I have also understood that my bags are genetic (thanks, dad!) and that I just have to come to terms with the fact that they will pay me a visit from time to time. Nevertheless, even if you may not be able to fully get rid of the under-eye bags, there are a few tricks that reduce their visibility. These are my favourites:

  1. An old housewife trick is to keep two bags of chamomile tea in your refrigerator. Place the cold tea bags under your eyes and let sit for 5-10 minutes. The tannic acid in the tea is said to have a contracting effect on the blood vessels and to counteract puffiness.
  2. Get some fresh air! Go outside for a 30 minute power walk or run. This usually gets the circulation going and lessens the puffiness under your eyes.
  3. If I have indulged a little too much in the wrong kind of food or drinks, the only way to go is to start fresh. Drink a lot of water, eat clean food and avoid alcohol and salt.
  4. If you come home late and you know you won’t be able to get enough sleep, make sure you drink two tall glasses of water before going to It will help you prevent tired eyes in the morning.

Extra help for tired eyes:

  • Ultimate eye cream – includes the ingredient Eyeliss which prevents puffiness and reduces dark circles under the eyes by strengthening the capillaries in the thin area around the eyes.
  • Ageless eye cream – includes the ingredient Adipoless which reduces dark circles under the eyes
  • Moisturising eye gel – includes cooling Caffeine which has a light tightening effect that reduces puffiness. Store in the refrigerator for an extra cooling effect.

Find the right foundation for your skin type

“If I only got to use one makeup product for the rest of my life it would be a really good foundation. A good foundation creates a smooth and healthy complexion, erase flaws and magically gives your skin a new glow. The trick is to is to find the right foundation for your skin type. And don’t forget to prime with a great day cream well-suited for your skin to create the perfect base.” 

foundation2Combined skin
Look for a foundation that is creamy without being too oily. A mineral powder can work wonders on combined skin since it evens out the skin tone without making the skin lose any of its lustre.
Ageless Day Cream SPF15 
1. Laura Mercier Mineral Foundation
2. She Umemura Light Bulb Foundation

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Oily skin
Avoid foundations with a lot of oils in it and aim for a matte powder foundation. Another tip is to always keep blotting papers in your hand bag to absorb shine from your t-zone during the day.
Moisturising Day Cream
1. Bare Minerals Matte Mineral Foundation
2. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer – Oil Free

vilken-foundation-passar-vilken-hudtyp-v23Dry skin
Use a foundation that provides both colour and rehydration, and look for a sort with some extra shimmer or glow added to it to brighten up your skin. Choose one with a light, fluid texture that is easy to apply and doesn’t build up on any dry spots or wrinkles.
Sensitive Day Cream
1. Dior Nude Air Foundation
2. Lumene Nude Perfection Glow Foundation

vilken-foundation-passar-vilken-hudtyp-v24Sensitive skin
If you have sensitive skin – look for a foundation that is fragrance free and allergy tested. A mineral powder with nourishing properties can be good option, but skip the anti-ageing ingredients since they can often irritate sensitive skin.
Sensitive Day Cream
7. Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue 
8. Idun Norrsken Pure Mineral Illuminating Foundation

Use your body wash for something important

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”I have friends who have suffered from breast cancer, so I know how important it is to detect cancer at an early stage in order to defeat it” – Emma

In October it is yet again time for the Swedish Cancer Society’s Pink Ribbon campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer. We at Emma S. want to draw attention to this important matter. By regularly checking your breasts, for example when you shower, you increase your chances to detect the disease at an early stage. Use your body wash for something important!

How-to:

  1. Use a firm, smooth touch, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.
  2. Begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast and have covered the entire breast from your armpit to your cleavage.
  3. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts.

Here’s what you should look for: Are the breasts in their usual size, shape, and color? Does something stand out as different from the rest? Has anything changed since the last time you checked? Make a note about how your breasts look and feel and save it to your next self-exam.

If you have any questions or suspect something that may be a symptom of cancer, turn to your closest hospital or your gynecologist.

 

And the nominees are…

We are proud to announce that we are nominated in both this year’s Swedish Beauty & Cosmetics Awards and Norwegian Cosmetic Award! Thank you SBCA and NCA for the nominations!

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Sensitive Day Cream is nominated in the category “Skincare of the Year 200-400 SEK” in Swedish Beauty & Cosmetics Awards!

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Rue de Varenne EdT and Sensitive Facial Oil Serum are nominated in Norwegian Cosmetic Award!

Give your skin a fresh start after New Year’s!

Emma-nyhetsbrev-nytt-ar-2After the Holidays, your skin might not be looking its best and you are probably longing to restore some of its former lustre and suppleness. Follow these five tips to help your skin recover from the Holidays.

Remove ALL makeup. Apply eye makeup remover on a cotton pad and sweep over your eyes to remove all traces of your New Year’s Eve makeup. Repeat until there is no trace of makeup left on the cotton pad. Use a foaming facial wash or a gentle cleansing oil afterwards to remove the rest of your makeup, leaving your skin feeling clear and refreshed.

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Do a deep cleansing. After you have removed all your makeup, use an enzyme peel that contains Salicylic acid to do a deep cleansing, neutralize bacteria and remove dead skin cells. Your skin will regain its former glow, and you’ll prevent future breakouts.

Chapped lips, be gone! Cold nights, lipstick, champagne and New Year’s kisses is a sure recipe for dry and chapped lips. Create a homemade lip exfoliator by mixing a tablespoon of honey with white sugar and gently massage onto your lips. Wash off and apply a thick layer of lip balm.

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Give your eyes some extra attention. A soothing and rehydrating eye gel is perfect if you tend to feel a little bit puffy around your eyes the day after. Be prepared and store your eye gel in your fridge for an extra cooling sensation.

Boost with oil. Use a softening facial oil and gently massage your skin with circular motions for a couple of minutes. Your blood circulation will get going again and your skin will get some well-needed colour and glow.

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