Fall Pick-Me-Ups!

I don’t know about you but every Fall I get a little melancholic. Maybe it’s just stayed with me from growing up in Sweden where the days just got shorter and shorter in August and then around November it would be pitch black outside at 3 pm. Now that was slightly depressing! Swedes have great ways of dealing with it though - consuming a lot of vodka might be one of them, but not the one I am referring to - lit candles in all windows when the days start to get dark is kind of an unwritten rule. So when you walk past apartments and houses they all give a cozy glimmer onto the streets.

Lots of creative activity (why do you think so many designers, writers and musical geniuses are from Sweden? There is nothing else to do but to stay indoors and get creative). During my first year (out of 10) in London I never understood why people always hinted that it rains there constantly, “It does not!” I thought to myself, until September arrived…..The person who said that it always rained in London must have lived there only in Fall. Sweden is cold but London is…wet….but in such a buzzing city you can keep yourself entertained whatever the weather!

Now that I’m residing in sunny CA I can erase candles from the windows, vodka, and umbrellas from my shopping list – so here are a few things I will be getting for Fall!

1) I am going to find out if blondes really do have more fun. Not for the first time, but I have been a redhead now for a looong time and I need a change! I will let you know if I will have more fun or simply develop a better sense of humor once I am blonde….watch this space…
“Having money is rather like being a blonde. It is more fun but not vital” - Mary Quant
2) Bright colored animal prints, flowering head pieces, oversized primal colored glasses – I will be rocking all three. I have always had a kind of love-hate relationship with animal prints. It can look so fun and funky and youthful in the right cuts and materials, but there is a fine line that is easy to step over that will land you in “old lady land” where I don’t want to reside for another 40 years or so! Brightly colored animal prints instantly add that POP twist and a youthfulness to it that I love. Head pieces I know have been in vogue for a while, but if you think that they are a classic and can really lift any out fit – bring on the feathers! Sunglasses are a must here in CA and the primal colored ones are so much more fun! I will also keep rocking my favorite Ray Bans of course!
3) Faux Fur - yes, please! Cozy, stylish, warm and animal friendly, what’s not to love? I will be mixing up my Viking heritage look with an Audrey Hepburn gone electro twist to sass up the jazz, and a faux fur piece or two is key in my autumn wardrobe!
4) A pair of cool, patent leather boots, that end just below the knee, worn with short skirts, or dresses. Show off a little leg but not too much and is sexy in a non-kinky way. They can be vintage or new, Twiggy knew just how to do it!
“Fashion, as we knew it, is over; people wear now exactly what they feel like wearing” Mary Quant
Have a fantastic fall everybody, keep having fun and keep being yourselves! Fashion is art, its fantasy and it’s a world to draw inspiration from, to follow the no-trend trends “I make up my own” will always be the trendiest thing in my world!

With love & light as always,
Sara x x x x

Current 4 skincare musts!

I have a confession to make - growing up I was never that interested in skincare. I was obsessed with fashion, music, makeup & color – but the skincare part of me never really tuned in. Actually, you could probably have called me a “skincare slob“. My sister (Sofia, who is an esthetician) would talk me through all the lotions and potions and explain to me that if I did not create a proper skin care routine my skin could age prematurely (yay! I thought – easier to get into the clubs without ID, terrible but true ….you know, somehow that part worked out too!) Because she had (and still has) the most amazingly perfect skin I kind of had to listen to her. Thanks to Sofia, things are different today for sure – I am just as obsessed with the formula, scent and ingredients as I am the color and the texture of a product. I had a little ponder and here are my 4 current favorites, don’t be surprised if they have changed in a week or so!

Sampar Ultra Hydrating Fluid: This antioxidant and anti-irritant moisture fluid is just delicious! From the first time I tried it I was completely hooked. Smells divine and adds just the right moisture without feeling greasy at all. It helps soften and repair dry skin.
Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer: From my sister Petra’s skin care line. This is the most amazing serum I have ever tried. Used on top of your moisturizer it creates a silk shield that the skin can still breathe through. Your skin has never felt more amazing or smelled better! Organic and all natural ingredients treat your skin and help add luster. You’ll be lucky to get a hold of one – they are always flying off the shelf!
Dermalogica Precleanse: This comes with me everywhere! Manages to dissolve the toughest of stage makeup, and the most waterproofs of mascaras as well as smells divine and makes your skin feel amazing. Based with Olive and Apricot Kernel it cleanses your skin without leaving an oily residue.
Caudalie Eau de Beaute: One on my desk in the office, one in my bathroom, one small version in my handbag – this little fresher-upper works magic when the eyes and brain get weary from the computer and when I just need a whiff of fresh air. Made out of essential oils and active plant ingredients. It also works really well as a set spray for makeup and adds some radiance as well as tightening pores. Love it!

Or, if you want to go the completely organic way – make it yourself! Visit this website for tips and recipies:

http://www.smartskincare.com/tips/tipcategidx/skinrecipe

Have fun as always!

Love, Sara x x x x x

One more for the road?

In my life there has been a lot of traveling and moving from one country to the next. I feel like I have had a lot of practice in the art of packing. And when it comes to makeup, it is just as easy to unintentionally over pack as it is with clothing. Perfect example is when my sister asks me if I am really bringing that feathered cropped jacket (stage outfit I bought in 1992 …) to our relaxing family vacation and I replied “Oh, I just have to bring that – who knows, I might want to wear it to the beach one day.” Did I? Of course, not! The days of hauling three full suitcases (where one is just filled to the brim with makeup…), two hat cases, one guitar case and then wearing two coats because the last one just “would not fit into the bag and I might really want to wear it” are OVER!

Not only can it seem vain, but it is also a pure pain. These days I am more of a “bag lady” you can drop me off in the middle of the desert and I have planned my hand bag so well I would be able to survive (and look good) for the next week or so! But, of course, I still want to have a choice in the morning, and I don’t really plan outfits. I go by the “panic theory” and just bring my favorite pieces, both for my clothing and my makeup wardrobe so I can go by my mood and mix things up a bit, and so far so good….

Below are some of my thoughts on how to fit all the beautifiers you need into one little bag! Happy Travels!

The Essentials:
Start with selecting a makeup bag, whatever size you have chosen is the size you are sticking with. No throwing in liners and lip glosses loose into your suitcase- be strong with yourself! Think of the things you definitely know that you need on a day to day basis (exclude skin and hair care – when I travel they get a beauty bag of their own. It would not be realistic to try to fit everything into one makeup bag).

Pick those key items that really make a difference to your face that you would not want to go without. Narrow it down to the basics (4-5 things) and then there will still be room to add playfulness. Also try to think of things that easily takes you from day to night.

My can’t live without product for traveling is POP No Show Concealer – it doubles as a tinted moisturizer, a highlighting fluid, and a hardworking cover stick. So with a little good finger work it can be really multi-purpose – a high coverage matte finish to skin, a hardly there glowing hint and a lot of the spectrums inbetween!


Hey, I know I am a little biased, so don’t take my word for it – try it yourself and then tell me I am not right!

Pick kits:
I like going with shadow kits for traveling. Makeup artist work and touch ups on the go. That way I don’t have haul all my little single shadows with me, but rather have everything in one place! More visual, more fun, and much more practical!
I am still in LOVE with my Day to Play clutch – 18 gorgeous hues, from day to night. When the makeup runs out you can “pop” the trays of makeup out and use it as a clutch for credit or business cards. People always ask where I got mine when I take it with me.

Treatment/ Moisture
Dry airplane air, jetlag, general exhaustion, your skin is thirsty! Make sure you pick your travel essentials carefully so that there are a few treatment based products in there as well! Petal Jam is well worth a mention, formulated with natural oils like avocado, jojoba and macadamia nut, they give a moisture quenching effect to affected areas like, lips, elbows, cuticles so on. (Oh, and they taste good enough to eat! In fact, if you ever get stuck on a desert island, you COULD eat them!)
With these little gems you will still have the room to add all your other favorite cant-live-withouts. As I know there will still be a few and they are individual and different depending on the person. For ex: my sister who is a blond would say she can not go without mascara - while I just need an eye lash curler and I am good, but I would never go without a tinted moisturizer and she would! And one of my girlfriends would never go anywhere without a powder while I am perfectly happy to survive without it!

Either way, make sure to have fun along the road!

Love, Sara x x x x x x

P.S. Don’t forget - brushes, eye lash curler and tweezers – I hate it when I can’t find my eyelash curler!

In My Pantry!

I don’t know about you, but I am obsessed with good food! I am by no means an expert, but I do love a delicious meal just as much as I love a perfect shade or texture in a makeup product. I am one of those people who can happily spend a whole weekend just cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Literally cooking up a storm - that is, the kitchen does look like a hurricane passed through it after I am done – and by then I am too exhausted to clean up….. Sometimes I manage to produce something quite delicious and sometimes it is not as much of a success! But hey, you have to experiment to learn new things – you win some you lose some!

One of my favorite things in the world is to have friends over for a good meal and plenty of wine. Below are some ingredients that are absolutely essential to me.
Fresh herbs of all kinds – An absolute must! I use fresh herbs for everything I cook – whether it is a tossed into a fresh salad or a marinade – I can not go without them.
“I COOK WITH WINE – SOMETIMES I EVEN ADD IT TO THE FOOD!”

Red wine is a must for me and above is my all time favorite French wine - it is dangerously delicious. Don’t waste it by adding it to the food, use a lower quality wine for your stews and sauces, this wine needs to be enjoyed as it is!
Who does not enjoy a good cheese? I think that I could honestly live on cheese quite happily for the rest of my life! But as with everything it is probably best in moderation. I always make sure I have a good parmesan, a good blue cheese and a softer brie or a chevre in my fridge. A shaved parmesan or a grated chevre can take boring pasta or a flat salad and really heighten the flavors and add a more interesting taste experience. Also perfect to have around the house as a yummy snack with wine or as a dessert or starter. Berries & nuts! I always make sure to have raspberries, blueberries and strawberries in my kitchen. Not only are they amazingly good for you – they are so super yummy! I make a fresh smoothie every morning using rice or Soya milk, fresh berries, apple, banana, fresh ginger and fresh leaf spinach. It gives me a nice kick start to the day and a great hit of Vitamin C. They are also really perfect as a dessert with a little ricotta cheese and some lemon, or with Greek yogurt, walnuts and some honey. In my native Sweden we pick them wild in the forest, so berries were always a part of my every day meals.

If anyone has any good recipes they want to share or any unusual ways to enhance and intensify flavor – please shoot me an email and I will have another reason to mess up my kitchen!

With love as always,
Sara