Got My Mojo Working!

Hey there lovely ones!

Hope all is well in your world! Here, it is manic as always with so many new and exciting things happening for POP – check out the new collection for fall/holiday. I hope you will love it as much as I do. The inspiration behind it is “blocks to color” & the whole point is trying to introduce more color, freshness and sass into your makeup bags! So the kits have been designed like mosaic, jigsaw and puzzle art and give you an amazing array of shades to play with and as always, my tips and tricks on application. Could not be easier!

Anyway, let’s put the focus elsewhere for a little moment. Lately, many of my friends have been asking me for tips on music. Now beware – I am not much of a trendy house, Techno and R&B person so if you are expecting an amazing b-side to the Far East movements latest single…Sorry. I am more like and old man stuck in a young woman’s body! So I am going a little vintage with this, but hey…

Below are four albums that you just must have…. (So hard to narrow it down to four - I am literally pulling my hair out…)

"I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to." -Elvis Presley
1. Bringing it All Back Home, Bob Dylan.
Do you know how hard it is to try to narrow Mr. Zimmerman down to one album – nearly impossible. But this must be one of my all time favorite albums; it’s as if the man is on fire! Lyrically it’s so amazing that it hurts.

“A poem is a naked person... Some people say that I am a poet." -Bob Dylan
2. Song to a Seagull – Joni Mitchell.
This album is art, and it speaks for itself, I have nothing to add. Listen to night in the city, or cactus tree.

“Back then, I didn't have a big organization around me. I was just a kid with a guitar, traveling around. My responsibility basically was to the art, and I had extra time on my hands. There is no extra time now. There isn't enough time." -Joni Mitchell
3. Dr John, the night tripper – Gris, Gris.
I fell madly in love with “the doctors” sound when I was first introduced to this album. What a genius! Mad psycadelic swamp voodoo jazz. “walk on guilded splinters is one of my all time favorite songs. This is magic.

“I wanna show that gospel, country, blues, rhythm and blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll are all just really one thing. Those are the American music and that is the American culture.” -Etta James
4. Anything by Edith Piaf - What an amazing woman!
She lived and had a story to tell, and an amazing voice and talent. My first singing teacher would make me sing all of her songs and then get angry and screamed at me when I pronounced things wrong (I can’t speak French!) But I am so happy today that she introduced me to her – she is one of my biggest inspirations to this day, (still can’t speak French though but have had it all translated for me) My favorite song by her is l”accorde’oniste.

“I want to make people cry even when they don't understand my words.” -Edith Piaf

Ok, just a few more:

Let it Bleed - The Rolling Stones
Retrospective – Buffalo Springfield
What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
Curtis – Curtis Mayfield
Breakfast in America – Supertramp
Got My Mojo Working – Muddy Waters
Rumors – Fleetwood Mac
Astral Weeks – Van Morrison
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts – David Byrne
Marquee Moon – Television
Stephen Stills - Stephen Stills
The Velvet Underground – the Velvet Underground
Music from Big Pink – The Band
Happy Trails – Quicksilver Messenger Service
The Best of Chet Baker Sings – Chet Baker
London Calling – The Clash
Ladies and Gentlemen – Louis Prima
La Mer - Charles Trinet
At the Gate of Horn – Odetta
With a Little Help from My Friends – Joe Cocker
Strange Fruit – Billie Holiday
Songs of Leonard Cohen – Leonard Cohen
Air on G string – J.S Bach

And the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on…..

“Everyone talks about rock these days; the problem is they forget about the roll." -Keith Richards

Rock on (& roll) until next time!

Love Sara x x x x x

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

All Eyes On You: Swinging 60’s eye definition

The 60’s is a decade I still love to draw inspiration from. The fashion & the music from that era is like a never dwindling goldmine full of fun, dramatic and eclectic styles and sounds. Above is a look that is very distinct of the 60’s - matte porcelain skin, pale lips and dramatically defined eyes with huge lashes. Please follow below steps to achieve this look.

1. Base is key here. When you are putting extra enhancement and definition on the eyes it is key that any blemishes or redness in the skin is well hidden. Use powder to cream foundation or a liquid base with a matte finish and set with a good mineral powder. The face is kept matte, matte, and matte – no shimmer in this look, please!

2. Dust a little of a peach/apricot blush just underneath the highest point of the cheek bones and blend well. If you have olive or darker skin, go more towards a bronze or a rose hue.

3. Prime lids to ensure smooth application and staying power. Smooth a white or a nude matte shadow onto lids and blend all the way up to the eyebrow.

4. Next, line upper lash line with a jet black liquid liner winging line outwards and upwards at the outer corner of the eyes.

5. Using a fine brush and a jet black shadow, carefully draw a line into the crease of the eye, following your eyes natural shape. This look is meant to be graphic with quite “harsh” lines, so don’t blend the black into the crease of the eye. Draw it on using small short strokes and again, “winging” the line upwards and outwards at the outer corner of the eye.

6. Draw on “fake lashes” onto the lower lash line. Hold the brush vertical and then dot on the black, smudging it into lash roots, leave a ½-1 cm gap between each black dot.

7. Time for mascara – slap it on! Does not have to be perfect - a little clumpy application just adds to this look! Let first layers dry and then apply more. You will need at least 4-5 layers of mascara to achieve this look. Fake lashes are also a good alternative here if you want to go all the way.

8. Lastly, “kiss” a piece of paper to remove any moistness from lips and then apply one thin layer of a matte lipstick in a very light color, for example: baby pink, light coral, or a nude skin tone. Once applied dust a very thin layer of a loose powder onto lips to set, mattifye and create a long lasting surface. You will be a real stunner! Don’t “overdo” this look by matching it with other 60’s trademarks. (Don’t back comb your hair or wear a baby doll dress!) A look always seems more modern and individual when you mix things up a bit! Wear you hair down, loose and unfixed and your favorite well fitted jeans and a t-shirt for updated & doll faced every day glamour with a rock ‘n roll twist!

Have fun and don’t forget to shake it up!

Love,
Sara x x x x x x

An August in Europe

Hey there lovely ones!

Hope everyone has had an amazing summer! I can not believe it’s nearly over - it’s literally rushed by! I spent most of August in my native Sweden but I also squeezed in a stop in London (naturally!). Therefore, I will dedicate this blog to a few of my favorite home-away-from-home spots in these two trendy and fashion forward cities - if you find yourself on the other side of the pond make sure to make a stop!

The Troubadour London:
I swigged a couple of glasses of rose and caught up with friends over lunch. During my 10 years living in London, people would joke that I was literally part of the furniture in this place. I sang there regularly but also met some of (to this day) my absolute dearest friends. Go there to catch new upcoming bands, some proper old school rock ‘n rollers and well established musicians & artists. Truly famous for its bohemian vibe - this is a place where A-listers, scruffy poets and royalties hang out alike.


Miss Juniversum – Malmo Sweden:
Owned and run by my talented friend Jun (yes, miss juniverse) this store is well worth a visit if you happen to visit the Swedish south and its slightly edgy town of Malmo. She sells a rainbow array of craziness - don’t really know how else to put it! She simply adds an alternative “if you don’t want your house to look like an IKEA catalogue” I think she offers so much more! She sells everything you think you did not need until you laid your eyes on it: huge pink flamingos, red lip telephones, clothes & jewelry and pretty much everything else under the sun. You’ll leave the store not being able to carry more!


The deepest Swedish forest:
Never seen fairies, trolls or pixies? Easy, travel to Sweden and hang out in the forest, it is not a coincidence that so many famous fairy tales were written here…Call me crazy but I heard stories about them early on as a little girl from my grandma as we would stroll through the moss, collecting wild berries and mushrooms and believe me, I don’t think these folktales came to be because of nothing! I love the Swedish forest dearly, it is as far away from luxury but as close to nature as you can get! And honestly, I can sit by some fancy pool sipping a cocktail any other day. Our little house in the deepest forest with no neighbors is one of my favorite hide always!


F12 Terrace Stockholm:
This night club in Stockholm is always CRAZY packed with people hanging out on the castle-like stairs, looking impossibly trendy, good looking and icy cool - the way only Stockholmer’s can. But its well worth a visit if you want to mingle and listen to loud music. It has a beautiful view overlooking the water and is not one of Stockholm’s tourist traps. Usually I like bar hopping or going out to listen to bands, but if I feel like a big night out you might very well find me here on a Saturday night, apple martini in hand! The restaurant next door to the club is one of Stockholm’s best and also well worth a visit.


Hope you’ll make it to these places one day and if you do – I hope you will love them as much as I do. Always good to be “home” though!

Love as always,
Sara x x x x