Tell us….

Q. What can’t you start your day without?

A. Coffee. I wish I had a less predictable answer, but my favourite mornings are when I get up with my alarm, make a black coffee, sit in my reading chair and contemplate the day ahead. Then I like to chug a glass of water, hit the gym and get going.

Q. Breakfast is?

A. If left to my own devices, coffee, but if I have a meeting then poached eggs. And coffee. Pancakes if my jeans aren’t tight.

Q. What beauty product can you not live without?

A. I started using Nioxin haircare in November 2017 for my thinning hair and I’ve never had such impressive results from anything. I’ve thrown out all other shampoos and conditioners and take it with me when I get a blow-dry. My hair looks and feels thicker than it did three months ago and I’d always thought products that promised hair growth or thicker hair were lying, and I based that on years of testing them, but this has blown me away.

Q.  What gets you going for the day? (exercise / wellbeing routine)

A. Coffee and running. If I’m tense about the day ahead I’ll meditate when I wake up and it stops my emotions from spilling over later on in the day. I am very passionate about my work, but as useful as it is to have heightened emotions about what I do as they do serve as a driving force, it is useful to keep them in check.

Q.  Where you are most inspired?

A. Everywhere, by everyone, at all times 

Q. What cause are you currently championing?

A. Beauty Banks, the initiative started by Sali Hughes and Jo Jones. I can’t even conceive of the idea that people in this country in 2018 are choosing between food and hygiene.

Q. Where is your happy place?

A. Wherever I find myself. And it’s taken me a lot of years to be able to say that, but it’s true.

Q. How do you relax and switch off?

A. I love movies and time in the cinema is time well spent. I use it as therapy and distraction, but there are some days where I just want to feel all the emotions so I’ll put on Call me by Your Name on, or when I need to feel inspired so I’ll watch Rocky or Point Break.

Q. Book or Boxset – what are you reading/watching?

A. Both. I interview lots of authors on my podcast so I’m always reading and researching, but I’ve thrown myself head first into Lindsey Kelk’s books recently because they are pure escapism. I watch too much Real Housewives… but I’m okay with it and if Shonda Rhimes has had a hand in it then I’ll watch it.

Q.  Your bedtime routine?

A. I have to have quiet and after years of insomnia I’ve perfected an evening routine that begins with taking magnesium citrate at about 9pm to ensure I have an excellent sleep. I sometimes spritz my bed linen with lavender spray, but mostly just get comfortable and drift off. If I wake up in the night, I put on a podcast very quietly and use it to help me drift back off to sleep.

Host of The Emma Guns Show featuring interviews with celebrities, brand creators, editors and authors, Emma is an experienced beauty, health and lifestyle writer and brand consultant.  Read more about Emma and her work on her website emmagunavardhana.com.