Interview
Rudolph Care visits Ellen Dixdotter
Welcome inside the home of Ellen Dixdotter.
She is the CEO of the Danish fashion and lifestyle brand By Malene Birger and is, as you might expect, passionate about style and aesthetics and taking care of her skin.
She lives with her husband Jacob and their three children, Ava, August, and Vivian, in a villa in the old fishing village of Limhamn on the outskirts of Malmö.
We asked her a few questions to get the best tips for a fulfilling everyday life that resonates with balance and energy.
Life in the Villa and Malmö
What is the first thing you do in the morning?
"I make a strong cup of coffee and start with some time alone before waking the kids (yes, I wake up early, at 5:30 AM, so I can enjoy my coffee before the kids wake up)."
What’s the soundtrack to your home?
- Minari – Joomangi
- Eddie Okwedy – Happy Survival
- Samba de duas Notas – Luiz Bonfa
- Samba Da Bencao – Maria Bethania
- Ces petits riens – Stacey Kent
What are you reading right now?
"I received 10 selected books from my good friend and colleague Jennie, and I’ve just started reading Sally Rooney’s book *Intermezzo*, which I have high hopes for, as I love her previous works."
What would you save from your home if, heaven forbid, it caught fire?
"Apart from all living beings (husband, children, and cat), my collection of antique ceramics."
Where is your favorite spot in your home?
"Our little library, where my husband and I sit in our respective armchairs, have a glass of champagne every Friday night, and talk about the week that has passed."
What is the scent of your home?
"I have candles from Colekt with the scent Chambre on display. My home probably also smells of coffee constantly since I’m home with a six-week-old baby and I'm always tired."
What do you wear when you don’t know what to put on?
"We have a real 'go-to' piece of clothing from By Malene Birger in double-face wool, both as a long dress and as a blouse, in beige, black, and gray – it always works!"
Which places would you recommend in Malmö?
- Solde Kaffebar – a cozy little coffee shop that has been a destination for coffee lovers for many years.
- Riket – one of the best restaurants.
- Moderna Museet – always has interesting exhibitions.
- Slottsparken – has fantastic flowers and plants in its gardens.
- Limhamn, where we live – a small, cozy part of Malmö by the Öresund Bridge, with its small harbor and little shops, creating an incredibly cozy atmosphere.
December, december, december
What makes it feel like Christmas for you?
"I always buy beeswax candles so the whole house smells wonderful, hang wreaths and small bows in every corner, and of course a big Christmas tree, which this year will stand on a Christmas rug that we just launched through the rug brand Cappelen Dimyr, a brand I co-own."
What special traditions do you have in December?
"We have a wonderful outdoor bathhouse close to where we live, so we bathe in cold water and go to the sauna to awaken our bodies."
What do you wish for Christmas?
"An espresso machine that makes even stronger coffee, haha."
What’s your ultimate party trick?
"Red lips and diamonds. It always works."
Skin and glow
What is your beauty routine?
"In the morning, I cleanse with Nourishing Cleansing Oil from Rudolph Care. Then I use Mist Delight as a refresher. After that, I apply Açai All in One Moisturizer and Firming Eye Mask. Throughout the day, I spray Mist Delight when I feel tired, and in the evening I use Açai Facial Scrub Mask (once a week) and finish with Instantly Smoothing Serum before bed."
What do you care about when it comes to beauty?
"I always take my daily vitamin mix from Vitaviva (right now Vitamama) and love various oil-based serums."
Where do you cut corners?
"My morning routine is the one that often gets skipped when I'm in a rush."
What are your favorite Rudolph Care products?
- Açai All in One Moisturizer – perfect for me, having been pregnant and now breastfeeding, and still being able to use a cream with bioretinol. It gives me just the glow I need.
- Açai Facial Oil – makes the skin soft and deeply moisturized.
- Facial Oil Delight – gives silky smooth skin, and it's also lovely to massage into the skin to boost circulation.
- Mist Delight – the perfect refreshing spray when you have a small baby and feel tired.
- Nourishing Cleansing Oil – cleansing oils are my favorite, especially in the winter when my skin is dry. It feels luxurious and soft.
How do you pamper your body and unwind?
"I lie on my spiked mat (a mat with tiny metal spikes used for acupressure, ed.) and listen to calming music. I also love yoga and exercise, and since I’m home with a small baby, I now do 'Slice Weekly', which Mikaela Hållen started – perfect home workouts!"