Laure Lagarde: The Essentials, Effortlessly

Laure Lagarde, founder of Emily's Pillow—a natural silk brand dedicated to skin care, hair care, and sleep—took an unexpected turn after ten years in the aerospace industry. A seemingly vast leap—but one driven by the same underlying commitment: to create tangible, well-made products that truly serve a purpose.

A mother of two, she now runs her business from Montreal, where she moved in 2023, with a team that remained in France. It’s a balance she has chosen, and one she fully embraces. A portrait of an entrepreneur who believes in the small, everyday actions—the ones that make a difference without us even having to think about them.

What kind of relationship do you have with your skin?

A mindful approach, but not an anxious one. I’m not into fifteen-step routines or the pursuit of perfection. I’ve learned to listen to my skin rather than constantly trying to fix it. It reveals a lot about what we put it through: lack of sleep, stress, and the bad habits we pick up without even realizing it. I try to keep things simple and consistent for my skin. Just a few products—but the right ones—and a consistent routine. That’s all.

Emily’s Pillow was born out of a physical challenge. How did hair loss become the starting point for a brand?

It started out as something very personal—gradual hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia—which led me to look for solutions and discover natural silk almost by chance. What struck me was the lack of brands offering it in an accessible, well-designed way. There was a real gap in the market. So I did what I’ve always done: I tested it out, and I launched it.

I immediately talked about the benefits I had personally experienced. I believe that this transparency through personal example was one of the factors that built trust in the brand. 

In the first year, we had a million euros in revenue. I didn't really have a plan. It was just a hunch that I turned into reality.

What's your current skincare routine?

In the evening, I remove my makeup with Soin De Soi cleansing oil—I love the texture and the fact that it doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight. Then I apply PERS Rich Cream, which is perfect for pampering my skin here; I’ve been using it for a long time and can’t imagine being without it now. Once or twice a week, I use the LED mask. It helps my skin recover a little faster. In the morning, I always apply Caudalie sunscreen before heading out. Of course, I sleep on my Emily’s Pillow silk pillowcase and wear my night mask. This isn’t just for show—it’s really what I do, every day.

I am convinced that there is no miracle product, but that it is the combination of the right ingredients that leads to results.

You've focused on what happens while we sleep. How do you view sleep as a form of care in its own right?

At night, your skin works nonstop for eight hours—regenerating, recovering, and hydrating. We spend a third of our lives sleeping, yet we rarely make the most of that time. That’s when it all happens, in silence. Natural silk, quite simply, doesn’t rub against the skin, doesn’t create friction, and doesn’t trap moisture. It’s not magic—it’s a carefully chosen material, in the right place, at the right time. I love the idea that skincare can be passive. That we don’t need to add another step—just make better use of the time we already have.

What does "feeling good about yourself" mean to you?

Stop thinking about it. When I feel truly comfortable in my own skin, I don’t worry about anything—not my body, nor how others perceive me. I’m just there, fully present in what I’m doing. It’s a state of lightness, without effort. To get there, I need to sleep, move around, and be involved in projects that stimulate me. My skin follows suit, really. It reflects that state. I don’t separate inner well-being from what’s visible on the outside—one nourishes the other, always.