Scandinavian women and men take care of their skin with the help of cosmetics products from local components and healthy habits, which have become a natural part of their life.
Let’s overview some basic rules of skin care from home of a geothermal spa, and unusual components in the best skin care products.
Scandinavian Beauty Secrets
Care and Strength of Berries
In Scandinavia, you can find a big number of types of berries. In the forests of Sweden alone they ripen up to 500,000 tons per year. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the berries are included in many skin care products: they contain a large number of antioxidants that have a supporting effect on skin cells.
In winter, the blood flow and skin metabolism slow down, so that free radicals can easily cause cell injury. For example, cloudberry contains minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and zinc that protect and strengthen skin’s moisture barrier. Cranberries are called “red gold of the country”. The oil in its seeds has a calming effect, and it is rapidly absorbed. It is ideal for hands, especially at night. Scandinavian beauties have hand cream always at hand, for example, in a handbag or on a night table next to a bed.
Food, Drinks & Diets
Traditional Swedish diets are rich in fish and cellulose, as well as in other products with free radicals, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. The Head of Swedish Organization of Skin Therapy Annika Joensuu believes the everyday ration should be rich in vegetables, potherb, and root crops. All this food is good for the digestive processes of our body.
Have you ever heard about birch water? No? It is a new popular drink, obtained mainly from the Finnish birch trees. It is a sweet, but low-calorie drink (5 calories per 100 millilitres). With a help of vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and zinc, it strengthens the body’s own protection and skin protective layer. Birch water removes toxins.
However, not only birch water helps Scandinavian women to maintain beauty. In cold weather, the air becomes very dry (especially in heated spaces), and the skin liquid balance falls down. In this case, the steam bath can help. It provides ample moisture to the skin and promotes deep cleansing: warm steam stimulates blood flow, opens pores and dissolves excess sebum. On request, you can add two or three drops of essential oil: rosemary stimulates blood flow, and calendula has a therapeutic effect.
Natural Oils Effect
For dry skin care in a winter season, Scandinavian women trust natural oils such as jojoba or rose oil. They do not contain chemical additives, so these natural oils can easily penetrate the skin: their fat compositions are very similar to the human fat composition. Sebaceous glands also slow down the lipid production in the cold, so natural oils are a real blessing for the skin.
Avocado oil is especially popular in Scandinavia. It has a particularly good effect on the skin thanks to vitamins A, E and D contained in it. It stimulates the regeneration of skin cells and forms a protective layer against external damage. Thanks to a few drops of avocado oil, even cracked heels become soft and pleasant to the touch again. By the way, avocado oil is useful for hair: it makes them shiny and smooth.
Spa Procedures & Regular Sauna Visits
On the whole territory of the peninsula, there are many health clubs, which are situated both in cities and in the countryside. The most popular are geothermal island The Blue Lagoon and Stockholm spa complex Yasuragi, constructed according to feng shui rules.
Scandinavians like to take a steam bath. One in three of 5.5 million Finns has their own sauna. A person who regularly sweats and then cools in ice water, that reduces blood pressure, improves the blood circulation and organism thermoregulation. It means “Say goodbye to cold hands and feet!” At that time the skin “learns” not to lose too much liquid and minerals under extreme temperatures, store more moisture and activate its natural protective coating.
Regular sweating (about twice a week at 80 degrees) makes the skin not just heat insensitive but also hardens against the cold.
Sauna has a direct effect on the respiratory tract and nerves, depending on the added flavors. Citrus aroma invigorates, eucalyptus makes breathing easier, and spruce has a calming effect.
Non-Classical 3 Step Skin Care
The Scandinavian climate is very changeable and the most unpleasant things are cold wind, high humidity, and low temperature. In such conditions, skin needs hydration, protection, and regeneration not paying attention to the season. Scandinavians prefer mineral sunscreens and avoid sun protection products with chemical elements. Skincare renovation products are basically used at the end of the day. Usually, it is super nutritious creams and night masks. Most local brands use in their products plants, fruits, berries, and essential oils rich in omega 3, omega 6, and antioxidants. Scientists from Marine Biotechnology Research Group found out, that omega 3 also can be effective mean from acne as it kills bacteria causing skin irritation.
Arms, legs and other body parts
Scandinavian women and men take care after face, arms, and legs in a similar way. Adding beard care speaking about men. Also, they hydrate arms several times a day. According to information of Swedish cosmetic association, in this country hand creams are sold two times more than face products. DYI receipts are used quite often, home masks and scrubs are made almost by every person. Swedish makeup artist Petra Strand advices to boil mineral water with green tea, wait till it becomes still, divide between ice forms and freeze. After that, hydrate your face with ice cubes each morning.
The Benefits of Exfoliating in the Winter
In fact, scrubs can damage already dry skin in winter. Therefore, Scandinavian women use nutritious oil or creamy structures. They contain many valuable botanical oils or nourishing Shea butter, so they well care for sensitive winter skin.
Scandinavian Skin Care for Women
L:A Bruket No. 126 Wild Rose Body Butter
L:A Bruket specializes in organic spa products, skin care and treatment. Products are hand made according to old recipes and considering skin needs in a severe climate with an active sun, strong wind, and salty water. Butter gets absorbed fast and hydrates skin. Among its ingredients, there is cacao butter, which is famous for it’s protective and nutritious features, beeswax for keeping skin moisturized, Coco and Shea oils for increasing skin protection ability.
The organic mark was founded by Dutch makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis. The main philosophy of the brand is to make cosmetics based on the natural and organic products without using silicones, chemicals, synthetics and other artificial elements. The company has spent on research and product development for many years. In oil basis, there is a biologically grown root Dioscorea Batatas, which is usually called The root of light. Thanks to rosehip oil, sweet almond, and jojoba skin receive deep moisturizing and nutrition. This product can be used both for body and for makeup basis, it gets absorbed fast and has non-greasy texture.
Lux eco-mark Björk&Berries was launched as a small project in a tiny village in the North of Sweden. It specializes in skin care products, which are created according to old Swedish organic recipes. Flowers and herbs for salt are picked up manually. The mixture contains mild and detoxifying ingredients: birch leaves, lavender and chamomile flowers, lemon balm and natural sea salt rich in minerals, which cleans, stimulates, and softens skin.
Maria Nila Sheer Silver Masque
Veggie brand Maria Nila specializes in hair care. Natural components with argan oil in the first place form the basis of products. Hair masque is for blond hair women, who want to return cold tone to their hair. Blackberry extract is the main ingredient in product formula: it has antioxidants, moisturizing hair from the inside and making them shiny. The mask also includes a special complex of elements which help to keep hair color and protect from UV.
Rudolph Care Acai Anti-Stress Facial Cream
Dutch eco-certified skincare company uses in all products the fruit of Acai palm tree, which is growing in Amazon tropics. The level of nutritious fatty acids in berry is almost the same as in olive oil. The mild anti-stress cream is designed for skin that needs extra moisturizing and nourishment both day and night. The composition also includes aloe vera, hazelnut and chamomile, which reduce redness and irritation, which is good for sensitive skin.
The Lapland brand is actively using in its skin care products Chaga Mushroom, known for its anti-aging properties, and bearberry component – arbutin. The company specializes in products for sensitive skin with rosacea and first signs of aging. Serum deeply moisturizes skin and prevent early aging, removes skin redness, protects from harmful UV impact and bleaches skin.
Scandinavian Skin Care for Men
Recipe for Men Under Eye Patches
The brand was founded in 2020 aiming to solve major skin care problems, which men usually face. Patches remove puffiness, dark circles and wrinkles, moisturize skin and increase elasticity. The ingredients are marine algae, collagen, and the Centella Asiatica extract, which activates collagen synthesis in skin derma, increasing blood circulation and skin regeneration.
Raw Naturals Brewing Company Beard Shampoo & Conditioner
The basis of the organic brand collection is created by products, which are used in beer production – hop and malt. The creative concept and the reference to beer are manifested in everything from the conceptual packaging, which looks like a beer bottle, to the natural ingredients. The 2-in-1 gentle cleansing product is suitable for sensitive skin, and the beard after some applications will get significantly softer.
Alexander Sprekenhus Natural Shave Cream
The company was founded in Oslo in 2010 by ex-model Alexander Sprekenhus and specializes in natural male cosmetic products. Argan oil is on the basis of all products. Shaving Cream is designed for those men, who have an active lifestyle and appreciate fast and effective skin care. Product deeply moisturizes and nourishes skin.
Dutch brand is famous for using in its products only high-quality natural elements, and for aroma – essential oils. Nourishing hand cream with organic oils of sunflower and chamomile protects skin and provides an antibacterial effect. It has non-greasy texture, absorbs quickly, leaving a fresh aroma of lemon and orange.
Son Venin Eau De Parfum Le Voleur
Young and ambitious perfume brand was founded in 2016 and specializes in experimental fragrances with Scandinavian character. The company buys ingredients in South France and cooperates with the best perfumers from all over the world. Son Venin — is the most popular fragrance representative in this niche in Norway. The composition is created with notes of white flowers, spices, pink berries and wood.
