As a beauty editor who resides in the U.S., I’m intrigued by international beauty. Actually, that’s an understatement. I’m obsessed with international beauty. Whether it’s iconic and effortless French beauty, effective and innovative Korean beauty, or something else entirely, I’m more than willing to delve in and learn all about the products, routines, and treatments that people use and love. After all, beauty is global, regardless of culture or locale.
Lately, I’ve been especially interested in Scandinavian beauty. Generally, we Americans tend to view Scandinavia and the countries it encapsulates—most often Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland—as the epitome of minimalism. It’s like they’re the world’s purveyors of efficacy and efficiency, and I wanted to know if that eye for quality extends into their skincare routines. Spoiler alert: It does. Ahead, four Scandi women share the skincare products that made the cut into their curated routines, and I’m taking notes.
Maren Schia is a social media manager based in Oslo. She says she’s “definitely a minimalist” when it comes to skincare, adding that it has to be quick and easy to make the cut. What is your current skincare routine? In the morning, I just wash my face with water and use a vitamin C serum, eye cream, and a moisturizing sunscreen. In the evening, I use makeup remover and a cleanser. Then I alternate between retinol days, exfoliating days, and moisturizing days. I finish with eye cream and a repairing moisturizer and lip balm. If you had to name one skincare product you love the most, which one would it be? Definitely sunscreen! I never leave my house without it on, and I switch it up with the one from Beauty of Joseon and La Roche-Posay. It really makes a huge difference in my skin and keeps it protected. Are there any habits, routines, or treatments you use and love? I recently bought a two-liter water bottle to keep myself hydrated throughout the day. Definitely a tip if you struggle to drink enough water. I also love dry brushing, as it keeps my skin exfoliated and soft! How would you sum up the Scandinavian beauty aesthetic/philosophy? It’s quite hard, but I feel like the most common aesthetic is as natural as possible. Quite minimalistic. We really appreciate our fresh air, and when the sun is out, everyone goes outside to really enjoy it (with sunscreen of course). And generally just being out in the nature. An example can be that, over the last few years, floating saunas have become super popular, where you swim in the cold ocean and then sit in the sauna.
Sylvie Mus is a wardrobe stylist from Helsinki who currently lives in Paris. She says her skincare routine is somewhere in between minimalist and maximalist: “My skincare routine has many products, but I’m very loyal to the products that work for my skin. I avoid trying new products, as my skin can be very sensitive.” What is your current skincare routine? In the morning, I start by massaging my face with my gua sha. Then I cleanse my face. After that, I use serums. Lastly, I apply a mixture of sunscreen and squalene oil. My nighttime routine starts with cleansing my face with micellar water. Then I wash my face. I then apply the Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum ($85). I follow that with the same squalene oil. If you had to name one skincare product you love the most, which one would it be? The Sunday Riley A+ Serum. My skin always feels so smooth after using it the night before. Are there any habits, routines, or treatments you use and love? The most important thing I do for my skin is keeping a healthy diet. My skin changed completely when I cut out dairy. I also massage my face with a gua sha every morning. How would you sum up the Scandinavian beauty aesthetic/philosophy? As Scandinavians, we prioritize taking care of our skin instead of covering it. It’s fixing the outside from the inside. We have a very holistic approach to skincare.
Nnenna Echem is a content creator based in Oslo. She admits she’s more of a maximalist when it comes to skincare, but that doesn’t mean her routine isn’t effectively and consciously curated: “I love doing the most when it comes to my skin, and my seven-step morning routine is something I love doing every day!” What is your current skincare routine? For my morning routine, I start off with a double cleanse, first with an oil-based cleanser and then with a gentle cleanser. Then I go over with a toner. After toner, I go on to use a vitamin C serum. The next step in my routine is to moisturize, and I finish off with sunscreen. My night routine is similar to my morning routine, but I have switched out some products and, of course, added retinol. So I start off with a double cleanse. I then go over my face with toner, exactly as I did in my morning routine. Then I use a pea size of retinol and let it rest for about 10 minutes. Lastly, I use a lip mask and wake up with the softest lips ever! If you had to name one skincare product you love the most, which one would it be? I have combination skin and struggle with pigmentation scarring from acne, and I have found that Elixir Niactil 4% is a product I always go back to. It helps with my pigmentation and also hydrates my skin. It’s a product everyone should have. Are there any habits, routines, or treatments you use and love? I love dipping my face into ice water. It really helps to tighten my pores and is amazing if you have oily skin. I do this every other day. How would you sum up the Scandinavian beauty aesthetic/philosophy? In Scandinavia, I would say that less is more and as few ingredients as possible. … When it comes to Scandinavian beauty and skincare, we believe in “natural” beauty with clean, effective products. We also love to use the nature and ocean in our skincare and wellness routine, e.g. cold plunging and sauna, which is very popular here in Oslo. There are a lot of people who usually cold-plunge and use a sauna before they go to work in the morning.
Editor’s Note: This product isn’t yet available in the U.S.
Annabel Rosendahl is a fashion content creator from Norway. She says she’s a minimalist through and through and sticks to only the essentials when it comes to her skincare routines. What is your current skincare routine? Always a gentle, mild cleanser followed by vitamin C serum and my Niactil light moisturizer from Elixir. In the daytime, I always add SPF 50. If you had to name one skincare product you love the most, which one would it be? Niactil from Elixir. This has been my hero product for as long as I can remember. Are there any habits, routines, or treatments you use and love? I try drinking as much water as possible but always have to remind myself during the day. I always strive to get eight hours of sleep every night. I really prioritize sleeping and never stay up too late. I also use my gua sha now and then. How would you sum up the Scandinavian beauty aesthetic/philosophy? I think Scandinavians, in general, are minimalistic when it comes to style, furniture, makeup, and skincare.
Editor’s Note: This product isn’t yet available in the U.S.
