5 Beauty Secrets Scandinavian Women Swear By

Scandinavian women are known for having beautifully clear, radiant skin. Despite the harsh weather conditions they endure almost all year round, Scandinavian complexions are always glowing.

Here are five beauty secrets Scandinavian women swear by to keep their complexions healthy, smooth, and radiant.

Hydration and Moisturizers Are Paramount

The first thing Scandinavian women have to have in their beauty regimens is a good moisturizer. Scandinavian women know that hydrating their skin is incredibly important, particularly because of the harsh weather conditions they’re exposed to almost all year round.

Layering hydration is key to achieving a glowing, luminous complexion, so they tend to use multiple moisture-boosting products such as toners, mists, essences, and serums before finally slathering on a thick moisturizer to seal all that hydration into the skin.

A very popular brand in Scandinavia is the Finnish beauty brand Lumene that has taken inspiration from the best Nordic ingredients and created the line Nordic Hydra Lähde, particularly tailored to replenish and rejuvenate the complexion and offer instant relief to dryness caused by extreme weather. The line consists of facial mists enriched with Arctic Spring Water as well as moisturizers with Nordic Birch Sap, an ingredient that’s prized for its ability to reduce inflammation and hydrate the skin through 17 amino acids, minerals, enzymes, proteins, antioxidants, and vitamins, all of which are extremely beneficial for your skin.

Another extremely popular brand in Scandinavia is Vichy, particularly their Aqualia Thermal Spa, an ultra-comfortable and hydrating moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid and Vichy's Volcanic Water to seal moisture into the skin and improve signs of dryness, dullness, and texture.

Good Diet and Exercise

Despite the extremely cold temperature in some areas of Northern Norway and Finland, Scandinavian women love spending time outdoors every chance that they get.

The truth is Scandinavian women love taking a holistic approach to beauty, and diet and exercise play an important role when it comes to both being and looking healthy from the inside out. Scandinavian women love hiking, walking, and riding a bike, and they also opt for regularly going to the gym when the weather conditions are too extreme to be outdoor. They also prioritize a healthy and colorful diet, and fish, berries, and vegetables are a huge part of a healthy diet in Scandinavian countries.

Omega Oils and Vitamin D

As I already mentioned, fish is a staple in the Scandinavian diet, and it’s packed with omega-3s, which are an essential component for healthy skin, hair, and brain function.

But besides consuming an incredible amount of fresh Northern salmon, Scandinavian women also enjoy supplementing their diet with an extra kick of omega-3 supplements, as well as vitamin D, which is an important vitamin for strong bones, hair, and nails.

Omega-3s are an essential component for healthy skin, hair, and brain function.

Vitamin D is metabolized in the skin by keratinocytes. These are skin cells that process keratin, a protein in hair, nails, and skin. When the body doesn’t have enough vitamin D, keratinocytes in hair follicles have trouble regulating hair growth and shedding. This leads to early hair loss, partial baldness, and even conditions such as alopecia. In fact, due to the lack of sunshine, vitamin D is recommended by doctors to even young children, and most people who live in these regions are diligent about taking their daily dose of it.

Minimal Makeup

Although Scandinavian women have flawless, glowing complexions, thanks to their diligence in staying healthy and investing in good skincare products, they frequently give full-coverage concealers and foundations a pass. 

Scandinavian women love their natural glow, and using full coverage products with a matte finish diminishes that and makes the skin look unnatural. Not to mention how drying mattifying products can be for skin that's already naturally on the dry side. Using mattifying products on dry skin leads to cracks around the mouth, enlarged pores, exacerbation of fine lines and wrinkles, and even discomfort.

Instead, what Scandinavian women love doing is applying a little bit of a tinted balm, mild-coverage BB cream, tinted sunscreen, or a very lightweight serum foundation to unify the complexion instead of completely covering up imperfections.

Scandinavian women love their natural glow, and using full coverage, matte products diminishes that.

Popular makeup brands in Scandinavian countries include Make The Make, a Swedish brand with a variety of products that cater to dry and sensitive skin, and Maria Åkerberg, a family-owned beauty brand that creates skincare and makeup products for various skin types, skin concerns, and skin needs.

Ice-Cold Water

This one might not be for everyone, but a common beauty hack in Scandinavian countries is splashing ice-cold water on the face first thing in the morning. 

Some people even prefer bathing in cold water due to the many benefits that come from it, including calming itchy skin, increasing circulation, reducing muscle soreness post-workout, and, of course, making the skin look glowy and refreshed. Besides that, bathing with cold water is an ancient Scandinavian technique called hydra-therapy, and it works on the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system as a reset button, almost like a therapy session or a lymphatic massage.

Closing Thoughts

Scandinavian women have clearly cracked the secret of a perfectly radiant complexion. And while some of us may not have the best climate to help us in doing that (enter sweaty, sticky, and oily summers), we can at least try our best to incorporate the few other easy things that seem to result in flawless skin and health from the inside out.

For tips on Scandi style, check out our fashion inspo article here.

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