7 Scandi Beauty Brands To Know
& Other Stories
Balancing fashion-forward details with classic design, H&M’s big sister is the grown-up, affordable label we love. So dedicated are they to the idea that good dressing begins with great skin, the brand designed its own range of products to do the job. For the initial launch, the Stories team enlisted the expertise of make-up artist Lisa Butler and Stockholm perfume house Byredo, so rest assured these are formulas that really perform – albeit with a high street price tag. The Fig Fiction Body Mist, packed with pink pepper, fig and rosewood, is bound to become your summer staple, while the eyeshadows and blushers pack a hefty amount of pigment and are cruelty free.
Visit Stories.com
Björk & Berries
Steeped in centuries-old Swedish skincare and perfumery traditions, Björk & Berries harnesses the power of raw ingredients – think bark, birch leaves and witch hazel – to develop luxurious, sustainable products. The range spans hand and shower creams to body oils and candles, all encased in Instagrammable gold and white packaging. The Garden Bath Salts, brimming with relaxing lavender and soothing chamomile, are a must-have for any bathing enthusiast, while the White Forest Body Oil, infused with the brand’s iconic fragrance, will revive dry, scaly limbs.
Available at Space NK boutiques and CultBeauty.co.uk
Kjaer Weiss
Created by Danish-born make-up artist Kjaer Weiss in 2010, this namesake brand is the first of its kind in the luxury organic sector. The entire range is gluten-free, formulated using natural and organic ingredients, and entirely free-from parabens, silicone and synthetic fragrances. Plus, its green credentials stretch even further – each product can be refilled, so you save on packaging. If you love creamy products packed with pigment, this is the one for you – keep an eye out for the Lip Tints, which come in 12 colours and are chock-full of antioxidant oils to gently soothe lips.
Visit Net-A-Porter.com
Lumene
One of Finland’s bestselling beauty brands, Lumene is – or was, up until now – Scandinavia's best-kept skincare secret. The majority of the brand’s products are still made in the Finnish city of Espoo, and the formulations draw upon natural ingredients from the Nordic landscape, from Arctic spring water to cloudberries, birch sap and pine bark. The packaging is, of course, pleasingly minimalistic in style and the products won’t break the bank either. The quenching Nordic Hydra range makes light work of hydrating even the most parched of complexions and the entire range has earned an impressive roster of Scandi influencers among its fans.
Visit FeelUnique.com
Maria Nila
Some 40 years in the making, vegan and cruelty-free brand Maria Nila still develops and produces all its products in its Swedish factory, and whether you’re after a solution for a sensitive scalp or help with brassy blonde hair, they’ve got you covered. If that wasn’t enough, the pastel-hued packaging will bring some colour to your bathroom shelf – and, of course, give you some serious Insta-cred.
Visit SallyExpress.com
Nuori
Eco-luxe Danish brand Nuori is making waves in the skincare world and it’s not hard to see why. One of the first beauty brands in recent decades to make freshness the cornerstone of its philosophy, these results-driven products are packed with active ingredients. The line-up, which includes everything from serums to cleansers, is created in small batches and housed in opaque packaging, and a clever 'start using by' date ensures formulas are at their most effective. Our top pick? Try the Supreme C Serum, an intensive 20-day treatment that’ll improve skin texture and boost collagen synthesis for a more youthful-looking complexion.
Visit ContentWellbeing.com
Sachajuan
Founded in Stockholm in the 90s by esteemed stylists Sacha Mitic and Juan Rosenlind, Sachajuan has been taking the hair world by storm ever since. Known for its simple packaging (contained in traditional brown glass medicine bottles), the secret behind the brand’s legendary formulas is the sea algae extract used throughout the entire range, promising to leave hair shiny, voluminous and strengthened after just one wash. The Overnight Hair Repair is one of our favourite products for dry, stressed-out ends, while the cult Ocean Mist is a pro-formula that delivers a covetable beachy, textured feel to hair.
Visit Net-A-Porter.com
INSPIRATION CREDITS: Instagram.com/BjorkAndBerries, Instagram.com/KJaerWeis, Instagram.com/MarianilaStockholm
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