The 5 Best Scandinavian Beauty Ingredients

 

 

 

The process of developing a new product always starts with an inspiration. I travel the world in search of unique, natural ingredients for my skin creations.

This time, however, I’m finding inspiration in the place I called home as a child; Sweden.

I grew up in a small town surrounded by forest in northern Sweden, which helped me develop a close relationship to nature. This is always the place I return to when I need to find a sense of peace.

The contrast of daylight to darkness in the northern part of Sweden is one of its most beautiful and unique aspects, in my opinion. In the winter, you get as few as four hours of light, but in the summer, these short days are replaced with long hours of daylight and just a few hours of darkness.

 

 

This contrast of light and dark, as well as the harsh Nordic temperatures, lends itself to some very unique and potent arctic plants, which have a rich concentration of antioxidants and vitamins. In fact, the plants grown here are some of the most resilient in the world. 

The Swedish forest is filled with arctic treasures and as I was exploring and researching ingredients for my next product, these were a few of my favorite discoveries.

 

BIRCH

Birch is the national tree of Sweden and can be found in numerous forests. (It's personally my favorite too.) People have been enjoying birch bark’s healing properties for centuries. It’s an anti-inflammatory and a skin energizer. Birch increases blood circulation and is beneficial in treating acne. It protects the skin from bacterial infections as well as reduces wrinkles. Its astringent properties are known to tighten sagging skin.  

 

LINGONBERRIES

This superfruit of the north, contains polyphenols which are immensely powerful antioxidants. Lingonberries are also high in Vitamin C, E, and fatty acids, which help to stimulate cell renewal, speed up wound healing, reduce redness, and rejuvenate skin.

 

CHAGA

The nordic chaga mushroom has been used for medicinal purposes in the Nordic parts of Sweden for centuries. The chaga is picked off the birch trees and is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Chaga helps stimulate the growth of new skin cells, while maintaining skin firmness and elasticity. 

 

PINE TREES

Pine is one of the most common ingredients in treatments for skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Its antibacterial, antiseptic properties help heal sores and wounds while clearing congested, acne-prone skin. Pine is also considered a natural pain reliever, due to its soothing and stimulating properties.

 

 

JUNIPER BERRY

Juniper berry is a shrub that can be found in the Northern Hemisphere. It has a rich history in traditional uses and is a natural cleansing and detoxifying agent. It’s popular for its calming and grounding scent and is often used in aromatherapy. 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this article featuring my 5 Best Scandinavian Beauty Ingredients. I’m so excited to delve deeper and explore the essence of these beauty ingredients, how we benefit from using them, and soon developing a new skin treasure that embodies the beauty of the Scandinavian forest.

If you want to learn more about what global ingredients I use in my Global Beauty Collection, please visit the product pages on linahanson.com

Love,