Scandinavian Beauty Is Taking Off—6 Brands to Know Before Everyone Else

In Denmark, people live by a philosophy called “hygge.” We don’t quite have a word for it in English, but it essentially translates to creating a cozy, friendly atmosphere that leads to a feeling of contentment. “Hygge” can be found in every inch of Danish life, and that translates to its beauty products. 

One of three Scandinavian countries (the other two are Norway and Sweden), hygge encapsulates the Scandinavian spirit in general. Scandinavian beauty is filled with a quiet joy and appreciation for nature. Many products focus on “clean” ingredients, minimalism, and protection from the harsh Nordic climates. Below, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite Scandinavian beauty brands that you’d be remiss not to add to your arsenal. You’ll notice a few common themes—deep hydration and sustainable packaging are huge parts of Scandinavian beauty. These brands are the next best thing to a Scandinavian spa retreat.

While living in New York City, Danish makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis founded Kjaer Weis, a makeup brand that has the best of both worlds—Scandinavian minimalism, practicality, and New York’s boldness. This sustainable brand has a focus on refillable compacts and high-quality ingredients that don’t just look good on the skin, but also help soften and smooth.

Consider this the brand that every Scandinavian cool girl uses. Woods Copenhagen products are all produced in Denmark and contain arctic spring water to soothe skin. Housed in sustainable packaging, this vegan brand draws influences from nature and respect for the environment.

If you live for beauty, chances are you’ve already been using Byredo. Beauty editors and experts love this luxury Stockholm-based brand for all things fragrance. Byredo’s founder, Ben Gorham, aims to create products that are based on memories and emotions.

Though technically a Finnish beauty brand, Lumene is extremely popular in Scandinavian countries. The ingredients used in Lumene products are rooted in Finland’s arctic nature. Nordic botanicals and plants are the backbones of this brand.

Sachajuan takes Scandinavian minimalism to heart with products that aim to streamline and simplify haircare. Each product is supposed to help you pare down your hair routine to only the most efficient products. Not only are they easy to use, but every Sahajuan product is formulated with Ocean Silk Technology—extracts from two cold water algae called Rhodophycea and Chondrus. These algae help strengthen, hydrate, and impart shine to hair.

Verso is all about hydration and moisturization. Each Verso product aims to strengthen skin by using simple, high-quality ingredients. Many Verso products are also formulated using the breakthrough ingredient Retinol 8, a unique vitamin A derivative that is less irritating than traditional retinol.