A Scandi Woman Walks Into a Skincare Store—This Is What She's Picking Up

French women may be famous for a 'quality over quantity' approach to skincare and Korean women have their 12-step routines down to a T, but Scandi and Nordic women's take on skincare is all about minimalism, prioritising a holistic, wellness-based approach to skincare, using fewer, high-quality products.

There's something about Scandi skincare that massively appeals to me—after all, when it comes to skincare, I'm a big believer that less is more. Rather than buying into short-lived trends and being dictated by the latest launches, Scandi skincare focuses on the essential steps—cleansing, hydrating, and protecting the skin—it's a classic approach, but still feels cool and modern. Similarly to the French skincare approach, the goal of Scandi skincare is to achieve a natural, healthy glow rather than relying on makeup to mask skin.

What's more, the Scandi approach to skincare extends beyond just topical products, additionally encompassing a focus on general wellbeing, hydration, healthy eating, good sleep hygiene and stress management.

When it comes to products, Scandi skincare heavily draws inspiration from the natural landscapes of Scandinavia, often incorporating natural and locally-sourced ingredients like cloudberry and glacier water. There's also an impressive focus on transparency and sustainability from Scandi skincare brands.

What is Scandi skincare?

"Scandi skincare is minimalist innovation inspired by nature. It’s about simplicity that delivers—products that fit into real lives and truly work," says Josefin Landgard, co-founder of Swedish skincare brand Mantle.

According to Landgard, Scandi and Nordic skincare is all about efficacy and quality. "It reflects generations of adaptation and resilience in the north. Here, quality isn’t optional, but essential. With up to 70% of people experiencing dry or sensitive skin, every formula must be effective, nourishing, and smart. At Mantle, we merge Scandinavian minimalism with skincare innovation. Every product is developed and tested in our Northern Swedish lab and designed to perform in extreme climates."

"Scandinavia is the most equal region in the world. Scandinavian women have a long history of purposeful lives close to nature, where work, family, and passions coexist." she adds. This is the foundation of Mantle's brand philosophy: Life first, skin second. "Yes, we want (or more so: need!) high-performing formulas to shield and strengthen our skin from freezing winters and intense midnight sun, but don’t spend hours in front of the mirror," she adds. "Instead, we want a minimalist routine that does the work so we can go out into the world, confident and comfortable. Life first, skin second."

What ingredients are used in Scandi skincare?

"Scandi beauty is all about maximum efficiency with minimal effort—think sustainably sourced, biomimetic ingredients that nourish, strengthen, and protect," says Landgard. "We use skin-strengthening essentials like ceramides, oat oil, and shea butter, paired with modern actives like pre- and postbiotics, centella, and lactobionic acid. One standout is jellyfish mucin—historically valued for its wound-healing properties and now shown to hydrate skin up to three times more efficiently than hyaluronic acid. It’s a great example of turning an ecological challenge (jellyfish overpopulation due to rising ocean temps) into natural skincare innovation."

How to carry out a Scandi skincare routine

1. Cleanser

Instead of using harsh cleansers and relying upon multiple cleansing steps, the Scandi and Nordic approach to cleansing is very simple. Scandi cleansers are typically cream or milky formulas which remove makeup and impurities without drying out or irritating skin.

2. Serum

Rather than layering multiple serums, the minimalistic Scandi and Nordic approach means that skincare routines rarely feature more than one. Instead, Scandi women must choose carefully, selecting serums that prioritise their main skincare concerns or have multitasking benefits in order to address more than one.

3. Moisturiser

"With skin constantly exposed to our extreme climate with harsh winds and freezing winters, there’s a deep focus on strengthening and balancing the skin barrier," says Landgard. "A compromised skin barrier or imbalanced skin will never tolerate actives and, more importantly, it won’t feel good or look great."

Since Scandi skin is often up against some harsh climates, moisturiser is a key product in any Scandi or Nordic skincare routine. Formulas are simple but effective, and focus on hydrating and nourishing the skin by strengthening the skin barrier.

4. Sunscreen

Scandi women know that sunscreen is the most essential step in any skincare routine, no matter where you are in the world. SPF protects skin from UV exposure which causes irreparable damage including sunburn, premature skin ageing and an increased risk of skin cancer. No routine is complete without it.