As a youngster, Ole Henriksen loved being a dancer but the stressful lifestyle resulted in severe acne for which he had to subsequently seek treatment. Inspired to study skincare and cosmetic chemistry, he moved to Los Angeles in 1975 after college, and established the Ole Henriksen of Denmark Skin Care Center.
Here, he custom-blended skincare formulations that were used in combination with state-of-the-art equipment. Henriksen harnessed the benefits of natural ingredients and scientific processes to concoct products that not only addressed skincare concerns but also nourished and pampered the skin. When clients – many of them celebrities – came knocking on his door, he decided to launch his namesake skincare brand in 1984.
Over the last 37 years, Henriksen has continued to refine his creations; it was relaunched just 4 years ago, with four colour-coded collections. “We live in a globalised world, and we now have access to ingredients and supply chains the world over,” says the mastermind behind top sellers like the deeply hydrating and deliciously lightweight Banana Bright Eye Crème (grab it from Sephora here).
“Very importantly, the way we formulate skincare products today allows for a much more advanced delivery system into the skin, allowing them to work on a deeper level. This is especially important to the development of anti-ageing products.”
You struggled with cystic acne, which is the most severe form of acne characterised by large, red and pus-filled pimples and is caused by infection. What advice can you offer to people dealing with the same condition?
My first tip is to be patient with yourself and stay kind to yourself as you work towards improving your skin. It is important to use appropriate skincare – and be consistent with the routine.
Here’s my suggested daily routine: Cleanse morning and evening with Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser. Follow with Balancing Force Oil Control Toner (morning) or Glow 2OH Dark Spot Toner (evening). Finish with Sheer Transformation Perfecting Moisturizer.
As an additional treat – and a home remedy to kill bacteria and prevent blemishes – twice a week do a facial compress: fill your sink with warm water, then mix in 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Soak a terry cloth in it and wrap around your face. Repeat 5 times.
Otherwise, twice a week apply Cold Plunge Pore Mask after cleansing in the evening. Leave on for 10-15 mins, rinse and follow with toner and moisturiser.
Besides that, I also switched to a healthier diet (such as cutting out sugar) and made effort to better care for myself through regular exercise. And don’t forget to wear sunscreen all day, every day!
How do you think Covid-19 changed our take on self-care and skincare?
Both women and men have become more focused on great skincare; makeup is now secondary because we aren’t going out to party as we used to.
Masks, which have become essential to our wardrobe, can cause our face to become more sensitive hence the focus is on calming, soothing and comforting the skin. We want skin that’s healthy and glowing.
We are also taking focusing on more eyecare since the eyes are the only bits people see of us and we use them more often to emote now.
OleHenriksen, which is available in Sephora now, offers four collections: Truth brightens, Transform smooths, Transform Plus fights ageing, while Balance inhibits sebum production. What should we note when mixing products with different properties?
Our products are created in a way that makes it perfectly fine to mix and match and layer skincare. Since everyone’s skin is different, it is important to always listen to your skin. If you’re not sure, perform a patch test prior to use or consult your doctor.
Your #OleGlow is synonymous with the Truth series, which combines vitamin C, polyhydroxy acids and hyaluronic acids, and banana powder. Say, can we have too much vitamin C?
Truth contains vitamin C that’s carefully formulated to be safe for daily use. Whether your skin type is normal, oily, dry or combination, applying vitamin C every day can help brighten your complexion, strengthen collagen and improve its youthful appearance.