16 female-founded Scandinavian beauty brands you may have missed

A constant source of Scandinavia’s pride and joy is its output of exceptional beauty brands, harboured by the region and gifted to the world. Whilst there are far more female-founded brands than we can physically include in one roundup, Nordic skincare and makeup moguls are known for their exceptional quality, performance and pigment. They’re also renowned for their heart, their values and their knack for incorporating our way of life into their products.

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In honour of all of the women in the beauty industry who have paved the road for innovation and discovery, here are 16 Nordic female-founded beauty brands you may have missed.

Founded and eponymously named after Danish-born makeup artist Kristen Kjaer Weis, this brand melds together the infamous Scandinavian minimalism with New York boldness. Throughout all of its products, Kjaer Weis has strong pigments and products designed to last all day, redefining luxury through its simplicity, elegance and conscious design. Its cosmetics and skincare are delivered via refillable compacts, bridging the gap between sustainability and sophistication.

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Our hero product: When it comes to Kjaer Weis, you simply cannot beat its cream blush. Swipe it over your cheeks, lips and eyes for a monochromatic moment, and pop it in your bag for application on the go.

Founded in 2015 by Dane Jasmi Bonnén, formerly of L’Oréal, Nouri’s philosophy is to ‘fight for fresh.’ This sees all products blended in small batches every 10-12 weeks and quickly shipped to retail partners, to avoid a long shelf life and ensure high-quality formulations for all consumers. This also ensures the brands can avoid using synthetic preservatives and additives, which are needed to stabilise formulas for a long period.

Our hero product: We cannot get enough of the Supreme Moisture Mask from Nouri. Creamy, calming and hydrating, this is in our routines all year round for an extra shot of hydration

Born in Copenhagen, Trice Chtisianse created her skincare company, Raaw Alchemy, due to her own issues struggling with eczema. Her condition saw her exploring herbal medicine and the healing properties of plants and herbs as practised in traditional Chinese and Eastern cultures. This led her to create the now-known brand and its iconic oils and creams. All ingredients have been carefully selected for their benefits and how they complement each other for better results.

Our hero product: We love Raaw Alchemy's Blue Oil. Ideal for oily to normal skin, this product aims to soothe, balance and heal issues such as acne, redness and irritation. Plus, the antioxidants in itf formula will ensure your pores stay unclogged.

Founded in 1999 by Swedish model and visionary Mette Skjærbæk, Karmameju is a brand whose products are a hybrid of natural, dynamic bioactivities and clinically proven, high-performance age-defence extracts. With a simple approach, the label embraces the Scandinavian simplicity for a ‘less is more’ routine. Recently, the brand has also delved into loungewear, turning the routine into a ritual with an added touch of luxury.

Our hero product: The ultimate product from Karmameju has to be its Hero pH Solution. This is a wildly versatile product, designed for the face, scalp, body and hands, and aims to stabilise the ideal pH on the skin's surface - a crucial factor for healthy skin.

As a child, Norwegian Marina Engervik struggled with extreme eczema, leading her to pursue research into a natural cure for her condition. This, eventually, developed into what she coins the ‘miracle’ oil that brought relief to her problems. According to the brand’s statements, the oil is a mixture of Nordic and exotic ingredients, with the use of advanced probiotics meant to aid the skin.

Our hero product: It wouldn't be right if our favourite from Marina Miracle wasn't an oil, and we wholeheartedly recommend the Herbal Balancing Facial Oil. Packed with fine herbs, jojoba, avocado, raspberry and aloe vera, the oil promotes a healthy glow and deep nourishment.

Founded by Bunnie Gulick, this Norwegian brand produces hand-crafted skincare that is made with wild and organic ingredients. With nutrients kept as intact as possible thanks to a cold-pressing method, the brand aims to saturate each drop of product with the best nature has to offer.

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Our hero product: The Isun Rosemary-Sage Cleansing Body Scrub is the ultimate addition to any evening bathtime routine. The scrub gently works to exfoliate off any dead skin cells to reveal rejuvenated and radiant skin, nourished by the added camellia seed and coconut oil.

Finnish-born Henua Organics was founded by Jenni Touminen with the intention of creating high-quality products that are completely free of any water or fillers. Nowadays it's a brand that thrives off their Scandinavian principles combined with luxurious, rich products that energise and nourish the skin.

Our hero product: We adore Henua Organics Beautifying Toner. With ingredients designed to support natural collagen production and promote cell renewal, this toner is a guaranteed glow-getter.

With a single focus on face-oil-serums made with wild arctic botanicals, Laura Heikkilä combines her knowledge as a product developer, marketer and visual designer with her passion for skincare, Finland and plants. She also uses her own skin issues in order to create products that not only help her but also those who need the extra skin nourishment.

Our hero product: The Revive Brightening Antioxidant Face Oil Serum has a well-loved spot in our skincare routines. Packed with Arctic wild herbs and minerals, this serum brings dull skin back to life.

Founded by Sóley Elíasdóttir in 2007, her eponymous products take the iconic Icelandic mountain water and combine it with local herbs, oils and ingredients to create a wide variety of products — all encapsulated in environmentally friendly packaging. From face washes to moisturisers and body products, take Iceland home with you.

Our hero product: The product, or should we say products, that take top spot from Sóley is the shampoo and conditioner from the brand's collaboration with Hótel Geysir. These products are designed to feel like a spa ritual, with wild Icelandic herbs and camellia oil, formulated to strengthen hair and deliver shine.

Sarah Kungelman created Skyn Iceland as a way to treat the damaging effects of stress on the skin with natural, pure ingredients from her home country. From blemish dots to skin oils and serums, now the brand is a staple of Icelandic beauty.

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Our hero product: Eye patches have worked their way into being a skincare staple, and these ones from Skyn Iceland are evidence of exactly why these innovations have taken the market by storm. Cooling and hydrating, these patches instantly leave tired eyes depuffed, refreshed and revitalised.

Created by Bianca Ingrosso, Caia Cosmetics has taken not only the Scandi beauty market but the whole world by storm since its release in 2018. With launches often sold out in hours, the brand offers everything from skincare to makeup to fragrances.

Our hero product: Whilst Caia Cosmetics has a whole host of incredible products, we cannot help but keep reaching for its setting sprays, specifically That Dewy Look Glow Setting Spray. This sets makeup all day long, is weightless and won't dullen your meticulously applied glow.

Known and beloved by the whole skincare world, few know that Pixi by Petra is a Swedish brand founded over 20 years ago by makeup artist Petra Strand. Now known for skincare, palettes, creams and pigments, you can always count on Pixi by Petra for a good blush, liquid exfoliation or cut-crease shadow.

Our hero product: We cannot deny the hold the On-the-Glow Bronze has on us. The tinted moisture stick is the perfect way to add a sun-kissed touch to any makeup routine. Whilst its shimmery formula may not be for everyone's complexion, its versatility as an eye, or even lip, colour cannot be denied.

Founded in 2007 by Pernilla Rönnberg, Estelle & Thild has positioned itself as the certified organic brand that uses scientific research to develop result-driven products with little environmental impact. With pure bioactive ingredients, the products don't skim on effectiveness or sustainability, allowing the brand to reach the heights it's achieved.

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Our hero product: With its whipped texture, our go-to from Estelle & Thild has to be the Bergamot Patchouli Souffle Body Cream. Made from 99.75% natural ingredients, the formula quickly absorbs into the skin, leaving you feeling instantly nourished, hydrated, and super soft.

Based in Stockholm, Colekt is a skincare and fragrance company founded by Ellen af Petersens and Susanne Vennerstrand. The brand in itself encapsulates everything Scandinavia and represents a conscious approach to sustainability by producing slow, high-quality products meant to last and perform.

Our hero product: Colekt's cologne La Chambre is one of our favourites. With top notes of pink pepper and lavandin, joined with base notes of cypress and a heart of cardamom, ginger, davana and orange blossom, this is a clean, fresh fragrance with a hint of warming spice. Encapsulating and elevating, we just love it.

Nóttnuit has come from the minds of Swedish mother-daughter duo Theresia and Hedda Dibinger, who longed for a brand that had clean formulation of the highest scientific standards, whilst still utilising skincare knowledge and visual aesthetics. Their ethic is clean skincare with no compromises. All products are expertly researched, tested and developed with clean and vegan ingredients, omitting synthetics and harsh preservatives.

Our hero product: We firmly believe in the benefits of a facial mist, and Nóttnuit's HAZE Protecting Face Mist is one of the best. Each spritz helps boost the skin's defence against the harmful effects of blue light, and as we all, for the majority, work with screens, this can only be a benefit.

Founded by Ida Meyenberg Hall, this Swedish brand is bringing craftsmanship and innovation into the beauty realm. With emotion at its core, all Meyenberg handwash fragrances are designed to evoke feelings and bring nostalgia for moments and ideas that shape our lives, such as Courage, Dreams and Secrets.

Our hero product: We have Meyenberg hand washes in our office bathrooms, and we are all in love with it. However, the Soap & Secret scent is our favourite with its fresh and perennial smell.