Life on tour is famously a whirlwind of late nights that leave little time for TLC. Danish dancer Didde-Mie Lykke's beauty routine, however, is ritualistic. Whether shooting a music video (you may know her from Jungle's 'Back on 74'), or going on tour with the likes of Dua Lipa and Rosalía, she has some non-negotiable beauty habits: early morning workouts, rigorous evening curl-care and a religious use of brown lip liner. At least she simplified her eye routine by skipping mascara
Could you share your daily beauty routine with us, from morning prep to evening wind-down?
No two days look the same for me. My surroundings are constantly changing, especially while traveling, so having a few routines and rituals that stay the same feels incredibly important. They give me a sense of structure and calm, no matter where I am in the world. I wake up early every day (mornings are my favourite part of the day) to make sure I have at least two hours to myself before the day begins.
The first thing I do is brush my teeth and move my body. Working out helps wake up both my mind and body, and my go-to is usually a Hot Sculpt class or Pilates Reformer session. I use ClassPass to find studios wherever I am, and if you travel a lot, I can’t recommend it enough.
During the daytime, I try to avoid wearing makeup whenever possible and let my skin breathe. I'm currently on Rosalía's LUX world tour, which means I'm usually in full show makeup most evenings, so I like to keep things simple during the day.
For showtime, I love a cool-toned eye look, paired with a dark brown tight line. I've actually stopped wearing mascara most of the time. I love the effortless, slightly undone look it creates.
Photo: Didde-Mie
Photo: Didde-Mie
Next, I brush up my brows with brow gel and shape them to appear a little thinner. Then I use Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Concealer under my eyes and beneath my cheekbones for a subtle highlight. For warmth, I apply the CAIA Soft Blend Bronzing Balm to my cheekbones, forehead, nose, and neck, followed by the CAIA Soft Blend Blush Balm on my cheeks and nose.
Finally, everything is set with Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder before I finish with a brown lip liner and Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray.
And that's it. We're show-ready.
Photo: Didde-Mie
I'm never afraid of wearing a lot of makeup because I have the best products for taking it all off afterwards. I start with Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm, followed by Drunk Elephant Mello Marula Cream Cleanser and lukewarm water. At night, I keep things simple and return to the same skincare products I started my day with: Rhode, COSRX Snail Mucin Essence, and Weleda Skin Food.
I also try to be diligent about caring for my hair. Every evening, I massage Kérastase Genesis Fortifying Anti Hair Loss Serum into my scalp, apply Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum through my lengths, and finish with Kérastase Elixir Ultime. Then I braid my hair into a protective style before bed.
How do you transition your look from daytime to evening? Are there specific products or techniques you find indispensable?
I love being playful with both my hair and makeup. In the evenings, I'll often build on my daytime look with a stronger lip or a more dramatic eye. I think you can push things surprisingly far without looking overdone when your base remains simple and fresh.
What products do you always have in your handbag – whether headed for a night out or for a red-eye flight?
At least three brown lip liners. I'm completely obsessed. It can be NYX, Sephora Collection, Charlotte Tilbury, MAC, CAIA, or Rhode; I honestly don't mind, as long as it's brown.
What is your holy grail beauty product that you would recommend to anyone, and why?
This is a difficult one, but I swear by Weleda Skin Food. It's a forever favourite. If you find the original formula a little rich, the Light version is amazing too.
If you could give your younger self one piece of beauty advice, what would it be?
It's a little cheesy, but I believe it wholeheartedly: Everything you wanted to change about yourself when you were younger will eventually become the very things you love most about yourself. Those quirks, differences, and imperfections are what make you, you. And that's precious.
