Fashion month is not for the faint of heart. Hopping from one country to the next, powering through long days packed with runway shows, meetings, dinners and parties, all while trying to navigate mounting deadlines and a dwindling social battery – ‘fashion marathon’ feels like a more apt description for this biannual spectacle. Having been around the block a few times, our editors have found the beauty essentials that help make it all a little more manageable. From supercharged setting sprays and smudge-proof red lipsticks to hydrating electrolyte tablets, read on for the must-haves Vogue Scandinavia editors wouldn’t survive the fashion week circuit without
Josefin Forsberg, Acting Managing Editor
"For the most glamorous month of the year, my beauty bag looks decisively unsexy. But when battling your way between shows and meeting approximately a million people, there are some very mundane non-negotiables.
First and foremost: making sure your breath measures up. I always carry mint tablets (never mint gum; one too many times I've clandestinely tried to dispose of it in my handbag, and it has escaped its papery prison to gunk up a stray make-up brush or hairbrush). But my secret weapon is an electric toothbrush. Getting to the root of oral malodor (pun intended), a good toothbrush ensures the freshest breath even after a few hours too many of mingling. I like this one from Oral-B because it travels well. Again, too often I've tried to turn my electric toothbrush on abroad only to discover it's not charged. Here, a charging case keeps it topped up.
For those evenings when I am desk-bound to keep the runway review wheel turning, I rely on a very big pack of eye gels to keep me trucking through the night. They're always appreciated by the team post-shows, and it has become a little fashion month ritual to don a set in the office once we're all back.
Finally, I am a firm believer in the red lip theory. That is, a red lip is so potent that, when worn on its own, it'll basically erase tired circles under your eyes and wipe away ruddy cheeks and stubborn stress-induced spots."
Linnéa Pesonen, Senior Beauty & Shopping Editor
"There’s nothing quite as frustrating as makeup melting away mid-day. And boy, those days are long during fashion month. I need my face to be as locked in as I am, and in pursuit of this, I’ve gone through countless setting sprays to find the ones that actually work. One such product is Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray, which not only ensures my makeup stays in place from early morning meetings to late-night parties, but it also leaves my skin smooth and shine-free.
Fashion week or not, I always carry a hand sanitiser in my bag. Whether I’m grabbing a quick bite between shows or need to cleanse my hands before retouching my makeup, I can’t leave my home without one. My favourite is Haan’s Wood Night Hydrating Hand Sanitiser, which cleanses effectively without drying out your skin. It’s also infused with warm, woody notes of cedar and amber, doubling as a subtle misting of perfume for your hands.
Another product that holds a permanent place in my purse is a lip balm, particularly Ole Henriksen’s Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment. It plumps and nourishes your lips without leaving them sticky, and layers well over lip liners and lipsticks. I’m a sucker for anything vanilla, so my go-to is the delicious ‘Vanilla Bonbon’ iteration."
Lisa Hasselgård-Rowe, Interior & Culture Editor
"Since starting full-time at Vogue Scandinavia last month, my screen time has soared, and my eyes want only one thing: eyedrops. Do they count as ‘beauty’? That might be up for debate, but they definitely keep my resting squint face at bay.
Being half-Aussie, wearing sunscreen is non-negotiable (even in Scandi autumn). On a quick trip to France, I stocked up on invisible sun protection from reliable parapharmacie fave, Caudalie. SPF 50-filled, non-greasy, and practical to apply, the Vinosun stick is simply di-vine (and further proof that I appreciate most things extracted from grapes).
The best nail oil, hands down, is Chanel’s L’Huile Camélia. I carry it with me as much for how nourishing it is, as for its light, floral scent which is so nostalgic, it’s practically Proustian. Nothing else works quite as well, and it’s lovely enough to make even the most serial nail picker reconsider their choices."
Linn Hansson, Social Media Manager
"I've always been the type to move onto the next beauty product as soon as one runs out. There's simply too much out there to try. But this one has made me reconsider. With mornings getting darker and my alarm going off long before I'm ready to get out of bed, I've found myself looking forward to those few minutes in front of the mirror with my Medicube gua sha cream. I use it across my face for a little morning massage, and somehow it makes me feel more awake, a little more snatched and slightly less like I've just rolled out of bed. It's become a small ritual I don't particularly want to give up.
Being basically thrown straight into fashion month on my first day at Vogue Scandinavia called for a little extra confidence. There’s something about this Xerjoff fragrance that instantly makes me feel more confident and put together, even on days when I’m not particularly dressed up. It’s bold, feminine and has just the right amount of sweetness. The kind of scent that makes me feel like the best version of myself.
I used to think a good night's sleep could fix just about anything. But lately, and especially during fashion month, no matter how much sleep I get, the bags under my eyes seem to have other plans. Between early mornings, long days and an ever-growing to-do list, looking well-rested has become a bit of a challenge. Enter Tarte's under-eye corrector. I'm not exaggerating when I say the tiniest amount goes a surprisingly long way. It takes seconds to apply, makes me look considerably more awake than I feel and has become my little secret to looking like I've had a full eight hours of sleep. Whether I actually have is another story."
Eleanor Kittle, Editorial Assistant
"Fashion month guarantees two things: late nights and early mornings. Needless to say, it’s not a time when my beauty routine is at its most rigorous. The brief is quick, effective, and capable of making me look vaguely presentable. From New York to Paris and everywhere in between, dry shampoo is a lifesaver. I don’t always have time for a hair wash, or even to engineer a grease-disguising slick-back, and nothing does the job quite like Living Proof. I spritz it in before collapsing into bed and, by the time my alarm goes off, my hair is ready to fight another day. Whether I am is another question.
I’m rarely seen without a brown winged liner, and fashion week is no exception. I’ve tried just about every iteration out there, but nothing works for me quite like a gel liner – and MAC’s is the best of the bunch. It’s foolproof, stays put and, with one swipe, I feel like myself again.
It’s not sexy, but Resorb has earned a permanent place in my fashion week survival kit. Whether I haven’t drunk enough during the day – or perhaps drank a little too much the night before – it never fails to make me feel refreshed and rehydrated. The show must go on, after all, and I refuse to miss a favourite because of a preventable headache."
Isabella Manganas, Junior Fashion & Shopping Coordinator
"I’m someone who tends to stick with what I love. When I find something that works for me, I rarely feel the need to look elsewhere, and these three products have become my non-negotiables. During fashion month, when there’s always a lot happening, I make sure they’re never too far away from me, whether I’m glued to my desk or attending a runway show. It may sound a little cliché, but when I smell and look good, I work better.
M.A from Dorsey has been my signature scent for about four years now, so it feels slightly painful to share it. But it really is that good. Fresh, sexy and effortless, it works for every occasion, and has become one of those scents I reach for without thinking. Fashion week or not, it’s an everyday essential – even on laundry days.
Then there’s Chanel's nail polish in Rouge Noir or Le Diable En Chanel, depending on my mood. Spending so much time on my laptop, looking down at my hands, has made me very particular about having nice nails. There’s something satisfying about typing away with a good manicure, and a couple of favourite rings.
And finally, Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Lip Definer in 0.2, my favourite lip liner. The shade is the perfect nude – not too pink and not too warm. During hectic times like fashion week, I’m often too lazy to do my 'normal' makeup routine, so it’s simply concealer and this lip liner that make me feel instantly more put-together. Add a little gloss on top and, somehow, I feel more confident. Simple as that."


















