Finnish multihyphenate Sabina Särkkä keeps her routine pared back, but there’s one nightly non-negotiable she swears by: a silk sleep mask. Here, she shares the glow-first rituals, the Dermalogica staples she’s trusted for a decade, and the lip products she packs into every handbag
Could you share your daily beauty routine with us, from morning prep to evening wind-down? What products are essential at each step?
I love to start my morning with an ice treatment to reduce puffiness, followed by a face massage or face cupping under the Neurotouch Symmetry Serum (Dermalogica). I’ve trusted Dermalogica for over 10 years, and also their Oil to Foam Cleanser is my staple both morning and night.
Daily skin protection is absolutely essential for me. I use SPF every single day, year-round, obviously. My go-to is Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50. And to keep my face tan on point, I love using the Jet Set Sun spray tan.
I also wake up my eye area every morning with the AXIS-Y Vegan Collagen Eye Serum.
In the evening, I focus on keeping pigmentation under control with Dermalogica PowerBright serum and Overnight Cream. And every night, I finish with the Dore & Rose sleeping mask. I absolutely love sleeping with a silk mask.
Photo: @sabinasarkka
Photo: @sabinasarkka
Photo: @sabinasarkka
How do you transition your look from daytime to evening? Are there specific products or techniques you find indispensable?
I keep my base the same: glowing and fresh. A long-lasting dewy complexion is my go-to look.
My quick trick (and something I absolutely love) is the YSL Lines Liberated Eye Pencil in shade 2, a perfect brown. I use it on the waterline to add intensity, then apply a bit more as eyeliner and blend it out with my finger. It gives me a soft, smoky look in just a couple of minutes, and it lasts because the formula is waterproof.
To finish, I add extra glow to my cheekbones and the bridge of my nose using either the Caia Glow Highlighter in Portofino or the YSL All Hours Hyper Luminiser.
What products do you always have in your handbag – whether headed for a night out or for a red-eye flight?
Soooo many lip products!! No matter how small my bag is, it’s always full of lip products. I love nude lips, and Caia has the perfect nude lip liners — I’m obsessed! My favourite shades are Caramel Cutie, Lovisa, Nougat, and Bryce.
Lip glosses are another obsession. My must-haves are the Ole Henriksen Crème Brûlée Lip Treatment and the YSL Plumping Lip Gloss in shade 6. I also always carry Caia’s Chic lipstick. You can even use it as a cream blush in a pinch.
Other essentials I never leave without: a brow pencil (either Anastasia Beverly Hills or Benefit) and the YSL Touche Éclat highlighting pen.
Related: The 22 best red lipsticks our beauty editor has tried, tested, and would actually recommend
Photo: @sabinasarkka
What is your holy grail beauty product that you would recommend to anyone, and why?
My holy grail product is a really good SPF moisturizer. It protects the skin, keeps it healthy, and prevents pigmentation — I recommend it to absolutely everyone. It’s the one step that always pays off long-term.
I love the Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50. It hydrates, protects from UV, helps prevent premature aging, and blends beautifully into the skin.
If you could give your younger self one piece of beauty advice, what would it be?
Protect your skin, always. I would tell my younger self to take SPF seriously, use high-quality sun protection every single day, and reapply it. It’s the one habit that truly makes the biggest difference in how your skin looks and ages.
