In a country renowned for its deep connection with nature, Finnish brands harness the purest natural ingredients to create high-performance cosmetics that are gentle on the skin and kind to the planet. This quintet of Finnish companies exemplifies the country’s tradition of living in harmony with the environment, offering a range of skincare products that enhance natural beauty in the most natural way possible.
Luonkos
Founded in 2018 by a group of visionary female entrepreneurs, Luonkos is dedicated to promoting eco-friendly living through natural cleansing and care products for the face, body, and hair. Their anhydrous, additive-free oil bars—affectionately known as “cakes”—are handmade in Naantali and come in biodegradable, plastic-free packaging that is instantly recognizable for its unique hexagonal shape. Luonkos leads the way in using sustainable raw materials like Finnish birch bark, oats, and barley.
They were the first cosmetics company to incorporate Reconnecting Nature, a forest microbial extract that bolsters the immune system. This innovative approach earned Luonkos international recognition at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards. In 2023, the brand was acquired by eBrands Global, a Helsinki-based company focused on consumer brand development and international e-commerce. “Luonkos products deserve to get ‘out there’ to help people across borders,” said Piritta Fors, co-founder and CEO of Luonkos. “We have innovated brilliant products that represent the best Finnish knowhow.”
Niki Newd
Niki Newd stands out in the skincare industry by using food-grade ingredients, believing that skincare should follow the same principles as healthy nutrition. Co-founder Kirsi Kaukonen emphasizes that their products are freshly blended from 100% traceable, natural ingredients without any additives, preservatives, or alcohol.
Handcrafted in small batches in Espoo, Niki Newd’s products are designed to stay fresh and minimize waste. The company also prioritizes eco-friendly packaging and carbon-neutral delivery services, ensuring that their production methods are gentle on both the skin and the planet.
Henua Organics
Henua Organics was born from founder Jenni Tuominen’s personal struggle with skin problems caused by regular cosmetics. With her sister Anu Nurmela, Tuominen set out to create effective skincare products that celebrate Finnish nature and guarantee transparency of ingredients.
Henua’s formulations shun water and fillers, opting instead for potent natural and organic ingredients like birch sap, oats, sea buckthorn, lingonberry, and pine bark. “The time for synthetic cosmetics is beginning to be over,” Tuominen predicts. “I want to believe that people want to use more organic products that do good to the skin and do not burden the environment.”
Hetkinen
Hetkinen’s journey began when founder Mona Isotupa won the FDS Award in 2017 with a unique lip balm containing pine essential oil and packaged in a pine container. Today, Hetkinen’s product line includes lip balms, hand balms, body butter, deodorants, soaps, and more, all inspired by Finnish forests.
Hetkinen’s minimalist approach extends to their packaging, using Finnish pine heartwood known for its rot resistance and antibacterial properties. “The Finnish soul has always been linked with the forest,” Isotupa explains. “We want to share this feeling with all who use Hetkinen products.”
HAVUKA
Celebrating the healing power of spruce resin, HAVUKA draws on the natural remedies of Elias Lönnrot, the compiler of the Finnish national epic, Kalevala. HAVUKA’s artisanal cosmetics use genuine natural ingredients like spruce resin, beeswax, wild herbs, and rapeseed oil. HAVUKA’s flagship product, a 30% spruce resin balm, won the Nordic Natural Beauty Awards 2020 for its regenerative, reparative, and antiseptic properties.
In late 2023, HAVUKA was acquired by Aidine, aiming to expand its reach and further develop its product portfolio. “The demand for natural, additive-free, and multi-purpose cosmetic products is growing,” notes CEO Henna-Mari Nyblom. “The antibacterial properties of resin are undeniable, and the Finnish forest offers many interesting opportunities for further development.”
These five Finnish brands exemplify the country’s innovative spirit and deep respect for nature, creating skincare products that are as beneficial for the environment as they are for the skin.
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