ole henriksen
He’s been in the business for more than 40 years, yet this facialist is still as passionate about skin as when he first started treating Barbra Streisand, Charlize Theron and Halle Berry at his LA spa
THERE ARE TWO ELEMENTS
Enough TO MAKING SKIN GLOW. moisturiser will bring out your glow like nothing else. When your skin has proper hydration, you optimise elasticity and facial lines don’t settle in. Diet is also important for skin health – you need enough seafood, nuts and seeds.
THERE’S NO DOUBT THAT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HELPS TO KEEP SKIN AT ITS
It’s not just BEST. endorphins – it’s also about blood flow. The body wants to be in motion. My regimen involves a lot of gymnastics. I have parallel bars in my backyard. I’m advanced in years [Henriksen is 66], but I’m still strong.
YOU CHOOSE HOW YOU AGE
No-one WITH YOUR ATTITUDE. wants to be 18 forever. Ageing is natural, and you can be graceful about it. A lived-in face is attractive – you really can maintain strong, healthy skin whatever your age. Skin, just like your organs, is renewing itself. Over a lifetime, you’re rebuilding and rebuilding – it’s magical. And it’s never too late to treat your skin better.
I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER
In my youth, WITHOUT SUGAR. I was a sugar addict. Now I don’t touch it. I like to eat raw foods – I enjoy the crunch. I take Udo’s Choice oil. It has omega, which is essential for brainpower. And I take vitamins C and E, but I try to get everything from my diet. Cystic acne is a massive problem in many countries and I think it has a lot to do with how we eat.
I do SCENT MEANS EVERYTHING. aromatic facial compresses most days. I fill a sink with water, put in a few drops of essential oil and drop a terry cloth in. I compress it onto my skin five times. Then I put a mask on, lie down and meditate for 15 minutes. It’s a ritual. I use different oils for different things, but lavender, rosemary and orange are favourites. There are a lot of citrus scents in my products – I find them so uplifting and energising. MY FAVOURITE FACIAL MIST IS ONE YOU CAN MAKE YOURSELF. Chamomile is so multipurpose. You can turn the dry stuff into a lovely, soothing mist, a tea, a facial compress – it’s what they use in the spa after they have performed extractions because it takes the redness and heat out. IF YOU HAVE ACNE, YOU NEED TO STREAMLINE YOUR ROUTINE. You’re probably jumping all over the place, looking for an answer. An oil is key for soothing, no matter your skin type. And you can’t use a physical exfoliator. Use something with AHAS, otherwise you’re exacerbating the problem. Do compresses with eucalyptus oil every second or third day, and look into your lifestyle to see if anything could be contributing. Less is more, and consistency is essential. You need to give a regimen time to work for your skin.