An interview with Ole Henriksen

A few weeks ago, I attending a talk at Selfridges as part of their Beauty Project lead by skincare superstar Ole Henriksen. I'd been testing out a few of his products over the weeks beforehand and was excited to learn more about the brand and the man behind it.

Ole is a facialist to much of Hollywood and while his client list would make your jaw drop, he seems really down to earth and has an amazingly energetic outlook on life, despite being in his early 60s. Infact, he made his debut on stage with a gymnastic leap and throughout his talk dropped in a few dance moves and even the odd pelvic thrust (but enough said about that).

His interest in skincare was developed after developing cystic acne in his teens. The acne was treated by a aethetician in Jakarta using a variety of botanical treatments, which successfully reduced the inflammation and returned his skin to normal. After training in both London and the US, he opened his own clinic in LA, which has now been open for over 30 years.

I asked Ole what his favourite product from his range was, and although he loves them all, he says his current favourite is the Pure Truth Youth Activating Oil. This contains a mixture of retinoids, Vitamin C and a whole host of other ingredients you need for glowing, supple skin.

He's also a big believer in keeping skincare routines short - about 5 minutes, twice a day. While some of us might be tempted to do our routines while trying to do other things, he insists we should make it a special experience - 'Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths' he said, 'try to turn it into a special moment that you take for yourself'.

When I asked what his top skincare tip was, his resposne was SPF! He recommends using a daily moisturiser with SPF in for a light level of protection, even if it's winter or you're spending the day inside. He also recommends adjusting your skincare regime to the weather conditions. For example, in the summer, switch to a lighter moisturiser as our skin can get more oily in the warmer weather and possibly change cleansers to something lighter to help reduce superficial pore clogging. He also recommends learning how to do a simple facial massage on yourself as this can really help to improve circulation in the muscles of your face.

I honestly could have sat and spoke to him for hours - he's such an interesting man! I've been using his Truth Serum*, which is infused with  Vitamin C, and I've really noticed an improvement in the radiance of my skin. It's also oil free so I don't have to worry about it making my skin feel greasy in the summer which it's more prone to do. Ole says that this is possibly his second favourite product of his and one that's great for all skin types. It's quite pricey at £42 for 30ml, but if you're looking for that 'glow' I would definitely recommend trying it out.

You can find Ole's products in Selfridges and online from QVC, Feel Unique and Beauty Expert.

Have you ever tried anything from Ole Henriksen before?

*PR sample