Why does skin barrier protection matter more at 78°N? We break it down - and show you how Svalr’s routines stand up to polar extremes.
If you’ve lived through a Svalbard winter, you know the feeling. Your cheeks stinging as you step outside, the crunch of snow underfoot, and air so dry it feels like you’ve just trekked through the world’s coldest desert. It’s intense, beautiful, and sometimes rough, especially for your skin.
But here’s the secret: with the right care, you can keep your skin comfortable, calm, and protected - even in the wildest weather. It’s all about building your barrier, and the key is in your daily ritual.
1. Start Clean, but Not Stripped: Ren & Pen Cleanser
Most cleansers leave you tight and parched, but our Ren & Pen Cleanser is built for the north. Creamy and gentle, it exfoliates with lactic acid and willow bark - a duo that lifts away dead skin cells, clears pores, and helps skin renew, without any harshness. Arctic cotton softens, hydrates, and soothes.
Arctic wisdom: Your skin needs to hold onto moisture, not scrub it away. That’s why we avoid the usual suspects - parabens, silicones, sulfates - and use botanicals proven to help stressed skin recover its softness.
2. Layer in Resilience: MYK Moisturizer
MYK means “soft” in Norwegian - but this cream is all about strong protection. Formulated with bakuchiol (the plant-based retinol alternative), niacinamide, cloudberry seed oil, and chaga mushroom, it’s a blend that hydrates deeply, smooths fine lines, and defends your skin against cold, wind, and everyday stress.
Cloudberry is one of our favorite ingredients - it brings antioxidants and fatty acids to keep your skin elastic and radiant. Chaga mushroom (hand-harvested in Norway) provides the skin with minerals for deep, lasting hydration.
Chaga harvest at our cabin in Northern-Norway
3. Seal It In: Midnattsol Facial Oil Serum
Midnattsol, or “midnight sun,” is more than a pretty phenomenon - it’s our answer to photo-damage and extreme dryness. The key is Norwegian lingonberry seed oil, packed with omegas and vitamin E. Blended with cloudberry seed oil and bakuchiol, this serum repairs and softens, helping skin bounce back from everything the Arctic throws at you.
If your face feels dry or looks tired, boost your radiance with a few drops morning and night. Let the antioxidants, plant lipids, and gentle botanicals do the heavy lifting.
Add a Little Ritual - No Matter Where You Live
Even if you’re not in Svalbard, your skin faces weather, pollution, and stress every day. Svalr’s routines, born in the Arctic, deliver real results wherever you call home.
So next time the wind howls, or the city feels extra harsh… treat your cheeks to the same gentle routine we use at the top of the world. Cleanse without stripping. Hydrate with the power of Nordic berries and mushrooms. Seal in your barrier for all-day resilience.
