One of the key ingredients in our products is the chaga mushroom — a dark, woody fungus that grows on birch trees in cold climates. It’s been used for centuries in traditional medicine across the Arctic and Northern Europe, and for good reason: it’s packed with antioxidants, minerals, and skin-loving compounds. In skincare, chaga is known to help protect against environmental stress and support healthy, calm skin.

HAND-HARVESTED IN NORTHERN-NORWAY

Our connection to chaga is a strong one. The chaga we use in our products is hand-harvested in the forests around our family cabin in Northern Norway. It’s Vår’s dad (and Tove’s husband) who does the actual work: carefully collecting chaga without harming the birch trees it grows on.

This is slow work. Chaga takes years to grow, so respect and patience are key. Each piece is cut in a way that lets the tree keep living, and we only take what we know we can use.

WHY WE USE CHAGA IN OUR PRODUCTS

1. antioxidant powerhouse – Chaga is one of nature’s strongest antioxidants, helping skin defend itself against free radicals (think: cold winds, UV, pollution).

2. rich in beta-glucans – These compounds help soothe stressed skin and support its natural barrier.

3. vitamin & mineral content – Chaga carries trace elements like zinc, potassium, and magnesium — all things your skin appreciates.

4. local & sustainable – For us, using chaga isn’t about following a trend. It’s about working with what grows naturally around us, and doing it in a way that’s connected to our family and our land.

Once harvested, the chaga is dried, ground, and gently extracted so its benefits can be blended into our Arctic skincare products. That’s why when you use Svalr, you’re not just putting on “a cream with an exotic ingredient.” You’re using something that started as a mushroom on a birch in Northern Norway, picked by hand by our family, and turned into something your skin can feel every day.

Some of the products that contain chaga are: REN & PEN cleanser, MYK moisturiser, VÅKEN eye serum