Danish skincare cosmetician Ole Henriksen is nothing short of legendary in the beauty world. On launching, his cult-favourite Banana Bright Eye Créme quickly skyrocketed to number one on Sephora’s bestselling product list. Ever since, he’s continued to impress and delight skincare devotees with every new launch he and his team dream up.
Unsurprisingly, Ole also boasts sparkling list of adoring celebrity fans including the likes of Renée Zellweger, Jessica Alba, Naomi Campbell and Halle Berry who swear by the benefits of his innovative range.
marie claire sat down to chat over the phone with Ole about everything from how he made the curious career change from professional dancing to skincare cosmetician, the story behind the creation of the now-famous Banana Bright Eye Créme, and the cardinal skincare rule he thinks everyone should follow.
Lauded as being ‘the most positive man in beauty’ by many, Ole’s effervescent personality and zest for life were clear – even from across the ocean lying between his Los Angeles residence and our HQ in Sydney.
Here’s our exclusive interview with Ole…
What Prompted You To Make The Dramatic Career Change From Dancer To Skincare Cosmetician?
Of course, the love of dance never leaves you and I can do it in a different way now. But, for me, the fact that I was doing show dance really meant that my dance career would ultimately have a shorter lifespan.
While living in Jakarta, Indonesia, doing show dancing, I got frustrated with my skin and in my naivety, I used excess makeup. Of course, you and I know that only makes the problem worse. I went to a local aesthetician and began getting treatments and I was mesmerised by the combination she made in her own kitchen and the improvements in my skin. Simultaneously, as I was getting treatments, I met a fabulous lady from London, who suggested I attend the Christian Shaw College of Beauty in London where I ultimately enrolled.
Eventually, I came to Hollywood but no one wanted to hire me as a man so I decided to open my first spa and that allowed me to really let the creative juices flow. I made my early products in my kitchen and brought them to work in Tupperware containers and then the celebrities starting coming in which was very helpful in generating media attention.
My early celebrity clients like Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross and Cher loved these formulas. And, after writing my first American book, I appeared on Oprah, which helped make the book a bestseller and also created a demand for my products.
What Are The Philosophies Underppining The Ole Henriksen Range?
Every man and woman should feel good about who they are and that is the cornerstone for all of this. The Ole glow is that inner love affair with life and glowing, healthy, radiant skin. What I have always loved about the profession is helping women and men look their best and gain self-confidence so they may enjoy themselves in life. I also love creating extraordinary, potent products that are transformational and have continued benefits.
A formula is all about the ingredients you infuse it with – such as calming and soothing extracts. In skincare, you always have to work to be breaking new ground and never be gimmicky. There’s always something new and exciting to bring into the treatment room or the way you formulate.
What Was The First Skincare Product You Created?
The first was a herbal day cream. A very basic cream but nonetheless bursting with essential fatty acids which are the key to healthy skin as they cushion, comfort and calm the skin. There was also a lot of herbal extracts in the cream.
Your Bestselling Banana Bright Eye Crème Is Nothing Short Of Legendary In The Beauty World. How Did This Product Come To Be Created?
While working with makeup artists who used banana powder to illuminate and brighten, I saw how the golden hue would lift the eyelid and open the eyes. I also saw it used as a highlighter on the cheekbones and I thought, ‘what if I create an eye cream that combines the benefits of skincare and makeup? One that would be illuminating with reflective pigments along with the benefits of jojoba seed oil, goji berries, sea buckthorn, and all the other humectants and deeply nourishing extracts and in Banana Bright Eye Cream.’
It was very hard to actually get it right but ultimately, we won our battle and it became a bestseller overnight. During the first six weeks in Sephora, it was the number one selling product of any product category, period. It has now landed as the number one selling eye cream in all of the Sephora stores around the world.
Next, we thought, ‘we’ve got to do a primer’ – one for all skin pigments, that would not mattify or dull but would again give a golden, radiant hue to the skin and combine the benefits of skincare and makeup
When the Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Face Primer launched, it became the number one selling primer at Sephora.
The Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum has also just launched, and now it’s mega on the internet because no stores are open. In addition to 15 per cent L Ascorbic Acid, it’s infused it with 5 per cent of polyhydroxy acids and hyaluronic acid. So as you wear this serum, it brightens, strengthens collagen, neutralises free radical damage and it’s also exfoliating, smoothing and refining.
What’s Your Personal Skincare Routine?
I am at a stage of my life now where I get up in the morning and say ‘I’m going to go and make myself look like me!’ because I’m turning 69 on Monday.
I use the Truth Juice™ Daily Cleanser morning and night, it’s extremely gentle, contains orange water and removes even the most stubborn of dirt, grime and long-wear makeup. I follow it with Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum, followed by C-Rush Brightening Gel Crème and Banana Bright Eye Crème.
At night, it is the same cleanser, then I do the Glow2OH Dark Spot Toner to address uneven skin tone but also gently resurface my skin. I follow it with the Goodnight Glow Retin-ALT Sleeping Crème with bakuchiol oil from India, which is a medicinal plant with the properties of a retinol but with no sensitivity. Then I do Banana Bright Eye Cream.
For a special treatment once a week, I do the PHAT Glow Facial which has 20 per cent polyhydroxy acids and Nordic birch sap which contains essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals to calm, soothe and comfort.
What’s Your Non-Negotiable Skincare Rule?
Keep it simple, be consistent, and follow the improvements in the mirror. Make the mirror your best friend and every morning greet yourself with a smile. We should all admire ourselves.
Just like in life, keep your exercise simple and consistent and your meals simple, often the best possible dishes as very basic, and it’s very Scandinavian to live that way.
when you follow the improvements in the mirror if you have an issue with hyperpigmentation and use the Glow2O Dark Spots Toner you want to follow the improvements like you do in Pilates, as your body becomes more limber and it becomes tighter you want to admire that body in the mirror. I think in life less is more.
What’s The Number 1 Thing You Wish People Would Stop Doing To Their Faces?
Using excessive fillers and injectables – I think it’s a bit of a sad phenomenon. You see perfectly beautiful women that decide they don’t want to have bone structure anymore – they want to look like a bloated football. Cheekbones and jawlines are beautiful and as you get older, your face does become more chiselled.
Danish skincare cosmetician Ole Henriksen is nothing short of legendary in the beauty world. On launching, his cult-favourite Banana Bright Eye Créme quickly skyrocketed to number one on Sephora’s bestselling product list. Ever since, he’s continued to impress and delight skincare devotees with every new launch he and his team dream up.
Danish skincare cosmetician Ole Henriksen is nothing short of legendary in the beauty world. On launching, his cult-favourite Banana Bright Eye Créme quickly skyrocketed to number one on Sephora’s bestselling product list. Ever since, he’s continued to impress and delight skincare devotees with every new launch he and his team dream up.
