On how she wakes up in the morning
I have a gorgeous little dog that, at some point in the morning, starts inching her way closer to me. I wake up with her sniffing and licking – it’s the first moment I open my eyes. I really try to be disciplined about my morning and evening routines, especially when it comes to my skin. I wasn’t always like that, but I learned pretty early on that it’s a really smart thing to do to take good care of your skin. I wake up by splashing [my face with] cold water, then hot water, then using products, and I kind of look forward to it. I also massage my skin to wake it up and stimulate blood flow. I do the same thing on my body. I do the whole brushing and scrubbing thing, then I do some stretches and exercises. It sounds like a lot but it’s become a very organic thing to do that doesn’t take more than five minutes.
On cold water swimming
If you’re a big cold dipper or swimmer, then you go in every day. I would be a big cold water swimmer if I could jump in the Hudson River, which I live very close to, but since I can’t I just do it whenever there’s an opportunity. I wish that was every day. There are so many benefits – since I started dipping in cold water, taking supplements and living a more or less balanced, healthy life, I haven’t had a cold. I really do believe that going in cold water helps with lymphatic drainage and blood flow, as well as with activating the body and brain. What it does is immense, really immense, I cannot recommend it enough.
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On her skincare routine
I’ve always been very into oils and serums. My skin is thankfully pretty healthy and sturdy and can handle a lot – it’s got to in this business. When I think about what it has been through all these years… I’m very grateful I still even have my skin! It tends to need a lot of hydration – my skin is thirsty, let’s put it that way – so oils and serums are my favourites.
I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to ingredients in products. I started using Cellular Goods about six months ago, and it has been amazing to have the opportunity to get to know a product over a good amount of time, and see benefits in the skin. The ingredients CBD and CBG are absolutely fantastic – I’ve done a lot of research into them and they’re anti-inflammatory. Good skin and gut health is all about being on top of anti-inflammatory ingredients and foods – what we put inside our bodies, and what we put on our skin.
I have become obsessed with the Cellular Goods Serum and Face Oil, plus at nighttime I also use the Cream. Most importantly, I hydrate with skin tonic in the morning – somebody once told me that leaving that step out is like not brushing your teeth, so I think about that every time I hydrate.
On getting a new bob cut in
It’s really funny because I’ve done this my whole life: grow it long, cut it short and repeat. My hair grows very fast, which I am grateful for, but it grows pretty crazily! Since I got it cut off, already I can feel my hair growing outwards! So now it’s just a crazy mane. I love long hair, I think it’s so beautiful and feminine – there’s something about it, but it’s a lot of maintenance and work.
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On keeping her skin luminous
I don’t stop at morning and evening routines. Throughout the day, if I’m out, I carry around small bottles of an oil and I use it on my fingers and face. I also spray hydrating mists onto my skin. That is what my skin needs throughout the day. I don’t mind shiny, dewy skin – I never use heavy concealers, foundations or powder. I’ve always been about letting the skin breathe.
On wellness hacks
Being in nature is what makes me deeply grateful, humble, joyful and curious. To feel the strongest and healthiest that I can in both mind and body, being in nature helps. Move, trek, climb, jump in cold rivers or breathe in fresh air, feel the wind and sun – the elements have so many healthy benefits.
There are also vitamins and supplements that are essential. At some point each year I go and have my vitamin levels checked, which is a really good way of learning what you might need. There are so many supplements out there that you can literally drown in them! It’s very confusing, especially with social media.
This is simple, but get a lot of rest. Be active, drink water, try to avoid stress – although who can avoid stress? When it comes to keeping your body strong, which is something that’s extremely important to me, the best advice I can give is to keep your muscles strong. Keep recruiting and activating them! Slowly build up to heavier and heavier weights and keep stimulating and surprising your body.
On the best beauty tip she’s received
I still don’t use brushes on my face to apply make-up. I only use my fingertips. Plus I also use creams rather than powders. I believe the first person who worked on models using that application method was Stéphane Marais, who did so many of my favourite stories for Vogue, alongside Peter Lindbergh. He would use his fingers and everything he applied to your face was dewy and shiny – and alive! It worked in a sort of subtle, natural way, catching the light beautifully.
On her favourite exercise
I train with a boxing coach. I have been boxing for 18 years, but that doesn’t mean I box every time I work out – we do that every fourth or fifth session. The rest of the time we do all of the other things, like recruit small muscle groups, make them stronger and refine areas. A lot of cardio, stretching and opening up the hips. They all work together to build a stronger body and keep the muscles activated.
On red lips
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I am definitely a fan of red lips – that I cannot run away from! I think it’s so beautiful. I love that you can have a completely natural, naked face and then have vibrant, red lips. There’s something so crazy and amazing about that. It’s the easiest thing to apply without applying anything else, and it makes a huge difference. I love Velvet Ribbon by Lisa Eldridge. It has a beautiful velvety feeling to it – it looks like a fabric, like velour, when you apply it. The red pigment is so deep and powerful – it’s close to being the perfect red.
On what she would say to her younger self
I think I managed to do pretty well, but I would say: “Keep your feet firmly planted on the floor and your head high on your shoulders. Stand up straight, be confident and go through this journey with a lot of self-irony and humour.” I think I did that, more or less – I must have had it in the back of my mind, maybe because of my upbringing. Coming from Denmark, [you are encouraged to] look at all the little things that are important and beautiful, that make you happy. It’s not about the big things. And always stay humble.
On her secret to a life well lived
Be as close to nature as you possibly can be – indulge in all it has to offer. That means cooking and eating, finding natural products – everything goes hand in hand. It all starts with nature and – morbidly – it will all end with nature.
