Ole Henriksen left his hometown of Nibe, Denmark, while he was in his late teens. After earning a degree in cosmetic chemistry in London, Henriksen (whose first name is pronounced ooh-la) landed in LA in 1975, where he quickly gained notoriety among the Hollywood elite. His spa on Sunset Boulevard— OleHenriksen Face/Body Spa—has catered to the likes of Jessica Alba, Charlize Theron, Hugh Jackman, Mark Wahlberg, Katy Perry, Linda Evangelista and Paris Hilton.
IRENA MEDAVOY: What fascinates you about skincare?
OLE HENRIKSEN: The transformational powers of skin, when treated correctly, have always enchanted me. My philosophy on good skincare is to keep it simple and be consistent. A basic and very focused regimen that produces visible results is easy to commit to over a lifetime.
IM: You feature African red tea in a number of your products. Why?
OH: It’s a magical plant that contains a powerhouse of skin nutrients and antiaging extracts, such as iron, potassium, calcium, copper and zinc. Equally important is that this red tea contains 50 times more antioxidants than its green counterpart.
IM: What are some of the most successful treatments and products in your line?
OH: The African Red Tea Body Cocktail is the numberone body treatment at my spa. And the Express the Truth Wrinkle-Resistance Face Crème, See the Difference Serum, Visual Truth Wrinkle-Resistance Eye Crème and African Red Tea Creamy Foaming Cleanser fly off the shelves in stores all over the world.
IM: You cater to quite an impressive list of celebrities. Why do you think that is?
OH: Everyone who comes to my spa is treated like a celebrity, whether they’re famous or not. We’ve had the pleasure of taking care of some of the biggest stars in the world, and I can honestly say each is a delight.
IM: Do you have a secret for how to look beautiful every day?
OH: Embrace and love yourself unconditionally. Smile, laugh a lot and live in the moment.
