Helena Christensen is a supermodel of epic proportions—in the 90s, she became a household name gracing covers of Vogue and was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador in June 2019. We're so excited to publish this month's ONDA INSIDE that truly gets inside Helena's head. She's spilling her top beauty secrets, sharing her rituals to unplug, and talking about what's important in life. Take a look.
1. ON BEAUTY
Why is clean beauty important to you?
Our skin is basically the entry into our bodies and soul, so what we put on it goes in. I love beauty products and thoroughly enjoy putting them on, whether it be masks, creams, serums, oils. It’s a little intimate feel-good ritual every morning to massage them onto my skin. It feels so much better knowing I’m feeding my skin something clean and safe.
Our skin is basically the entry into our bodies and soul, so what we put on it goes in. I love beauty products and thoroughly enjoy putting them on, whether it be masks, creams, serums, oils. It’s a little intimate feel-good ritual every morning to massage them onto my skin. It feels so much better knowing I’m feeding my skin something clean and safe.
2. UNPLUGGING
What are your rituals to unplug?
I go into nature as much as I can. I’m not sure humans were meant to evolve as much as we did, which in many ways is fantastic, but at the same time, it seems to have distanced us further away from nature. When I’m in the mountains or in a forest or by the ocean, I feel close to my true self. I become the child I once was, I am the most honest version of the woman I am, and I feel the calm and fulfillment of a wise old lady.
3. ADVICE
What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Fill your child with as much love as possible from when they’re babies till they leave you. Then they have a full bottle of love to drink from for the rest of their lives.
Fill your child with as much love as possible from when they’re babies till they leave you. Then they have a full bottle of love to drink from for the rest of their lives.
4. DESERT ISLAND PRODUCTS
What’s the one beauty product you can’t live without?
I would say oils—I dap a few drops onto my palm a few times a day and inhale the beautiful scent, and then I put it on my face, on my chest and shoulders, elbows and knees. I love the Costa Brazil one.
5. ON SELF-LOVE
What’s one thing you’ve learned recently that has improved your life?
Perhaps the most poignant lesson and improvement at the same time is how do we learn to be alone and happy. To love and respect yourself and not be scared of being alone. That’s something so many have experienced lately, and being alone doesn’t necessarily mean being lonely.
6. BALANCE
How do you balance all the facets of your life?
I feel my life in a way unfold organically in a way where everything makes sense eventually, even though it might not seem like it at the time. Somehow there’s a balance happening naturally. When I had my son, a sense of routine I hadn’t had before came into my life, and it set the precedence for everything that happened since. It has always been my son and family first, nature and health second, and then work. So with those priorities in mind, that is how I choose to live. Even if it sometimes meant compromising.
7. MORNING GLOW
Describe your morning skincare routine.
I snuggle with my dog in bed for a good 30 minutes before I get up. If I do that, I know the day has already had some love in it no matter what happens later. Next, I spray my face with skin tonic, add some face oil, feed the dog, and go for a walk down to my local coffee store. When I come back, I make a smoothie and do a bit of work, emails, and editing photos. Finally, I exercise—a combo of boxing and conditioning. Or...I stay in bed with my dog and work from there, haha.
I snuggle with my dog in bed for a good 30 minutes before I get up. If I do that, I know the day has already had some love in it no matter what happens later. Next, I spray my face with skin tonic, add some face oil, feed the dog, and go for a walk down to my local coffee store. When I come back, I make a smoothie and do a bit of work, emails, and editing photos. Finally, I exercise—a combo of boxing and conditioning. Or...I stay in bed with my dog and work from there, haha.
8. BOXING + SUPERFOODS
Share your biggest wellness hack.
In my mid-thirties, I decided I wanted to be stronger physically but not necessarily in the traditional gym exercising way, so I signed up for boxing. It has literally been a game-changer. Once you discover exciting and interesting ways of recruiting muscle groups and shaping your physical form, a whole new world opens up. And then everything else follows—the desire to eat healthier and be more physically active. Oh, and a breakfast smoothie with maca, reishi, ashwagandha, and fibers. Plus, clean celery juice as much as possible.
In my mid-thirties, I decided I wanted to be stronger physically but not necessarily in the traditional gym exercising way, so I signed up for boxing. It has literally been a game-changer. Once you discover exciting and interesting ways of recruiting muscle groups and shaping your physical form, a whole new world opens up. And then everything else follows—the desire to eat healthier and be more physically active. Oh, and a breakfast smoothie with maca, reishi, ashwagandha, and fibers. Plus, clean celery juice as much as possible.
9. OBSTACLES
What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve ever overcome?
I’m still learning every day how to overcome the dark side of my mind. I think that’s a lifelong lesson. How to not give in to heavy thoughts but rather move through them and know that everything eventually passes.
HELENA'S FAVORITES
COLORFUL CONDITIONER
My hair is a messy mix of curly, wavy, and frizzy hair. It needs all the smoothing and softening products it can get. This one does the trick.
DBS GLOW DROPS
I love these Sturm glow drops, and they're exactly what they're called. They make your skin bright and glowy.
LIP TINT COMPACT
I am in love with this; I use it on my cheeks and lips. It’s small enough to fit in my wallet, and it is so easy to apply, and you don’t even need a mirror.
SKIN RECOVERY BLEND
This little balm is so lovely, smells so good, and feels smooth and velvety on the skin. I add it to my face, chest, elbows, and knees.