Beauty products from Latvia

What do juniper stem cell extract, sea buckthorn oil, and bird cherry extract have in common? These potent natural ingredients power some of the finest beauty products from Latvia! In 2023, the country’s thriving perfume and cosmetics industry employed 883 people across 100 companies, generating an impressive €59.5 million in turnover*. From Estonia to Germany and Saudi Arabia, Latvian beauty products are making their mark worldwide. So, what makes us so good at crafting these products—especially natural skincare?

“In Latvia, the knowledge of using plants to promote health has been passed down for generations, from grandmothers to mothers to children. Many grow up knowing how to collect herbal teas, prepare decoctions for coughs and fevers, or apply the leaf of a broadleaf plantain to soothe an abrasion. But this kind of wisdom isn’t universal—many people elsewhere don’t have these traditions. So, it’s no surprise that Latvians have a natural expertise in cosmetics, understanding how to harness plant extracts and other raw materials not just for health, but for beauty as well. It’s in our genes,” says pharmacist Marta Šulce, founder of the family-run Silmachy cosmetics brand. “What’s more, as northerners, we face harsher natural conditions, making skin and hair care especially important to us,” she adds.

Elīna Brūkle, brand storyteller at Mádara Organic Skincare, echoes the sentiment, highlighting Latvians’ deep ties with nature, adding that we also have our robustness, tenacity, stubbornness, and work ethic to thank for our expertise. “We often hear admiration for the high quality and finesse of Latvian beauty products, as well as our creativity and attention to detail,” she shares, adding “Our determination may have been the greatest driving force in challenging the once widespread perception that natural cosmetics are less refined and effective.”

Northern climate makes for powerful natural ingredients

Mádara collaborates with scientists and research institutions to develop products that harness the unique properties of ingredients native to this part of the world. “The northern climate fosters exceptionally potent active ingredients, which must concentrate their energy during a short flowering period to withstand the dark, cold winters. Rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and other biologically active compounds, they offer powerful benefits for skin and hair,” Brūkle explains.

Among the ingredients that the company has produced in collaboration with scientists are chanterelle extract, which promotes hair growth and leaves hair smooth and cared for, and birch sap, which fuels products designed for mature and tired skin, since it has been proven to accelerate dermal cell division by up to 25%.

You’ll find locally made beauty products on shop shelves across Latvia, as well as at regional fairs and farmers’ markets, where smaller producers tend to make an appearance, offering products such as floral waters, scrubs for the pirts or Latvian sauna, facial creams, and handmade soaps. Latvia is also home to several companies, such as Cita lieta and Cosmetic Lab, which produce private label cosmetics. Popular ingredients include chamomile, peat mud, and cranberry. A wonderful way to bring the essence of Latvia’s nature into your home!

*According to provisional data from the Central Statistical Bureau of the Republic of Latvia.