Flowers of youth: The sprouts, plants and blooms that make us glow

Serums and creams, masks and treatments most often come from the purest of forms. We go back to the roots of skincare, exploring the flowers, sprouts and seeds that make us glow. Artist Martin Bergström creates landscapes from botanicals that have, for centuries, been used in Nordic wellness – some with favourable results, others not – in our endless pursuit of eternal beauty.

For this story, in our February-March issue, we created unique universes where just a certain set of flowers and greens are set to grow and bloom. Each realm has its own power and association — some might keep you young forever while others are patiently waiting for some fool to cross them. Read ahead to find out what lands you will be visiting and what specimens to avoid in your travels.

Favoured by witches and healers, these sprouts and weeds were used to revitalise, breathing new life into the mortal body. While some are still found in our cupboards, like red clover, mallow and water lily – known for aiding the renewal of the skin and preserving youth – others have been discovered to have less-than-desirable results, like the false lily of the valley or solomon’s seal, both discovered as poisonous.

While their beauty is irrefutable, these dainty creations are more like a death bouquet. Just a sprinkle of hemlock’s essence would easily end you, while the henabane’s seeds can lie dormant in the soil for decades, until just the right conditions arrive, allowing them to emerge to punish anyone who crosses them.

Rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants the sea buckthorn's golden oil has for years been used to protect the mortal body against the decay of age. Rumoured to guard against human illnesses (though this has yet to be sufficiently proven), these bright berries have had an unquestionable impact on our treatments for centuries.

More than just a tart ingredient or a sweet dessert, these bouncy, happy-leafed specimens are packed with the riches of the earth and the blessings of the land. Find within the wild strawberry and the stone bramble the infinite wells of eternal youth and beauty – potions that practically turn back time.

Tall as gods and strong as giants, the trees from the forests hold within them the secret code to regeneration. The blackthorn, beech and birch herald the fight against aging, decay and the pass of time. After all, no one is mightier than a wild tree and its powers are as far-reaching as its roots.