Art Meets Skincare

Deep into nature

Art Meets Skincare

“When I heard the message behind ‘Drops of Wonder,’ I knew I wanted to celebrate Blue Lagoon’s legendary water, this amazing, fantastic material, and make it into a large-scale art piece.”

This holiday season, our “Drops of Wonder” campaign includes both small gestures and grand treasures, all beautifully wrapped and ready to help you share the wonder of the season with your loved ones. To bring the campaign to life across our stores, we enlisted Icelandic industrial and product designer Sigga Heimis to interpret“Drops of Wonder” into festive window installations. The delicate glass droplets capture both the magic of the season and Iceland’s elemental beauty, taking inspiration from many aspects of the Blue Lagoon’s legendary bioactive waters. In this conversation, Sigga shares the story behind the project and how her love of glass and our star ingredient influenced her creative process.

How did you first get into designing with glass?

I’m a designer and have created all kinds of objects over my career. During one of my workshops many years ago, I was lucky to get to know the American Corning Museum of Glass and received an offer to work with them in Miami, Florida. After that, I was hooked. Now, glass is my favorite medium of all.

Why was glass the perfect medium for this project?

When you look at the Blue Lagoon water and imagine it as a solid material, glass comes to mind because the water is both transparent and that crystal-blue color everyone remembers. But then if you look at the content of glass, there is also a strong link because glass is made up of about 70% silica, which is one of the most important ingredients in Blue Lagoon Skincare. So when we brainstormed what material to work with, it felt very natural to use glass and, to be honest, I can’t imagine having done this any other way.

What is it about glass that inspires you?

Glass itself is so versatile. You have so many colors, so many effects — there is so much to choose from. But first and foremost, the transparency of glass and how it reflects light is perhaps the most beautiful thing about it. And I love the process of glassblowing, which is what we used for this project. It’s so in the moment; you almost get a high from it.

How did the idea of “Drops of Wonder” resonate with you for this project?

I really wanted to celebrate the Blue Lagoon’s blue water — this amazing, fantastic material that’s iconic because of its beautiful color and its healing benefits — and make it into a large-scale art piece.

Tell us more about the glass drops and the stories they tell.

Water drops relate so much to us here in Iceland. Obviously, there are water drops everywhere, but here we have this closeness and connection to water because not only are we an island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, but we also have rain and snow, waterfalls and glaciers. So for me, the glass drops tell a very Icelandic story but also a very human one, since our bodies are made of approximately 60% water.

These drops have a unique shape. Was that intentional?

Yes. Here in Iceland, we have wind all the time; you never use an umbrella because it’s pointless. So we wanted the water drops to look a bit Icelandic — shaped as if the wind was blowing them. We also wanted the drops to refer to the Blue Lagoon Skincare products, which is why you have the bluish color in some of them.

Can you walk us through the process of making the Drops of Wonder installation?

I am not a glassblower, so first I had to find someone who could work in glass, and that was Anders Vange, glassblower and founder of Reykjavik Glass. I have an amazing amount of respect for the craftsmanship and skills behind the technique. They are magicians, and without them we wouldn’t have these amazing pieces.

As for the process, we used a very ancient and basic technique. Glassblowing is like blowing up a balloon, although that’s an oversimplification because there are so many things that happen before, during and after. Because the glass is extremely hot, it’s all about timing. You have to pick up the glass when it’s the right temperature, then wait, pick up some more glass and blow into it. Then you have to wait until you can form it. At the end, you take the shape you have made — in this case the droplets — and put it into a kiln to cool off. So yes, it looks simple, it sounds simple, but it’s not simple at all. It’s a very delicate process and you have to be extremely careful with the heating and the timing.

How do patience and precision come into play in your work?

You need both when working with glass, although I am not a patient person. That’s why it’s good for me to work with someone like Anders, who has this stoic spirit perfect for working with this material. On the other hand, I’m very precise and will never leave a project without being completely happy with it. So I connect with the precise aspect of the process, but not so much with the patience involved.

What does it mean to you to be part of this project for Blue Lagoon Skincare?

I feel proud having done this project with Blue Lagoon Skincare for the obvious reasons that I’m Icelandic and I am intrigued by glass. But I also feel proud because the end result feels very genuine. I love that we’re doing it here in Iceland, using recycled glass, so in every way, shape or form I am truly happy with the results.

If you could describe the final installation in one word, what would it be?

It’s hard to encapsulate the whole project in just one word, but I think “authenticity” comes to mind. Today, we’re living in a world where there are so many things that are not authentic, not clear, not honest, and I hope that the installation brings people feelings of transparency, positivity and timelessness — and creates a very authentic experience that’s also full of magic and wonder.