Maria Åkerberg: Natural ingredients for healthier body and skin

MARIA ÅKERBERG is the brand that has helped redefine what a skincare brand can be and the idea of what good body care entails. From its founding in 1995, it’s been part of the changing roadmap for customers who demand less chemicals, more sustainable alternatives and knowledge about what they put on their bodies. After nearly 30 years of trailblazing the market for skincare, makeup and haircare, this brand knows exactly how to extract the power of nature for a healthier, happier and more luminous you.

MARIA ÅKERBERG is about a holistic approach towards our health and how that entwines with what we put on our skin, in our hair and into our bodies. ”Stuffing ourselves with waste and products of poor quality will simply generate more waste and dissatisfactory results in the short and long run,” says Maria Åkerberg, founder and CEO of MARIA ÅKERBERG. “Instead, we need to ask ourselves: what do our bodies truly need to look and feel good? All parts of our body are made up of several layers and functions that are affected differently by different ingredients, and our skincare products are created to work together by soothing, protecting and strengthening without harming the natural processes in your body.”

Maria Åkerberg

A new perspective on skincare

In 1995, when Åkerberg embarked on her journey, things looked very different from today: skincare brands didn’t list their ingredients and most options consisted of synthetic chemicals without any natural connection. Her interest in natural skincare and vision to pave the way for a new kind of industry started early – Åkerberg’s grandmother instilled a curiosity about natural remedies and she often made her own concoctions in the kitchen while growing up. ”My grandmother was a big inspiration: she cared deeply about self-care and created her own creams and mixtures with pure ingredients. I’ve infused her ethos into my brand, using the natural functions of plants and transferring these qualities to our products that will work wonders on your skin,” says Åkerberg.

Vitamins, antioxidants, salts, lactic acids and natural preservatives are distilled from plants that are oftentimes found in nature that surrounds us; red clover, nettle, juniper berry, horse-chestnut, honey, beeswax, algae, clay, sunflower oil and much more are used for well-researched combinations that provide remedies with real effects. Åkerberg’s philosophy is simple yet solid – it’s all about providing products that aid the skin to help itself with ingredients that nourish, moisturise and restore its natural protective barrier.

Small team equals greater impact

All business activities take place in the factory in the small town of Frillesås on the west coast of Sweden – from development, administration and testing to warehouse and production. Keeping everything under one roof makes quick decisions and innovation easier. ”We’re a group of tight-knit experts who care deeply about our products and about developing new solutions that will benefit our customers. And we’re small compared to the big skincare brands out there, which makes us more flexible to test new ideas,” says Åkerberg.

The team’s work has been awarded numerous times: several products have been nominated, and won, the Product of the Year category in the Organic Beauty Awards. The natural and flexible philosophy has also enabled the brand to become world-first with unique beauty treatments: one includes a treatment that consists of living stem cells from roseroot, offered in salons and provides improved resilience of the skin. The stem cells help kickstart the skin’s own reparation process and will leave an immediately smoother, clearer and brighter complexion, that improves over time.

The hair, body and face range

The portfolio ranges from facial, hair, body, and baby care to makeup and men’s shaving products. Bestsellers include the Scalp Treatment Rosemary that has become a viral hit on social media with thousands of testimonials witnessing its near magical ability to thicken the hair and leaving it healthier and smoother than before. The Face Lotion More is another favourite for mature skin with red clover extract that will create a regenerating as well as moisturising effect – a bestseller that’s been around for more than 20 years.

The team launches new products on a regular basis and is always on the lookout for new formulae that enhance well-being and provide real results. ”When I came into the business, I wanted to make a difference and show that nature can provide the same, if not better, care than synthetic products. I wanted to bring some accountability into this industry, and I believe that our products and the response from our customers prove the point: nature is our greatest ally and if we utilise our abundant resources with intelligence and consideration, it’s bound to leave a positive impact on our bodies, minds and, in the long run, our world,” Åkerberg concludes.

Web: www.mariaakerberg.com
Instagram: @mariaakerbergsweden