My Journey with Plants: The Story Behind Maatila Beauty
- Laura Hallen
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
My fascination with the botanical world began in the mid-1990s during college, thanks to a biology class titled, fittingly, “Plants Useful to Humans.” That course ignited a lifelong passion, which started modestly with a small window box garden at my apartment in Northeast Minneapolis.
Around that time, I was dating someone whose mother was both a Master Gardener and a quadriplegic. Throughout the summers, I spent many weekends at her home, learning to care for her garden under her guidance from her wheelchair. She deepened my knowledge of plants and taught me how to truly see them.
From a Cottage Garden to the Millennium Seed Bank
In the winter of 2003, after that relationship ended, I bought my first home—a tiny house long before they became trendy. When the snow finally melted that spring, I was greeted by a massive, established front-yard garden. It was thrilling, but completely intimidating.
To learn how to properly manage it, I decided to become a Master Gardener myself in 2006. The yard was a classic English cottage garden, packed with fruit trees, perennials, vegetables, and a demanding number of shrubs. For 13 years, I tended, transformed, and poured myself into that space, making it entirely my own.
During this period, plants also became the central muse for my artwork. In 2013, I received a Minnesota State Arts Board grant to travel to the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Gardens outside of London. There, inside an underground vault preserving 3 billion seeds from around the world, I drew and photographed the specimens. This journey culminated in a solo exhibition displayed at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
The Turning Point: Allergies and Formulation
By 2019, my relationship with plants shifted toward herbalism and skincare. I had been experiencing severe reactions to commercial skincare products. While I knew I had a latex allergy, I didn’t realize that roughly 10% of all plants contain natural latex—and many of them are common ingredients in botanical skincare.
Frustrated by the trial-and-error of finding safe products for my highly sensitive skin, I decided to use the lockdown of 2020 to find my own solutions. I enrolled in an online course on Botanical Skincare Product Formulation and Applications of the Skin through the School of Aromatic Studies. After more than a year of intensive study, I became a Certified Aromatherapist and began formulating my own botanical, latex-free skincare line.
For a long time, I went back and forth on whether to keep these formulations for myself or share them with others. However, my perspective shifted when I relocated to a small town in Iowa. Living in an area with limited access to specialized resources, I found myself turning to the power of plants more than ever before. This environment became the ultimate motivation to finally offer my creations to the world. After years of contemplation, I took the leap and launched Maatila Beauty in February 2026.
The Spirit of Maatila Beauty
My life’s work has been a deep love affair with the botanical world, viewed through the lenses of a gardener, an artist, and a herbalist. Plants are my greatest teachers, and I am continually humbled by them. They are woven into the very fabric of my daily life: from the clothes I wear and the wooden chair I sit upon, to the food I grow and the natural medicines I make, to the inspiration behind my artwork, and to the clean, intentional ingredients I apply to my skin.
Plants have always shaped my artwork, but they are the absolute shining stars behind Maatila Beauty. Every single product is grown, formulated, and crafted with years of expertise and respect for the earth. Each product has a unique label showcasing my art.
I invite you to discover this plant magic for yourself. Explore our offerings, experience how they can profoundly transform your skin, and welcome the utility and beauty of plants into your own daily ritual. Not sure where to begin? Try our Oasis Elixir paired with our best seller Lux Serum for the best hydration. Reach out to start your journey today.
