May 27, 2026

A Little Mayella Flashback: The Story Behind the Brand

It's been a hot minute since we've shared anything personal about how Mayella ® came to be, so we thought it was time for a little trip down memory lane.

Back in 2020—our 10th year of Mayella and what turned out to be quite an unforgettable year globally—we were invited to share our story with the wonderful publication, Natural Parent Magazine.

Of all the collaborations we've been fortunate to be part of, this one has always held a special place in our hearts. Not only is Natural Parent Magazine (links below to the original articles) a beautiful resource for families navigating fertility, pregnancy and parenthood, but family has always been at the very heart of everything we do.

Looking back on this interview feels a little like opening an old photo album—equal parts nostalgic, inspiring, and a reminder of why we started this journey in the first place.

Where It All Began...Mayella Founder Amanda reflects

For more than three decades, I have worked as an Aesthetician and Holistic Therapist, specialising in Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Remedial Massage. During that time, I have had the privilege of supporting people through many seasons of life—from young adults to growing families and now, in many cases, their children too.

In clinic, conversations naturally extended beyond treatments. We would talk about nutrition, herbal teas, skincare, supplements, movement, stress management and the many lifestyle factors that contribute to genuine wellbeing and healthy SKIN.

Over time, I became increasingly aware of how difficult it was to source products that aligned with the values and quality standards I wanted for my clients. One day, my mother Robyn and I looked at each other and had a simple but life-changing conversation:

"Why don't we create them ourselves?"

And so we did.

What started as an idea became a shared mission—to create products that were genuinely good, effective, easy to embrace and enjoy in the busyness of life, grounded in clinical experience, and designed to support people every day, not just occasionally.

Building Mayella: One Product, One Step at a Time

As a mother with a young family and in business alongside my own mother, it felt completely natural that everything we created would be safe, ethical and suitable for the whole family.

From the beginning, we believed that true beauty comes from vitality and good health. We wanted to support wellbeing from the inside and out, which is why Mayella Skincare, Nutrition and Herbal Tisanes were designed to complement one another.

Every formulation reflected our philosophy of a truly holistic approach to health.

Organic. Natural. Vegan. Cruelty-free. Ethical. Bio-Active.

For us, there was never another way.

Our very first customers—many of whom were Time to BE clinic clients—became our brave and wonderfully honest testers. Their feedback shaped our products, challenged our ideas and helped us refine what Mayella would become.

We remain incredibly grateful for their belief in us and their ongoing support.

The Breakthrough Moments

Looking back, perhaps the greatest breakthrough wasn't a product launch or award.

It was believing in ourselves.

Like many small businesses, we've stood at the bottom of countless mountains wondering, Can we actually do this?

Thankfully, a healthy dose of family determination aka stubborn resilience and creative spirit kept us climbing....we do have historical mountain climbers in the family branches, perhaps there is a genetic thread 🤔

One of our proudest achievements has been incorporating Australian native botanicals and ingredients throughout our skincare, nutrition and tea collections—something deeply aligned with our vision from the very beginning.

The like minded Retailers, Trading Partners and B2B community that has grown around us over the years is a network we treasure greatly. These beautiful people from around the globe have been affirming, uplifting and part of our evolution - relationships that are what we consider to be extended family as well as business partners. 

Recognition of our formulations and product efficacy along the way has been both humbling, nourishment for the heart and encouraging.

Being awarded by an international panel of judges across multiple categories over several years for products including:

• Mayella Alkalise Green & Go (Category Winner)

• Beauty & Brains Herbal Tisane (Category Winner)

• Wild Rooibos Chai (Category Winner)

• Acai Berry Beautiful Blend (Category Winner)

• Mayella AHA Exfoliating Serum (Editor's Choice)

• Mayella Replenish & Hydrate Mineral Masque (Editor's Choice)
• Sunshine & Hemp Protein Blend (Editor's Choice)

Australian Clean & Conscious finalists

• Mayella Replenish & Hydrate Mineral Masque
• Skin Tonic Tisane
• Acai Berry Beautiful Blend

were each particularly special moments.

As a small Australian business, it can sometimes feel like you're a tiny fish swimming in a very big ocean. Awards don't define who we are, but they do provide reassurance that the care, integrity and quality behind what we create is being recognised on a global stage.

And perhaps most importantly, they help new people discover us and trust that we genuinely stand behind everything we make.

Family, Business & Finding Balance

Balance.

If you've figured it out, please send instructions.

Some days feel beautifully productive. The work is flowing, deadlines are met, dinner is on the table and everyone seems happy.

Other days involve racing from meetings to school pick-up, wondering what's for dinner and trying to remember the brilliant idea that arrived at 2am.

The reality is that family and business have always been deeply intertwined for us.

In fact, our brand name, Mayella, is also my daughter's middle name.

Both of my children have grown up alongside the business—helping in the warehouse, contributing ideas and cheering us on through the years.

When life feels full, I find balance through simple things: beach walks, ocean swims, yoga, music, friendships and gratitude.

Family remains our greatest motivation and our greatest gift.

The Challenges Along the Way

Building Mayella as a self-funded business brought plenty of challenges.

We chose to grow slowly, deliberately and in alignment with our values. That often meant projects took longer, development costs were higher and patience became an ongoing lesson.

There were moments when taking the easier path would have been tempting.

But staying true to our ethics has always mattered more.

Whether that meant remaining palm oil free, recycling, sourcing better, ethical alternatives or taking extra time to perfect a formulation, we knew those choices reflected who we are.

Looking back now, every challenge taught us something valuable.

Some of What We've Learned

• One of the biggest lessons of running your own business is that you never really switch off.
• The slow road of a family business is both scenic and beautifully embodied as it is intense, stressful and frustrating.

• When you're passionate about what you do, inspiration can strike at any moment. Sometimes that's exciting and perfectly in alignment. Sometimes it's exhausting and not so aligned.

• As your children are growing up in the business, they have amazing opportunity to learn so much through the experience.
• The the gift of entrepreneurship is flexibility.

Being able to prioritise family while pursuing meaningful work is something we never take for granted, even if it occasionally...often, means answering emails at unconventional hours.

Looking Ahead

If you've ever seen our office whiteboard, you'll know there is never a shortage of ideas.

New products. New collaborations. New ways to support our community.

Some projects have been quietly developing behind the scenes for years, and we're incredibly excited to continue bringing them to life.

We're always continuously exploring opportunities to collaborate and work alongside some truly inspiring people doing important frontline and community-focused work.

Our beautiful inside & out Lifestyle Ambassador Jessica Green is a part of the family, a genuine friendship and collaboration we treasure all ways!

Supporting others through education, wellness and meaningful community initiatives has always been part of the bigger vision for Mayella.

Because at the end of the day, Mayella has never simply been about products.

It's about people.

It's about family.

It's about helping others create a lifetime of health and wellness.

And for every person who has supported us over the years—thank you for being part of the journey.

Here's to the next chapter. We're excited to bring that joy to you all!

With gratitude,

Amanda, Robyn & the Mayella Family ✨

Link to the original Natural Parent article here:

Chemical Free Living, Health, Love Your work, Natural products

And following articles here:

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