The Professor Who Reinvented Skincare

A professor at the University of Iceland specialising in marine and fisheries sciences, Marteinsdóttir was far more accustomed to research vessels and laboratories than beauty aisles. Yet her scientific curiosity, combined with a personal quest for skincare that suited her own skin, led her down an unexpected path. The result was Taramar, a brand built on decades of scientific research and Iceland’s unique marine resources.

Marteinsdóttir became increasingly interested in the ingredients used in mainstream skincare products. Drawing on her scientific training, she began examining ingredient labels more closely and researching how different compounds interacted with the skin. What started as a personal search for answers soon became a much larger project. 

Her background in marine biology naturally led her towards Iceland’s coastal environment. Having spent years studying marine ecosystems, she became fascinated by the bioactive properties of seaweeds, marine plants and ocean-derived nutrients. The harsh North Atlantic environment had produced organisms capable of surviving extreme conditions, and Marteinsdóttir wondered whether some of those same protective compounds could be applied to skincare. 

A turning point came when her personal interest in skincare intersected with the professional expertise of her husband, Professor Kristberg Kristbergsson. A food scientist at the University of Iceland, Kristbergsson had spent decades researching nutrition, antioxidants, food preservation and bioactive compounds. Together, the couple realised that many of the principles used in food science could potentially be applied to skincare. 

That combination of marine biology and food science would become the foundation of Taramar, founded in 2010. Marteinsdóttir has spoken about her preference for ingredients that are food-grade or derived from edible natural sources, arguing that consumers should think as carefully about what they put on their skin as they do about what they put on their plate. As consumers increasingly scrutinise food labels, Taramar’s founders believed skincare deserved the same level of attention. They applied insights gained from decades of scientific research to develop skincare products based on ingredients sourced from Icelandic seaweed, kelp, herbs and vegetables combining scientific rigour with a transparent, natural approach to skincare.

This approach reflects a broader shift taking place across the beauty industry. Today’s consumers are more informed than ever before, often scrutinising ingredient lists and questioning how products are sourced and manufactured. Terms such as “clean beauty” and “natural skincare” have become commonplace, but many consumers now expect brands to provide scientific evidence alongside marketing claims.

For Taramar, science remains a central part of the brand’s identity.  The company has conducted long periods of scientific research into bioactive compounds derived from marine plants and medicinal herbs, as well as collaborations with researchers and universities in Europe and the United States. Much of this work has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and later found practical applications in the brand’s skincare range.

One of the brand’s most distinctive innovations is its patented NoTox®️ preservation technology. Preservation systems rarely receive the same attention as active ingredients, yet they play a critical role in ensuring skincare products remain stable and safe throughout their shelf life. As consumers are increasingly wary of ingredients they perceive as unnecessary or harsh, Taramar’s answer was to develop a preservation system designed to maintain product integrity while reducing reliance on conventional synthetic preservatives. NoTox®️ emerged from that effort and remains its defining feature and sets it apart from conventional preservation based formulations in the market.

If there is one product that best captures the Taramar approach, it is arguably the Arctic Flower Treatment Serum, which recently received recognition at the European Natural Beauty Awards. The serum combines marine-derived ingredients with botanical extracts and reflects the brand’s wider focus on harnessing Icelandic natural resources through scientific research. Rather than positioning itself solely as a luxury beauty product, it serves as an example of how the founders’ scientific backgrounds have shaped the entire range. 

Sustainability also plays a significant role in the brand’s story. Iceland’s relatively unspoilt environment has influenced both its ingredients and its production approach with an emphasis on responsible sourcing and  organic ingredients and environmentally conscious production methods. As the beauty industry faces increasing scrutiny over its environmental impact, these issues are becoming more important to consumers as well as brands. 

Yet perhaps the most interesting aspect of Taramar is not the products themselves but the journey behind them. What began as one scientist’s search for skincare that suited her own skin evolved into an eight-year research and development project drawing on expertise from marine biology, food science and biotechnology. Along the way, the founders transformed decades of academic research into a commercial venture that has since received international recognition.