Welcome to our latest Founders Talk interview… our series celebrating and sharing the inspiring journeys of beauty and wellness founders. This time, we’re spotlighting Apinke, the force behind Eko Botanicals. With roots in Lagos and a background in finance, Apinke brings a unique perspective to holistic skincare, blending science, sustainability, and soulful rituals for midlife and melanin-rich women.

How did your childhood experiences in Lagos influence your passion for botanicals?

I grew up in the midst of lush tropical foliage in the late 70s and 80s in Lagos. My earliest memories involved a lot of time spent outdoors amongst plants and I believe my love for botanicals was birth then.

Apinke Efiong Ekó Botanicals.What inspired you to transition from a career in financial markets to founding a skincare brand rooted in natural ingredients?

At the time I launched Eko Botanicals just after the pandemic I was looking to marry my love for botanicals with the gap I saw in the market for high performance clinical backed solutions for women in midlife. 40+ women and darker skinned women face a different set of skincare and wellbeing issues and there is a lot in common in these two target markets.

What elements of your former career journey have been of the greatest value in your transition to beauty entrepreneur?

Finance gives you a knack for numbers and an understanding of fund raising, accounting etc There are many skills or hats you need to wear as an entrepreneur and because the beauty industry is very competitive you need a significant amount of capital (funding) to be successful and luck.

What would you say have been the biggest challenges that you’ve encountered in the beauty sector? How did you overcome them?

Key challenges are finding the right business partners that are aligned to your goals and ethos. Earlier in business you may have  challenges like formulation, manufacturing and even branding. But as the business is more established, other things like distribution networks, marketing and funding begin to become more of a challenge. Of course, funding is critical and the backbone of every other thing. There are low barriers to entry in the beauty industry, and a lot of white label products that are produced off the shelf.

Sustainability is a core value of Ekó Botanicals. How do you ensure that your ingredients are sustainably sourced?

We work with growers that are certified Organic and employ sustainable practises through out their value chain. We look at employee ethics, the soil health, the way the products are extracted, stored and shipped. This all impact the efficacy of the product and the environment. We also are registered with Provenance in the UK who certify sustainability claims we make.

How do you see the relationship between skincare rituals and overall wellness?

We focus on turning routines into rituals which help our clients slow down and are more intentional. Our approach is to cut down a 5-7 step routine to just 3 steps. Our products are all powered by aromatic oils that influence your mood and wellbeing in addition to your skin health. Skincare for us is holistic, it covers the body, mind and soul and that’s where through wellbeing really starts.

Could you share a book, audiobook, or podcast that has recently caught your attention, and what insights or inspiration you’ve gained from it?

I just read “The First Woman” by Jennifer Makumbi for international women’s month as part of a bookclub. It’s a real page turner, slow start but don’t be put off. The writer is brilliant with words and uses a lot of rich metaphorical language. It tells the story of African feminism in a way I have never seen it before. I learnt a lot about Ugandan women, their culture and just one girls determination.

Thank you, Apinke

Find out more about Eko Botanicals