About Gunilla of Sweden®
Gunilla’s 60+ Year Journey in Skincare
Creating LEROSETT® & GUNILLA®
by Gunilla of Sweden®
Plant-Based + Science-Backed Skincare
Founded in 1987 by Swedish skincare educator & pioneer Gunilla Ross, our company has followed the same rule for nearly four decades: every product must be built around nutrient-rich organic aloe vera, powerful botanicals, or our proprietary mineral clay as the first and main ingredient —not water.
This belief comes from the Swedish skincare tradition Gunilla grew up with and stayed true to, decades before “plant-based” became a trend. It’s why thousands of estheticians, dermatologists, and spas chose to sell and use our products on their skincare clients every day — they saw results.
Today, Gunilla of Sweden® remains a family-owned company approaching its 40th year. Guided by Gunilla, her son Fred Nilsson, specialist Yana Kozhukharenko, and Dr. Adriana Rascanu D.O., we continue to create spa-grade formulas trusted by skincare experts and loyal customers across generations.
“A Pioneer Who Paved the Path for Skincare Professionals”
Gunilla Ross is ranked among the top 10 pioneers in the field of skincare
– Dermascope Magazine:
The leading publication for the skincare professional | 40th Anniversary Issue
2014 Top 25 Small Companies Award
Honored by Ingram’s Magazine as one of the Top 25 Small Businesses in the Midwest
Presented in Kansas City, the award recognized outstanding performance, growth, and leadership among small businesses.
Why We’re Different: Pioneering Botanical Skincare That Delivers Results
For over 35 years, dermatologists and estheticians have trusted G U N I L L A® & LEROSETT® in their spas and clinics—setting a higher standard for plant-based skincare decades before it gained mainstream recognition.
Most brands use up to 80% water. Ours contain 40–70% greenhouse-grown organic aloe vera and 10%–20% nutrient-dense adaptogenic botanicals. This allows clinically proven actives—such as ceramides, peptides, or hyaluronic acid—to absorb more deeply and work more effectively.
Unlike water, aloe can deliver actives into multiple layers of the skin. That’s why our formulas don’t just feel silky—they produce real, visible results.
Select formulas were co-developed by Gunilla Ross and Swedish physicians to meet clinical standards and ensure long-term skin compatibility.
Gunilla’s Story: Where It All Began
Gunilla Ross 1962, age 22
(pictured here teaching esthetics at the Henlow Grange School, UK 1962)
In 1962, Gunilla Ross began her journey in aesthetics, studying skincare in both England and Sweden. In Sweden, plant-based formulations were already standard, but when she arrived in the U.S., she discovered a surprising gap—even luxury products used water as the first ingredient.
Determined to bring change, she combined her European education with a vision for more effective and nutrient-dense plant-based skincare.
In 1987, she founded Gunilla of Sweden® Organic Skincare as a professional-only brand—launching LEROSETT® for acne and GUNILLA® for anti-aging. For over 20 years, her products were available exclusively to licensed skincare professionals and trusted in spas and clinics nationwide—long before “clean botanical beauty” became mainstream.
61 Years Later: Experience You Can Trust
Gunilla Ross, 2024, Age 83
Pioneer in Skincare Education & Innovation
When Gunilla moved to Colorado from Sweden in the early 1970s, she was already a licensed skincare instructor trained in both England and Sweden since 1962. At that time, esthetics in the U.S. fell under cosmetology, with no dedicated path for skincare professionals.
Gunilla worked with the Colorado Board of Licensing to change that—authoring the first Aesthetics Education Curriculum and State Esthetics Exam. Thanks to her efforts, aspiring skincare professionals could finally become licensed estheticians in states like Colorado.
Unlike many small skincare startups led by enthusiasts or influencers, Gunilla of Sweden® was founded by a licensed instructor with 25 years of clinical skincare experience—creating formulas trusted by professionals long before botanical skincare became a trend.
Our First Breakthrough: All-natural treatment clinically proven to clear skin
In 1987, Gunilla of Sweden® launched the original LEROSETT® Spot Treatment & Clay Mask—a one-of-a-kind Swedish clay formula that became the brand’s first professional breakthrough. Clinically tested and proven effective in an independent double-blind placebo-controlled trial, this natural treatment helped set a new standard in acne care.
Unlike harsh chemical treatments, LEROSETT® uses ultra-pure clay and no added drugs, helping clear pimples, reduce oil, and unclog pores—without irritation. It remains one of the only all-natural spot treatments with clinically validated results, trusted for over 35 years by skincare professionals and dermatologists alike.
We Asked Gunilla About Skin Care
Growing up in the 1950s & 1960s in Sweden, acne was uncommon. Most skincare was botanical—water wasn’t the main ingredient. These early experiences shaped my conviction that natural, plant-based formulas can genuinely transform the skin.
When I moved to the U.S., I was surprised to find so many chemical-based products—and so much acne. In Sweden, we always turned to nature first. That inspired me to create all-natural LEROSETT® in 1987 and later plant-based GUNILLA® for anti-aging & skincare.
Today, I still believe in clinically proven actives—like ceramides, glycolic acid, and high levels of Panax Ginseng—combined with an organic aloe base. It’s this combination of proven actives, science, and the best botanicals have to offer that delivers lasting results.
What is your current skincare regimen?
Morning:
GUNILLA® Herbal Face Wash,
GUNILLA® Herbal pH Balancing Toner,
GUNILLA® Cell Rejuvenator Serum™, and
GUNILLA® Eye-de-puff A23™
Evening: Same routine as the morning, plus
GUNILLA® Ceramide Cream A17™.
I alternate between
GUNILLA® Glycolic Night Cream
and Ceramide Cream every other night.
Tip: I always apply Cell Rejuvenator Serum first after cleansing and toning—just 2–3 drops, morning and night.
Product Mixing: If Glycolic Night Cream feels too strong, especially in summer, I mix half Glycolic and half Ceramide Cream in my palm for a soothing, lightly exfoliating blend. A great way to acclimate to nightly AHA use that will make the difference you’re looking for.
Our full routine is available in the GUNILLA® Organic Skincare Anti-Aging Kit, with everything I personally use—except for the Ceramide Cream, which I still add separately.