Move over K-Beauty and A-Beauty, because this year the spotlight is on natural Greek beauty and all the outstanding ingredients it is known for, including calendula, olive oil, chamomile, and jasmine.
The Greeks are renowned for their longevity-boosting diet, and natural medicinal offerings and they are finally getting the recognition they deserve for their focus on incorporating organic, fragrant flora and fauna which have been used since ancient times. As the world catches on to Greek beauty serving as the ultimate source for inspiration in 2020, GCT has put together a list of Greek beauty brands and Greek-inspired products blazing the beauty trail this year. Below is the first part of our Greek beauty series.
Korres
It’s a brand that needs no introduction and is still leading the way when it comes to innovation in the beauty industry. Korres, created in 1996 by a Greek pharmacist from Naxos George Korres, is loved all over the world and takes its inspiration from Hippocrates and the healing qualities of Greece's flora, fauna, and food. Its best selling products feature wild rose which is potent in vitamin C. The wild Rose Vitamin C Active Brightening Oil is infused with real rose petals and boosted with Super Vitamin C, 1000% more stable than pure ascorbic acid, for glowing, radiant skin. There is also an extensive olive range, from the olive seed face scrub to olive moisturizers, pomegranate, and it was the first brand to succeed in using edible Greek yoghurt. The cooling Greek Yoghurt Eye Cream acts as a treatment and primer and has been formulated with Greek yoghurt concentrate, myrtle extract, and other ingredients to help brighten the appearance of dark circles and reduce the appearance of under-eye puffiness. The new elixir made from Greek krocus flowers, Golden Krocus Ageless Elixir fights signs of ageing while boosting elasticity and the wide range of shower gels and fragrances, including the iconic ‘Santorini' are a must for your daily beauty regime.
Manos Gerakinis
Gerakinis, with his artistic upbringing and luxury background in London’s Harrods, burst onto the fragrance scene when his debut ‘Sillage Royal’, a fragrance he originally created for himself, captivated the senses of reviewers around the world, quickly amassing an enchanted fanbase. The newest addition to his collection is the magnificent Rose Poetique, a floral oriental fragrance that stops you right in your tracks. Forget everything you know about rose perfumes. Rose Poetique evokes all the best of an oriental rose while bringing out a light-hearted but strong personality. His eponymous collections have been garnering attention for their heady notes and sillage (the French word for fragrance trail). Currently available in Greece and online, they epitomize luxury, from the scents themselves to the bottle design, to their exclusivity. ‘Immortelle’ is Gerakinis’ hymn to Greece’s nature, paying homage to the everlasting flower that grows on the rocky pastures of the Mediterranean coast and is associated with ancient Greek mythology. A floral oriental with top notes of clove and cinnamon, heart notes of immortelle and milk, and base notes of brown sugar, sandalwood and patchouli it is an intriguing blend and pleasantly addictive. Sillage Royal is a mysterious and sophisticated fragrance with its delectable blend of notes that include, Top Notes: Smoke Note, Cardamon, Saffron, Curcuma, Heart Notes: Persian Rose, Patchouli, Cedarwood, Oud, Base Notes: Musk, Amber Notes, Balsamic.
Blue Scents Natural Cosmetics
Blue Scents is a complete line of skin cosmetic care, using the most carefully selected and beneficial ingredients of the Mediterranean including olive oil, grapeseed extract, almond oil, Argan oil, aloe vera, and essential oils, which have been combined to produce decadent products. The name Blue Scents was inspired by nature and created for beautiful, healthy skin. There is a lot on offer in the range, from refreshing shower gels to buttery body creams and unique fragrances. The collection allows you to choose your scent and then layer it with different products. Try the dark cherry body lotion which has been enriched with organic olive oil and Greek herb extracts to nourish the skin while restoring its natural softness and elasticity. With aromatic notes of black cherry, raspberry, and rose, it is luxury in a bottle. Or grab your new signature scent from the wide range of fragrances including best seller Juicy Lemon. With its blend of lemon, mandarin, basil musk, and sandalwood, it evokes summer nights in Greece.
The dry oil for hair and body is the perfect post-bath treatment for ultimate hydration and is available in gardenia, peony or pomegranate.
Dokimon Pure
The word “Dokimon” translates to the “first sample” and was inspired by the study of the ancient manuscripts of Hippocrates in the Vatopaidi library on Mount Athos and was given to the first series of its products. All the Dokimon product recipes are based on these ancient scriptures and include organic handpicked herbs and flowers such as chamomile, geranium, and calendula. For the first time, these products are available outside of Greece thanks to Greek Australian distributors Evan and Elena Tsioukis who fell in love with them when holidaying in Greece and made it their mission to bring a touch of Greece to Australia. Dokimon remains in a league of its own in terms of its historic formulas, moisturising, and healing properties, beautifully soft fragrances, and the natural, organic, untouched land its ingredients are sourced from. It makes you feel proud and pampered.
The range has everyday items such as the soaps (fresh, aromatic Chamomile or Mountain Herbs & Honey) which are extremely gentle on the skin. The Chamomile Soap is gentle enough to wash your face with it and is also a popular choice for parents wanting to use natural soap to bathe their kids.
The Mountain Herbs & Honey face cream has fast become a cult favourite for its rich texture, nourishing properties, quick absorption, smooth application and for keeping the skin clear and supple. The hand and body creams and shower gel are similarly luxurious to use, easily absorbed and nourishing on the skin with a subtle fragrance that evokes the blend of natural, organic ingredients found on the mountains of northern Greece, transporting you to Greece and allowing you to have a piece of the Holy Mountain’s pure ingredients on your skin.
Calendula features on most of the products and is naturally derived from the marigold flower. One of the range’s hero products, The Gold Series Calendula Ointment is truly a little pot of gold, coming to the rescue of dehydrated skin with its potent skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory properties, and soothing as well as treating skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, cuts, and wounds. Infused with olive oil and beeswax this is a product unlike any other on the market.
