Prickly pear, propolis and shimmering pigment, you need not look any further than to Greeks blazing the trail in natural beauty, a trend set to continue soaring to new heights in 2020. In this second part of our spotlight on G Beauty, GCT looks at some of the brands that have been winning over fans all around the world.
Opuntia Luxury Oils
Facial oils with hydrating, anti-aging, smoothing and antioxidant properties that deliver an aromatherapy experience. Sounds too good to be true? Thanks to husband and wife team Kassandra Lefakanis and Archilles Kyrtsis's inspired vision on the beach in Mykonos one day, it is, in fact, a reality.
Featuring prickly pear seed oil (from the seeds of the Opuntia Fica Indicus cactus) as the main ingredient, which contains more Vitamin E than any of the beauty oils and 150 times more than argan oil, the Revival Day Oil and Revival Night Oil deliver in abundance. Other ingredients include red raspberry, geranium, neroli, Spanish sage, avocado, and wild carrot.
Kassandra, fed up with the toxic and synthetic products on the market has poured her vision into this luxury in a bottle that has amassed a huge following since launching last year.
Instructions on the bottle encourage the customer to cup their hands over their nose and inhale the intoxicating, aromatic blend while massaging the organic botanicals into the skin. A glowing complexion and a relaxed mind, this is a winning combination for anyone wanting to use the best ingredients on their skin.
Wanting to give back to the environment, with each bottle purchased one tree is planted through the couple’s partnership One Tree Planted.
Apivita
Created in 1972 by pharmacists Nikos and Niki Kousiana, Apivita, inspired by Hippocratic philosophy, has been an iconic Greek brand for decades and is still going strong (just this week the brand launched a new Micellar Water with Rose and Honey which removes make-up and impurities while soothing the skin).
It has developed and established over 300 natural, effective and holistic products for the face, body, and hair, formulated with beekeeping products of high nutritional value, extracts of Greek herbs and pure essential oils, as well as many green innovations and patents.
Each Apivita product has multiple actions: hydration, protection from environmental aggressors, prevention and treatment of signs of aging or other problems, plus – thanks to pure, 100% certified organic essential oils – uplifting, invigoration, relief from tension and stress.
From formulas that include the iconic orange and honey, mountain tea, olive and propolis found in shower gels, hair care, and face masks, to the innovative Black Detox Cleansing Jelly with activated charcoal and propolis, it is no wonder the brand created its Apivita Experience Store in Athens. The ground floor showcases all of Apivita's products amongst open beehives, while the first floor has the first organic juice bar in Greece, the Juicy Bee Bar, as well as a natural pharmacy. Hippocratic Lecture Hall, Beehive Spa, and Apivita Hair Studio take care of everything you could dream of.
The Apivita Experience Store is located at 6 Solonos Street, 106 73 Athens
The Make-Up Studio
There is nothing Greek Australian Maria Tsatsoulis cannot do with a make-up brush. Having worked as a successful make-up artist for the past 25 years, running her own studio as well as courses and masterclasses, this make-up maven also managed to find the time to create her own mineral make-up range, The Make-Up Studio. She initially sought to create a mineral foundation that would mold to the skin and give a flawless base while also being good for the skin.
She ended up also expanding into base, eyes and lip products, sourcing particular ingredients until she is satisfied she has the perfect texture and consistency for her client. Her range has accumulated a cult following, from the range of foundations to the technicolour, moisturizing lipsticks, to the eyeshadow palettes which are in a league of their own.
Featuring every a shade for every occasion from stunning rose gold, decadent matte taupe, shimmering champagne, lusty magenta, and a striking navy, a tiny dab of these shadows delivers more pigment than any other brand on the market. Perfect makeup, resulting from Maria's quest for perfection, in formulas that are good for your face and won't be drying on your pout.
Newest offerings to the brand include the skin brightening Enzyme Fruit and Flower Mask which also nourishes the skin, and the Deep Conditioning Make-Up Remover.
