July 07, 2026

Meet KORRES: How Greek Botanicals and Real Science Create Skincare with a Conscience

Few beauty houses can trace their beginnings back to a pharmacy counter in the heart of Athens. KORRES can. Born from Greece’s oldest homeopathic pharmacy, the brand has spent nearly three decades turning native Greek plants into skincare that is as rigorously tested as it is rooted in tradition. We sat down with the team behind KORRES to talk about where it all started, what makes Greek botanicals so remarkable, and how a brand can honour nature while still meeting the highest scientific standards.

The conversation below has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

First things first: where did KORRES begin, and what sparked the idea?

It all started in 1996 with a simple but ambitious dream. Giorgos was working as a pharmacist in the oldest herbal and homeopathic pharmacy in Athens, and from there we imagined something bigger: taking the sheer potency of Greek nature and its centuries-old local traditions and translating them into modern, natural formulations backed by scientific know-how.

What drove us was Greece’s astonishing biodiversity and a genuine belief in the healing power of natural ingredients and time-honoured herbal remedies. Almost thirty years on, that founding idea hasn’t changed. We still work hand in hand with local farmers and communities across Greece, and today the power of Greek nature reaches people in more than 50 countries worldwide.

What is it about Greek ingredients and botanicals that makes them so special for skin?

Greece happens to be one of the planet’s great biodiversity hotspots. There are over 6,000 plant species growing here, and around 1,200 of them are endemic, meaning they exist nowhere else on Earth.

A lot of that comes down to landscape. Between the Aegean islands and the dry, sun-baked regions of the south, Greece is a patchwork of microclimates. Plants that survive in such demanding, varied conditions have had to become resilient, developing protective compounds to cope with heat, drought and exposure. Those same protective properties are exactly what make them so valuable in skincare.

For more than fifteen years we’ve been carefully mapping the Greek flora, exploring it, understanding it, and using its treasures responsibly. We partner with local farmers and draw our active ingredients from the organic plants they grow specifically for us. That principle has been with us since day one.

KORRES is known for marrying nature with science. How do you keep the two in balance?

Greek nature is always our starting point, and every product begins there. Early on we teamed up with the Agricultural University of Athens to map the country’s flora, then built relationships with organic farmers in specific regions. We deliberately choose to partner with local growers rather than farm the land ourselves, because it lets us support small communities and invest in the regions that need it most.

From there, research takes over, and research is quite literally in our DNA, given our roots in homeopathic pharmacy. Today KORRES sits at the forefront of pioneering ingredient research anywhere in the EU. Inside our Molecular Lab, our scientists work alongside leading academic and research institutes to uncover nature’s most powerful actives.

One project we’re especially proud of ran for four years and examined some 3,600 different plant extracts, pushing forward what’s understood about their antioxidant, anti-ageing and sun-protecting qualities. That work also allowed us to register seven brand-new ingredients in WINCI (the international cosmetics ingredient directory), including our signature Black Pine and White Pine extracts. Nature sets the direction; science makes sure the results are visible and proven.

For someone discovering KORRES for the very first time, where should they start?

The Greek Yoghurt collection, without hesitation. It’s iconic and, honestly, a rite of passage for anyone new to the brand. The reimagined Smart Yoghurt™ Probiotic Super Serum is a real daily ally for the skin: powered by our SMART YOGHURT™ Technology, it delivers 360° action against nine signs of sensitivity. It suits every skin type and is a brilliant choice for sensitive skin in particular, and you’ll find it and the rest of the range in our serums edit.

The story behind it is lovely, too. We were inspired by the very Greek ritual of grandmothers soothing sun-dried skin with a layer of cool yoghurt, a memory that sends practically every Greek straight back to childhood. It’s no surprise the Greek Yoghurt range has become one of our most recognisable and best-performing lines anywhere in the world.

Sustainability dominates the beauty conversation now. How is KORRES approaching it?

For us sustainability isn’t a recent add-on. It’s been part of our ethos from the very first day, expressed as a commitment to respect nature and work in step with it. For more than 25 years we’ve worked side by side with Greek growers and organic cooperatives, backing sustainable farming methods, helping to protect the country’s remarkable biodiversity and strengthening rural communities along the way.

That thinking runs through everything we do. It shows up in our clean formulations and a strict, constantly evolving blacklist of ingredients, and in our shift toward more circular packaging. Through our Recycle Lab and a well-established Return Your Empties programme, we’re always searching for ways to lighten our footprint and give those materials a new lease of life.

What made Amelia Nour the right home for KORRES in the UK?

Amelia Nour felt like a natural partner because, quite simply, we share the same values. The thoughtful way you approach beauty, your commitment to sustainability and transparency, and the care you put into curating brands are all things we deeply appreciate and genuinely connect with.

We’re drawn to partners who help people discover beauty with purpose, authenticity and a real sense of responsibility, and that’s exactly what we found here.

Looking ahead: where is KORRES headed, and what excites you about the future of beauty?

Looking ahead, our focus is on continuing to evolve without ever losing sight of the values that have defined us from the start. Our three pillars of Greece, Nature and Research guide everything, making sure every product stays true to what we stand for: skincare that looks after people, heritage and the planet.

As what people expect from beauty keeps shifting, we’ll keep pushing our research forward and creating products that bring the best of nature and science together. The goal is clear and unchanging: safe, clinically effective natural skincare that helps people achieve healthier, more radiant-looking skin, day after day.