Multi-award-winning brand Kear is known for its sustainable skincare range that is an ode to natural Greek beauty.
By embracing the use of authentic elements and scents, each product is made exclusively in Greece and features pure raw ingredients sourced from local producers. We recently had a chat with founder Ypatia Mitsatsou about what makes the brand unique, Kear’s best-selling products, and asked her to share her own beauty routine.
Can you tell us a few ancient Greek beauty secrets that have influenced your products?
Ancient “kallos” – beauty in ancient Greek – is a holistic concept. It is not only about the outer appearance but mainly about the connection between mind, body and soul. Ancient Greeks believed that nothing and no one was separate and that everything was connected. Inner wellness is expressed with outer beauty. The common denominator is energy, which is what Kear wishes to express through its holistic skincare; the energy derived from the sun, the sea, nature and potent herbs.
What are some of the key ingredients used?
Kear uses only natural ingredients and we are committed to explicitly sourcing them from local producers or cooperatives around Greece. Our olive oil comes from a farm in the Peloponnese region, famous for its quality olive oil. Our beeswax comes from Crete and our herbs and essential oils from all around rural Greece. Although it is not an ingredient, even our packaging is produced in Greece!
Who do you have in mind when creating Kear products?
The women and men of ancient Greece respected the earth and used its produce for therapeutical and cosmetic purposes, gracefully and ethically. We are inspired by the simplicity of each woman who grows up in this wonderful place using pure products, made from the best raw materials. The woman “nurtured” by Greek elements; the sea, the sun, and its perpetual energy. She has a clean, pure beauty and an earthy freshness!
What makes Kear unique?
First of all, “κέᾰρ” means heart in ancient Greek, but it is pronounced exactly like “care” in English. And as a brand, it has a real story to tell about ancient Greek beauty heritage. We adapted timeless formulas passed down to us by scholars and philosophers into conscientious products, to meet the needs of today’s fast-paced daily personal care routine. The result? Products that are natural, potent, safe, versatile and multifunctional. Not to mention non-toxic, cruelty-free, and long-lasting. With a comprehensive range, Kear has everything one needs for healthy, natural and glowing Grecian skin. Every product is carefully designed to embrace both its ancient roots and its modern presence.
What are some of your best-sellers?
From the soap bar categories, the Exfoliating Herbal Soap is by far the best-selling soap we have. Loved by both women and men, it leaves your skin feeling so soft and velvety you will not believe it. If you use Hydrate Relax Body Oil afterward you will be amazed at how supple your skin will feel and how hydrated it will be.
From the face balms, AgeDefying is a best-seller as it is both an anti-aging balm and a moisturiser. Soothing Body Balm is a wonder in a jar, packed with the goodness of arnica extract which is a natural anti-inflammatory. And SofiLip Lip Balm is preferred for its soothing and hydrating properties.
What do you highly recommend for glowing skin?
Kear face balms are one-pot wonders, as they provide a “mini-lift effect”! For glowing skin, the natural way, use AntiOxidant Face Balm with a high content of sea-buckthorn berries. Hippophae rhamnoides Oil (as this is its botanical name) is a rich source of rare fatty acids that regenerate and revive skin cells. It is rich in “beauty vitamin” C, which can reduce inflammation, boost collagen for plump, firm skin, and provide radiant skin! Lastly, it can also balance sebum production in oily skin.
And what would you use for aging skin?
We are very proud to have created a bespoke fusion of skin-beneficial nutrients that gives AgeDefying Face Balm its silky texture. Suitable for ages 35+ it is the ultimate anti-aging balm that is versatile and easy to use. Beeswax, calendula, and propolis soothe and regenerate the skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Antioxidant superstars, extra virgin olive oil, sea-buckthorn berry, and grapeseed oil, fight free radical damage and promote moisture restoration.
What does your daily beauty routine look like?
I always prefer soap bars to emulsion cleansers, so I wash my face with either Mastic Herbal Soap (especially when I wear makeup, as it is a fantastic makeup remover) or Sage Olive Leaf Herbal Soap if it tends to be more oily than usual; sage is known to regulate sebum production in oily and combination skins. Then I take just a pinch (or pea-size) amount of my favourite face balm, rub it on my palms to liquefy it, and I apply it on my face and neck. I wait a couple of minutes and then I apply either makeup or blush. Simple as that.
Ideally, I rotate the face balms morning and night: AntiOxidant Face Balm with sea buckthorn to protect against free radicals in the morning, and AgeDefying Face Balm with sea buckthorn, calendula, propolis and red grape to prevent fine lines and wrinkles in the evening when our body enters restoration mode.
And at nighttime, I never forget to apply our SofiLip Lip Balm. In the morning my skin is velvety and my lips are soft, supple and so moisturised. I also use SofiLip as a base, under my regular lip gloss or lipstick.
What do you always pack in your beauty travel bag?
Although I love to travel light, my beauty bag has all the essentials to keep my skin hydrated, nourished and protected. A soap bar to use as a face cleanser, and Kear travel minis; a versatile face balm to use day and night, a body balm (usually Soothing Body Balm to deal with any unnecessary accidents), and Hydrate Relax Body Oil to use as a body moisturiser. As my lips tend to become dehydrated and chapped easily, I always carry one SofiLip; I love cinnamon!
Lastly, can you tell us a few of your favourite places to travel to around Greece, for both work and play?
I try to combine work and play and visit places that have unique energy as well as flora. One of my favourite places is the Zagori region in Epirus, home to a large variety of herbs. It is one of the most beautiful and rich ecosystems in Europe. The energy it emits is magnificent, as each season has something else to offer! You feel as if you open the door to a wonderland!
And now, off to the islands of the Aegean to get some sea air! Using Paros island as my base, where my brother and his family live, we embark upon day sea excursions to forgotten beaches and small islands far away from the crowds.
Still, this land has so much to offer that I wish I could have the time to travel all around Greece to receive the energy of each place!
