A few days ago I would’ve been waking up to sun, sand, and a fresh bougatsa the size of my head. Needless to say, it’s been quite the adjustment since being back in Jersey suburbs. Fresh bread and figs drizzled in honey have since become the breakfast from another lifetime.
Greece, I miss you.
It almost feels this two-week getaway never happened. Am I the only one who leaves vacation thinking everything was just a dream? It’s a good thing we live in the age of social media. A quick flick of the wrist through my #KPinGreece16 feed and I’m reminded that once upon a time, I was on the gorgeous islands of Greece. Yes, that was me, buns out in true European fashion. When in Greece…
And while I’m itching to share snapshots of my travel diary, there are more urgent matters on hand. Few will understand the pleasure of stepping foot inside a foreign pharmacy. The skincare! The brands! The pride in packaging! The formulas! The self-restraint needed to keep from buying out the place was next-level; I mean, this is the stuff I used to stalk when reading Style.com’s (RIP) backstage beauty interviews during Fashion Week. Beauty girls—this haul is dedicated to you.
APIVITA and Korres were the priority, of course. The former was a pro tip from a co-worker whose sister returned from Greece a few weeks prior with an armful of Apivita masks; Korres is a brand close to heart: it was the brand I fell in love with as a teen. (I still have dreams about their monoi-infused bronzer that smelled and applied beautifully.) From the sweetest little pharmacy in Naousa Village, I picked up the following:
- Apivita Express Gold with Royal Jelly, a firming and regenerating mask;
- Apivita Express Beauty with Olive, an intensive exfoliating cream;
- Apivita Express Beauty with Green Clay, a deep cleansing mask;
- Apivita Express Beauty with Propolis, a mask for young oily skin;
- Apivita Express Gold with Bilberry, a brightening face scrub
- Apivita Face Mask with Grape, a line-reducing treatment; and
- a full-size of the Apivita Face Scrub with Olive, because I tried one packette and immediately fell in love. This easily ranks as one of the top two favorite exfoliants, it’s that good.
I also have a soft spot for tanning oils (I’m a sun worshipper by blood, OK?), so from Santorini (Oia, specifically) I picked up the Garnier Ambre Solaire and the Polysianes Illuminating Monoi Oil SPF 6. Both are not found in the USA—a shame because they’re incredible.
Here’s the DL:
- Garnier Ambre Solaire (in the intense formula) is super thick and comes out a translucent red-orange color. It’ll stain your towels and bikinis (only temporarily though), but don’t be alarmed: it keeps your skin nourished and it’s the secret behind my golden-chocolate tan. This stuff gets you brown (use at your risk, please). Obsessed.
- Polysianes Monoi Oil SPF 6 has been the object of my love and affection since finding it in a Parisian pharmacy at 16. Polysianes makes the. best. body. oils. They smell divine, they make you feel like a bendy, beautiful, Grecian goddess, and they feel so good on the skin. It’s a miracle that I didn’t stock up on all their oils, actually.
Then, in Mykonos came an impulse buy. It was the last day on the island, you guys, and I had some Euros to burn.
Korres. Scents. Are. Everything. I’m totally buying into the Mediterranean vibe, but seriously, these fragrances are solid especially given the price point. This—the Korres Tonka Brown Eau de Toilette—was the summer perfume I’ve been looking for my whole life. It’s polarizing at first spritz, but as it dries down into my skin, it turns into this warm, sexy scent: give me all things tobacco and vanilla, please. Fun fact: I actually walked away from the pharmacy and came back 15 minutes later to snag the last bottle. (A frantic Google search confirms that this scent is limited edition. WHY.)
I love the packaging, too. The bottle—minimal but quaint, a breath of fresh air in a sea of Le Labos and Byredos—is chic, and the actual box is everything. When beauty marketing and copy are your world, words are that final hook that seal the deal:
“In ancient years, tonka beans or ‘love beans’ were used in rituals and spells for love, wishes, and courage. They were believed to have the power to make dreams come true and bring luck in love. The timeless appeal of these bittersweet beans captures the mystique of luck and love through a rich, warm feel reminiscent of a tobacco and vanilla aroma blend.”
How could you not fall in love with a fragrance after that?
. . .
Follow my Greek adventures at #KPinGreece16.
xx
Your turn. Thoughts?