About Apivita: Honey-Infused Skincare With 42 Years of History
Apivita was founded in 1979 by two Greek pharmacists, Nikos and Niki Koutsiana, who were inspired by the natural biodiversity of Greece and the medicinal properties of bees. The brand‘s first product was a black soap containing Propolis, a bee resin that is still used in many of their formulas today for its antiseptic and healing benefits.
Over the past four decades, Apivita has expanded into a full range of skincare, body care, haircare and makeup while upholding their mission to utilize active natural ingredients sustainably derived from Greek nature. Their products integrate bee products like honey, royal jelly and propolis as well as extracts from Greek herbs and flowers.
In addition to using earth-friendly materials, Apivita aims to give back to the environment through their partnership with organizations focused on preserving biodiversity and protecting bees. They are recognized as a Certified B Corporation for meeting rigorous standards around their social and environmental impact.
Pros of Apivita
- Formulas integrate honey, propolis and other bee products
- Mediterranean botanicals provide antioxidants and nutrients
- Most products are vegan and free of parabens, silicone & mineral oil
- Biodegradable and recyclable packaging
- Generous return policy
- Free shipping in US on orders over $45
Potential Cons
- Limited reviews available online
- No coupon codes or discounts offered
- Few very oily skin-friendly options
- No samples offered
Top 7 Apivita Products Reviewed
To provide an authentic review, I tried over 10 of Apivita‘s products across skincare, body care and hair care. Below I share reviews of their 7 top best-selling items:
1. Express Beauty Moisturizing & Nourishing Sheet Mask
Infused with honey, avocado and Mediterranean botanicals, this biodegradable sheet mask delivers intense hydration to thirsty skin. It left my face noticeably more radiant and smooth, with a lingering herbal scent. At $4 for 8ml, it‘s affordable yet highly moisturizing.
2. Bee Radiant Divine Eye Cream
This rich, fast-absorbing cream contains honey, coconut oil and wild thyme to target fine lines, puffiness and lack of firmness around the delicate eye area. I‘m 32 and don‘t have many visible wrinkles yet but saw a plumping effect after 4 weeks of use. With propolis and 24k gold, it feels luxurious at $45 for 15ml.
3. Aqua Beelicious Regenerating Gel Serum
My oily yet dehydrated skin soaked up this refreshing, lightweight water-based serum. It‘s packed with hydrating honey water, purslane and cactus extracts to provide an instant moisture boost without clogging pores or feeling sticky. After 3 weeks, I noticed fewer flakes and more glow. At $40 for 30ml, it‘s very reasonably priced.
4. Women‘s Love Nature Shampoo
Even though it‘s labeled as a shampoo for hair loss, I tried this on my thick, wavy hair for its natural herbal ingredients. It left my hair feeling clean yet soft, not stripped or dried out. The sage, iris and lavender scent is fresh and lingers pleasantly. Priced at $19 for 250ml, a little goes a long way so it‘s a good value.
5. Propolis Rich Moisturizer For Very Dry Skin
I have combination skin that leans oily, so this ultra-nourishing cream was a bit too heavy for my preferences. However, it delivered intense hydration with shea butter, beeswax and jojoba oil. It left a dewy finish that dried skin types would enjoy, especially in cold climates. At $35 for 50g, the quality ingredients justify the price tag.
6. Rose Nourishing Hand Cream
My hands always get dry and irritated from frequent hand washing. This thick cream softened them overnight with nourishing shea butter and almond oil. It absorbed well without residue and the rose oil fragrance smells lovely. Priced at $12 for 75ml, it‘s my new winter handbag staple.
7. Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash
I loved lathering up with this antioxidant-rich body wash containing pomegranate seed oil and aloe vera juice. It foams up well, rinses cleanly and leaves skin soft without dryness or scent residue. My skin felt hydrated and supple even in winter. Priced under $20 for 250ml, it‘s gentle enough for daily use.
What Do Customers Have to Say?
Scouring the internet, I wasn‘t able to find a wealth of customer reviews on Apivita likely due to them being a smaller brand compared to giants like CeraVe and Cetaphil. However, here‘s a summary of what I uncovered:
On Influenster, Apivita has a 4.5/5 overall rating based on 288 customer reviews. Positive reviews praise the brand‘s natural ingredients, value for money and pleasant scents across their skincare and haircare selection.
One customer shares, "This mask is the only product that makes my skin feel better in combination with a simple oil-free moisturizer. Using this mask is a great solution for a clearer purified skin. Great price point, subtle scent and easy-to-apply texture."
Critical reviews mention issues like skin irritation, lack of results or disliking the herbal fragrances. One reviewer got redness and stinging from the Express Beauty clay mask.
On Amazon, Apivita averages between 4-5 stars, like the popular Cleansing Foam Face & Eyes which has 65 global ratings and a 4.9/5 average. Yet only 40 total Apivita listings have been reviewed so far.
One reviewer shares, "I’ve used lots of cleansers from various brands and always come back to this one. This is the only one that cleans off all my makeup and residue without drying my skin out or burning eyes.”
So while customers widely praise Apivita‘s natural ingredients and value, the products don‘t agree with every skin type. I recommend patch testing and introducing new products slowly.
How Apivita Compares to Similar Clean Beauty Brands
Apivita is far from the only natural beauty brand employing botanicals and bee products these days. Let‘s see how they size up against two popular competitors.
Apivita vs Farmacy
Farmacy features plant-based formulas at a luxury price point, like their $72 honey grail oil. Apivita is focused specifically on Greek flora at more affordable pricing for average consumers. Their vibe also feels more wholesome compared to Farmacy‘s trendy aesthetic.
Apivita vs Burt‘s Bees
These two brands share an affinity for the power of bees, but Burt‘s Bees takes a pared-back approach focused mainly on lip care alongside some body care. Apivita has a much wider range spanning skincare and haircare for both men and women. Their formulas also integrate more Mediterranean plants versus Burt‘s emphasis on beeswax and almond oil.
Is Apivita Worth the Hype?
Considering their meticulous formulations powered by Greek nature and commitment to eco-friendly practices, Apivita delivers on their promise of effective natural self-care products.
They offer an impressively comprehensive range spanning skincare, body care, hair care and makeup at affordable price points compared to competing clean beauty brands. Value seekers can rejoice at their generous return policy and free US shipping above $45 too.
The main drawback is a shortage of customer reviews, so I recommend patch testing new products and introducing them slowly into your routine. Some formulas contain essential oils that may cause sensitivity depending on your skin type. But with caution, Apivita is worth exploring for clean beauty devotees who believe in ethical, sustainable practices.
Tips for Shopping Apivita
If you‘re new to Apivita, here are my top tips:
- Take the free skin analysis quiz to find your best product matches
- Start with sample or travel sizes to test if their formulas agree with your skin
- Mix and layer products across lines for added benefits
- Don‘t forget SPF – try their nourishing Face Sunscreen with honey and olive oil
- Sign up for emails to get 15% off your first order
The Final Takeaway
Backed by over 40 years of scientific research on Greek flora, Apivita thoughtfully crafts natural self-care products integrating bee extracts, Mediterranean botanicals and 100% biodegradable formulas free of suspicious ingredients.
While the brand remains relatively under the radar, their impressively comprehensive range offers something for everyone seeking ethical, sustainable beauty solutions – though sample before fully committing. Ultimately, Apivita delivers wholesome, skin-nourishing formulas true to their ‘bee life‘ inspired mission.
