When it comes to cult pharmacy finds, we’ve long defaulted to Paris – where micellar waters, healing balms, and chic serums fill our suitcases. But look a little further east and you’ll discover a whole new untapped beauty frontier: Greece. From Athens’ buzzing pharmacies to the island apothecaries of Santorini, Naxos, Crete and Rhodes, Greek beauty brands are quietly building global cult status for those in the know.
Much like the country itself, these products are rooted in natural abundance and tradition. Honey, olive oil, mountain herbs and island botanicals form the heart of many formulas. Whether it’s Korres’ modern cult classics, Apivita’s bee-powered skincare, or indie finds like The Naxos Apothecary, Greek pharmacies are treasure chests for the curious beauty traveller. And because most brands are born from wellness rituals and herbal medicine, you’ll find formulas that feel both time-honoured and refreshingly modern.
So, next time you’re picking up sun cream before hitting the Aegean or hunting down a cooling mask after a hike through olive groves, leave space in your case. Here’s your definitive guide to the Greek pharmacy brands worth discovering – before everyone else catches on.
Korres
Founded in Athens in 1996, Korres is Greece’s most famous pharmacy brand. Rooted in homoeopathy, it draws on the country’s biodiversity with ingredients like wild rose, yoghurt, and black pine. Korres is also a sustainability pioneer with its Athens Recycle Lab and local farming initiatives. Found in chic hotels, pharmacies, and worldwide, it offers everything from cult lip balms to luxurious shower gels that feel like bottled Greek sunshine. In short, Korres makes everyday beauty rituals feel utterly transportive.
Ultimate Greek pharmacy buy: Korres Yoghurt Sunscreen SPF50 – it's hydrating, soothing and perfect for sun-drenched holidays.
Apivita
Founded in 1979, Apivita – meaning “life of the bee” – was one of Greece’s first natural skincare brands. It’s built around bee products (propolis, honey, royal jelly) combined with Greek flora and essential oils. Clean beauty before the term existed, Apivita avoids silicones, parabens and mineral oils, and operates from a bioclimatic HQ with its own organic farm. In pharmacies across Greece, you’ll find rows of its sachet masks, lip balms, and propolis cleansers – products designed for everyday rituals and moments of travel self-care.
Ultimate Greek pharmacy buy: Apivita Propolis Cleansing Gel. A purifying yet gentle gel, this is a daily staple for stressed summer skin.
The Naxos Apothecary
Inspired by the Cycladic island’s ancient healers, myths and botanicals, this is the Greek luxe brand to know. Its chic pharmacy-style glass bottles house tinctures, teas and skincare infused with Naxian herbs like thyme, sage and mountain plants. More than a brand, it feels like a sensory journey into Greek folklore and ritual, made modern with advanced extraction science. The boutique in Naxos town is a destination in itself – part pharmacy, part perfumery, part museum of natural remedies. For beauty lovers, it’s the ultimate Greek discovery: pharmacy authenticity, chic design and glorious formulas.
Ultimate Greek pharmacy buy: The Naxos Apothecary Antamoma Serum – a potent botanical blend to restore and soothe inflamed skin.
Papoutsanis
Founded in 1870, Papoutsanis is Greece’s oldest soap maker and a name everyone in the country knows. Best loved for its traditional green olive oil soap, it represents the simplicity and purity of Greek daily life. Today, Papoutsanis still honours its roots while producing liquid soaps, body washes and hotel amenities inspired by the Mediterranean. Eco-conscious and affordable, it’s less about luxe branding and more about authenticity and a real Greek home staple – plus it doubles as a beautiful gift.
Ultimate Greek pharmacy buy: Papoutsanis Pure Olive Oil Soap. It's gentle, nourishing, and as classic as it gets.
Youth Lab
Youth Lab is Greece’s answer to French dermocosmetics: sleek, clinical and results-driven. Focused on cellular metabolism and active ingredients, it’s the brand for anyone who wants dermatologist-level skincare at pharmacy prices. Expect formulas packed with glycolic acid, retinol and hyaluronic acid, targeting everything from acne to fine lines. Its sunscreens are especially beloved by Greek beauty insiders for being high protection yet lightweight. In pharmacies, Youth Lab stands out with minimalist packaging and a clinical promise: effective skincare for modern life. It’s the Greek equivalent of Avene or La Roche Posay.
Ultimate Greek pharmacy buy: Youth Lab Daily Sunscreen Gel SPF50 – mattifying, lightweight, and perfect for hot climates.
Olive Era
As the name suggests, Olive Era celebrates Greece’s most famous export: olive oil. The brand sources Cretan olive oil and pairs it with botanicals like aloe vera, chamomile and calendula for nourishing formulas. Packaged in simple, pharmacy-style bottles, Olive Era feels authentically Greek – honest, effective, and affordable. It’s stocked in hotels, spas and pharmacies across the islands, and its focus on skin health and hydration is ideal for fans of simple but effective formulas. It’s one for the Neal’s Yard Remedies fans.
Ultimate Greek pharmacy buy: Olive Era Olive Oil Face Cream – a rich daily hydrator that leaves dry skin supple and comforted.
Athena’s Treasures
Athena’s Treasures feels like the embodiment of Greek mythology in skincare form. Using Cretan olive oil, honey, aloe, and herbs, it blends natural ingredients with the promise of wisdom and beauty from the goddess Athena herself. Widely available in pharmacies and souvenir shops, it’s an accessible line that appeals to travellers wanting something authentic yet affordable. From hair care to body lotions, the brand celebrates everyday Greek rituals, often with folklore-inspired packaging.
Ultimate Greek pharmacy buy: Athena’s Treasures Aloe & Olive Body Lotion is cooling, soothing, and perfect for after-sun hydration.
Kear
Founded in 2016, Kear (meaning “heart” in Ancient Greek) is an award-winning 100 per cent natural skincare brand that reinterprets ancient beauty rituals for modern life. Its formulas are free from synthetics, parabens, silicones and are fully unisex. Produced exclusively in Greece from locally sourced botanicals, Kear embodies the sun, sea, and soul of the country in eco-friendly packaging.
Ultimate Greek pharmacy buy: Kear MiraCool™ 24H Face Cream - lightweight, calming, and a modern hydration essential.
Solidan Gel
Every Greek pharmacy has a product that locals swear by, and Solidan Gel is one of them. Often described as a Greek “Neosporin,” it’s used for cuts, scrapes, and insect bites. What makes it stand out is the inclusion of arnica, which speeds up healing and reduces inflammation. Affordable, effective, and compact, it’s the kind of humble pharmacy buy that becomes a lifelong essential once tried. Stock up whilst you can.
Ultimate Greek pharmacy buy: Solidan Gel – a healing salve with arnica that works wonders on minor cuts and scrapes. It's tricky to find online, so you'll just have to plan a pitstop on your next Greek escape.
Frezyderm
A pharmacy staple in Greece, Frezyderm is known for its dermatological sunscreens and targeted skincare. Founded by a Greek pharmacist in the 1980s, the brand focuses on scientific efficacy, with a reputation for highly protective yet cosmetically elegant SPF formulas. Its sunscreens are innovative in texture, and it’s a must-buy before hitting the beach - it’s widely available and very much trusted by locals.
Ultimate Greek pharmacy buy: Frezyderm Active Sensitive Skin Sunscreen SPF50 – this is broad-spectrum protection in a cotton stem-cell enriched formula that works to protect face and body.