In today’s cosmetic and skincare world, natural and dermatologically tested products are as common as Dick and Jane (or should I say Isabella and Jack). Yet scroll down the ingredients list and you’re likely to see, silicones, mineral oil and a whole host of debatably ‘skin-unfriendly’ ingredients.

With Korres Natural Products, what you see is what you get.

There are ingredients such as quince extract, thyme honey, and real, edible yoghurt.

Of course there are a small amount of ingredients that are not natural but at least Korres adhere to a restrictive standards list with no parabens or harsh chemicals.

“We speak to consumers in a very honest way, so that on the packaging we explain what exactly is and is not included,” says founder George Korres, who founded the company in 2006.

“Our belief is the more natural a formula, the better, which is why we try very hard to create unique and marvellous formulas without the use of chemicals we believe should be avoided.”

An avant-garde pharmacy student, George began creating homeopathic formulations using Greece’s 6000 different herbs whilst working at Greece’s oldest homeopathic pharmacy in Athens (Tzivanides Pharmacy).

Yet the so called, ‘natural’ concept was not as widely accepted in 1989 as it is today.

“I have to say that people thought I was crazy…but the homeopathic remedies were so successful that doctors were sending parcels all over the country,” he says.

In 1996 George developed his own brand Korres which began he says began with just four customers and quickly grew to thousands as the products spread all over the world.

“It was really by luck that a lawyer liked our products and started importing them in New York, and then a buyer from Harvey Nichols in London saw the products in New York and said let’s have them in London, which followed by a request from a buyer in Paris. So it was in effect like a domino.”

The first Korres product was an aromatic herbal throat-soothing syrup with honey and aniseed; inspired by the ‘rakomelon’ warming spirit-with-honey concoction that George’s grandfather used to make in Naxos, Greece.

Today Korres offers over 400 natural and certified organic products ranging from skin-care, hair care, make-up, sun care and herbal preparations.

Celebrity fans include Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson, Kylie Minogue, and Gossip Girl’s gorgeous Jessica Szohr, who brightens her eyes with the Soft Eyeliner pencil in Light blue.

George says his products are based on four groups of natural and organic ingredients including Greek flora herbs, food ingredients, medicinal herbs, and high-efficacy natural active ingredients.

For example Korres has developed a complete face and body care line based on mastiha, a unique Greek herb from the island of Chios which has aromatic, anti-microbial and medicinal properties.

Another favourite is yoghurt, which has been used for hundreds of years as a remedy against sunburn and is a key ingredient of Korres star product, After Sun Yoghurt Gel.

“You can’t say that Greek herbs are the best in the world but a lot of herbs are unique to Greece and we have a special process of extracting and isolating the active substances of the herbs,” says George.

By this he highlights that Korres works with the local community, including the unemployed, and organic farmers to cultivate the herbs, which are then sent to Korres’ eco-friendly, certified production unit for product development.

Importantly, Korres natural products are backed up by clinical research which not only test the individual ingredients on a cellular level, but determine how the products work on the skin.

Whilst Korres’ goal is to incorporate organic ingredients in to all of its products, George maintains a simple philosophy.

“My dream is to contribute to both the environment and the society- to help people as much as possible and and create things that we are proud of.”

For Korres stock-lists in Australia, contact 1800 705 800 or see www.kitcosmetics.com