Autumn Green Beauty Review: Apoterra for Dry Skin

Apoterra Skincare is one of those few truly green beauty brands that cater to dry skin. Made with all-natural, non-toxic ingredients sourced with care and mixed with love in New York City, this apothecary beauty company is a complete game-changer.

Today, I’m reviewing two of Apoterra’s best products to help dry skin transition into Autumn: The Rose Hydrating Toner and the Night Regenerative Balm. 

Apoterra’s rose line is a great introduction to green beauty for dry or mature skin. With collage-boosting and hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, rooibos, prickly pear seed oil and vitamin C, these two products have quickly reclaimed their rightful spot in my all-natural vanity. 

The Apoterra Rose Hydrating Toner with Hyaluronic Acid and Rooibos ($39) is designed to give dry skin the levels of water it needs to work properly. With hyalurinic acid, a cell-communicating ingredient that is naturally found in the human body that gives skin a plumped and youthful appearance, it works with rooibos tea to reduce inflammation and keep the skin’s moisture levels. With aloe vera to soothe, frankincense to refine the skin, and rose water to promote a healthy cell turnover, this mist operates physically and mentally. 

For me, the rose petal aroma brings me back to my childhood and facilitates good memories, no matter how hard my day is. On a physical level, I use the toner after I double cleanse at night to prep my epidermis to receive my serum and my cream. Yes, dry skin is very demanding and I take good care of it to avoid ending up with premature fine lines. After all, I’m in my early 30s.

After using the hydrating toner for a few weeks, I feel my skin is plumpier and feels more comfortable, despite the constant weather changes. A must-have to transition from summer to autumn!

Don’t get fooled by the size of the Apoterra Night Regenerative Balm with Prickly Pear and Vitamin C ($45); it is small, yet mighty. Carefully crafted with a combination of nutrient-dense butters (like shea and cupuacu), precious oils (evening primrose, sea buckthorn, prickly pear and jojoba), fruit extracts and zero water, it is an answer to my dry skin prayers.

With a delightfully unctuous consistency, this wake-up-with-a-glow balm uses 21 active botanicals to help my skin recover from the aggressions of the summer (the sun + 5 trade shows all over the country + air conditioning did really wreak havoc on it.) After the first week, I was able to use a BB cream again without getting that pesky loose skin flakes. After two weeks, I was able to switch back to a cream moisturizer in the morning, and after a month my skin seems more elastic, bouncy, and doesn’t itch with the change in weather. That is what truly natural cosmetics can do for dry skin. Zero synthetic chemicals (except for Vitamins C, E, and coenzyme Q10), zero obscure preservatives, and zero greenwashing is what it needed to bounce back.

If you see a bit of granulation in your balm it is completely normal. That means it contains some natural beeswax to help give it its nice consistency. Also, don’t forget that this is a completely natural product and a little goes a long, long way. Don’t get overexcited, or your pillow will get a facial and you’ll be wasting your money.

In all honesty, I believe these two products work extremely well in synergy. I might not have gotten the same results without the toner, because the problem with my very dry skin is that it lacks both water and oil. The hyaluronic acid combined with the botanicals seems to have done the trick very nicely!

Aside from the savvy ingredient combination, I love that Apoterra carefully packages its formulas in reusable apothecary jars and misters. That decision is not only good for the environment (I plan to reuse the containers for my own concoctions), but it also helps keep the formulas intact without the need to use harsh preservatives.

This ethical and holistic beauty brand has deeply impressed me. Made in New York City using only sustainable sourced natural ingredients, it really resonates with my personal choices. I truly believe in the slow-living philosophy (after all, I’m European!), and Apoterra seems to embrace my values in a completely unique way. Effective, transparent and sustainable, it is also certified Leaping Bunny.

Have you ever used Apoterra’s products? Formerly known as Caru, it has taken the green world by the storm (and with good reason!)

Disclosure Level 1: The author received NO compensation to write this article. The author received samples of the products mentioned for editorial consideration, which didn’t influence the decision to write about the brand nor the opinions expressed. All links are for further information and aren’t part of an affiliate marketing program.