A perfect combination of science and nature, an holistic journey to New Zealand to discover the ingredients that make up some of the most popular green beauty products of the moment. This is how Antipodes presents itself, the Scientific Green Beauty brand that we had the honor of meeting thanks to its founder Elizabeth Barbalich, who took us on a 2.0 journey to discover its headquarters in Wellington. An immense expanse of greenery and scientific machinery welcome us where Antipodes products come to life. Innovation, applied to pollution-free New Zealand bioactive ingredients, has created in recent years an award-winning range of certified vegan and organic products. A value, that of inner and outer beauty, which guides the brand at 360 degrees, which pursues the task of bridging the gap between natural and prestigious formulations, with the aim of significantly improving everyone’s skin.
Sustainable New Zealand growers work hand in hand with Elizabeth’s science background, using zero-mile ingredients such as avocado oil, Vinanza Grape®, Manuka honey and many more, to meet specific needs: retain moisture, increase hydration levels, stimulate collagen production and protect the skin from pollutants. A real breath of fresh (and pure) air is the feeling you get when you open Antipodes products. The ultra-light textures, the new and delicate aromas and the scientifically tested effects are the result of research that is revolutionizing the public’s approach to the beauty universe in a decisive way. We have chosen to leave the floor to her, Elizabeth Barbalich, to tell you the story of Antipodes and its products, which, don’t worry, you can shop directly from the following interview. Kia Ora!
TBS: Why did you start Antipodes?
Elizabeth: It really started with my own skincare journey. I was searching for a skincare brand that would hydrate and nourish my dry and sensitive skin – but it had to be natural, and it had to deliver results. I struggled to find anything that ticked those boxes. With my background in science, I set about creating my own formulations before enlisting the help of experts to take them to market. Thus, Antipodes® was born. Natural, clean beauty that meets exceptional standards of efficacy.
TBS:: What do you love about running a beauty company?
Elizabeth: Each day I get to work with an incredibly talented team to deliver safe, effective, natural products to the world. Of course, we love being featured in the media and hearing glowing feedback from our devotees – we’re really proud of that. Every review, accolade, comment, or a simple expression of delight makes it all worthwhile and shows we’re making a difference. For me personally, one of the great things is getting to work with my daughter Florence, son Luci, and husband Zoran on a daily basis. We’re a family-oriented business.
TBS: What does beauty mean to you?
Elizabeth: Clean, healthy, fresh skin. It’s not about cookie-cutter perfection or being dolled up to the nines every minute of the day. It’s about glowing with good health thanks to a holistic approach that serves your skin, inside and out. As you would expect, New Zealand nature is also a big part of my beauty ethos. I’m a strong believer in getting amongst fresh air and pollution-free nature to cultivate inner, and outer, beauty.
TBS: Share two fundamental steps for any skincare routine
Elizabeth: Cleanse, cleanse, cleanse! Clean skin is the foundation of any beauty routine, and it’s particularly important for anyone who wears makeup. I’m a big fan of double cleansing to thoroughly remove impurities and build-up, revealing fresh skin underneath. For this, I first use Grace Gentle Cream Cleanser & Make-Up Remover (super creamy, super effective at removing makeup) and follow it with Grapeseed Butter Cleanser (coming soon!) – highly nourishing and certified organic. I can’t live without this duo.
The second fundamental of skincare would be bioactive products – targeted products under your moisturisers to help treat skin concerns and conditions. My essential everyday serum is Hosanna H2O Intensive Skin-Plumping Serum, which helps to boost collagen (hence the name!). Being water-based, Hosanna is ultra-hydrating – we say it’s like giving your skin a drink of water. The formulation contains mamaku black fern, one of my favourite bioactive ingredients from New Zealand as it assists with cell turnover.
TBS: What are some Antipodes products we should absolutely try?
Elizabeth: Our best-sellers are devotee favourites for a reason – they’re beautifully nourishing, hydrating, and achieve superb results for the skin. Baptise H2O Ultra Hydrating Water Gel is the moisturiser I’d recommend to anyone with dry or dehydrated skin, though it suits all skin types. It’s perfect for all-day hydration due to plant-based hyaluronic acid, and clinically shown to reduce dryness by up to 52%.
One pot of Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream sells every sixty seconds somewhere in the world, so I’d recommend everyone give this collagen-boosting eye cream a try. Kiwi seed oil is the hero ingredient, rich in Vitamin C which is great for protecting skin and targeting dark circles.
And finally, no one should be without Aura Manuka Honey Mask – the French absolutely love this, it’s our number one best-seller in France. Gorgeously creamy to smooth onto skin, it’s intensively hydrating and promotes a youthful, clear complexion thanks to antibacterial manuka honey. I always recommend slipping Aura into your handbag as it’s great for spot treating blemishes on the go.
TBS: Tell us more about your beauty secrets
Elizabeth: Beauty starts from within, so you’ve first got to eat well. I start the day with a vegetable juice and make it as colourful as I can. Exercise is a given; it’s the most natural glow you can get. I’m also obsessed with probiotics right now – a really exciting development in the beauty industry that we’ve seen skyrocket in popularity. In skincare, probiotics help to balance your microbiome, cultivating skin that is healthy-looking and hydrated. And because skin recovers best at night, but loses moisture in the process, a targeted night cream is essential to wake up with a calm, clear, hydrated visage. We formulated Culture Probiotic Night Recovery Water Cream for this very reason. I use it every night without fail.
I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again – clean skin is healthy skin. A detoxifying mask works really well in this regard. I use Halo Skin-Brightening Facial Mud Mask once or twice a week, or whenever my skin is feeling congested. It’s a great example of a cleansing mask that not only lifts off dead skin cells but also helps brighten the skin underneath.
TBS: Antipodes has a strong link between nature and science. Why should we choose your brand over other prestige formulations?
Elizabeth: At Antipodes® you get the best of both worlds. We take unique New Zealand bioactive ingredients, create hi-tech innovative formulations, and have them tested in-vitro by an independent third-party laboratory; for example, testing products for Type I collagen production. It’s the only way to know without doubt that our products are genuinely effective. End formulations are completely clean, free from nasties and animal testing, with ingredients that in many cases are good enough to eat – so you get the same or better results that you get from a conventional skincare brand, with the knowledge that you’re feeding your skin with lush, nutrient-dense ingredients.
TBS: Tell us more about the unique New Zealand ingredients used in Antipodes products
Elizabeth: A walk through our New Zealand backyard reveals all manner of incredible, health-enhancing bioactives: superfoods, botanicals, native plants, and beyond. Manuka honey is world-famous, unique to New Zealand and sustainably grown. It’s a natural humectant and antibacterial, too – a true superfood, loved by skin. We use Vinanza® Grape across our range because it has double the levels of polyphenolic antioxidants than any grape in the world. A byproduct of Marlborough sauvignon blanc grapes, Vinanza® Grape is not only sustainably sourced, but a powerhouse of antioxidant compounds to protect your skin from free radical damage.
