Evergetikon Shampoo for curly hair with aloe vera and argan oil 150

Evergetikon — Cretan skincare you can feel on your skin

The name Evergetikon means "beneficent" in Greek — and that's not a marketing slogan, just a description of what you get. Since 2007, this family-run manufactory in Heraklion, Crete, has been creating cosmetics whose main active ingredient is what Crete has provided for millennia: extra virgin olive oil of edible-pure grade. The same oil that goes on the table — rich in polyphenols and vitamin E — works on your skin. No compromise between "edible" and "cosmetic".

Ingredients that grow a few kilometres from the workshop

Greece holds 50% of the EU's plant biodiversity and 80% of the Balkan flora — with over 6,500 plant species, of which 1,200 are endemic. Crete stands out even within this: olive trees that still bear fruit after 3,000 years, and the richest range of herbs in the world in terms of aromatic and cosmetic value.

Evergetikon draws on this directly. Most ingredients come from Crete and the surrounding area, many from organic farms or wild harvests. The recipes feature, among others:

• Cretan extra virgin olive oil — the base of nearly every formula, a source of antioxidants and fatty acids that rebuild the skin's lipid barrier
• Cretan dittany (Origanum dictamnus, diktamo) — endemic to Crete, valued for its soothing and regenerative properties since Minoan times
• Labdanum (cistus resin) — the Cretan "balm" known for its softening and anti-ageing action
• Aloe, helichrysum, jasmine, bay laurel, neroli, damask rose, rosemary, sage — sourced locally and distilled on-site as hydrosols and essential oils

These are not commodity raw materials bought on the global market. They are plants that grow nearby, harvested and processed in small batches by the same manufactory that uses them.

What your skin gains

• Holds water better — olive oil and plant butters rebuild the lipid barrier; no more tightness or roughness after washing
• Reacts less — no parfum, SLS, propylene glycol or other common irritants means calmer skin for sensitive, atopic and couperose types
• Looks more radiant — polyphenols from olive oil and herbal extracts neutralise the free radicals behind a dull, tired complexion
• Ages more slowly — naturally occurring vitamin E from olive oil, phytosterols and squalene from Cretan plants are antioxidants that protect against photoaging and support skin regeneration
• Smells real — fragrance compositions use pure essential oils, so what you smell is also what works aromatherapeutically

What Evergetikon doesn't contain

The formulas are deliberately minimalist. No:

• parabens
• silicones
• propylene glycol
• mineral oils or petroleum derivatives
• phthalates
• triclosan
• SLS / SLES
• synthetic dyes or artificial fragrances (parfum)

The cosmetics are not tested on animals. Most products are vegan-friendly — exceptions (those containing beeswax, honey or goat's milk) are always clearly marked in the ingredient list.

Current INCI lists — always at the source

The producer values consistency and transparency: complete, up-to-date INCI lists for each product are available directly on the brand's website — evergetikon.gr/en/proionta. This matters because in natural cosmetics, formulas are sometimes fine-tuned (e.g. the proportion of an oil depending on the harvest), and the brand publishes every update there. Pick a product, click — you'll be looking at the ingredient list from the current batch.

About the producer

Evergetikon Natural Products is a Greek manufactory founded in 2007, based in Heraklion, Crete (L. Papanastasiou 44, 71306). All cosmetics are made on-site from raw materials sourced mainly from the island. The brand is registered in the European CPNP (Cosmetic Products Notification Portal). More at: evergetikon.gr.