Antipodes: A Sustainable Skincare Brand Backed By Science

Lift the lid on any Antipodes® product and escape to nature in New Zealand: a country that is lush, biodiverse, and abundant in healthy bioactive ingredients. Our love of nature is part of everything we do – from our plant-powered products and ingredients, to the living walls that adorn Antipodes HQ.

Founded in 2006, Antipodes has never compromised on its green beauty ethos. It is this ethos that has helped us deliver a piece of New Zealand’s clean, green paradise all over the world.

At the core of Antipodes is our connection to nature, science, and sustainability. It’s a philosophy defined by founder and CEO, Elizabeth Barbalich, who says: “There’s an immediate need to be kinder to the planet. That means making informed choices about environmental and sustainable responsibility. A good place to start is with our beauty routines, to use products that are kind to ourselves and our environment.”

So, what are the foundations of sustainability that Antipodes lives by?

We believe in sustainable skincare that is not just healthy for our devotees’ skin, but healthy for the planet. It starts with traceability of key ingredients, extraction processes that use pure water, and organic and biodiverse farming methods which have a low impact on the environment.

We believe in keeping it local when it comes to sourcing clean ingredients and producing our natural formulations. That includes local growers, beekeepers, printers and manufacturing. We cultivate strong relationships with local producers and invest in eco-friendly packaging. Since the beginning, our products have been proudly made in New Zealand.

Our sustainable skincare ethos ensures that ingredients are extracted with the maximum freshness and retain their nutrient density. We work with organic farmers who practice sustainable farming methods. These farmers grow nutrient-dense ingredients, free from pesticides. They harvest responsibly, in synergy with crop rotation and the seasons. As a result, our ingredients benefit from better soil quality and less pollution. Ingredients such as avocado oil and kiwi seed oil are extracted with the maximum freshness and retain their nutrient density.

Many of our ingredients are sourced from the New Zealand wild, such as world-famous manuka honey. Antipodes only uses premium manuka honey sustainably produced by bees. These bees harvest the nectar of the wild manuka plant in remote parts of New Zealand, so there’s no impact to the environment. Antibacterial and antioxidant-rich, this high-performing bioactive ingredient helps to promote youthful, fresh, and blemish-free skin. It’s the ingredient that makes Aura Manuka Honey Mask so nourishing for skin.

Year round, beekeepers travel through wild remote terrain to monitor each colony. To ensure the health of the hive and purity of the honey, they follow a strict hive management system. Every detail is carefully monitored: from the materials and foundations of the beehive, to feeding and protection from pests and disease. Before and after harvesting their precious cargo, the bees fly free.

Vinanza® Grape antioxidants are at the core of Antipodes’ plant-powered formulations. They are a by-product of sauvignon blanc grapes, grown on award-winning Marlborough vineyards. The grapes are cultivated without chemical residue, with a focus on composting and recycling.

The grape seeds are then extracted via a world-first method that is environmentally friendly. It uses only pure water, no solvents. This is good for the grapes, as it retains their bioactivity and keeps them free from the harsh chemicals that are usually used in extraction techniques. It’s also gentle on the environment.

When it comes to packaging, our mantra is low consumption, high quality. Our glass apothecary-style bottles and jars are fully recyclable, as are our aluminium tubes. Our recyclable boxes are made from 100% biodegradable cardboard, printed with eco-vegetable inks. The cardboard is sourced from sustainable forests that use legal and ethical logging processes.

Antipodes founder and CEO Elizabeth Barbalich believes that sustainable skincare solutions can be found in nature. Far from disposable, our packaging and the formulations within are carefully curated. They are precious. Even our signature wallpaper print is inspired by the lush forests of New Zealand’s South Island. Our guiding light is a quote from Albert Einstein, who also loved nature: “Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.”