Interview: Lena Philippou-Korres

Greek-born Lena Philippou-Korres is the co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Korres, a leader in seed-to-skin skincare.

A chemical engineer with an MBA, Lena was instrumental in launching the Greek brand 25 years ago within the walls of Athens’ oldest homeopathic pharmacy. Drawing on the pharmacy’s deep knowledge of plants, she led groundbreaking research at the cellular level to harness the power of Greek nature—formulating products that address a wide range of skin concerns, from dryness and dark spots to signs of ageing and menopausal skin.

Korres established itself as a leader in sustainable skincare through its Full Circle approach to beauty—an innovative model that gives the brand complete control over every stage of production. This approach is powered by six specialised labs, each working together to minimise the environmental impact of every Korres product.

Each lab serves a distinct purpose: the Soil Lab focuses on organic farming and works closely with local growers; the Extraction Lab extracts active ingredients from native herbs; the Molecular Lab leads scientific research; the Formulation Lab creates the final skincare products; the Design Lab develops sustainable packaging; and the Recycle Lab ensures materials are reused and recycled.

Through this Full Circle approach, Lena and her team have also discovered some of nature’s most potent ingredients and formulations, resulting in bestsellers like the Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser (the first skincare product to feature real, edible Greek yoghurt), the Santorini Grape Velvet Skin Drink, and the Pure Greek Olive 3-In-1 Nourishing Oil.

We recently sat down with Lena to discuss everything from the origins of Korres to her dream collaborators and the brand’s next chapter.

What inspired you to create Korres?

Korres was born from our deep love for nature, science, and our Greek heritage. It all started in the Korres Apothecary, Athens’ first homeopathic apothecary, where we explored the power of natural ingredients in an extensive library of 3,000 herbal remedies. This expertise sets Korres apart: we know these powerful ingredients inside out—how they work in our body when taken orally and how they work on our skin.

The goal was always to create effective, natural skincare rooted in Greek herbs, resulting in formulations that are both clean and clinically proven.

What product makes the best introduction to the brand?

Our Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cleanser is hands down the most iconic Korres product. All Greeks share the collective memory of our yiayia (grandma) applying yoghurt to our sun-stressed skin after a long summer day! Yoghurt is indeed a skin saviour. It’s packed with protein, pre- and probiotics, vitamins, and nutrients.

Korres is the only brand globally that formulates with real edible Greek yoghurt. Our entire Greek Yoghurt line has a unique sensoriality, calms sensitive skin, provides deep hydration, and strengthens the skin barrier.

What has been the biggest highlight?

A lot has happened in our wild, almost 30-year journey! I think the biggest highlight is our Full Circle process: It starts with our farming collaborations for ethical and sustainable sourcing of Greek herbs, continues with the in-house extraction of active molecules, formulation by our all-female R&D team, production in our state-of-the-art facility, and finally the recycling of empties in our Recycle Lab. From Seed to Skin and Back, we proudly and responsibly own every step of the process.

But beyond business or product wins, the greatest reward is my team—helping them grow and supporting them as a mentor and friend means everything.

What advice would you give to those wanting to launch their own beauty business?

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about skills—it’s about resilience. You have to handle uncertainty, believe in your product through tough times, and hold your stance! My advice would be to start with a clear proposition. What is your dream? Why do you want to create this product or business, and how is it going to help people? When your mission is clear, you can navigate uncertainty and failure—and attract great people to join you.

What’s next for Korres?

We are always innovating! We’re currently expanding our core Black Pine range with the introduction of Black Pine Primus—a line of next-generation wrinkle-defying formulas powered by our proprietary YouthRePro technology and our patent-pending ingredient extraction process.

We’re also continuing to push the boundaries of sustainability with our Full Circle process, ensuring every step is as environmentally responsible as possible.

What does your daily skincare routine look like?

My go-to line is our Black Pine range for firming and lifting. I always start with the Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cleanser to nourish my skin and support the skin barrier. I follow with the Black Pine Serum—a product that has literally changed my skin. I finish with the Black Pine Bounce Moisturiser for its immediate firming and lifting action, plus all-day hydration.

My insider tip is that I love to apply a layer of our Santorini Grape Velvet Skin Drink before my moisturiser for an instant dose of Greek Glow!

What are three beauty products you cannot live without?

• Korres Black Pine Sculpt & Lift Serum: I order it by the dozen. There hasn’t been a single day I haven’t used it since it launched in 2012!
• Armani Luminous Silk Foundation: I spend 15 minutes prepping the skin with my layers of skincare and 3 minutes on my makeup. This foundation applies beautifully and keeps everything in place.
• Bioderma Micellar Water: The absolute best on the market to finish the makeup removal process.

What’s the biggest skincare lesson you’ve learned?

Skincare is not about quick fixes—it’s about consistency. The best results come from long-term commitment to high-quality ingredients and formulations that respect the skin’s natural balance.

What person or brand would you love to collaborate with?

I’d love to collaborate with Hermès Beauty on a luxurious Mediterranean-inspired fragrance collection. I admire their timeless aesthetic and understated luxury.

On a more personal note, I love dance music and am a big fan of Peggy Gou! Her vibe and aesthetic are so refreshing. I would love to co-host a party with her to celebrate Greek summer!

What’s not getting the attention it deserves in the beauty industry right now?

As a scientist, I believe the skin microbiome—while increasingly discussed—still doesn’t get the attention it truly deserves. It’s essential for long-term skin health and beauty.

A microbiome-balancing formula, like our Korres Greek Yoghurt line, should be part of every person’s daily skincare routine. As beauty brands, it’s our responsibility to educate consumers—especially young consumers—on the essentials to keep their skin healthy and glowing from within.

Korres is available in the UK at lookfantastic.com and in the US at korres.com.