Our Botanicals: Greek Yarrow, Sage & Aloe

Every ZÉORA formula starts from the plants of the Mediterranean. Our hero botanicals are Greek yarrow, sage and aloe vera. In every step you'll also find the "Samos garden": seven botanicals (Greek yarrow, sage, damask rose, chamomile, lemon balm, green tea and marjoram).

About the research below: the studies we cite look at individual ingredients or extracts, often in the lab. ZÉORA's products were not tested in them.

Our hero botanicals

Greek yarrow

INCI: Achillea Millefolium Extract. In: Clarus, Oktélia, Hydronéa.
Named for Achilles in Greek myth, Greek yarrow helps skin feel calm and comfortable. A supplier-funded study of a 2% yarrow extract reported a smoother-looking skin surface, and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel has assessed yarrow's safety in cosmetics.
Further reading: Pain et al., Int J Cosmet Sci 2011; CIR, Int J Toxicol 2016.

Aloe vera

INCI: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice. In: Clarus, Hydronéa.
Aloe is the first ingredient after water in our cleanser and our cream. Cosmetic studies show aloe formulas help skin hold moisture.
Further reading: Dal'Belo et al., Skin Res Technol 2006; Filatov et al., Molecules 2024.

Sage

INCI: Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract. In: Clarus, Oktélia, Hydronéa.
Mediterranean sage brings antioxidant plant compounds and helps skin look balanced.
Further reading: Bodnár et al., Pharmaceutics 2025.

The Samos garden

Damask rose

INCI: Rosa Damascena Flower Extract. In: Clarus, Oktélia, Hydronéa.
The rose of Damascus, with Middle Eastern heritage. It leaves skin feeling soft.

Chamomile and bisabolol

INCI: Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract; Bisabolol. In: chamomile in all three; bisabolol in Hydronéa.
Chamomile and its signature molecule bisabolol help skin feel calm and look less visibly red.

Lemon balm

INCI: Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract. In: Clarus, Oktélia, Hydronéa.
"Melissa" is Greek for honeybee. Lemon balm extract is an antioxidant botanical that helps skin look fresh.
Further reading: Sipos et al., Molecules 2021.

Green tea

INCI: Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract. In: Clarus, Oktélia, Hydronéa.
Green tea polyphenols are antioxidants that help defend skin against everyday environmental stress.
Further reading: Hsu, J Am Acad Dermatol 2005.

Sweet marjoram

INCI: Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract. In: Clarus, Oktélia, Hydronéa.
A Mediterranean herb linked in Greek myth to Aphrodite, and part of Zéora's garden.

More botanicals and supporting ingredients

Evodia fruit (Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract), Oktélia: from East Asian botanical tradition, chosen to help sensitive skin feel comfortable.
Calendula (Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract), Clarus: a classic botanical that helps skin feel comfortable.
Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract), Clarus: a Mediterranean flower extract.
Sweet almond oil (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil), Oktélia and Hydronéa: gives Oktélia its milky texture and leaves skin soft and supple.
Jojoba oil (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil), Hydronéa: helps lock in a soft, moisturized feel.
Grape seed oil (Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil), Oktélia and Hydronéa: a lightweight oil for a soft finish.
Shea butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter), Oktélia: for a moisturized feel in a lightweight serum.
Propolis wax (Propolis Cera), Hydronéa: a beehive wax that gives the cream a soft, cushioned feel.
Tara gum (Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum), Oktélia: a plant gum from the Peruvian tara tree, for a silky texture.
Sodium hyaluronate, Oktélia: hydrates and plumps the look of skin.
Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), Hydronéa: helps skin feel moisturized and supple.
Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate), Oktélia and Hydronéa: an antioxidant vitamin.
Sugar-derived moisture complex (Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol), Clarus: helps skin stay hydrated while cleansing.
Sorbitol, Hydronéa: a humectant that helps skin hold moisture.

A note on myrtle

Myrtle (Myrtus communis), an evergreen shrub of Greece and the Middle East, is a long-standing symbol in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern tradition and part of the cultural world of Zéora's Samos. It is part of our story, not our formulas: ZÉORA products do not contain myrtle.