Our story

Inspired by Nature. Guided by Science

We started Apo.Ge after being drawn to the healing power of mānuka honey while immersed in New Zealand's raw and natural beauty. Humans have been using mānuka as medicine long before science confirmed why and how it worked. This unique honey contains 200+ bioactive compounds, giving it powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, wound healing, and hydrating properties. Mānuka honey is backed by decades of clinical data, centuries of traditional use, and is as gentle as it is effective.

Our founder & formulator, Colleen, struggled for years to find a routine safe for her own reactive skin. She draws on her training in biology and traditional herbalism to formulate skincare with powerfully effective ingredients that are safe for even the most sensitive skin.

Our approach is simple: formulate products that target the three pillars to skin health - hydration + barrier repair + cellular regeneration - in a routine that prioritizes balance over correction. At Apo.Ge we look to Nature for compounds and solutions that are effective, gentle, and synergistic with the health of your skin.

We know that simple can be effective, and for many struggling to find the right skincare, more is not always the answer. We are glad you found us and we think your skin will be as well.

  • Intention & Transparency

    We want to empower you to be a conscious consumer. You deserve to know what you’re buying, why it works and the business practices that your purchase is supporting. Our cruelty free face products are Leaping Bunny certified and we test everything on ourselves, never on animals.

  • Quality & Efficacy

    We’re not here to capture a quick profit off of trending or seasonal products. Our collection features high performance ingredients at efficacious levels that target the pillars for healthy skin - hydration, barrier function and cellular regeneration.

  • For Humans & the Planet

    Products that are safe for you and the planet shouldn’t be the exception, but the rule. We want to create products that respect your health and reduce our impact on the Planet. 1% of every purchase is donated to environmental causes around the globe.

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How we got here

The first seeds that would eventually become Apo.Ge began sprouting in 2018 on a trip to New Zealand to visit our co-founder Tim. We explored the mountains and beaches of the South Island, helped him harvest his hives, and immersed ourselves in the rugged landscape.

Colleen's first exposure to mānuka honey occurred years before that first trip to New Zealand. Her mother suffered from chronic sinusitis and endured a plethora of protocols, acupuncture, antibiotics, and surgery, all to no avail. As a last resort, her doctor enrolled her in a clinical study at the University of Washington, testing the effectiveness of therapeutic-grade mānuka honey for sinus infections. The trial was a success. Mānuka honey has been the only remedy that worked and she still uses it to this day.

While working with Tim at his hives, Colleen was reminded of the transformative effect mānuka honey had for her mother. At that time she had been struggling with finding the right routine for her own skin concerns and a few years prior had completed her training to become a certified herbalist. That combined with her degree in biology set the groundwork for the formulations that would eventually become Apo.Ge.

Read the research
Apo.Ge founder and formulator Colleen in a lab setting with a funnel and green containers

A note from Colleen

"I've always had sensitive, reactive skin. My skin will tell me immediately when something isn't working. I got tired of trying all of the new trending ingredients and blindly reaching for products at the drug store. So I created a routine I could rely on.

I take a holistic approach to skin health. When I studied biology, I learned to look at living systems as an interconnected whole. Herbalism trained me to see surface-level symptoms as a sign of a much deeper imbalance.

I consider how skin works at a cellular level and the modern stressors we face on a daily basis. Using evidence-based natural ingredients, I created the Apo.Ge routine to bring balance and comfort to even the most sensitive and reactive skin. "

— Colleen Poe, founder

We think about your skin as a living system. Every ingredient earns its place through evidence, not trends, to deliver balanced skin health.Each formula starts with what the earth produces. Botanical compounds with centuries of use and clinical data behind them. When a biotech-derived alternative serves the formula and reduces our environmental footprint, we use it. No synthetic fragrances. No endocrine disruptors. Sustainability as a rule.

See what our customers say
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sustainability

In an industry where there are no set definitions for “clean” or “green”, we hold ourselves to a high standard of transparency, sustainability and environmental stewardship.

botanical ingredients

We prefer to treat your skin with the power of Nature. We select botanical ingredients that meet our highest standards on quality, sustainability and efficacy.

rooted in experience

Our formulations reflect the traditions of herbalism fused with science-backed research and methodologies to ensure transformational results in every bottle.

planet over profit

There is no Planet B. We donate a portion of every sale to SeaTrees, a non-profit organization working to reverse climate change through blue-carbon coastal projects.

plastic free primary packaging

Less than 9% of plastics are recycled in the United States. We’ve moved away from the collective reliance on plastics to more planet-friendly materials like paper, aluminum and glass. Sustainability is a journey and we are constantly looking for ways to reduce our products impacts on the plant.

small batch, handmade

From in-house herbal extracts to hand-pouring every bottle that leaves our facility, every product that enters your home was created with intention.

ingredient standards / ethically sourced

We prioritize higher quality ingredients from companies that support fair wages and community growth over conventional, low cost options. We source as locally as possible whenever possible. Learn more...

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