We sat down with founder and formulator Dominique Caron to discuss the new look and certification of our line. Apoterra skincare products are now officially microbiome-friendly certified via Kind to Biome, and the packaging received a beautiful new look to celebrate this milestone. Questions have been pouring in, and we’re here to answer everything you want to know about this transition! Read on to learn all about it.
Q: One exciting part of the new look is celebrating the achievement of Kind to Biome certification for the whole line. What does it mean for Apoterra to be certified microbiome-friendly skincare?
A: I’ve always formulated our products with the concept of respecting the skin barrier and skin microbiome, but until now we didn’t have the data to prove that our products respected the skin microbiome. We are elated to have scientific proof of the effective natural skincare philosophy we have cherished this whole time.
Q: The Kind to Biome certification involved long and thorough testing. What can you tell us about the certification process?
A: Kind to Biome is a well respected certifying body that has a unique, scientifically rigorous In-Vitro + Ex-Vivo testing protocol. By integrating both an Ex-Vivo phase and an In-Vitro protocol, they assess a product's impact not just on cultured bacteria but also on live species isolated from humans. Every product in our line has been tested by Kind to Biome, and each product has passed their rigorous testing with high test scores (9 or 10 rating on a scale of 10).
One of our favorite parts of this story is that our formulas didn't require any reformulation to earn certification. The testing simply confirmed what has always been central to our formulation philosophy: creating skincare that works with your skin, not against it. Now, we have independent scientific validation of something we've believed from the very beginning.
Q: In addition to a beautiful refresh, Apoterra’s new packaging will support our sustainability goals. How is the new packaging more sustainable?
A: I always say sustainability is a journey. We originally switched to silk screen to reduce the waste that we perceived labels created (extra material). Over the years, we realized that since we make our products in small batches, silk screened glass created a lot of “invisible” waste every time we needed to update our packaging in any way. Even a small change such as updating one word required new metal plates (and the old ones discarded), several tests and shipments, and sometimes even disposal of unused packaging. By switching to labels, we’re able to be more nimble and minimize packaging waste when changes and updates are necessary.
We are also putting all our products in boxes. This also may seem like added waste on the surface. But operationally, glass products not packaged in boxes require more material to store and ship safely, again creating “invisible” waste. By putting all our products in boxes, which we print on card stock made from recycled content, we reduce the waste created behind the scenes and improve the customer experience.
Q: Clear bottles for the facial oils were a welcome surprise! What inspired this choice and is there anything customers should know about it?
A: When we were originally testing our new labels, we received clear bottles at first to try the labels on. The design team and I all fell in love with the color of the oils in clear glass bottles and felt they were too beautiful to hide. We have always packaged in dark glass to help preserve the freshness of our product. So to continue doing so with clear bottles, we invested in having a UV filter applied to our bottles to ensure the product’s freshness is protected from light degradation. This way, customers can enjoy the beautiful natural colors with no added freshness concerns.
Q: The new jar style is coming only a few months after new boxes. Is this the final look, or are more changes on the way?
A: We have been slowly introducing the new look this year. Most brands would have unveiled the entire catalog at once. To avoid waste from discarding fresh batches of product simply because of the look of the bottle, we decided to unveil each product’s new look as they became available. This is also why, for a few months, you may receive either look.
Q: A few products are also debuting new names or jar sizes. Can you tell us about the other changes to the line?
A: Our face masks are moving from 4oz jars to 1.5oz jars. After a few years of selling these masks in the larger size, we noticed that most people were not able to use the entire jar while the product was still fresh. Smaller jars will ensure you get to enjoy a full jar’s worth of product before it reaches its use by date.
We also renamed two products to better reflect the key ingredients in each. Our Herbal Clarifying Facial Oil was renamed Green Tea Clarifying Facial Oil and our Mineral Purifying Mask was renamed Charcoal & Clay Purifying Mask. The formulas have not changed—they're still the same products you know and trust.
Q: Are all of the products shipping in their new packaging now?
A: Right now (August 2026) we are still in the process of transitioning between the old and new look. So if you place an order, you may receive either look. However, the majority of our products have fully switched over to the new look packaging.
Q: Lastly, what do you hope customers will feel when they experience the new look?
A: Our new boxes are designed to bring a smile to your face. Our new bottles are designed to help elevate how luxurious your skincare ritual feels, while also improving the experience of the pumps and sprayers. I truly hope you absolutely love the experience of the new packaging and that it elevated your daily self care routine!
