Our Philosophy
KIPOS Botanicals® creates gentle skincare that respects nature and your skin.
We make handcrafted herbal products using traditional, time-honored methods, simple formulas and high quality ingredients.
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Simplicity
Minimal, natural ingredients with no additives
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Tradition
Guided by Greek heritage and plant wisdom
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Community
Products made locally in Arlington, Virginia
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Wellness
Skincare that nurtures the skin and the spirit
Coastline of Syros Island, Greece. Photo by Eleni Zaras.
Small-batch skincare rooted in Greek herbal wisdom.
The name Kipos (Greek for “garden”, pronounced keepos) reflects our heritage and appreciation for a family history steeped in herbalism. Each small-batch product is inspired by centuries of herbal tradition and formulated to comfort our skin by harnessing the gentle, yet powerful plant-based ingredients.
Founded by Herbalist Konstantina Zaras
Konstantina Zaras by the garden gate. Photo by Scott Spagnoli.
Konstantina’s life can be described as a long herbal infusion, a gentle blend of Greek heritage, art, and a deep reverence for the natural world. She was introduced to her family’s traditional use of herbs for both culinary and simple medicinal purposes, where plants are not just ingredients but symbols of care and continuity. From those early moments, she learned that the garden could nurture body, mind, and spirit.
As a teenager, she began reading about herbs and crafting simple botanical blends. While earning her Master’s degree in Art History, she designed and planted her first herb garden, a living canvas where art and nature came together in harmony.
A member of the Herb Society of America’s Potomac Unit, Konstantina continues to learn and share within a community of dedicated herbalists. Two experiences deepened her calling. First, the revelation that herbal wisdom ran in her family through a cousin on the island of Syros, whose love of herbs led him to write an herbal on plants native to the island and to a life of teaching herbalism and botany. Second, working for renowned herb grower and author Thomas DeBaggio at his celebrated DeBaggio Herb Farm and Nursery in Arlington, Virginia.
KIPOS Botanicals® grew from that single act of care.
Years later, her passion took on greater meaning when a friend undergoing radiation therapy found profound skin-soothing relief in a handmade calendula salve. The results astonished both patient and physician. Encouraged by Dr. Robert Hong, Konstantina began creating more, not just to soothe skin but to share the comforting power of the garden itself.
Having lost her father to cancer, the thought that she could contribute even in a modest way, by helping to soothe those going through this disease, brought more meaning to sharing her salve and skincare products.
Today, each carefully handcrafted product is infused with that intention: to bring the beauty, simplicity, and wisdom of herbs into everyday life.
“I hope you too will find pleasure and comfort from our products and share in the garden’s beauty and power.”
— Konstantina Zaras
Konstantina Zaras with Chrysanthemums and Annabelle Hydrangeas. Photo by Scott Spagnoli.
Horticultural Memberships, Affiliations, and Herbal Education
Potomac Unit, Herb Society of America
American Horticultural Society
The Herbal Academy’s Intermediate Course in Herbalism and Botanical Skincare Course