Our Apothesea Story
Where Apothecary Wisdom Meets the Power of the Sea
From SV23 to the Foundation of Apothesea
The story of Apothesea began before the brand had a name.
23 Phytoserum was originally introduced within the Source Vitál collection as SV23. It was created to answer a clear need: a potent facial serum for aging skin made entirely with natural and clean ingredients.
The serum brought together 23 botanical oils and extracts selected to provide rich nourishment, lasting moisture, antioxidant care, and visible support for fine lines, uneven tone, dryness, and loss of radiance. Its concentrated botanical formula eventually became the foundation for a more focused luxury skincare collection.
When Apothesea was introduced, SV23 became 23 Phytoserum. The name and packaging changed, but the original formula did not. The same 23-ingredient serum became the first product in the Apothesea collection and set the standard for every product that would follow.
Expanding the Ritual with Dream
23 Phytoserum provided concentrated botanical nourishment, but a more complete routine for aging skin needed another element. It needed a rich nighttime cream that could replenish moisture, care for the skin barrier, and complement the botanical oils in 23.
That need led to Dream Nighttime Phytocream.
Dream pairs Bakuchiol with algae, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, botanical butters, and plant oils. It was created to soften the appearance of fine lines, improve the look of firmness and tone, and replenish moisture while the skin rests.
Together, 23 and Dream create a simple daily ritual. 23 delivers concentrated botanical nourishment, while Dream adds rich nighttime moisture and barrier care.
A Focused Approach to Caring for Aging Skin
Apothesea is not intended to become an oversized collection filled with overlapping products. Each addition must have a clear role within a skincare routine for people concerned with the visible effects of aging.
The collection may grow over time, it will always remain a focused and purposeful line centered on anti-aging skincare.
For now, the focus is on two products that offer a simple path for people who want concentrated botanical care without an overwhelming routine.
The Meaning Behind Apothesea
The name Apothesea combines the traditions of the apothecary with the natural riches of the sea.
The apothecary represents generations of knowledge about plants, oils, and natural ingredients. The sea represents marine ingredients such as Chlorella and Laminaria algae, which bring valuable moisture and nutrients to the collection.
Together, these two worlds express the foundation of Apothesea: skincare informed by apothecary experience and made with ingredients drawn from both the earth and the sea.
Clean & Powerful Ingredients
Our ingredient philosophy begins with the belief that nature offers valuable ways to nourish and care for the skin. Drawing from both land and sea, Apothesea combines botanical oils, plant extracts, essential oils, and marine ingredients selected for their purity, performance, and contribution to each formula.
Our products are made without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, artificial colorants, petroleum, or phthalates. Every ingredient has a clear purpose, from replenishing moisture and caring for the skin barrier to supporting a smoother, more radiant appearance.
Central to our products is the proprietary Vital7 Youth Complex, a blend of seven botanicals selected for aging skin. The complex includes Chlorella, Geranium, Prickly Pear, Abyssinian, Avocado, Rosehip, and Sandalwood. Together, these ingredients provide botanical nourishment, moisture, antioxidant care, and support for a soft, healthy-looking complexion.
Made in Houston by Source Vitál
Every Apothesea product is developed and made in-house at the Source Vitál facility in Houston, Texas.
Keeping product development and production under one roof gives our team direct involvement in every formula and batch. It also connects Apothesea to Source Vitál’s history of working with botanical oils, essential oils, whole-plant ingredients, and professional skincare products since 1989.
Apothesea is a distinct brand with a singular purpose, backed by the knowledge and hands-on experience of the people who have built Source Vitál for more than three decades.
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CleanHub partners with collection hubs worldwide to stop plastic from reaching the ocean. We're proud to achieve "plastic neutral" status by supporting Tridi Oasis, a female-led recycling company that transforms PET plastic bottles into PET flakes for sustainable packaging and textiles.
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TerraCycle is a recycling company that specializes in hard-to-recycle waste streams. They offer recycling solutions for items such as cigarette butts, coffee capsules, and snack wrappers that are not accepted by traditional recycling programs. We have partnered with Terracycle to recycle beauty packaging in our facility and showroom.
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We partner with Moonshot Composting to divert food and organic waste from landfills. This effort reduces methane emissions, enriches soil nutrients, enhances food production, and captures excess carbon from the atmosphere.
