PHARMAKON - A Boutique Pharmacy in Port Melbourne |
Friday, 04 May 2007 |
It’s an age-old Greek practice: tailoring skin and health care to an
individual’s needs. It’s called “compounding” and the art form,
previously lost to super-size-me pharmacy chains and the mass vitamin
and skincare market, is being “restored” with the launch of boutique
pharmacy Pharmakon in the Victorian suburb of Port Melbourne. The airy
store drips in opulence – flocked wallpaper and chandelier detailing.
But the real decadence lies in what is stocked on the backlight
shelves. Pharmakon stocks Apivita, a
Greek specialist skincare range of more than 300 products. Apivita,
which has more than 4000 outlets in Greece, is regarded as
leading some of the most advanced research into anti-ageing skincare
formulations.
So how does this skincare customising actually work? Glad you asked,
said the man in the lab coat. Customers undergo a range of alternative
tests to achieve a biochemical snapshot of their skin’s needs. The
in-store compounders then mix up the perfect product. Like a homeopath
with herbs. But in this case, using the latest cosmeceutical
formulations, such as botox. The concept, says owner Vassily
Hatzipantazis is grass roots stuff.
The compounders also prepare vitamin formulations that target specific
health complaints, including hormonal inbalances, fatigue and pain
management. To keep with the supremely odd phenomenon of pharmacies, or
chemists, stocking random gift products (tackily printed chinaware,
stuffed puppies etc that sit dustily in the window for years) Pharmakon
is also stockist for a range of exclusive brands. Among them Disney
Couture and the celeb-covted CCsky bags. By Sarah W
Pharmakon is located at 86 Bay Street Port Melbourne. Phone: 03 9646-8188

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