MEET OUR MENTOR: MARTA CROSS @ APTO
Marta Cros is a seasoned wellness entrepreneur and the founder of APTO Skincare. Barcelona-born and Brooklyn-based, Marta spent much of her childhood on a tennis court as a professional player. After retiring from the sport and graduating from ESADE in Spain and getting an MBA from INSEAD in France, she landed an array of corporate jobs that took her around the globe, living in ten cities in ten years.
Marta spent time working in fashion in New York City before launching her first independent venture: the Ritualist, an at-home facial service that disrupted the traditional spa model. Honing her business skills, Marta launched APTO in 2015 in order to create clean, affordable and efficacious beauty products for all. She notes, “I don’t believe things like clean beauty or organic produce should be available just for a lucky few. Democratizing access to ‘good things’ has always been close to my heart.”
Marta’ vision for APTO goes well beyond skin deep. She firmly believes in the interconnectedness between physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, and has seen firsthand how beauty products can help someone feel their best. Further, APTO’s thoughtful formulation, production and manufacturing processes—all of which happen at the brand’s manufacturing facility in New Jersey—reflect her keen desire to promote a more environmentally conscious, sustainable future.
A mother of 2 toddlers, Marta recently streamlined APTO’s product assortment from 35+ products to 7 essentials, making minimalism a key pillar of the brand. She remarks, “When I became a mom, I was quickly overwhelmed with decisions and the infamous mental load. APTO comes in as a no-brainer solution for busy women that want to take care of their skin but don’t have the time—or energy—for a 12-step routine: Easy to use, made with quality ingredients and packaged sustainably.”
Marta is the New York Cares lead volunteer at East New York Farms, a community garden addressing food justice by promoting local sustainable agriculture. Through APTO, Marta has a long-standing partnership with Project Beauty Share, an organization dedicated to support women in situations of social exclusion to help restore hope and dignity in their lives.
LISTEN TO FULL EPISODE HERE: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1MdOLoT9q3jl4sCewCnuYk?si=6cd9283bee4e4c45
Hosted by: Justyna Kedra (IG: @thisisjustyna) & Kosi Dunn