WINE CHARM
In a sommelier’s lexicon, a caudalie is a unit of measurement that explains how long a wine lingers on the palate; the more caudalie a pinot or merlot has, the better it is. In beauty terms, Caudalie is a French, vino-based skincare brand that makes cult favourites such as Beauty Elixir facial mist. The bulk of the line’s ingredients originally came from Château Smith Haut Lafitte, co-founder Mathilde Thomas’s parents’ vineyard in Bordeaux, which was an untapped beauty gold mine until Dr. Joseph Vercauteren paid them a visit. When the renowned polyphenol expert saw what was being tossed aside after the grape harvest—mainly the skin and seeds—he enlightened the family about the compost’s high antioxidant content. Though the French are aware of the health-boosting merits of a daily glass of wine, nobody saw the potential in the resveratrol-rich leftovers. “When we said we wanted to create a skincare company based on grape seeds, everybody laughed at us,” says Thomas. Her father, a former member of France’s Olympic alpine ski team (yes, they are one of those families) was the only one rooting for her. “He told us, ‘You should go for it.’” Now the line is number one in anti-aging at French pharmacies. The latest addition is Vinosource (from $38, at Sephora), a five-item range that hydrates with organic grape water. The liquid is loaded with nutrients acquired while the water sits captive in the vines over the winter. In tandem with the launch, Caudalie has added a Vinosource facial to its spas, found in luxe locations such as New York’s Plaza Hotel and, new this month, Toronto’s Shangri-La Hotel.
