Brand story: Caudalie

What is it?

Caudalie is a French skincare and also a spa brand launched in 1993 after a young couple, Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas, decided to incorporate the positive properties of grape seeds into their creations. Mathilde's parents own the vineyard Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte near Bordeaux, and a pharmacy professor told them they were throwing away a potential goldmine after harvesting the grapes, as the seeds contain polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant when stabilised.

Where are they now?

The Thomases launched Caudalie two years after realising the wine harvesting process could fulfil their dream of creating a cosmetics company. With a team of scientists, they stabilised the polyphenols in grape seeds to create anti-ageing and other skincare products and patented the process. They then did the same with the ingredient resveratrol, found in red wine and considered a potent anti-ageing force.

Mathilde's parents still run the vineyard and chateau and she and her husband have since created a global brand based on the grape and its delicious, natural scents.

Caudalie now has 'vinotherapie' spas (which use wine products in many of the treatments because of the resveratrol content) in France, the US and Spain, 35 product offerings, and seven oils. The brand is sold in 25 countries.

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