By Paige Donner
Paige Donner is a Luxury Writer.
Caudalie is a wine term, in French, that refers to the length of time the taste of a wine lingers in the mouth. The longer the better. It is a measurement of a wine's quality.
Mathilde Thomas is the Founder and Creator of Caudalie, a top-selling beauty line in French Pharmacies, where so many of the best beauty brands in France are sold. Since a year or two, Ms. Thomas, now NYC-based, has launched her brand in the U.S.
But though this young beauty visionary may spend her day-to-day in NYC, it is in Bordeaux where her heart, and the base of Caudalie Vinothérapie products, remain firmly rooted.
Working with Dr. Vercauteren of Bordeaux's University of Pharmaceuticals, Ms. Thomas was intrigued by a claim he made to her during the 1993 grape harvest on her parents esteemed Bordeaux vineyard, "Do you know that you are throwing away treasures?" he asked her when he saw the grape skins and grape seeds being discarded.
She quickly learned, by listening to Dr. Vercauteren's explanations, that grapeseeds and grape skins hold extraordinary deposits of anti-oxidants, in the form of polyphenols. And this is where Ms. Thomas showed true entrepreneurial genius, because from that bio-detritus, she created the luxury "Cosm-ethics" beauty care line and brand, Caudalie.
Caudalie owns three patents that help slow the signs of skin-aging:
1) Polyphenols from Grape-Seeds
"The most powerful anti-oxidants occurring in the vegetable world. They stop free radicals, which are the main cause of cutaneous ageing. They are the best anti-ageing shield for the skin.
2) Resveratrol from Grapevine Stalks
It gives the skin back its youthfulness and firmness. Harvard's Department of Medicine identified Resveratrol as the most effective active ingredient for prolonging cellular life.
3) Viniferine from Grapevine Sap
The sap from grapevine stalks was used in the past to diminish dark spots and clarify the complexion of young women. Viniferine protects against dark spots and leaves your complexion incredibly radiant.
The Caudalie researchers have come up with a few more grape treasures which are formulated into the beauty line such as "organic grape water," grape-seed oil, and Vinolevure®.
"There's no miracle cure for skin ageing, there is a patent!" - Mathilde Thomas, Founder-Creator, Caudalie, Skincare Line
You can rest assured you are making an ethically beautiful choice with these products, too. None of the formulas are tested on animals and they ask that their suppliers do the same. They use the maximum amount of natural ingredients, that are both biodegradable and respect the environment, in their product lines. Her coined term of "Cosm-ethics," refers to the fact that no animal ingredients, parabens, phenoxyethanol, phthalates, mineral oil, synthetic colorings or sodium laureth sulfate are used in any of the formulations or products.
There are also Caudalie Spas: In Bordeaux, France; NYC, New York; Versailles, France; and in Spain. Read the related article on Spa Caudalie in Greening Beauty.
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