Caudalie first looks to the vine for its results-driven recipes, not the lab. Co-founder Mathilde Thomas-Cathiard’s family owns the Château Smith Haut Lafitte, which supplies the brand with the antioxidant-rich grape seeds that go into its effective products. Skin Perfecting Serum, for example, features the popular acne-busting ingredient, salicylic acid, sourced from medicinal wintergreen; and extracts its hard-working polyphenols directly from grapes. Put those two together, throw in a dash of niacinimide, and you’ve got an effective zit-zapping trio. (Imagine the Powerpuff Girls, but instead of sugar, spice, and everything nice, it’s salicylic acid, polyphenols, and niacinimide.)
