I have been a fan of Caudalie before I even really knew what skincare was. I got a sample of the Vinoperfect serum when I was in high school and have been in love since day one. Really I just love the smell, and try to recreate that first moment every time I use it. It smells clean, fresh, and earthy. I know most people don’t like fragrance in their skincare because they have sensitive skin. Listen, Caudalie is not for you serious people. The serum is $82 a bottle. They are for FUN. If you can’t or don’t want to have fun, go find a serious brand (like The Ordinary)! I have tried a few of Caudalie’s products, but I haven’t tried a ton (they are very cost prohibitive). I’ll go through the ones I have tried:

Cleansers

Vinoclean Gentle Cleansing Almond Milk

This cleanser is very much a cream cleanser, it doesn’t really foam or bubble at all. It also smells really nice- kind of like almond paste but also a little like play-dough... I like to use this as an oil cleanser/makeup remover, similar to the way I use Glossier’s Milk Jelly cleanser. However, I must say, this does not do a ton for eyeliner and mascara, it works best with other light makeup. Milky Jelly definitely does more heavy lifting in that regard. But I don’t wear makeup that often, so it doesn’t matter. I got the travel size, since I didn’t think I would finish a whole one.

Vinopure Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser

This is a great foaming clarifying cleanser. It leaves your face squeaky clean. It is has natural grape derived (I think) salicylic acid, an essential oil complex, and grape seed polyphenols. This face wash also smells great, definitely a sharp smell, but somewhat minty/eucalyptus-y. And the scent is quite strong too. But it smells good. I like to apply it as my acne wash and leave it on as somewhat of a face mask. If it seems missing from my skincare routine, its because I actually got this face wash after that post haha.

Serums

Vinoperfect

First, of course, we have the Vinoperfect serum. It comes in a frosted glass cylinder with a glass dripper. It smells great. It is advertised as “brightening” and an alternative to vitamin C. Do I think it does those things? Maybe. It’s hard to tell, since I have been using it for like 8 years, I don’t know what impact its really had. In fact, I bet it currently does nothing because my skin is used to it. But do I like the idea? Of course, and that’s all that really matters. A few ingredient features it has:

Squalane (from olives)- squalane is very good at helping your skin retain moisture
Glycerin- glycerin is known to steal moisture from whatever is around it, and keep it there, similar to hyaluronic acid
Citric Acid- which is vitamin C… curious
Palmitoyl- an anti-aging ingredient

The Sephora website mentioned Vine Sap Viniferine, which I think has a different official name because viniferine isnt listed in the ingredients. This is Caudalies patented skin brightener that they isolated from the vine sap. Cool concept. This ingredient is featured in a number of their products.

Resveratrol Lift

I am not a huge fan of this serum… Resveratrol cannot lift anything, but marketing does what it can. This serum also has an extremely masculine smell, like if a body wash was named “Pine Musk Flannel” or something lmao. The serum itself is honestly whatever, I got it as part of a pack of the serum, the eye serum (eyeroll) and the resveratrol cream. I was experimenting with adding resveratrol to my routine because it is thought to improve skin reaction with retinol. I have no idea how I came across this fact but anyways, it is a polyphenol that acts like an antioxidant, and mixes well with vitamin C. So I like to not just combine it with retinol, but also combine it with my sunscreen and vitamin C powder (from The Ordinary!) during the summer. Resveratrol, and most antioxidants, will offer themselves up in the place of your own cells when they encounter free radicals. No, I cannot elaborate further. I am a ginger, the color of a sheet of paper, so I need all the help I can get. Apparently the skin of grapes is very rich in resveratrol, which also means nice dark red wines also have a lot of this anti-antioxidant in them.

Creams

Resveratrol Lift Skin firming cream

This cream, again, cant really provide lift, as that is not what resveratrol does. But this cream is alright, I liked it for the most part but it didn’t really knock my socks off. I believe it also has the same scent as the serum. It is thick and creamy, which is pretty nice. It also comes in a cute pink glass pot.

Premier Cru

I got this cream in a foil packet sample. My first impression is that this is super thick, and almost has a chalky or powdery dry texture. Like its a cream, but you can tell its got a powder in it. It dries as a cream, but I dont know, its just weird. It also smells weird. I’m sure if I was 70 or something, this would work better for me, but I just found it unpleasant.

Facial Mists

Grape Water Moisturizing Face Mist

This is literally just water, but its from grapes. It also comes in a pressurized can like hairspray, it is a very fine cool mist. I like to pair this with my Farmacy AHA/BHA serum because it is cooling. It’s also nice to add a little plain moisture to my HA products. It’s also not too expensive- $12 for the travel size.

Beauty Elixir Prep, Set, Glow Face Mist

This facial mist is much more expensive- $20 for the travel size! But it’s a very nice mist, it smells like a spa, and the bottle is a nice thick frosted glass with a very fine mist pump. This mist is also mostly just a lot of essential oils and a few essential extract waters (like bitter orange flower water). Caudalie claims that it’s grape extract is hydrating, that peppermint oil tones and refreshes, the orange blossom water calms and activates “radiance” and that the lemon balm essential oil is soothing and calming.

Fave Brands: Caudalie