Beauty industry looking to the wine world

An increasing number of skincare brands are latching onto the antioxidant properties found in grapes and incorporating them into their beauty products.

As reported by the Financial Times, skincare brands are increasingly using resveratrol, an antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes, in their products due to its anti-ageing properties.

Resveratrol is thought to slow the ageing process by promoting tissue elasticity and firmness.

While Caudalie, founded by Mathide Thomas, daughter of Daniel and Florence Cathiard, owners of Château Smith Haut Lafitte in Bordeaux, has been flying the flag for grape-based beauty products since 1995 via its chic boutiques and Vino-thérapie spas, an increasing number of beauty brands are getting in on the act.

Malbec DNA Biology Emulsion capsules cost $2,000 a tub

Caudalie’s recently released Premier Cru La Crème Riche, which costs £92.50 for a 50ml pot, contains resveratrol, viniferine and antioxidant rich grape-seed polyphenols.

LA-based Arcona meanwhile, sells a wine hydrating mask for £25.20 made with grape seed extracts, while Greek brand Apivita sells a Wine Elixir Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Rich Face Cream for £39.85.

“Resveratrol has proven to be extremely powerful and people like that it comes from wine. It’s a sexy story to them,” New York-based cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Paul Frank told the FT.

Beauty brand 100% Pure, which sells resveratrol-based scrubs, masks, eye creams, serums and lip glosses, has seen sales grow by over 1,000% in the last three years

Having Madonna, Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson as fans hasn’t hurt.

Skincare brand Vine Vera meanwhile, is using resveratrol’s anti-ageing properties to sell its products at eye-watering prices, with a 52g pot of Cabernet High-Potency Cream priced at US$600 and 120 capsules of Malbec DNA Biology Emulsion selling for $2,000.

Ribera del Duero-based winery Matarromera owns its own grape-based beauty brand, Esdor, which uses eminol in its products, an antioxidant-rich polyphenol extracted from Tempranillo grapes.

Among Esdor’s products made with the Spanish red grape are day creams, night creams, firming serums, body scrubs and cleansing milks, along with a range of eminol-based skincare products targeted at men.