It all began in Bordeaux, in the heart of the vines at Château Smith Haut Lafitte, the estate belonging to Mathilde’s parents. Caudalie is a unique story of love, nature, passion, chance encounters and a sense of adventure! Let us tell you the story.
1993
The encounter
We met professor Joseph Vercauteren, laboratory director of the Pharmacy University of Bordeaux, during the harvest at Château Smith Haut Lafitte. He told us that grape seeds contain the most powerful antioxidants in the world. We have worked together for 25 years, as well as with his laboratory and teams. By upcycling these grape seeds, we have been pioneers of natural and responsible beauty.
1995
Polyphenols
Two years after this encounter, we launched our first 3 products, containing grape seed polyphenols (which still exist today!). At just 23 years old, we packed our bags and set out to show pharmacists across France our creations. Impressed with the effectiveness of our products, we were given our first shot of success - And there, Caudalie truely began ...
[KODALI]
[kodali] (oenological term). A unit measuring the duration of the wine's flavour on the palette. For each second the flavour remains this is a caudalie.
1997
Beauty Elixir
The formula is inspired by the Queen of Hungary’s elixir of youth. The unique, 100% plant based formula quickly became a cult classic, loved by celebrities, make-up artists and beauty junkies all around the world.
We always dreamed of creating a unique moment of wellbeing, hidden amongst the heart of the brand. Exploring the family estate, where Caudalie first started, we discovered a hot spring 500 metres underground. This is how we came to create the first Vinothérapie Spa. Priding ourselves on the tiny details, this unique brand experience allows you to unwind and enjoy our specialist treatments, performed by leading Vinotherapists - an indulgent and rejuvenating experience away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The use of hot spring water combined with the benefits of vine extracts for effective, sensory, unique treatments. Welcome to the world’s first Vinothérapie™ Spa, at the heart of the vines: Les Sources de Caudalie.
Grape vines can live for 100 years, thanks to the naturally produced resveratrol that helps the vine's natural defenses and ability to regenerate. Caudalie played a pioneering role by introducing Resveratrol into skincare for the first time by extracting, stabilising and patenting it, delivering its firming and anti-ageing properties.
2005
Viniférine
A precious sap that runs from the vine stalks. This sap – as women working in the vines well know – fades dark spots on the hands and face and restores your skin's natural radiance. Professor Vercauteren identified and patented the molecule behind these incredible properties: Viniferine. This is how our Vinoperfect serum was first created and today, it is the No.1 best-seller around the world.
2006
A pioneer in cosm-ethics
We created our Cosm-ethics values in 2006 and strive to improve them every year. Mathilde is committed to offering you the most natural-origin formulas possible, whilst guaranteeing they remain both effective and luxurious.
“I am personally committed to every formula: Every week I test dozens of formulas to choose the most effective and sensorial ones.”
Co-founder of Caudalie
2013 - 2023
Partnership with Dr. David Sinclair, Harvard Medical School
Efficacy has always been at the heart of our concerns. That’s why we’ve worked with Dr. David Sinclair from Harvard Medical School for 10 years. Nicknamed the “longevity guru” by Times magazine, our joint research has resulted in the discovery of unique ingredients and exclusive patents, at the cutting edge of anti-ageing innovation: Resveratrol – the active ingredient that's even more effective than Retinol for lifting and firming(1) – or TET8™ technology to correct all the signs of ageing.
2015
The French Beauty Solution
After spending 5 years in the United States, meeting thousands of women and really listening to their skin concerns, Mathilde launched her first book that shared her vision, beauty expertise and practical advice with, of course, a natural "French" beauty twist! Mathilde therefore had the idea of writing a book that could share her vision and her expertise in beauty and Vinothérapie with all these women, with practical advice.
2018
New Laboratories
Our new site is bigger, higher performance and eco-designed thanks to the use of geothermal energy, embodying our commitment to a more responsible and innovative cosm-ethics. It houses an ultra-modern logistics site with a resolutely international orientation, as well as our Natural Formulation, Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratories, where more than 750 innovative ingredients and active compounds are listed.
2019
More sustainable packaging
Caudalie has always been committed to ensuring that you no longer have to choose between effective products, clean and natural-origin formulas, and an eco-friendly brand. We take a systemic and circular approach to our packaging, following the 3R rule: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse. Our goal? To offer packaging that is recycled and/or recyclable and/or refillable.
2020
100% Ocean Plastic Collect launch
Based in Thailand and co-founded by Tristan Lecomte and Second Life, this environmental project aims to extract plastic waste from the oceans and transform it into resources. With the help of local collectors and recyclers, we give new life to waste: we collect from the ocean, rivers and beaches the equivalent of the amount of virgin plastic we use each year.
2022
10 years of collaboration with 1% for the Planet
Caudalie has been a member of 1% for the Planet since 2012. As one of the world’s first cosmetic contributors, we have financed the planting of more than 13 million trees in more than 13 countries. To give back to the earth a little of what it gives every day, we have decided to give 1% of our turnover to environmental organisations that protect, restore, and enhance forests and their biodiversity, with a focus on regions of the world that are particularly threatened by deforestation.
2023
Resveratrol–Lift reinvented
Caudalie innovates and has reinvented its iconic Resveratrol-Lift range, the No. 1 in anti-ageing in France (2), thanks to a new generation of collagen: Vegan Collagen. A revolutionary green technology offers an effective plant-based solution to the natural loss of the 3 types of collagen essential to skin, and which opens up a new path to anti-ageing that's vegan and more sustainable.
By combining a new natural-origin plumping active ingredient derived from rosewood with its Longevity Patent developed with Harvard Medical School, the Premier Cru collection reactivates the skin’s youth mechanisms and provides a complete solution against all signs of ageing: wrinkles, dark spots, loss of volume, for skin that looks younger for longer.
20 years of the no. 1 dark spot corrector in France (3)
An iconic product in the Vinoperfect collection, millions of people have become fans of the Brightening Dark Spot Serum since it was created in 2005. It is effective on all types of dark spot (sun, age, acne, pregnancy, blue light), and formulated with patented Viniferine, an active ingredient that is 62X more effective than Vitamin C(4). Dermatologists in France prescribe it now. With 20 years of efficacy, 1 serum is sold every 15 seconds around the world(5)!
(1) In vitro test on the thickness of collagen fibres.
(2) GERSDATA – SOG EARLY – Face skincare category – Anti-ageing segment – in turnover on the pharmacy distribution circuit – in France – for CMA to March 2025.
(3) GERSDATA – SOG EARLY – Facial care category – Anti-pigmentation segment – based on sales in the pharmacy distribution channel – in France – on the CMA in January 2025.
(4) In vitro test on the inhibiting action of Viniferine on tyrosinase.
(5) Calculation based on internal Sell-in data from January 2024 to December 2024.
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