Spots are like an unwelcome house guest – they crop up at the least convenient time and then refuse to budge. But seeing as we’re not gatekeeping, here’s the thing to remember: everyone gets spots, even beauty editors, and I’ve certainly had my fair share.
In my late teens and early twenties, I suffered with bad hormonal acne. While that has calmed down now, I still get breakouts in summery temperatures and a big ’ol chin-hugger around the time of my period. For those reasons, I’ve tested a tonne of blemish ranges in my career, but the Caudalie Vinopure anti-blemish collection is the one that always delivers.
There are a couple of reasons why it has earned its place on my bathroom shelf. First of all, the formulas are impressive. A lot of products designed for blemish-prone skin use harsh and abrasive ingredients to wither away a spot. Caudalie takes a different approach.
Born in the heart of the Bordeaux region, on the Château Smith Haut Lafitte wine-growing estate, Caudalie is a family-owned, French skincare brand that draws on active ingredients from its vines and grapes. The brand is renowned for using patented, science-backed natural ingredients, which are effective but also soothing for the skin. And the Vinopure anti-blemish range is no different.
You’ll find polyphenols – powerful antioxidants that protect skin cells – derived from grape seeds and organic grape water to hydrate. Plus, the only salicylic acid Caudalie uses to unclog pores is of 100% natural origin and extracted from Wintergreen leaves rather than a synthetic version.
The first product in the range that I tried was the Caudalie Vinopure Blemish Control Salicylic Serum and it’s just been reformulated so it’s even better than ever. As well as natural salicylic acid, polyphenols and niacinamide, the new formula also contains gluconolactone to gently exfoliate. Plus, the Blemish Control Salicylic Serum works on all types of blemishes, from whiteheads and blackheads to spots and enlarged pores, from the very first day you use it – all without disrupting the delicate skin barrier. Clinical tests even showed that 86% of blemishes were reduced in seven days*.
The heavenly natural scent of this collection also deserves a special mention. Rather than smell medicinal, every Vinopure product smells like a spa, so you’ll actually look forward to tackling your breakouts. At the end of the day, spots are natural, so why shouldn’t the solution be natural, too?
My 5-step Caudalie Vinopure routine
When breakouts strike, the first step in my Caudalie Vinopure routine is the Purifying Gel Cleanser, which I use morning and night to wash away impurities. I like that it’s soap- and sulphate-free so, even though it lathers up into a light foam, it doesn’t dry out my skin or leave my face feeling tight and uncomfortable.
Then I add a few drops of the Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner to a cotton pad and swipe it across my face to tighten my pores. It contains organic rose water, to help slow down oil production, and no fewer than six purifying essential oils, including lavender, peppermint and geranium. I like how it leaves my skin feeling fresh and takes down shine on my T-zone.
The hero of the range, though, is Caudalie’s Vinopure Blemish Control Salicylic Serum, which I apply twice-daily to affected areas when spots strike. With no fewer than six purifying patents, it’s become a firm favourite for taking the redness and swelling out of a spot, and it’s even suitable for sensitive skin. Bonus points go to the sustainable packaging as the serum bottle is made from recycled glass and plastic**.
Just got one or two bothersome spots? Try Caudalie’s Vinopure Salicylic Spot Solution, a targeted spot cream that’s small enough to carry in your makeup bag. The salicylic acid and anti-inflammatory tea tree oil in the formula dry out a spot, while the light-green tint neutralises any redness when you apply concealer over the top.
Finally, there’s the Caudalie Vinopure Moisturizing Mattifying Fluid. It’s easy to forget that acne-prone skin still needs hydration, but this refreshing fluid leaves skin moisturised yet mattified thanks to the inclusion of plant squalane and natural silica powder. The new 60ml size is super convenient, too, as you can take it in your hand luggage when you fly.
Shop on caudalie.com.
*Clinical study on 43 volunteers
**Excluding multi-material pumps and caps, recyclable only in Caudalie’s stores through the TerraCycle partnership.
