I have worshipped at the shrine – or rather, beauty counter – of Mathilde Thomas, ever since she founded Caudalie in 1995. Today, this French skincare brand has garnered a cult following and created a global spa empire, which has given the world a whole new beauty vocabulary, peppered with potent ingredients like vinotherapy, polyphenols and resvesterol.
Thomas holds a bagful of patents for grape-based skincare, many developed in association with leading dermatologists from the Harvard Medical School and Bordeaux University. No wonder products from Caudalie grace tables of the who’s-who of the beauty world, including Audrey Tatou and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. I, personally, cannot live without the Vinoperfect Radiance Serum.
So, imagine my delight when Thomas put out a book distilling the best tips, advice and beauty recipes she’s picked up over a lifetime of working deep in the beauty industry. From relaxing à la French to makeup tips and diet secrets (lots of wine and cheese!), The French Beauty Solution: Time-Tested Secrets to Look and Feel Beautiful Inside and Out is like having your own French BFF whispering life altering beauty advice into your ears.
My favourite section, however, is the one where she spills DIY beauty recipes from the Caudalie wine spa. Because what can be better than enjoying a bit of all-natural French beauty indulgence right at home? As an example, take a look at this brightening, smoothing and detoxifying grape seed scrub, which has quickly become my go-to for brighter, fresher skin.
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From Mathilde Thomas…
The great thing about this scrub is that you can customise it to your liking. Adding more sugar means more buffing power; adding more grape seeds means more scrubbing power. It smells wonderful as is, or you can add a few drops of your favourite essential oil for its therapeutic properties and luscious scent. Try lemon, geranium, rose, lavender, rosemary, or sandalwood.
You will need
1/4 cup organic brown sugar
2 tablespoons grape seeds
At least 1/3 cup grape-seed oil (add more if needed)
1/4 cup raw organic honey
A few drops of essential oil (optional)
Method
- Place the sugar and grape seeds in a microwavable bowl
- Pour on grape-seed oil until the sugar and seeds are fully saturated, then add the honey and essential oil, if using, and mix well
- Warm the mixture in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds (this step is optional)
- Massage into your skin before stepping into the shower, focusing on areas like elbows, knees and the backs of your thighs, and then rinse off
- Apply a nourishing body cream while your skin is still damp
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