Joseph Vercauteren

Caudalie is a French skincare company, its trademark is grape-oriented skincare products.

History

After graduating from Skema Business School, Mathilde Thomas first took a job specializing in Perfume Series in Grasse.

In 1993, during the harvest of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Mathilde Thomas and her husband Bertrand Thomas met Professor Joseph Vercauteren of Pharmacy in Bordeaux, a polyphenols specialist, and his research team. Mr.Vercauteren shared one of his discoveries with them - that PCOs (procyanidolic oligomers) extracted from grape-seeds, are significantly more effective than vitamin E against free radicals.

In 1995, Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas launched Caudalie by developing a range of three products containing stabilized grape-seed polyphenols with anti-ageing properties. The name Caudalie means "the haunting scent of wine". The image of grape is always on the packages, it is also nicknamed as "Big Grape".

In 1999, Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas created their first Vinothérapie Spa in the grounds of Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Caudalie USA, a subsidiary, was founded in 2001.

Nowadays, Caudalie is a multi-channel French skincare company, specialising in anti-ageing, skincare, body care, fragrance & masks. Ingredients are derived from the grapevine.

The company is active in toxicology and ecology. It refuses to use artificial preservatives, mineral oil and animal by-products.

Moreover, Caudalie is very eco-friendly. As a keen member of some eco organizations such as WWF, Cœur de Forêt, 1% for the planet, it donates the part revenue for animal and forest.