“Caudalie's next challenge is to increase the effectiveness of our products using fewer ingredients,” explains Mathilde Thomas, founder of the brand, from a terrace overlooking Madrid's Gran Vía. Promoter and pioneer of clean beauty for the skin and the planet, she has not stopped until she found a new generation of vegan collagen extracted from an Australian plant and grown in Tarragona in vertical agriculture, the sustainable bet that seems to be going to revolutionize the future of natural cosmetics.
This new active has been included in all the formulas of the renewed Resveratrol-Lift line, developed in collaboration with a true antiaging guru, Dr. David Sinclair, from Harvard Medical School. “It stimulates three different types of collagen, the results are noticeable much sooner (18 days in the Cashmere cream) and, to gain firmness, it is three times more effective than retinol without its side effects,” says Mathilde. “We believe in alternatives,” she adds.
Why vegan collagen?
Because it is a great activator and multiplies the effectiveness of the product, among other things. The one generally used in cosmetics is extracted from cows, sheep, shrimp shells... We wanted to offer an effective plant solution to the decrease in collagen with age (up to 30% less when reaching fifty), with the loss of firmness and volume that it entails.
He was in his twenties when he created Caudalie. What has he learned in 28 years at the helm of the brand?
That skin problems must be solved with a touch of fun. We need to get rid of spots, pimples, imperfections, keep the skin well hydrated and defend it from the negative effects of the sun, but if it is done in a pleasant and fun way, consistency is much easier.
Is beauty a lifestyle?
I associate it with nature, which is incredibly beautiful, and yes, with a balanced lifestyle.
Can aging be reversed? There is more and more talk about it...
Dr. Sinclair believes that aging is a disease and that it can be cured. To achieve this, he doesn't eat a lot, he doesn't drink alcohol, he bathes in cold water, he ingests a lot of resveratrol specifically for men... All of that is not for me (laughs).
What has been your greatest success at the helm of Caudalie?
The Vinoperfect Anti-Stain Glow Serum, without a doubt. Its texture is magnificent and it is a best seller all over the world. The curious thing is that it is not used the same in all countries, in Europe we use it under sunscreen to prevent stains; in the US to minimize acne scars… works wonders! It works very well on dark skin and lighter skin types because it helps a lot to define and improve tone.
Vertical cultivation seems to have a lot to say in new cosmetics…
It is extremely interesting. We are even trying to grow wine in vertical farms to obtain molecules such as viniferin with a stable and precise quality and quantity, because it is not subject to the whims of the climate.
Is sustainability the new luxury?
Yes, we are all more aware of climate change and we have to do something about it. Reduce our carbon footprint, for example.
The next challenge?
We are constantly reinventing our products to make them even more effective. I don't think we can make them cleaner or more natural anymore. We have a list of 73 ingredients that are prohibited in our formulas…
A couple of years ago there were 65…
Yes, and I think they're all there now. The next challenge is to increase effectiveness with fewer ingredients and making them more local. Less is more.
Before creating Caudalie I was going to be a perfumer. To what extent is perfume important in a cream?
More than on the smell for pure enjoyment, we focus on those that have some beneficial action for the skin. Our Vinopure anti-acne line includes a cocktail of six essential oils proven effective in eliminating pimples and treating bacteria. I am very careful with perfumes in face creams.
