Raves and Reviews: Caudalie's skincare

If there's one thing I love just as much as beauty products - perhaps even MORE than beauty products - it's wine. There's nothing like a glass of red wine after a long day filled with pivot tables and excel keyboard short-cutting. Mmmm. I know you know *exactly* what I mean. 

So really, how could I NOT get excited about a skincare line started by a vineyard using all-natural ingredients from their wine production. Enter - Caudalie. Yes, it's as sexy and French as it sounds. The story goes that two college sweethearts took a summer job at a winery and while he worked on the wine, she worked on the skincare. And then, viola! A very romantic premise to sell fancy cleaners and lotions was born. 

I'll admit it, I'm in love with the idea of this line - but I have actually tried it and I do like the stuff too. I just picked up the full anti-aging skincare line for my mom (not that you need it, mom) and so we'll get her full report on that soon. But I've tried a few things myself and really love them: 

Beauty Elixir (Sephora, $15 for 1 ounce)

This one is my favorite - It's a little hard to explain what it is because it really does everything. It's a toner, a fragrance, a primer, and a good way to set your makeup right before you walk out the door. My husband and I use it on our pillows at night (he's going to LOVE that I made that public) and I use it before my moisturizer in the mornings. I have friends at work who keep it at their desk and spritz a little whenever the number crunching starts to feel monotonous. It's a fun little treat that you can use so many ways - I've had the small bottle for a few months now and it's still going strong. 

Contour Cream for Eyes and Lips (Sephora, $53)

I know I'm young and shouldn't need wrinkle cream, but I swear to you -  I see the wrinkles. They're coming, I can just tell they are, and it makes me want to stop drinking through straws even though that means I'll be compromising the whiteness of my teeth. The world is full of cruel trade-offs . . . 

The reason I love this cream is that it's highly moisturizing - which is better for preventing wrinkles than hiding them. I got a sample of this with my last Sephora.com order and have been using the last week - in the short term, it works a lot like a makeup primer, making my foundation not crease so much in the little lines developing around my eyes and lips. But all the heavy duty moisturizers in it should be preventing more serious wrinkles from developing in the first place. For someone a little older who is more worried about hiding the wrinkles they already have, this may not be worth the price. But if you're 25 and hoping to put off that $100 eye cream you'll eventually feel compelled to buy - this will do the trick.