Caudalie

Wine is good for you – it’s official. Born in a Bordeaux vineyard in 1995, French beauty brand Caudelie has just opened its doors on this side of the Channel, with a boutique-cum-spa in Seven Dials. The décor of the store lies somewhere between a vineyard and a laboratory, with grape filled scientific beakers sitting on the counter tops, video screens playing footage of the grape fields in France and scientific theory chalked up on the walls. Caudelie has three patented anti-aging technologies, which have been developed from the sap and seeds of the grape plant, usually thrown away during the wine making process. Popular with French ladies, we were told in hushed tones by the store’s charming and ever-so-French manager, that it has also garnered a celebrity following, with the Beauty Elixir -- their cult facial spritz, inspired by Queen Isabella of Hungary's youth elixir --being its most well known product. As well as the knowledge you get to ingest a bit of booze with your beauty fix, customers can pop in to the new concept store for a free express treatment, where one of the store’s knowledgeable beauty therapists will cleanse away London’s pollution, while talking you through products they’re using – without forcing you to actually buy any of them. Or, if you feel as though the grime is too deep to be shifted in 15 minutes, are in need of some serious relaxation, or just have a little more time on your hands, then downstairs you will find a therapy suite offering a range of reasonably priced facials and massages. The beauty apothecaries can also rustle up a body scrub designed especially for you. Made from grape seeds and honey, they add essential oils from delicate glass jars lining the shelves – and are marketed without the irritating reverence pedalled by most beauty brands – the juniper oil is in a jar labelled “gin”. Ah, if only.