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From Waste To Wonder: 3 Sustainable Wine-Based Beauty Brands
Made with nutrient-rich winemaking byproducts, the creams, balms and serums from these sustainable labels won’t give you flushed cheeks – they’ll give you a serious glow
Wine gets a bad rap when it comes to skin health, mainly due to the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Winemaking, however, has its benefits, producing a nutrient-dense byproduct called pomace following the first grape press.
Once considered a waste product, only nominally useful as a fertiliser, pomace is now recognised as a valuable natural resource. It contains antioxidant polyphenols like resveratrol (from the grape skins) and proanthocyanidins (from the seeds), as well as flavonoids, phenolic acids and anthocyanins (pigments in the skins).
Then there’s grape seed oil, which is rich in vitamin E and linoleic acid that create a protective barrier to lock in moisture. Tannins, mostly present in the seeds and skins, serve as a natural wine preservative and protect plants against pests. They have a stringent, tonifying quality that you can feel on your palate when you drink certain red wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Nebbiolo, and even some white wines that have been macerated on their skins for an extended period, known as “orange” wines. When applied externally, the skin can benefit from the powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the tannins.
From Vineyard To Vanity
These three brands have harnessed the power of the vine to produce cosmetics that are as luxurious as they are effective. Add in their eco-conscious ethos and commitment to sustainability, and you have more than enough reason to feel better about your latest beauty binge – and maybe even your next glass of wine.
KORRES
This beloved Greek beauty brand was founded in 1996 by chemical engineer Lena Philippou and pharmacist Giorgos Korres. United by a love for nature and a fascination with ancient Greek remedies, they created a sustainable brand, working with local farmers and overseeing every aspect of the process, from sourcing to harvesting, processing, production and packaging. As Lena says, “We own every step,” thus assuring quality and purity.
[Photos courtesy of KORRES © Margarita Nikitaki]
Santorini grapes, primarily Assyrtiko, are some of the most resilient grapes on Earth. Starved for nutrients at the foot of Santorini’s volcano, they’re enriched by the minerals in the ashy soil and survive arid conditions by the grace of Aegean Sea mist. As Lena explains, “This grape variety has existed for more than 3,000 years and is one of the greatest examples of self-regeneration in nature.”
The science: a zero-waste extraction process following harvest harnesses the antioxidant-rich, regenerative properties of the grape seeds and skins. KORRES’ proprietary ingredient, Santorini grape extract, nourishes the skin and improves texture. Condensed tannins remove excess oil and reduce the appearance of pores.
In 2021, Korres partnered with the Union of Santorini Cooperatives and Santo Wines to launch the Santorini Velvet Skin Drink. Part dry oil and part serum, it lives up to its name and remains a bestseller. The line has since expanded to include a skin cream, a volcanic skin-reset mask and, most recently, a skin-perfecting toner that premiered in September.
[Photos courtesy of KORRES © Margarita Nikitaki]
Pelegrims
Pelegrims was created by Alex Verier, a former director at sustainable cosmetic brand Haeckels, and Jerome Moisan, a former tech executive, wine lover, and certified sommelier with WSET Level 3 training.
Together, they’ve implemented proven science alongside a craft wine sensibility – single-vineyard, single-vintage authenticity, low-intervention farming practices, and small-batch vinification. They strive for a hyper-local supply chain and in-house production to ensure unmatchable quality.
Their core range is sourced from Westwell Wines, an English vineyard known for its regenerative farming practices and sought-after cuvees by winemaker Adrian Pike. Pelegrims creates extracts from grape skins, seeds, stalks, young vine leaves and even sap collected during the pruning of Pinot Noir and Ortega plants.
[Photos courtesy of Pelegrims]
The line is vast and includes products for both face and body, like their quintessential Face Balm, which contains grape seed oil as well as Pinot Noir grape skin and seed extract, among other naturally derived oils and compounds.
Pelegrims’ latest venture, set to launch this autumn, is a limited release of products derived from a pre-phylloxera, un-grafted vineyard plot on the northern slopes of Mount Etna, Federico Graziani.
In addition to the grape’s antioxidant and tonifying attributes, the mineral-rich soils and hydrothermal waters in the area surrounding the still-active volcano have demonstrated remarkable healing properties. Verier and Moisan are optimistic that the resilience and vibrancy of everything that grows on Etna will translate to healthy, glowing skin.
[Photos courtesy of Pelegrims]
Puravitis
Lavinia and Matteo Marenda grew up among the grapevines and olive groves on their grandparents’ estate, Sesta di Sopra, in Tuscany. Located in Montalcino, the winery was founded out of a desire to reconnect with Italy’s winemaking heritage in a part of the country where ancient Etruscans paved the way for modern viticulture.
The family renovated a historic watchtower and farmhouse, recovered olive trees and planted new vineyards. Approaching retirement, founders Enrica and Ettore describe their connection to and care for the land as “a dream”. Their grandchildren, poised to take the reins of the winery, imagined Puravitis as their own connection to the land. For a relatively young winery – Sesta di Sopra planted their first vines in the early 1990s – they’ve had extraordinary success thanks to state-of-the-art viticulture and a commitment to sustainability.
[Photo courtesy of Puravitis]
For Lavinia and Matteo, utilising the pomace following the wine press for quality cosmetics is an innovative way to connect to the land and share the story of their cherished terroir. The small but comprehensive line includes a serum, a face cream, a scrub and a shower gel, all built around antioxidant-rich polyphenols in the form of grape seed extract. The Exfolio Vinea scrub is particularly luxurious. It contains grape seed and almond oils, as well as gentle microgranules from the grape skins for a nonabrasive, ultrasmooth finish, just like their winery’s prized bottles of Brunello.
[Photos courtesy of Puravitis]
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