I was riding the high of clear, bouncy, perfect skin for the majority of my twenties, but once I hit 28, it’s like all of the skin cells in my face decided to take a sabbatical. I simultaneously started noticing darker spots, dryer patches, and little wrinkles — everywhere — which sent me into a skincare-obsessed spiral. Of course, when I consulted with my friends, they reassured me that they couldn’t notice a thing… but it’s not their skin.
Scouring the internet, for (I kid you not), “youth in a bottle,” I happened upon Vintner’s Daughter’s Active Botanical Serum, which I’m apparently late to the game on. The $185 bottle has a cult following among skincare fanatics, and for good reason. A quick browse through their website revealed that they’ve been consistently awarded “best face oil,” “best serum,” “best skincare product,” and a veritable array of other accolades from companies such as Harper’s Bazaar and GQ since 2017.
It didn’t take much to convince myself to order a bottle, and to be frank I hadn’t been concerned about what exactly was in it, as long as it did something to make me look more like a 21 year old. Thankfully, the reason it works so well is because it’s only formulated with 22 of the world’s most nutrient-rich plant-based botanicals sourced from all over the world. As the name suggests, founder April Gargiulo is the daughter of a winemaker, and the weeks-long process of nutrient extraction that makes this serum so potent was inspired by her father’s craft.
This serum was essentially designed to mitigate the effects of aging for every skin type. From uneven texture to acne and fine lines, the Active Botanical Serum’s nutrient-stack performs multiple different functions to leave skin looking flawless and feeling nourished.
I’ve dabbled in oils and skin serums for a few years now, but my skincare routine has always been relatively simple. Until I started using Vintner’s Daughter, there were no products that felt absolutely essential to my skincare routine. On top of the fact that the chic bottle makes me feel like I’m a client of Pat McGrath, the floral scent is completely intoxicating and almost enough of a reason for me to keep using it, even if I didn’t notice any results.
That said, this serum is the real deal. I follow the instructions on the bottle, so I cleanse and tone first, and then massage a few drops all over my face before bed and let it work its magic overnight. Maybe I’m misremembering, but I’m pretty sure that even after just one use I woke up with brighter, more hydrated skin. Regardless, I’ve been using it nightly for about a month and a half now, and I can definitely say that I’ll continue to use it for as long as Vintner’s Daughter makes it. My complexion is even, clear, and even…glowy?
There are so many skincare products out there, but this is the only one that I would recommend to every single person I know. It’s an investment into your skin, but one that pays off big-time.
