TFI Talks: Vintner's Daughter April Gargiulo
Here, she shares her personal skincare routine, why being stubborn is an asset + her holiday gifts to give and receive
This newsletter is about sharing my personal recommendations—products and people that make my life better in a myriad of ways. I don’t ever want to become that writer who plugs random toothpaste or skincare products for sponsorship that I obviously don’t use (that is why I ask you, dear reader, to subscribe, because your support allows me to keep it real). While January is typically when people post about winter skincare routines, I thought you might enjoy a “holiday everything” break.
Vintner’s Daughter products have been a part of my tightly edited beauty routine for years. Its founder, April Gargiulo, is also one of my favorite entrepreneurs. We had a chance to grab lunch when I was in SF recently; April is the kind of woman you want to have on your side—passionate about women’s causes, supportive of other’s endeavors, fun and frank.
One of the hardest things to do if you have a brand is to stay hyper-focused, to ignore the noise and the continuous demand for “something new”. It takes guts and a substantial amount of stubbornness to achieve. April has managed to do just that. She’s celebrating 10 years in the business and she only has three products. The first five years, she only had one, her Botanical Serum. But you can build a solid business on something when it’s that good. Vintner’s is the beauty epitome of fewer, better things.
Winter weather is prime Vintner’s Daughter time (at least it is for me). My skin can’t get enough. So, I asked April to answer a few ?s to share with you.
Your brand epitomizes the idea of doing one thing and doing it very well. It's almost radical that you've made it 10 years in the industry with only three products. How have you managed to stay so laser focused?
For a product to wear a Vintner’s Daughter label, it must be game-changing, category defining and deliver multi-beneficial results. These are very high standards that take years to achieve. I like to say that we move at the speed of quality. Of course, creating product after product increases your sales, but we are not driven by revenue; we are driven by our mission to create healthy, balanced skin. We know that with fewer, but better quality products, we can affect the skin in deeper ways, ways that bring about lasting health, balance and vitality to the skin. When you apply Active Renewal Cleanser followed by Active Treatment Essence and Active Botanical Serum, your skin receives all the hydration, moisture, nutrition, and plant actives it needs to be its most beautiful self. Sustainability is also critical to our mission, and a ‘less but more’ philosophy is better for our planet, so it’s a win/win.
You also refuse to cut corners both in your ingredients and process. This is something that is praised in the luxury arena but isn't so much in beauty. Why the slower, more expensive way of creating beauty products?
That refusal to cut corners or take shortcuts is the same ethos I saw growing up in the winemaking world. If I didn’t have the background I have, growing up in Napa Valley and being exposed to the incredibly dedicated and quality-obsessed people perfecting their craft there, I would never have been able to create Vintner’s Daughter. Just like fine winemaking, our formulations begin by sourcing the world for the finest quality plants and then honoring those plants through weeks-long, temperature-controlled processes.
When I first began looking for a place to make Active Botanical Serum I was turned away over and over again by the top labs in the country. They told me that no one makes products the way I wanted to. The labs told me that they would only do it if we changed our formulations to use “faster, cheaper” alternatives. Again, coming from the winemaking world where a bottle of wine takes three years to make, three weeks felt like nothing to me. Had I not had that strong respect for the time it takes to make something truly exceptional, I would have backed down and accepted their lower quality options.
What is your beauty routine? Do you have any tips for getting the most out of your products? What else do you add to your regimen either daily or monthly?
For skincare, you can guess how paired back I am. I don't believe in extensive routines. I want fewer steps that do more. Our new Active Renewal Cleanser has really stepped up my routine as it makes everything you use after it work better. This includes Active Treatment Essence which I love for its supercharged brightening, firming, and balancing actives. I seal everything in with Active Botanical Serum which I massage into my skin for 30-60 seconds. It’s so nice to know that my skin receives everything it needs to be its most balanced and healthy with just three super comprehensive and high quality, clean steps. For makeup, I’m really simple and skin forward. I like Saie SPF, and the Rye brow gel is great. The Westman Atelier cream blush is a go-to as well as everything Kjaer Weis and RMS.
How does your approach to slow beauty trickle into other areas of your life?
I try to hold on to our “fewer with better” philosophy in all areas of my life. Instead of looking for new routines, I am always looking for ways to simplify the routines that I do have. Instead of rushing do say “yes” to everything, I am always looking for ways to focus and deepen my connection to the things that mean the most to me. That means I have to say “no” quite a bit of the time, even if it’s events, opportunities or partnerships that would be lucrative or fun. Ultimately, it’s my choice and I don’t always make the right ones, but it’s very clear when I don’t. My body immediately tells me. I’m getting better at listening and honoring those feelings, but it’s not always easy.
Finally, it's the holiday season....what are your favorite gifts to give and what are ones on your list you'd love to receive?
I love to give cookbooks as gifts. I have given Super Natural Everyday by Hedi Swanson and Cook Beautiful by Athena Calderone to more people than I can count. I also love anything from Carter & Co., one of my favorite artisan shops in Napa. I could make a case for anything there being the perfect gift.
Ultimately, I love to give those on my holiday list not just a gift, but an experience. This fall, Stanley Ranch unveiled their Vintner’s Daughter Ultimate Facial, which is my dream facial with all the bells and whistles. A spa day at Stanley Ranch’s stunning Napa property, a wine tasting at Gargiulo Vineyards, or a cooking class at the Culinary Institute of America are some of the best gifts I can think of.
Thank you April!
I hope you all are enjoying these early holiday days….back to random fashion bits next post.
xx Jennifer
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