IT’S PRETTY EASY TO SEE that everything Brad Pitt touches turns to gold (or grapes), which is why it should come as no surprise that when I heard he had ventured into the world of age-defying skincare using super potent antioxidants from Southern French vineyard grapes, I just had to try it.
Beau Domaine came to be when Brad connected with Marc Perrin, a fifth-generation wine grower from the famed Famille Perrin vineyard located in Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhône Valley. With a joint love for wine, Provence, and a deep respect for the earth, the like-minded duo initially joined forces to restore Pitt’s eventual brand, Miraval (of which Perrin currently resides as CEO).
Perrin shared, “We spent 10 years trying to understand exactly how it all works and how to compare [grape] varieties. We ended up with a formula that maximizes the antioxidant effects of the different varieties. After that, the idea of a cosmetics brand soon followed.”
Now, their inclusive line of skincare is combining science and “terroir” to both slow the signs of aging while also helping people support their own natural aging process by “being at one with Nature and their own nature.”
As a woman in my mid-thirties, who is trying to figure out how to “age gracefully” without losing my vitality, I couldn’t wait to see what Beau Domaine had in store for me. I’m about to spill all the tea (or more accurately, wine).
Aging Like Brad Pitt
Leveraging science in skincare is not a novel concept, but maximizing active ingredients derived from grapevines certainly is.
In perfecting the Beau Domaine formula for over 10 years, the Famille Perrin team enlisted the help of Dr. Pierre-Louis Teissedre and Dr. Nicolas Lévy, M.D. to create extremely potent and proven active ingredients—ProGr3® and GSM10®.
Before we dive into these extremely special antioxidants, let’s first do a quick refresh on premature aging and oxidative stress.
Dr. Teissedre explained that oxidative stress is “a continuous process that becomes more pronounced as we get older. We need this oxidation to live, but it also damages part of our DNA, among other things.” This stress, which is produced from the imbalance between free radicals and the body’s inability to neutralize these toxic compounds, leads to our cells being compromised long term. Bad sleep, too much sun, inflammatory foods, stress, pollution—you name it, your body is combating free radicals at any given moment.
Enter Beau Domaine’s proprietary antioxidants:
ProGr3® | After studying progeria, an exceedingly rare disease that accelerates aging among children, Dr. Lévy created ProGeLife in the hopes of treating the condition cosmetically.
Through that research, he identified natural molecules present in plant extracts that help reduce the toxicity of progerin and therefore developed a combination of three molecules: one derived from resveratrol from grapevine tendrils, a second from apigenin from chamomile extract, and a third from catechin in green tea—all of which are incorporated into every product in the Beau Domaine line.
Through rigorous, dermatologically-monitored testing, ProGr3® had a profound effect on progerin’s toxicity as well as other biomarkers of aging.
GSM10® | GSM10® is a patented formula created solely from natural active ingredients specific to the Rhône Valley terroir, derived from Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre grape pomace from Famille Perrin wines.
Given that antioxidants are the key to the kingdom when it comes to fighting oxidative stress, Dr. Teissedre turned to the Famille Perrin grapes as an excellent source of available, natural antioxidants.
They studied the effects of Grenache pomace, Syrah pomace, and Carignan pomace to understand how these multiple varieties would help reduce hypertension compared to pharmaceutical molecules.
“Our work demonstrated that adding certain extracts from pomace could have an effect on chronic conditions that involve oxidative stress,” Dr. Teissedre said.
The Beau Domaine Lineup
I had the luxury of trying Beau Domaine’s Luxury Collection, which adds a chic spin on sustainability. Each one of their products is topped with an oak cap that was hand carved in the French mountains, meant to be reused or saved as a keepsake to remember that you once dabbled in Brad Pitt-worthy luxury.
The unboxing experience alone felt like Brad was in my home, proposing…a new skincare ritual to me, which therefore made me not want to open any of it and just hold it close forever, but I didn’t do that. I used everything.
Here is everything I got to try.
THE CLEANSING EMULSION | No matter what stage of life I’m in, I yearn for a gel foaming cleanser. The Cleansing Emulsion facial cleanser is an extremely gentle, twice-daily, antioxidant-heavy cleanser that left my skin refreshed and revitalized every time I used it. I, of course, followed directions (because the French know how to do everything better), and only needed two-to-three pumps for a super effective cleanse. Oh, and it smells like a dream.
THE SERUM | The bell of the ball has arrived on your bathroom shelf. The Serum is super lightweight and highly-concentrated with the line’s patented active ingredients. Admittedly, it became one of my favorite parts of my routine. I noticed that my skin looked extra plump and smooth after just one week of use, and I only needed two pumps to see visible results.
THE FLUID CREAM | As someone who runs dry on the skin spectrum, my biggest concern with day creams is always, “Will this be moisturizing enough for day-long hydration?” The Fluid Cream—another antioxidant holy grail—took my skin by surprise with its super lightweight, melty texture that somehow managed to keep my face looking glowy and matte at the same time. My cheeks had a youthful flush, as if I had just enjoyed a glass of Grenache, without any of the inflammation (or bloating that ensues after).
THE CREAM | Nicki Minaj once said, “Now look at what you just saw, this is what you live for,” and I think she may have been talking about The Cream. I opted to use this as my night cream to help set my skin up for some optimal repair. Thicker than The Fluid Cream, this rich, whipped cream soothed my skin and absorbed instantly. I woke up every morning to notice that the line on the top of my forehead was starting to fade. Magic!
30 Days Later: Was It Worth It?
Celebrity skincare brands are often a whole lot of hype and not a lot of results to back it up. Such was not the case with Beau Domaine. I went into my skinsperiment, wondering if I would notice any difference—especially because my work lends itself to trying a lot of different skincare brands without much difference in my skin.
After a month with Brad Pitt’s skincare line, I noticed my complexion significantly improved. Acne scars I had hanging around seemed to lighten, and my NLFs (nasal labial folds) were less noticeable. All of the products were easily absorbed and efficacious, lasting way beyond my 30-day mark since I only needed two-ish pumps of everything. Yes, it is on the pricier side, but I’m a big believer that supporting a healthier aging process can be more of an investment as I progress into my mid-third decade (does that make any sense?)
Beau Domaine claims that “aging is the best thing that has ever happened to us,” and if that’s good enough for Brad Pitt—well—then it’s good enough for me.
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