There are only a few skincare brands as iconic and impressive as those that can boast a devout celebrity following. La Mer, Augustinus Bader, and Vintner's Daughter all fall under this category. Vintner's Daughter is a luxury skincare brand that uses plant-based, botanical ingredients to treat and transform the skin. Its Active Botanical Serum ($325) is so good that it's widely reported that A-listers like Hailey Bieber, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Tracee Ellis Ross use it. The brand's second product, the Active Treatment Essence ($225), also received a similar amount of fanfare and boasts the "it changed my skin" sort of testimonials.
Recently, Vintner's Daughter launched its third product: a cleanser. After using it for a couple of months, I can confidently say that it's a genuinely game-changing product. While a cleanser may not sound like the most exciting skincare product ever, this one has become the foundation of my daily skincare routine, and I've seen a visible improvement in my skin since using it. Keep reading to learn what makes this cleanser so special.
Here it is—the new Active Renewal Cleanser. Like all Vintner's Daughter products, this one contains a bevy of gentle yet effective plant ingredients. Alfalfa and bilberry soothe and provide antioxidants; cypress and butcher's broom reduce redness; ginkgo biloba leaf supports collagen production; Kakadu plum, dandelion, and citrus peel brighten the skin; mango-seed butter softens the skin; and echinacea encourages the skin to produce hyaluronic acid.
Before waxing poetic about why I love this cleanser so much, I want to provide some context. My skin is prone to dehydration and redness, and I have a mild case of rosacea that flares up when I get too hot, too cold, too stressed, too tired, or generally get out of balance in my routine (it's the bane of my existence). The redness is always at its worst on my cheeks and chin. This makes me cautious about testing new products, especially cleansers. If a cleanser is too harsh, it can cause redness and lead me straight to my foundation and concealer.
The brand's founder, April Gargiulo, assured me that this cleanser's combination of whole plant ingredients, along with its unique milky texture that acts as a double cleanse in one, wouldn't further irritate my skin. And she was right. After using this product continuously for a couple of months, I've noticed that my skin appears more hydrated, even, and radiant without any signs of excess irritation or redness.
I took this picture immediately after washing my face (which explains some of the redness). Trust me—it's not irritation. After a few minutes, my skin had a bright, glowing complexion. Using this cleanser consistently for a couple of months has made my skin feel soft, smooth, and most importantly, clean.
The Active Renewal Cleanser is a game changer, thanks to the combination of oil- and water-soluble ingredients that work together to act as a double cleanse in a single step. This product effectively removes sweat, sunscreen, dirt, oil, and makeup without stripping the skin. As soon as the milky texture hits my skin, I can see my sunscreen and makeup start to separate and dissolve.
I used the cleanser by itself for several weeks before introducing the brand's Active Treatment Essence and Active Botanical Serum into my skincare routine. Before trying the former, which was recommended by Gargiulo, she warned me that "it literally smells like kombucha. You're going to think it will irritate your skin, but it won't." And she was right again. Despite the strong, fermented smell, the product hydrates and soothes my irritation-prone skin. I spritz it into the palm of my hand, press my hands together, and apply it all over my face and neck.
So you might be wondering why this essence smells like kombucha. Well, it's all thanks to something called "Phyto Ferment." This two-week fermentation process produces beneficial probiotics and increases nutrient absorption, resulting in that unique smell. But believe me. It's worth it for all the amazing ingredients packed into this bottle, including stabilized vitamin C, B vitamins, hyaluronic acid, probiotics, plant stem cells, and various superfood ingredients.
The last step of my skincare routine is using the Active Botanical Serum, which happens to be the original product from Vintner's Daughter. It is praised for being a multifunctional treatment that offers a range of benefits, including essential minerals, brightening vitamins, antioxidants to combat free radicals, and moisturizing fatty acids.
I only use the serum at night because it feels like a face oil and provides deep moisture. When combined with my glowy sunscreen formula during the day, it can make my skin look a little too shiny for my liking. Despite using it once a day, I've noticed that my skin appears brighter, softer, and visibly plumper.
More Gentle Cleansers I Love
I love that this cleanser offers a burst of vitamin C. The subtle citrus scent never fails to wake me up in the morning.
This cleanser has ceramides in it to moisturize dry skin, leaving your skin feeling soft and supple all day long.
This gel cleanser doesn't strip my skin, leaving it feeling refreshed and nourished.
This cleanser is so gentle on my skin, making it perfect for daily use and reducing the risk of irritation and redness that can come with harsher cleansers.
This is a drugstore classic because of its affordable price, effectiveness in removing impurities, and ability to leave the skin feeling soft and hydrated.
This is my favorite oil cleanser for a double cleanse, especially when I'm trying to do a deep clean of my face.
I've literally been using this cleanser since I was 16 and it has been my go-to through all of life's skin changes.
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