'I have an emotional connection to Beauty Elixir, which has such a unique history. It embodies my freedom to create products that are unlike anything else, yet become essential to all women. This exceptional elixir can be found in the beauty kits of the greatest make-up artists as well as in celebrity bathrooms.'
Mathilde Thomas

Beauty Elixir
A look back at a success story
Once upon a time, there was a book of spells found on the banks of the Seine, in Paris. A recipe was found in it for the youth elixir used by the Queen of Hungary in the 16th century. It is said that she charmed the King of Poland, thirty-five years her junior, with her radiant complexion. Following this discovery, Mathilde Thomas, who was in the process of establishing Caudalie, decided to rework the original formula and create a contemporary version, more in line with the expectations of today's women for instant radiance.

In 1997, Beauty Elixir was born. And what is the recipe for this versatile natural cocktail, part mist and part toner? Benzoin to soothe the skin, myrrh to tone, essential oils of rosemary to energize and lemon balm and peppermint to stimulate, along with orange blossom to soften, rose for radiance and, of course, moisturizing and radiance-enhancing grape pulp extract, Caudalie's flagship ingredient.

Actresses, stylists, and models instantly adopted it, and this mist with its unique, addictive fragrance quickly became a cult product. It can be applied to tired skin in the morning and/or before a night out for instant radiance. Actresses spray it on to their faces multiple times a day to tighten pores and smooth features. Backstage at runway shows, professionals apply it between foundation and powder to set makeup.

For all these loyal fashion clients, Mathilde Thomas partnered up with luxury fashion designer and friend, Jason Wu. Jason Wu is a long time Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa client and more so a loyal Caudalie fan. The Jason Wu for Caudalie signature bottle embodies modern femininity. It’s dressed in a meticulous, detailed lace from his 2016 spring/summer collection and topped with the architectural light gold hardware that echoes the signature hardware in Jason Wu accessories.

Mathilde Thomas
Passionate about natural, effective and glamorous beauty rituals, Mathilde Thomas draws inspiration from nature and the people she meets to create all her products. Mathilde Thomas, author of “The French Beauty Solution”, released in 2015, is a French beauty expert and shares her time tested beauty secrets to the American women. In August 2015 Mathilde moved with her husband and family to Hong Kong to discover new innovation in the beauty industry. For all these women that Mathilde has met on her journey from France, to New York, to Hong Kong, she noticed they all share the same passion for the Beauty Elixir, an essential element to their beauty routine. In 1995, after discovering the extraordinary anti-oxidant properties of grape polyphenols, Mathilde Thomas founded Caudalie together with her husband Bertrand. The cosmetics brand, in alignment with their eco-commitment and Vinotherapie Spa’s around the world, continue to enjoy global success.

Jason Wu
Born in Taiwan and raised in Canada, the designer currently works in New York. His clients include actresses such as Reese Witherspoon and Julianne Moore as well as Diane Kruger. Jason Wu studied at the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York and launched his eponymous label in 2007. Jason Wu has emerged as a leading global talent with a distinctively feminine aesthetic. Through merging modern American sportswear elements with a sophisticated attitude he has created timeless classics with a refined sensibility.

Joint interview
Mathilde Thomas & Jason Wu
They work in different fields but are both committed to enhancing the beauty of women. In New York, we met with Mathilde Thomas,
creator of Caudalie, and Jason Wu, one of its enthusiastic fans.

How did the two of you meet?
Mathilde Thomas: Jason Wu is a loyal customer of our Spa at The Plaza Hotel in New York and a fan of our Vinothérapie treatments, our products and more particularly our Beauty Elixir, which he systematically gives his make-up artists as part of backstage preparations for his fashion shows. That's how we met. I discovered his work and fell in love with his style, so I naturally swooned over the idea to have him dress my Beauty Elixir.

Jason Wu: I was invited to go to the Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa at The Plaza before The MET Gala a few years ago and that’s where I fell in love with the products. It was amazing. It felt very personal. The brand’s attention to detail is wonderful. You can really feel Mathilde’s attention to detail and I love what she’s created. I first met Mathilde Thomas at the Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa at The Plaza. We connected at first meeting. She discussed her inspiration behind the brand and we shared similar stories; my mother directly influenced where I am today and Mathilde’s family’s vineyard in Bordeaux is where Caudalie was born.

What's the idea behind this Collector's Edition?
Jason Wu: The Beauty Elixir is an impeccably crafted product. Both Caudalie and Jason Wu have an emphasis on crafting luxurious products that have the utmost attention to detail. When thinking about “dressing” the bottle I imagined how I intend to dress the Jason Wu woman, which is about refinement and sophistication. The lace-a code of the house, which I decided to apply to the outside of the Beauty Elixir bottle, is from my spring/summer 2016 collection. It is five individual laces embroidered together to form one piece. Each lace itself is incredibly delicate and seamed together by hand. I felt like this piece really embodied both brands in terms of craftsmanship and rare beauty.
We had to recreate the pattern by hand to dress the bottle. We created a customized logo that worked in synergy among both brands, sketched the pattern on the bottle and dressed the top with a luxurious gold hardware found in the Jason Wu accessories that added the finishing touch.

Mathilde Thomas: Jason’s Showroom is just two blocks from the Caudalie New York offices so we were able to meet in person to discuss the design. I was so inspired by his intricate details of the lace he created for his spring/summer 2016 Collection that we knew it would fit perfectly on the bottle. For the design of the cap, we went with a signature gold accent on the Jason Wu Diane Bag. The result is a fine, sophisticated, luxurious object reflecting the world of fashion.

How do you personally use Beauty Elixir?
Jason Wu: I distinctly remember the first time I used the Caudalie Beauty Elixir. A friend gifted me a bottle for Christmas and I could not believe what a dynamic product it is. I use it once in the morning straight out of the shower and to refresh throughout the day - it is especially great during show prep! The light scent of mint is a perfect refresher throughout the day and it immediately makes me feel revived.

Mathilde Thomas: I had started using it even before it was launched. I use it in the morning and always on a long flight. I have a large bottle at home and the
travel size in my purse. I swear, I must spray Beauty Elixir on my face at least twenty times a day!

Available on August 15th in our stores and on www.caudalie.com

BEAUTY ELIXIR Jason Wu Edition
30ml: £11.50 (UK), $18 (US), $19 (Canada)
100ml: £32 (UK), $49 (US), $53 (Canada)