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Beauty entrepreneur April Gargiulo marks a decade of Vintner’s Daughter with a third product launch.
It is not uncommon to hear great winemakers refer to their grandchildren—even before they have children of their own. Their perception of time is different and that difference is vital to their success. Though such patience may be uncommon, it is unsurprising to learn that April Gargiulo has made it a foundational part of her approach. Founder of the insider-favorite skincare brand Vintner’s Daughter, the entrepreneur who grew up in a Napa Valley family with decades-long roots in winemaking, is launching the third product, 10 years in the making, of her curated lineup. She makes that decision seem, well, natural.
“I consider myself incredibly lucky to have spent so much time in the winemaking community that places such a high value on craftsmanship and quality,” Gargiulo notes. “The same ethos that fuels the passion behind fine winemaking is what fuels my quest to make the finest skincare.”
“I consider myself incredibly lucky to have spent so much time in the winemaking community that places such a high value on craftsmanship and quality,” Gargiulo notes. “The same ethos that fuels the passion behind fine winemaking is what fuels my quest to make the finest skincare.”
That essential trio—and, of course, the company name— brings to mind the trinity of sun, soil, and water that serve as the essential ingredients in fine wine. But such simplicity can be hard-won. While more basic skincare approaches are au courant today, such a sensibility was far from the norm a decade ago.
“I love that minimalist skincare is a thing now,” Gargiulo says—while staying modest about being ahead of the curve. “Skin doesn’t need 10 steps. By making products with higher quality whole plant ingredients, we can deliver far more results in just three steps. It’s so freeing. But this was a foreign concept 10 years ago at the height of the 25-step Korean skincare trend. No retailer wanted to bring us in. They didn’t understand how to discuss or even merchandise what we were doing. A lot has changed since then. In many of the retailers that initially told us no, we are their number one brand by sales, so that’s fun.”
Indeed, Gargiulo enjoys her work. The company recently received B-Corp status, a point of pride, and the founder is especially excited about a (still secret) limited edition product coming this summer. Seeking to address her skin issues, Gargiulo researched top luxury products, only to find them lacking in the natural sensibilities. This was the catalyst for establishing her own brand. “We are extraordinarily disciplined around our mission to only create formulas that have a radically positive impact on our community’s skin, their life, and our shared world,” she says. “These are incredibly high standards to live up to, and our community deserves nothing less. And, it has been so amazing to see. People develop entirely different relationships with their skin after using Vintner’s Daughter. It goes from one of struggle to one of celebration, joy, and gratitude.”
Who wouldn’t toast to that?
