The Truth About Superfoods in Skincare

Since day one, we have refused to follow skincare trends. Our goal is to help you build a skincare ritual that will support your skin long-term, regardless of what the industry claims is the "next best thing." Today, we're breaking down a recent trend in skincare: what "superfoods" actually are, how they work and which claims are just marketing.

Recently, the term "superfoods" has become a popular way to describe skincare ingredients. In the kitchen, we use the word "superfoods" to describe fruits, seeds, greens and algae with an unusual density of nutrients. The vitamin C in an acerola cherry and the healthy fats in an avocado are classic examples. But the skincare industry has borrowed the term to describe formulas made with these same plants, with the promise that what nourishes the body can nourish the skin as well.

It is more than fair to be skeptical. As the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health puts it, "There's no scientifically based or regulated definition for superfood," and yet many products have begun to use the label indiscriminately. A few drops of an isolated plant extract, added near the end of a long ingredient list, can earn a claim on the front of the bottle while doing little for your skin. Heavily processed extracts can lose much of what made the plant valuable in the first place.

But applying raw plants directly to your skin is not the answer, either, as this does not guarantee they will be able to penetrate the skin barrier. A formula that sits on the surface of your skin never delivers its nutrients where they can make a difference. So, when do superfoods in skincare effectively support your skin?

Superfood Skincare Formulation That Actually Works

At Vintner's Daughter, we have been using nutrient-dense whole plants to engineer powerful skincare results since long before the term "superfood" was trending. Our formulas are built around the world's finest botanical ingredients, given the time to release their full spectrum of nutrients and designed to be deeply absorbed, for skin that looks and feels radiantly alive.

A whole plant holds a complete community of nutrients, just as nature made it, and those nutrients are most powerful when they stay together. Through our proprietary Phyto Radiance Infusion, we source the world's finest whole plants, rich with the actives your skin needs to be its very best, and meticulously infuse these nutrients into our formulas over a minimum of 21 days.

We work at the speed of quality, spending 66 times longer than the industry average to make each bottle, because time is what allows each plant to release its vitamins, fatty acids and other valuable nutrients for maximum nutritional impact. Much like a fine wine, our formulas cannot be rushed.

Two Superfood-Packed Steps for Glowing Skin

Both Active Treatment Essence and Active Botanical Serum are designed to absorb quickly and easily into your skin. Active Treatment Essence is a water-based formula and prepares your skin to receive what comes next. Active Botanical Serum is made from plant oils with fine molecular structures, so it absorbs beautifully and seals in those nutrients. Together, they give your skin a full spectrum of plant nutrients to help it look and feel its most beautiful. 

A Selection of Superfoods in Active Treatment Essence

1. Kakadu plum: This small green fruit grows wild across northern Australia, where it has been gathered for thousands of years. It has the highest recorded natural amount of vitamin C of any food in the world. In Active Treatment Essence, Kakadu plum brightens your complexion and helps even skin tone.
   
2. Acerola cherry: Gram for gram, acerola holds many times the vitamin C of an orange. Alongside Kakadu plum, it gives Active Treatment Essence its brightening power. The result is skin that looks luminous and fresh.
   
3. Microalgae: Chlorella is a single-celled green alga, prized for its chlorophyll and protein. Active Treatment Essence pairs it with oils from carotenoid-rich microalgae. On your skin, they help bring out a smoother, more radiant look.
   
4. Green tea: Green tea leaves have been steeped for centuries, and they are dense in polyphenols, the antioxidant compounds behind the tea’s long reputation. In Active Treatment Essence, green tea soothes your skin and calms the look of redness, leaving it comfortable and refreshed.
   
5. Apple cider vinegar: Fermented from apples, apple cider vinegar has been a kitchen staple for generations. It carries gentle natural acids that help refine texture. Your skin looks clearer and feels smoother with every use.
   

A Selection of Superfoods in Active Botanical Serum

1. Sea buckthorn: This bright orange berry grows on hardy shrubs across Europe and Asia, and its color comes from the carotenoids it holds. Along with omega-7 fatty acids and vitamin E, sea buckthorn nourishes deeply. It leaves your skin supple and glowing.
   
2. Avocado: Avocado oil is dense in oleic acid and vitamin E. It softens dry skin and keeps it comfortable and supple throughout the day.
   
3. Turmeric: This golden root has been treasured in Ayurvedic tradition for centuries. Its signature compound, curcumin, gives turmeric its color. In Active Botanical Serum, turmeric calms the look of redness and helps your skin look even and radiant.
   
4. Rosehip: The seeds of the wild rose hold linoleic and linolenic acids, two essential fatty acids your skin depends on. They help smooth texture and even skin tone, so your complexion looks refined and polished.
   
5. Hazelnut: Hazelnuts are one of the best natural sources of vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps protect skin. Pressed into oil, they give a light, silky texture that sinks in quickly. In Active Botanical Serum, hazelnut keeps skin soft and balanced and leaves a satiny finish.
   

A Superfood Ritual

Begin with Active Treatment Essence to brighten and prepare your skin, then follow with Active Botanical Serum to nourish and seal in the full spectrum of nutrients. Morning and night, these two steps give your skin the full power of dozens of whole plant superfoods.