Caudalie Premier Cru gets a facelift—does it deliver on its anti-aging promises?
Over the last decade, Caudalie hasn’t played a major role in my ride-or-die face care lineup. Well, maybe the Caudalie Grape Water, which I own in every size—but choosing a mist feels like a copout. That said, I’d religiously stock up on a few Caudalie shower gels while in Europe because the formulas are excellent (many scents never make it to the U.S.), and the price point is more than reasonable. Same goes for their EU-exclusive sunscreens—Caudalie does them exceptionally well. But when it came to anti-aging skincare, I gravitated toward other brands. C’est la vie.
Recently, Caudalie reformulated its Premier Cru collection. Yes, there’s plenty of hype—Kelly Rutherford is the face of the relaunch, and a multi-country influencer tour drummed up serious buzz. But flashy campaigns don’t equate to actual results. Hence my skepticism. Let’s talk Premier Cru, Take 2.
What Is Premier Cru About?
Housed in moody, royalesque purple packaging, Premier Cru is Caudalie’s most advanced anti-aging skincare line—traditionally something I’d associate with “mature” skin. Now that I’m about to turn 45, I seriously wonder: When does one enter that category? Is it dictated by age? Or by the way your skin looks?
Caudalie focuses on visible signs of aging that typically become more prominent after 35, such as loss of firmness, volume depletion, and hyperpigmentation. Since I’m all about being proactive with my skin, I was intrigued by the upgrade.
The line includes Caudalie Premier Cru The Cream, The Rich Cream, The Eye Cream, and The Serum—my thoughts on the moisturizing cream and eye cream below.
Premier Cru: What’s New?
If you’re new to Caudalie Premier Cru, this is the brand’s crème de la crème. Developed in collaboration with Harvard researchers, the range is powered by the Longevity Patent, which leverages years of research into skin aging and the impressive effects of grape-derived Resveratrol.
In addition to targeting firmness and elasticity, the upgraded formulas introduce Rosewood Extract (INCI: Aniba Rosidora), which has been shown to help redefine facial contours.
Beyond their signature grapevine-derived antioxidants, Premier Cru now also features:
• Micro Hyaluronic Acid – likely a low molecular weight version for better penetration and deep hydration.
• Honey Locust Seed Extract – known for its instant skin-tightening properties.
If you remember the original Caudalie Premier Cru from over a decade ago, the current formulations are noticeably more refined—lighter textures, subtler scents, and, overall, a more user-friendly experience. Big wins in my book.
Caudalie Premier Cru The Cream
My first impression? “This feels expensive.”
The Caudalie Premier Cru The Cream has a dreamy, whipped-yet-creamy texture that glides on like silk. It’s plush, absorbs beautifully, and leaves zero sticky residue. The consistency hits that perfect Goldilocks balance—rich enough to be comforting but light enough to work across most skin types.
What makes this a seamless fit in my routine is how well it layers. I’ve had great success using it over my vitamin C serum during the day and over water-based treatments like peptides or retinoids at night. It also plays nicely under sunscreen. There is a faint floral scent, but it doesn’t linger.
I’m only a couple of weeks in, but my skin is thriving. While I don’t yet need any help with volume loss, my complexion looks more radiant, plump, and revitalized. It’s been a minute since a moisturizer impressed me this much. Highly recommend. Bonus points for the easy refill pods.
Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream
In short: it’s alright.
As someone who has been religiously using eye creams for over two decades, I’ve become very particular about this category. While I appreciate the tube packaging and the science-backed formula, my experience was a bit underwhelming.
At first, it seems to absorb well, but for some reason, the hydration just doesn’t last long enough. This also explains why even the tiniest amount of under-eye concealer on top can lead to pilling, creasing—or both.
That said, it fares better at night, but in the spirit of transparency, there are other eye creams I reach for over this one. If I had to recommend alternatives, I’d point to: either the ISDIN K-Ox Eye or Jones Road Rich Eye Cream.
The new Caudalie Premier Cru The Cream ($119 for 50ml) and Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream ($85 for 15ml) are available at Sephora.com.
