Have you ever wondered if Caudalie’s grape seed capsules (Caudalie Vinexpert) can be replaced by grape seed oil? If so, we could use more grape seed oil for cooking, which would be both convenient and economical.

As a devoted user of Caudalie’s Vinexpert, I take them for nine months each year. I must say, the capsules are effective for their antioxidant and anti-aging properties, but the price is exorbitant! So, I did some research to answer this question. The results were both disappointing and surprising.

Aspect	Caudalie Vinexpert	Grape Seed Oil (Edible Oil)
Ingredients	Mainly contains grape seed extract (oligomeric proanthocyanidins, OPCs), a potent antioxidant.	Rich in fatty acids (such as linoleic acid), vitamin E, and some antioxidants.
Mechanism of Action	Taken orally, the antioxidant works internally, contributing to overall health, including skin health.	Can be ingested or applied topically. When applied to the skin, it hydrates and moisturizes.
Benefits	Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, improves blood circulation, supports skin health from the inside out.	Moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, protects the skin barrier, provides a slight antioxidant effect.
Antioxidant Effectiveness	More significant antioxidant effect due to the high concentration of OPCs.	Contains some antioxidants (like vitamin E), but at lower concentrations.

Regarding the mode of use, it’s worth noting that Vinexpert Caudalie is primarily taken orally and works throughout the body, indirectly influencing the skin. However, it’s also important to mention that grape seed oil can be consumed or applied topically. When applied locally, it provides immediate hydration and is suitable for dry and sensitive skin

Caudalie’s Vinexpert contains a high concentration of OPCs, a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals, reduces oxidative stress, and protects cells from damage. This high antioxidant capacity makes Vinexpert effective in combating aging and improving skin health. In contrast, although grape seed oil contains antioxidants such as vitamin E and phytosterols, its antioxidant efficacy is far inferior to that of Vinexpert. Grape seed oil primarily offers fatty acids and basic nutritional support, making it more suitable as a cooking oil or topical moisturizer, but not as a potent antioxidant. However, for immediate skin hydration and care, grape seed oil is a better choice.

In fact, the antioxidant capacity of grape seed oil is even lower than that of olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is rich in phenolic compounds such as hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein, which have significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The vitamin E in olive oil also protects the skin. However, even olive oil cannot compete with Caudalie’s Vinexpert in terms of antioxidant effectiveness and skin protection. Caudalie’s Vinexpert, with their high concentration of OPCs, remain superior in antioxidant strength and skin protection.

Although the dream of replacing Caudalie Vinexpert with grape seed oil fell short, I have not lost hope. Are there other foods or supplements that can match these capsules? So far, I have found several foods and supplements recognized for their powerful antioxidant properties:

Green Tea Extract

• Antioxidants: Rich in catechins, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
• Health Benefits: Reduces UV-induced skin damage, improves skin elasticity and hydration.

Resveratrol

• Antioxidants: Resveratrol is a polyphenol with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Health Benefits: Reduces free radical damage to the skin, slows skin aging, improves texture and elasticity.

Coenzyme Q10

• Antioxidants: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble antioxidant that protects cell membranes from oxidative damage.
• Health Benefits: Reduces wrinkles and fine lines, enhances skin firmness and radiance.

Acai Berries

• Antioxidants: Rich in various antioxidants, including anthocyanins and polyphenols.
• Health Benefits: Reduces oxidative stress, protects skin cells, improves overall skin health.

Pomegranate Extract

• Antioxidants: Contains ellagitannins and other polyphenolic antioxidants.
• Health Benefits: Protects skin from UV damage, promotes skin repair, improves skin tone evenness.

Marine Collagen

• Antioxidants: Rich in collagen peptides and amino acids, with antioxidant and moisturizing properties.
• Health Benefits: Increases skin elasticity and hydration, reduces fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin C

• Antioxidants: Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and promotes collagen synthesis.
• Health Benefits: Brightens skin, reduces pigmentation, improves skin elasticity and radiance.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to obtain a significant amount of these antioxidants solely from food, unless you drink several liters of green tea daily or consume dozens of kilograms of fruit. In the end, we must rely on dietary supplements. After consulting various databases and forums, I found these well-rated antioxidant dietary supplements. I will try them and give you my feedback later.

French brands: 

• Santé Verte Thé Vert Bio: Organic green tea extract capsules, rich in catechins.
• D-Lab Nutricosmetics Resveratrol: Supplement rich in resveratrol.
• Biocyte Vitamin C Liposomal: High absorption vitamin C supplement.
• NHCO Q10+: Supplement rich in coenzyme Q10.
• Superdiet Acai Bio: Organic acai berry powder.
• SuperDiet Grenade Bio: Organic pomegranate extract capsules.
• Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides: Supplement rich in marine collagen peptides, available in France.

American Brands: 

• NOW Foods EGCg Green Tea Extract: Supplement rich in EGCG green tea extract.
• Reserveage Nutrition Resveratrol: Supplement rich in resveratrol.
• Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Vitamin C: Organic vitamin C supplement.
• Qunol Ultra CoQ10: High absorption coenzyme Q10 supplement.
• Sambazon Organic Acai Powder: Organic acai berry powder.
• Jarrow Formulas PomeGuard: High efficacy pomegranate extract capsules.
• Vital Proteins Marine Collagen: Supplement rich in marine collagen.

By the way, do you know the nutritional differences between grape seed oil, olive oil, and rapeseed oil, and their effects on health and skin? I’ll discuss this in a future article.