Vinotherapy, where you dip (not sip) into some wine for flawless skin

India Today

18-06-2025

A good spa day includes a calming environment, warm oils, soothing music (which is definitely not notification pings), and maybe even a glass of wine. But what if someone tells you that wine is not for sipping, but soaking? Yes, this is called vinotherapy (or wine therapy), a wellness concept where wine meets skincare.Now, when it comes to skincare, finding the right routine or experimenting with new ingredients can feel overwhelming. But this is where vinotherapy comes in - experts say that incorporating wine into beauty treatments can have real benefits, though only to a certain extent.Vinotherapy: Ageing like fine wineadvertisementVinotherapy involves using by-products of wine - grapeseed oil, crushed skins, and pulp. These are treated as elixirs for skin health.
The origins can be traced back to the late 1990s. Mathilde Thomas and Bertrand discovered a treasure in their backyard vineyard. The French couple, who are now the founders of beauty brand Caudalie, had a chance encounter with Professor Joseph Vercauteren, an expert in grapevine polyphenols, in their home. As conversations unfolded, they realised that what was being discarded as waste from wine-making was actually 'liquid gold.'According to the professor, grape seeds are rich in antioxidants and could have powerful anti-ageing effects. This led to a patented discovery and, eventually, the launch of the first vinotherapy spa.As more studies and research were conducted to tap the potential benefits of vines and grapes, it was established that antioxidants like resveratrol, flavonoids, and tannins are the true heroes here. Therefore, it works well for the skin.The power of antioxidants helps neutralise free radicals that oxidise skin, causing premature ageing.Grapes have anti-inflammatory properties that soothe acne-prone or irritated skin.Tannins found in grape skin can help tighten pores and benefit oily skin. This makes it ideal for humid Indian weather.Natural acids in wine may gently exfoliate and improve skin texture as well.advertisementSounds like skincare goals you have been trying to achieve all this while? Hold on! There is a certain word of caution when it comes to Indian skin texture, as the same natural acids can irritate sensitive skin.Some formulations might cause photosensitivity, and those with grape allergies should be especially cautious."Indian skin types with PIH - Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation - should use vinotherapy with caution. It must be customised under a dermatologist's guidance,' says Dr. Ameesha Mahajan, Cosmetic Dermatologist and Founder, Eden Skin Clinic, Amritsar.Vinotherapy and vineyardsSeveral vineyards are on board with this trend, incorporating it into their waste-to-wellness programs.With sustainability at its core, local vineyards and resorts in wine-producing states like Karnataka and Maharashtra often offer vinotherapy. Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Nashik is one among them.Here, all ingredients are locally sourced and pre-purified for vinotherapy to ensure both skin safety and potency.Explaining the sourcing process and extraction of by-products, Jatish Ghai, General Manager of the hotel, shares with India Today, "Once separated, they are carefully processed and transformed into high-quality oils, scrubs, and balms used in our vinotherapy treatments. This sustainable approach not only minimises waste but also harnesses the natural wellness benefits of the grape."advertisementVinotherapy here is a multisensory, restorative ritual that includes cold-pressed grapeseed oil, crushed grape skins and seeds, and natural grape extracts.'It begins with a foot soak infused with grape extract salts to detoxify and calm. Guests then inhale the earthy aroma of pure grape extracts before a tension-releasing massage using cold-pressed grapeseed oil,' says Ghai.And it is actually catching on.'In the past six months, approximately every second or third spa booking out of ten has been for vinotherapy,' Ghai shares. The demand shows that guests want more than just relaxation. The therapy's unique combination of authenticity, relaxation, and skincare benefits continues to attract both new and returning visitors.Sula is one of the famous vineyards in Nashik where sustainability is embedded into every stage of winemaking and vineyard management too. "One hundred per cent of our grape by-products are reused, primarily through composting pomace, which is returned to the soil as natural fertiliser," says Gorakh Gaikwad, COO of Sula Vineyards.
Sula vineyards in Nashik (Sula website)
advertisementBut Sula currently does not channel by-products into spa treatments.Otherwise, one can experience vinotherapy at luxury spas in cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru too. A session can cost you anything above Rs 10,000.Is vinotherapy the next big thing?Umm... not quite. The benefits are real but subtle. Experts agree that vinotherapy is best seen as complementary, not corrective.'Its efficiency will vary with the concentration and frequency of application. It can still not outweigh consistent skincare when it comes to achieving a glow and cannot be a replacement for targeted dermatological therapies,' says Dr. Mahajan.According to experts, to achieve optimal effects for fine lines or pigmentation, regular treatments about every 2-4 weeks for 2-3 months might be considered. Skincare for you but a little stress for the wallet maybe? Also, they caution how the results may fade if skincare is not further maintained.Enter, wine-infused beauty products.
Glamveda has a line of skincare products infused with wine. (Screenshot from website)
Red wine–infused skincare has already made its way onto Indian market shelves, with brands tapping into ingredients like resveratrol and fermented wine extract. Wondering why red wine specifically? Research has shown that certain compounds found in red wine have anti-ageing effects.advertisement"Resveratrol is found in red wine at levels of up to 14 milligrams per litre, according to some studies. It is a popular antioxidant. In lab-based in-vitro studies, resveratrol has shown a significant impact - it appears to reduce the risk of dementia and cardiovascular disease, and may even slow down ageing," says Dr. Akanksha Singh, Senior Cosmetologist at SENS Clinic.
Red wine - based sheet mask. (Screenshot from Nykaa)
Dr. Mahajan agrees that red wine-based products can be considered an alternative to vinotherapy, as the use of grape seed extract, resveratrol, or fermented wine extracts may offer similar antioxidant and anti-ageing benefits. She suggests looking for products that contain stabilised resveratrol or grape polyphenols in serum formulations. It's also advisable to steer clear of products with added alcohol or artificial fragrances.So, when someone says you're ageing like fine wine, we'll take it - because fine wine is far better than fine lines. Experts acknowledge the benefits of vinotherapy and wine-based skincare but emphasise that while they can support skin health, delay signs of ageing, and bring a natural glow, they are not treatments for conditions like acne or melasma.
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