For April Gargiulo, skincare is more than beauty—it’s craftsmanship, integrity, and a deep commitment to quality. Before launching Vintner’s Daughter in 2013, April spent years at the helm of her family’s Napa Valley winery, where she developed a meticulous approach to sourcing and formulation. She carried that same standard into skincare, debuting Active Botanical Serum, a single, nutrient-rich product that became an instant cult favorite.
With a B Corp certification, carbon neutrality, and a mission-driven focus, Vintner’s Daughter isn’t just about transformative skincare—it’s about creating a positive impact on both skin and the planet. In this Living Well interview, April shares her approach to mindful beauty, sustainability, and the daily rituals that keep her grounded.
Living Well with April Gargiulo
Walk us through your perfect morning—what are the non-negotiables that set the tone for your day? My husband wakes me up. He is an early bird and I am not. I make oolog tea from Song Tea in San Francisco. They source the most beautiful single origin teas. Tea time is a bit of a connection ceremony or exercise for me each morning. It’s not long since I’m also helping my kids get ready for school, but it’s a non-negotiable. After I drop my kids off at the bus, if I have time, I meet a group of friends and we cold plunge in SF bay. Then it’s off to exercise and the office. At some point in between, I do our three step routine – Active Renewal Cleanser, Active Treatment Essence and Active Botanical Serum. In those three simple, but comprehensive steps, I know my skin is receiving everything it needs for the day in the most bio-available format possible.
You’re a founder, a leader, and a mom—how do you create space for balance in your life, especially in such a fast-paced industry? No single day is perfectly balanced, but I look at it over the course of a week or month. I can feel it when things feel off and I course correct fast. Shonda Rhimes just did a valedictorian speech recently and answered this same question so powerfully. All my mom friends are forwarding it to each other. She captured the importance and value of the juggle so beautifully. As if I couldn’t love her more already.
What’s been the most rewarding moment in building Vintner’s Daughter so far? No question, it’s our community. We have gratefully and joyfully built a community of the most discerning women in the world. These are people who care deeply about what they bring into their lives. Not just choosing based on the high performance they insist upon, but also the integrity of the brands they choose. I feel very honored to be a part of their beloved and cherished worlds.
From Napa Valley to the beauty world, what was the biggest challenge in transitioning from winemaking to skincare: In fine winemaking there is an understanding that in order to produce the finest wines, you must begin with the finest land, grapes, vintage and a patient approach to winemaking. All count and there is no way to shortcut or disregard any of them in order to make the best wines. With beauty, even the most revered products are often made very fast with low quality, synthetic ingredients. When I presented my idea of beginning every formulation with the world’s most nutrient rich whole botanicals and spending three weeks to meticulously capture their full spectrum of actives, I got a lot of push back. It was unheard of in the beauty world to do what I wanted to do. This was a challenge for sure, but ultimately helped me develop the conviction to go my own way.
So many brands take a ‘more is more’ approach to skincare. Why have you focused on fewer, highly potent products instead of a larger collection? I have incredible discipline and a north star that me and my team deeply believe in. We only create the most game-changing, multi-beneficial skincare in the world, This is an incredibly high bar and one we both joyfully and rigorously uphold every single day. We aren’t interested in making our community’s next product. We make her forever products. The ones she marries for life.
For someone completely new to Vintner’s Daughter, what’s the best way to get started with your products? I am a skincare minimalist and believe that when things are made better, we can use fewer and for longer. This approach is applied to every formula we create. It is why it takes us 21 days to produce every bottle. We care for the skin in the same way we would our bodies, with the world’s most nutrient rich whole botanicals and that cannot be rushed. Because of this, our three formulas deliver everything the skin needs in three simple, multi-beneficial steps. So, choosing one is hard. I would say, choose the one that you are drawn to. Each is a hero on its own and when used together are far greater than the sum of its parts.
Sustainability is built into every aspect of your business. What does it take to create a truly sustainable beauty brand beyond just ‘clean’ formulas? I made a point from day one to make sustainability table stakes. We not only think about the earth in this commitment, but also her people. To that end, we were awarded a B Corp certification in 2022. B Corp certifies the highest standards of both environmental and social impact. We also think about the spiritual and psychological impact of our new, more and next dominated beauty industry that constantly barrages people with new for new sake, with marketing campaigns often driven by fear and insecurity. Instead we choose to be more thoughtful and intentional with our product introductions- only three in 12 years, each coming from a place of true innovation and gamechanging performance. Because our formulations are designed to be so multi-beneficial they are able to impact skin far more holistically delivering better results instantly but even more so over time. Vice/verse, this fewer with better philosophy has far less of an impact on our earth. And I haven’t even spoken about our whole plant formulas and the benefits that they bring to not just our skin, but also our food systems.
Do you have a favorite book, podcast, or philosophy that’s shaped how you approach health and wellness? I have studied zen buddhism for many years and it is foundational for how I approach all aspects of my life including health and wellness. For me, it’s about finding balance and contentment in the present. I am rarely chasing empty promises of change, renewal, transformation etc. Instead I work to trust in and listen to my body’s and our earth’s innate wisdom.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs looking to build brands with purpose and longevity? Don’t fall prey to short term fixes. Always follow your north star with heart and hustle. This will make long term decision making and brand building more effective.
Complete this sentence: Living well means…practicing gratitude, joy and generosity.
