Vintner’s Daughter founder, April Gargiulo, at home in San Francisco wearing a dress from the SS 19 collection. Photographed by Lacy Kiernan

If you’re not already a die-hard fan of Vintner’s Daughter, the beauty serum that women swear by as a life-changing skin product, allow us to provide more fodder for the hype. We love that it allows our skin to live its best life, by summoning the clear, dewy complexion we were always meant to have. It also has a strong female founder-led backstory that’s a lesson in sticking to your mission with unwavering goals. Founder April Gargiulo is a third-generation winemaker who, as a beauty industry outsider, created this potion back in 2014. Her laser-focused vision of bringing a perfect product to the beauty market is a lesson in never compromising your ideals. Here, she shares her path to success, what inspires her most and how she defines luxury.

Vintner’s Daughter first product, Active Botanical Serum, and the brand new Active Treatement Essence. Photographed by Lacy Kiernan

#EmbraceAmbition means…

To be really honest with yourself on what you want and to be unapologetic about accomplishing it. Remember, your ambitions do not need to match or satisfy anyone else’s. But, no one has ever accomplished them alone so surround yourself with incredible people who share your vision whether that be business, physically or spiritually oriented.

The women who inspire me to embrace ambition most are…

My two daughters and working to have the wisdom to help then become the women they want to become.

The best piece of advice I ever received was…

It’s not a piece of advice, but rather a practice that has given me the biggest return and that is my gratitude practice. It allows me to stay mindful and present even in the most uncertain and hard times.

I was inspired to start Vintner’s Daughter because…

Women (and men) deserve skincare that is single-mindedly focused on delivering the very highest efficacy, quality and safety. This is the true meaning of luxury to me and I feel is missing from most skincare today. Vintner’s Daughter is uncompromising in our pursuit of this idea.

The biggest challenge starting this business was…

This idea of a singular product was hard for retailers to understand. We have had one award-winning product, Active Botanical Serum, for five years. This is UNHEARD of in the skincare world where new is what sells, not quality or efficacy. Many didn’t take me seriously and constantly encouraged me to “just quickly” make 5 more products. It was and continues to be a constraint of ours, but sometimes constraints turn out to be incredible catalysts for positive change. We just introduced our second product, Active Treatment Essence, and it lives up to our exacting standards of efficacy and quality in the most incredible way. We do not believe short cuts or cutting corners result in the very best of anything and we spend the time it takes to make something transformational. I am very proud.

When I’m not running Vintner’s Daughter I like to…

Be with my family on an adventure somewhere, preferably warm. We just came back from Desert X in Palm Springs. Its a sight-specific installation from 20 artists around the world, in various locations around the Coachella Valley. The pieces can be upwards of 2-3 hours apart from one another. Luckily my kids are troopers (most of the time).

In an alternate world I would be…

A fashion or design historian. I love how our changing world can be seen through fashion and design.

If I were a superhero, my powers would be…

Encouragement. I am incredibly supportive and encouraging of friends trying to accomplish something. I am not the person who can just listen normally though. I am constantly trying to figure out the way I can help.

Advice I would give my younger self…

No matter how it may appear, there is not one single path to or definition of “success.” Let your heart define it for you.

More about #EmbraceAmbition & the Tory Burch Foundation:
In 2009, Tory launched the Tory Burch Foundation which provides access to capital, education and digital resources to empower women entrepreneurs. Learn more about the Foundation and #EmbraceAmbition here.

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