My Creative Cup of Tea

May 09, 2023

#MCCOTBeauty {16}

Pelegrims

North Downs

Kent

United Kingdom

Taking excess ingredients from the wine-making process to create exceptional skincare formulations. It is exactly what Alex Verier, a British natural formulator and former director at Haeckels does since 2021, the year he, together with his co-founder and business partner, Jérôme Moisan, a former tech executive and Sommelier-trained, launched Pelegrims, an independent, privately owned, ethical and sustainable premium skincare range made from English grape extracts: Pinot Noir and Ortega. “Our intention is to formulate low intervention, active skincare formulations that work in harmony with the skin supporting it to heal and rejuvenate itself. Sustainability is hugely important to us, so using waste products from the wine-making process and harnessing the powerful grape extracts, are at the core of our brand and our future research. We’re looking forward to documenting our product journey in the years ahead”. Alex explains. As the perfect vineyard partner, the duo has chosen the Westwell Wines, which is located in Kent just beneath the Pilgrim's Way on the North Downs, a route used for centuries by Pilgrims travelling to Canterbury. A historical place, that inspires the name of the brand. All the products, scientifically enriched whilst still made ethically and in small batches and tested on the team or its family not on animals, are formulated, trialled and manufactured in the company's lab/production centre, located only about twenty minutes away from the vineyard. The carbon footprint is so limited. As virtuous and committed and eco-friendly founders, Alex and Jerôme have planned to source all of the ingredients from UK farms and to support the local economy by 2025 . Gaëlle Scoul (previously at Le Labo) has joined the team and is in charge of marketing and communications.