Sometimes, you get a sample of something, somewhere—and you have no idea what it is. This happens a lot with French products, unless you happen to read French. I do not. Does that stop me? Mais non, and I’ve had my fair share of nasty skin reactions to prove it. From time to time, though, I discover a gem like Caudalie’s new Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Fluid SPF 15.

I received the tube last week (accompanied by a much-needed travel size bottle of their Beauty Elixir, a must-have product) and used it as a moisturizer one morning. When I came home hours later and glanced in the mirror, I stopped in my tracks: “ Whoa…did I put on makeup this morning?” Nope. “ Why does my skin look so good?” Positive ID on the Caudalie—it had literally Perfected my Day.

Five days in and I’m kind of obsessed with this…moisturizer? Primer? Sunscreen? Further investigation confirmed that the feather-light formula actually does it all…and not just superficially: at its core is Caudalie’s patented Viniferine complex, a concentrate drawn from grape vines that lightens dark spots and boosts radiance. But the immediate effect is that of a transparent foundation, thanks to a trio of optical smoothing agents. My next-to-naked August routine has found its hero product.