When it comes to skincare, there's always a new buzz word or trending ingredient taking our social media feeds by storm. But what about the OG ingredients that have been putting in the work for years? The ones that are backed by science and are loved by countless skincare authorities? Resveratrol is one of those hero skincare ingredients that, despite impressive antioxidant and anti-ageing benefits, often gets overlooked. Here’s everything you need to know about the powerful antioxidant and why it should be a staple in your skincare routine.
What is Resveratrol?
Resveratrol is a naturally occurring compound found in the skin of red grapes, berries, and peanuts, that is best known for its potential health benefits. Scientifically, it's classified as a polyphenol, which means it has potent antioxidant properties and acts to neutralise cellular damage caused by free radicals (those troublesome molecules that are generated by exposure to environmental aggressors like pollution and UV rays).
What are the Skincare Benefits of Resveratrol?
Anti-Ageing: Resveratrol is renowned for its collagen boosting abilities and studies have shown that it helps protect the skin against the harmful effects of UVB (a type of UV ray), which is the main factor in the skin ageing processes. One recent study also showed that Resveratrol is also able to enhance collagen synthesis by activating the oestrogen receptor and therefore reduces wrinkles.
Protection Against Environmental Damage: Our skin is constantly bombarded by pollution, UV rays, and other environmental aggressors. According to a study in Dermatologic Therapy, Resveratrol acts as a shield able to neutralise free radicals and protect your skin from oxidative stress.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Resveratrol has impressive anti-inflammatory effects, which can help calm redness and irritation. This makes it particularly appealing to anyone with redness-prone, sensitive or acne-prone skin. In fact, some research has even explored Resveratrol's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that can affect the molecular pathways of inflammatory skin disorders like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
Brightening Effects: Clinical studies have supported the efficacy of Resveratrol in inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, which is responsible for melanin production, which helps to lighten hyperpigmentation and counteract photo-ageing.
Wound Healing: A recent paper that studied 10 years’ worth of academic research on the impact of Resveratrol on skin wound healing and scarring found promising results that it might be a feasible treatment approach to support wound healing and counteract excessive scarring.
How/When Should I Apply It?
For best results, apply a serum containing Resveratrol after cleansing and toning but before moisturising to ensure that it can penetrate deeply into your skin.
Beauty Pie’s Pure 3% Resveratrol + Exotic Fruit Oils capsules provide the perfect daily dose, delivering a slow-releasing dose of Resveratrol along with synergistic Essential Fatty Acids, Biomimetic Peptides and Fruit Oils. It can be applied in the morning or in the evening, but always follow it with SPF if applied during the daytime.
What Other Skincare Ingredients Does It Go Well With?
Resveratrol is a great team player and works nicely with many other skincare ingredients, even working to enhance their efficacy. Here are some Beauty Pie approved combos to try:
Vitamin C: Both are powerful antioxidants, and together they provide a formidable defence against free radicals and environmental damage.
Hyaluronic Acid: While Resveratrol protects and repairs, Hyaluronic Acid provides intense hydration, which sounds like a dream combination to us.
Retinol: For an anti-ageing powerhouse routine, pair Resveratrol with Retinol. While Retinol helps to accelerate cell turnover and visibly reduce wrinkles, Resveratrol helps to protect skin from oxidative stress and prevent further photo-ageing.
Niacinamide: This combination is great for anyone with sensitive or acne-prone skin. Niacinamide helps to soothe and strengthen the skin barrier, while Resveratrol provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.
So whether you're aiming to fight signs of ageing, protect against environmental stressors, or simply boost your skin's overall health, Resveratrol is always a good idea and a worthy addition to your skincare arsenal.
