This nighttime antioxidant boasts a long list of benefits.

You’ve likely heard that one glass of red wine a day can be good for you, but do you know why? It’s thanks to resveratrol, an antioxidant-like plant compound found in grapes. Some studies cite this antioxidant as having many health benefits, such as lowering blood glucose for type 2 diabetes patients, helping the body produce more nitric oxide, which lowers blood pressure, and having a positive effect on the skin. But can that glass of Cabernet Sauvignon work just as well for your skincare routine as it does for your weekend plans? Here’s everything you need to know about resveratrol in skincare and how to pick the best products containing the powerhouse ingredient.

What is resveratrol?

Resveratrol is a polyphenol, which is a compound that acts as an antioxidant. Its major food sources include grapes, berries, dark chocolate and peanuts; however, it’s most commonly found in the skin of red grapes. The fermentation process of red wine intensifies the amount of resveratrol, hence its particularly high concentration in the alcoholic beverage.
As nice as it would be to think you can drink your way to better skin, you’d likely need to guzzle several crates of red wine a day to get the skin benefits of resveratrol. A much more effective solution to correct visible signs of aging would be to use a resveratrol serum or a moisturizer laced with the antioxidant-like compound.
In skincare, resveratrol works on a cellular level to fight aging. In fact, it’s a molecule that activates sirtuin—a type of protein involved in regulating cellular processes, including the aging and death of cells and their resistance to stress. It also has some of the most potent antioxidant properties and works hard to neutralize free radicals (unstable atoms that can damage cells) that are produced by environmental damage such as ultraviolet radiation, cigarette smoke and air pollution.

What are the benefits of resveratrol for skin?

If you’re looking to boost your skin’s appearance and health, resveratrol is one powerful ingredient to consider adding to your routine for the following reasons:

Protects skin: When the ingredient is applied topically via an antioxidant serum for face, it helps protect the skin’s surface by interrupting negative environmental influences and shielding the skin from UV damage. Simply put, it helps boost your skin’s natural barrier so that it looks and feels smoother and healthier. However, it does more than keep free radicals in check—there are many resveratrol benefits.

Slows aging: Regularly using a resveratrol serum like SkinCeuticals Resveratrol BE can diminish visible signs of aging and improve skin’s firmness and radiance—it can even work on plumping it up. It does this by stimulating healthy cell proliferation, which improves cellular function and supports fibroblasts to create healthy collagen.

Evens out skin tone: Resveratrol also has skin-calming properties that help minimize the look of redness and inflammation. It not only evens out skin tone but also works to improve the overall texture of the skin.

How to use resveratrol

For an antioxidant-laced product to be effective, you need to follow a lineup that doesn't cancel out the previous product’s benefits. You also need to know when to apply. Follow these straightforward tips so you can get the most out of your skincare.

Nighttime is the right time: Many active ingredients with antioxidant properties, including resveratrol, work best overnight because our bodies switch into repair mode. And using a potent antioxidant-like compound overnight further accelerates the skin’s repair function. This allows our bodies to capitalize on resveratrol’s benefits by boosting antioxidant production within skin cells and even triggering fibroblast cells to make more collagen.

Choose an antioxidant serum: Get the most out of this ingredient by choosing a concentrated serum. These lightweight formulas are full of potent ingredients; plus, a little goes a long way. Serums also penetrate deeper into the skin to deliver targeted active ingredients, whereas moisturizers help to fortify the skin’s surface. The best nighttime serum is SkinCeuticals Resveratrol BE. The gel-like serum is loaded with three antioxidants: resveratrol, flavonoid-rich baicalin and vitamin E. With the highest concentration (1%) of the antioxidant-like compound, it works to ramp up the skin’s ability to defend itself from damage while also repairing existing signs of aging such as dark spots and fine lines. At the same time, the other actives (0.5% baicalin and 1% pure vitamin E) optimize the formula’s anti-aging antioxidant performance. As a result, after a few weeks of use, you can expect firmer, more radiant skin.

How to apply antioxidants for skin: In the evening, start by cleansing your skin. If you have normal to dry skin, choose a hydrating cleanser to avoid stripping the natural oils. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, consider a gel cleanser with salicylic acid to prep the skin before bed. Next, apply one or two pumps of a soothing serum like SkinCeuticals Resveratrol BE; it’s filled with antioxidants for skin and hydrating ingredients to bind moisture to skin without clogging pores. Follow up with an eye serum or cream that will address any concerns and then a nourishing nighttime moisturizer. Go for something a little richer than what you would typically use in the morning.