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Resveratrol in Skin Care: Benefits, Uses, and Effectiveness Explained
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Resveratrol in Skin Care: Benefits, Uses, and Effectiveness Explained

5 May 2025


Resveratrol in Skin Care

Resveratrol in skin care products

Resveratrol is an exciting skin care ingredient, notable for its many beneficial properties like antiaging, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities.

It is commonly found in wrinkle creams, antiaging treatments, sun protection products, sensitive skin treatments, or acne regimens.

Primarily extracted from plant trimmings, resveratrol is a clean, sustainable, natural, and effective additive into many types of skin care products.

To find out if resveratrol is right for your skin concerns or if it fits into your custom skin care regimen, take our quiz and read below!

What is resveratrol?

Resveratrol in skin care is a plant-derived polyphenol usually found in the skin and seeds of grapes and other berries/legumes like peanuts, blueberries, or cranberries.

It has been identified in nearly 70 species of plants around the world and has notable beneficial qualities in both topical and oral use.

Products containing grapeseed oil, rich in resveratrol, have been used in skin care and food for centuries. (15)

Resveratrol is exciting because it has been proposed to express many anti-cancer functions and antiaging activity that warrant further research. (1)

Extracted as a byproduct of agricultural waste, resveratrol has a very low environmental impact to produce.

You can find our full collection of resveratrol products here!

Benefits of resveratrol

Benefits

Resveratrol is known for a number of beneficial properties including:

Antiaging

Antioxidant

Antibacterial

Anticarcinogenic

Anti-inflammatory

Heart health promoting

Helps mitochondria (91)

Tyrosinase inhibiting

It is frequently studied for its effect on various cancers and tumors. (10,19,20)

Resveratrol has demonstrated UV protective qualities as well as anti-inflammatory qualities in research. (15-18)

Most commonly found in grapes, resveratrol is often considered an aid to heart health when present in products like red wine. (5,13,25-28)

Because of these various useful abilities, resveratrol can be found in countless products designed for wrinkles, inflammation, acne, and more.

Side effects

There are no notable side-effects associated with resveratrol.

It is considered to be of low toxicity (28), meaning it is a clean ingredient.

The only reason not to use resveratrol is if it doesn’t fit into your custom skin care regimen!

Is it safe?

Resveratrol is a natural derivative from grapes and is safe for use in skin care according to the CIR. (92) (Cosmetic Ingredient Review Board)

The EWG safety rating for resveratrol is “1,” which means no common concerns are associated with this ingredient.

It is not a likely allergen, and it is safe for use on any skin type. Find your skin type with our quiz today!

Take the Quiz

is resveratrol safe?

Uses

Resveratrol has a variety of uses in skin care, including non-topical applications like supplements.

Resveratrol can be found in moisturizers, sunscreens, serums, antioxidant creams, body lotions, and more.

The main issue with resveratrol is it has low bioavailability, meaning it is processed slowly and inefficiently by the body when unmodified. (28)

Because it is usually processed slowly, it is best combined with ingredients that assist in the delivery and processing of resveratrol in the skin. (51,56)

Studies have found that combining resveratrol with other antioxidant ingredients like vitamin E improves its stability in light and heat. (9)

It has a relatively low shelf life in products when not combined with stabilizing ingredients, typically between 3-6 months. (53)

Even though copious research exists on resveratrol in skin care, more work needs to be done to identify the best complimentary ingredients to deliver it efficiently into the skin.

Issues that limit the effectiveness of resveratrol

Resveratrol in theory is the best skin care ingredient because it has much evidence based research. But, in practice it is not as effective for aging as retinoids and exosomes when used topically.

These are the problems with resveratrol products that limit it’s use in creams and serums:

A high dose is required for benefits

It is an expensive ingredient

It does not absorb well in skin

It has poor shelf life

For these reasons, most people choose to take resveratrol supplements.

Resveratrol is also found in red wine but the dose is not large enough to have major effects even if you drink a lot of red wine.

Resveratrol supplements

Taking supplements made with resveratrol has been shown to contribute to skin health. (42)

There are many benefit to taking oral resveratrol including effects on sirtuin and other aging markers.

Studies have found that oral supplements with this ingredient resulted in skin moisturization and elasticity, as well as lessening of wrinkles. This study concluded that oral supplements containing resveratrol had potential in anti-aging skin care regimens. (42)

However, they are many more much more interesting ongoing studies. We will update here as they become available.

Trans-resveratrol vs cis-resveratrol

What is trans-resveratrol?

There are two primary forms (called isoforms) of resveratrol, trans-resveratrol and cis-resveratrol. (36,37)

They are mirror images of each other but have different effects.

Trans-resveratrol is actually the more commonly used form of resveratrol, it is more stable and expresses more of the beneficial attributes associated with the compound.

The cis form turns into the trans form when exposed to light.

When people are discussing resveratrol in skin care, they are generally referring to trans-resveratrol unless otherwise specified since it is more common.

Resveratrol for specific conditions

Specific conditions

Resveratrol is beneficial for the treatment of concerns like sun damage, wrinkles, keloids, acne, dark spots, sensitive skin, and redness.

It is a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial compound and can be found in many types of skin care products from sunscreens to wrinkle creams.

If you have specific skin care concerns, be sure to take our skin type quiz to find the best products for your skin type!

Take the Quiz

Sun damage

Resveratrol is helpful for both preventing and treating the effects of sun damage.

This ingredient has been shown to have beneficial interactions with both UVA and UVB radiation, but in different ways.

Studies have found that resveratrol can help induce regulated cell-death (apoptosis) when exposed to UVA radiation. It’s a little complicated, but that basically means that resveratrol helps you get rid of old cells that don’t function properly. (3)

Resveratrol also protects against UVB radiation through multiple mechanisms. (33,34)

For those reasons, resveratrol is a common and good choice for use in sunscreens and sun damage treatment products.

It works best when combined with retinol, sunscreen and other proven antiaging skin care ingredients.

Keloids

Keloids are basically scar tissue that grows thick after healing; they can vary in size and severity.

Resveratrol may be helpful effective in reducing keloids and preventing further growth.

Consider using resveratrol alongside shea butter, which also has keloid treatment benefits.

Investigations have found that resveratrol has antifibrogenic properties, meaning it prevents keloid cells from multiplying and growing while not damaging normal skin fibroblasts. (43)

For this reason, resveratrol is commonly found in products designed to treat keloids.

Resveratrol for wrinkles

Wrinkles

Resveratrol is considered an effective anti-aging ingredient, used in many products to prevent or treat wrinkles and free radicals on the skin.

There are multiple causes of skin aging, and resveratrol has qualities that alleviate multiple skin aging concerns.

Studies have found that resveratrol interacts with particular chemical receptors such as sirtuin in the skin that play a role in skin aging. (11,87)

It is a potent antioxidant, capable of binding free radicals that could otherwise damage DNA in skin cells. (85)

Like most other anti-aging ingredients, resveratrol is best used alongside other clean ingredients with complimentary benefits, like jojoba oil, safflower oil, or borage seed oil.

There are many great anti-aging routines to choose from; are you ready to start an anti-aging regimen?

Hyperpigmentation

Resveratrol is a weak tyrosinase inhibitor, meaning it gets in the way of melanin production in the skin, treating and preventing various kinds of hyperpigmentation.

Like many other skin lightening ingredients, resveratrol is not particularly effective on its own at lightening dark spots. (45,46)

Combine it together with other skin lightening ingredients such as:

Arbutin

Cysteamine

Ferulic acid

These and other ingredients are great for dark spot treatments and skin care routines designed for concerns like melasma or PIH.

Acne

Resveratrol is often a good choice for acne treatments because it anti-inflammatory and can help your skin tolerate other acne medications like retinoids and benzoyl peroxide.

One study found that after 60 days, no adverse reactions to the ingredient were reported and symptoms of acne were greatly alleviated. (37)

Resveratrol was reported in this same study to reduce the size of clogged pores and assist in wound healing.

Resveratrol is not comedogenic.

Many products that target bacteria, redness, or inflammation related to acne might benefit from including resveratrol in their formulation.

Redness

Resveratrol is good for soothing redness on the skin and can be safely used if you have rosacea.

One small study found that resveratrol made noticeable improvements in skin redness within 6 weeks of treatment. (49)

If you are suffering from recurring redness on the skin, resveratrol might be good for your custom skin care regimen.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.
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