Is red wine the secret to amazing skin?

Wine is pretty much the ultimate when it comes to unwinding; in fact, few things relax and relieve quite like a good glass (or three) of red. Well, as it turns out, your skin feels the same. Yep, the ingredients within wine can calm your complexion the same way they soothe your stress. But no, sadly we’re not giving you the go ahead on downing an extra bottle per day; in this case, we’re talking topicals. And before you go slathering literal merlot onto your mug (a dreadful waste of a good drink-able drop that will only cause dryness), allow us to introduce resveratrol, the anti-ageing antioxidant within wine that practically holds the key to eternal (skin) youth. In a bid to cram the goodness of grapes into every area of our lives, we spoke to Arcona co-founder Chanel Jenae (aka one of the creators of the OG wine oil), to get the facts on exactly what fermentation can do for our faces. There’s no need to prep the Panadol either, the morning after will only involve a heavenly glow, not a raging hangover – bottoms up.

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How does the resveratol ingredient work in the skincare space?

“We have seen through extensive research the benefits of antioxidants when applied topically,” says Chanel. “Resveratrol is part of the polyphenol family, a group of around 4,000 antioxidants that naturally protect plants from UV rays and help with repairing cells. Resveratrol is found naturally in grapes and when combined with other antioxidants, it is extremely powerful in protecting the skin from sun damage, pollution and radiation, [plus it can even help] in reversing some signs of ageing such as fine lines and sun spots.”

How does resveratrol skin care differ from other red grape products such as wine?

“Resveratrol is found in the skin and seeds of [all] red grapes, however it is the particularly high concentration of resveratrol that is found in muscadine grapes or malbec that leads us to using these as a source for our [skincare]”, Chanel explains. And again, let us caveat that we’re not endorsing a considerably higher cabernet intake in the name of a perfect complexion. “By consuming red wine (in moderation) you will receive some benefits of polyphenols (resveratrol) however this isn’t the best way for your body to absorb and use the ingredient for skin health”, she says. Damn, we’ll stick to skincare (and one glass) for now, then.

What are its skin care benefits and which skin types is it best suited for?

“Resveratrol has been shown to significantly improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, firmness, elasticity and radiance. The best way to reap the benefits of resveratrol is to look for skincare products that utilise it as an active ingredient”, Chanel tells us. “All skin types can benefit from this powerful antioxidant; it helps protect, repair, calm and brighten. A great [way] to start is with our Wine Oil, a deeply nourishing grape seed oil base that is anti-inflammatory, super moisturising, [and helps to] repair damage, improve elasticity and increase radiance”, she says. To sum up, it practically ticks everything off our ‘what we want for our skin’ wish list.

Where should resveratrol sit in your skincare routine?

Resveratrol-based results depend less on the time of day you apply and more on the amount of time you leave the formulas to sink in for. “Our Wine Oil is designed to be left on the skin for long periods of time (all day or overnight), giving you a longer exposure time to the benefits of the ingredients which gives better results”, Chanel explains. She also recommends reaching for formulas that pair resveratrol with other anti-ageing superstars; “I believe [the ingredient is] especially effective when combined with other antioxidants to give you a well-rounded skincare system [that will] protect from damaging properties [and] do the work to repair your skin”, she says. So, next time you’re settling in for a self-care Sunday, why not relax with a side of resveratrol? Open up your best bottle, apply an antioxidant-packed topical, and let yourself truly wine down.

bh loves: Arcona Wine Oil ($82, sephora.com.au), Caudalie Resveratrol Life Face Lifting Soft Cream ($89, sephora.com.au), Radical Skincare Age Defying Pads ($115, mecca.com.au), philosophy Anti-Wrinkle Miracle Worker+ Line-Correcting Moisturiser ($79, davidjones.com), Andalou Naturals Age Defying Resveratrol Night Repair Cream ($29.99, priceline.com.au), The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% ($13.90, adorebeauty.com.au), Apotcare Resveratrol Pure Serum ($50, mecca.com.au)

Main image credit: @josephineskriver

Have you heard of resveratrol skincare before? Have you tried any of the products listed here?