Plants often have some seriously adverse conditions to deal with – everything from harsh environmental factors to pathogenic attacks, requiring a solid defense system. This is where Resveratrol comes in…

Certain plants, such as red grapes, Japanese knotweed, mulberry and peanuts, produce Resveratrol when they are under stress. This polyphenol is also referred to as a phytoalexin,¹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22053190 otherwise known as a plant-produced antibiotic that helps to protect the plant from damage.

Resveratrol has received a huge amount of interest and attention in recent years, not only for the way in which it can ward off countless diseases, but also for its ability to help with skin care and beauty.²https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29737899 Numerous studies have been conducted to determine exactly how Resveratrol benefits the human body, resulting in several exciting discoveries.

One of the most impressive qualities that Resveratrol has to offer is the way in which it can control inflammation, while also increasing the production of collagen – one of the key proteins that gives the skin its structure and volume.

A number of studies have shown that Resveratrol helps to activate the SIRT-1 gene. Stimulating this gene has been shown to increase metabolism and extend the lifespan of the cells in the body, in the same way that diet and exercise can.³https://www.intechopen.com/books/resveratrol-adding-life-to-years-not-adding-years-to-life/resveratrol-and-sirt1-activators-for-the-treatment-of-aging-and-age-related-diseases

The antioxidant properties of Resveratrol are also worth taking note of, with these believed to be up to three times more powerful than those of vitamin C.⁴http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1033.5381&rep=rep1&type=pdf It should come as no surprise that many claim Resveratrol to be one of the best antioxidants in the world.

Now that you’re aware of what Resveratrol has to offer (and remember, we’re just scratching the surface here), it is time to delve deeper into the role that Resveratrol plays when it comes to the health and appearance of your skin.

1. Resveratrol Helps to Neutralize Free Radicals

Thanks to its powerful antioxidant properties, Resveratrol is able to neutralize the free radicals in your skin, slowing down the skin aging process.⁵https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6164842/ When left to run rampant, those free radicals cause everything from skin cell death to DNA damage⁶https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3299230/ – all of which Resveratrol helps to prevent.

2. Resveratrol Keeps Your Skin Looking Youthful

Collagen is crucial when it comes to keeping your skin looking youthful. This protein forms a large part of the structural matrix beneath your skin, with your skin naturally producing collagen on its own. However, the rate at which it does so declines rapidly with age. External factors, from sun exposure to pollution, also contribute to collagen degradation, all of which then leaves you with fine lines, wrinkles and loose skin. Resveratrol helps to combat this by stimulating the skin’s natural production of collagen.⁷https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29737899 Over time, this helps to give the skin a firmer, smoother and more youthful-looking appearance.

3. Resveratrol Extends the Lifespan of Your Skin Cells

The way in which Resveratrol activates the sirtuin protein leads to an extended lifespan of the cells in your body, including those in your skin. Resveratrol has also been shown to increase mitochondrial activity in cells, while protecting existing mitochondria.⁸https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3123408/ This allows your skin cells to produce more energy, enabling them to really thrive.

4. Resveratrol boosts your mental sharpness

According to certain studies conducted in the UK, Resveratrol helped in boosting mental sharpness by increasing the blood flow in the brain.

5. Resveratrol Helps to Protect the Skin from Sun Damage

The sun’s UV rays cause a huge amount of damage to the skin. In fact, it is estimated that up to 80% of visible facial aging is caused by sun exposure.⁹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3790843/ Studies show that Resveratrol has the potential to protect the skin from UVB-induced damage, along with the carcinogenic effects that the sun can have.¹⁰https://www.mdedge.com/dermatology/article/113728/aesthetic-dermatology/update-resveratrol With sun damage causing everything from wrinkles to dark spots, Resveratrol can play such a key role in keeping your skin looking its very best.

Although numerous benefits to Resveratrol have been discovered so far, there are several more ongoing studies that are delving deeper into the many different potential uses that Resveratrol could have. With so much promise already being shown, one thing is clear – Resveratrol has definitely earned itself a prime spot in skin care formulations, with this being an ingredient that you can expect to see plenty more of in the future.