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I don’t know about you, but sometimes, the idea of using “anti-aging” products feels kind of old-school. It’s not that I don’t want to look good, it’s just that lately, I’ve preferred to focus on longevity and aging with grace. Maybe, it’s the fact that I’m getting older; maybe it’s just beauty product fatigue. Regardless, there’s something refreshing about leaving behind a solely youth-oriented beauty approach.
Still, there’s no escaping the flurry of anti-aging methods touted on social media. Among the endless tricks and solutions currently going viral, one has piqued my interest as a potential win-win that promises to check all the boxes mentioned above. It’s called resveratrol, and it’s said to have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and—yes—anti-aging effects. Best of all, this natural “molecule of eternal youth” is found in some of my favorite foods, including red wine, chocolate, and raspberries. The makings of a great dessert and a glowing complexion? Sounds too good to be true.
To find out if the youths on TikTok are right, I asked experts to share the truth about resveratrol for skin and how the compound might benefit our overall health. Read on to find out what they said.
Resveratrol, the molecule of eternal youth?
Resveratrol is a flavonoid—a compound from the plant world that carries out various protective biological functions. It’s most commonly found in the skins of grapes, blueberries, raspberries, and cranberries, as well as in peanuts, pistachios, cacao, and dark chocolate. The molecule resveratrol was popularized by the Harvard professor David Sinclair, who was named to Time’s list of the most influential people of the year in 2014 for his research on longevity. Sinclair identified the key role of resveratrol as a regulator of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism in laboratory experiments.
What are the benefits of resveratrol?
The most important property of resveratrol is that it s an antioxidant; it fights the free radicals responsible for cellular aging throughout the body. When taken as a supplement or via food, these antioxidants help decrease in oxidative stress, lower blood pressure, extend the lifespan of skin cells, and maximize collagen production. Resveratrol controls several aspects of liver metabolism in response to nutritional and hormonal signals, making it essential for maintaining energy homeostasis, i.e. the body’s internal and external regulation system.
Foods that contain resveratrol
Some studies show that those who follow a diet rich in resveratrol might experience a decreased risk of the onset of cardiovascular diseases and some cancers. And, plenty of foods contain this powerful antioxidant:
- cacao
- blueberries
- raspberries
- peanuts
- pistachios
- cranberries
- dark grapes
- red wine
- dark chocolate
- soy
But eater beware: this small (and decidedly tasty!) list comes with an unfortunate catch: to reach the amount of resveratrol necessary for the body to achieve tangible benefits, you’d have to consume a huge quantity of each.
Should I take a resveratrol supplement?
For the body to receive the optimum beneficial effects of resveratrol, it needs 150mg per day. That’s the equivalent to eating entire pallets of grapes or, worse, drinking “one hundred to one thousand glasses of red wine” Sinclair says.
That’s an impossible amount of wine! Better, then, to skip the extra alcohol increase your consumption of resveratrol through supplements. If you go that route, experts say it’s ideal to take these supplements before meals, for a treatment cycle of approximately 30 days.
Resveratrol for skin
The most popular—and desired—effect of resveratrol are its anti-aging benefits; its been shown to prevent photoaging and can even improve acne. When applied via topical creams—particularly at night—resveratrol, “increases collagen production and decreases reactive oxygen species, which improve elasticity and make the skin thicker and more homogeneous, repairing scars and marks,” explains Jaimie Glick, MD, a dermatologist at New York Dermatology Group. It is often mistakenly compared to retinol for its ability to smooth out expression lines (as numerous TikTok videos demonstrate), but it is much less reactive and more hydrating than the vitamin A derivative.
The truth about resveratrol
If you’re curious about resveratrol, you can work it into your skincare routine (the French beauty brand Caudalie has an entire dedicated range of products containing resveratrol) or try taking supplements. However it’s worth noting that there’s still not a ton of research on resveratrol; the main studies that have shown promise are mostly in regards to heart health, cholesterol, and insulin resistance. And experts definitely agree that the benefits of consuming resveratrol are not an excuse to amp up your red wine consumption; one four ounce glass of red wine for women per day is still the max the American Heart Association recommends.