Enjoy wine? Like the taste of grapes? Want an excuse to drink more? Good news for you then! Red grapes are a source of one of the most powerful antioxidants around – resveratrol. And it is one of my favorite ingredients – a staple in my skin care regimen.
Why Are Red Grapes So Special?
Red grapes, such as the Pinot Noir and Bordeaux grape varietals, are grown in regions with foggy, cold weather and moisture. Mold grows in this kind of environment. These grapes contain a polyphenol chemical called Resveratrol that protects it from mold. Resveratrol protects plants from fungal and bacterial infections.
Resveratrol also happens to be a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and MMP inhibitor.
Resveratrol is found in more than 70 plants, but not many are edible. Mexican Bamboo, also known as Japanese Knotweed, is the richest natural source of Resveratrol.
Next time you’re buying a new moisturizer or serum, look for resveratrol in the ingredient list. It’s an excellent complement to the fundamental vitamins – Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E.
Where to Find Products With Resveratrol
Because it is such a powerful antioxidant, Resveratrol is very difficult to stabilize in a formula. The more powerful the antioxidant, the less stable it is. Resveratrol requires special liposomes to standardize, though a synthetic version has recently become available.
Because Resveratrol is difficult to formulate, it is not commonly found in traditional retail brands. It is easier to find them in professional skin care brands or high end cosmeceutical lines.
Grape Seed Extract
Grape seed extract is an excellent antioxidant for fending off free radical attacks.
All parts of the grape plant can be harvested for skin care – the juicy fruit inside the grape, plus the skin, seeds, and vines. The grape itself (fruit + skin + seeds) contain the highest amount of polyphenols.
Resveratrol is a Powerful SIRT Booster
Besides being a powerful antioxidant, Resveratrol offers another significant anti-aging benefit – it is a powerful SIRT booster.
A SIRT booster is something that increases the activity of Sirtuins.
Sirtuins are anti-aging enzymes that are produced by SIRT genes, also known as ‘longevity genes.’ Their job is to guard cells. In particular, sirtuins increase the time allowed for DNA repair.
In other words, if your cells are damaged, more of that damage gets repaired with sirtuins present. When we age, our cells are working overtime to repair damage. More sirtuins are very helpful!
Unfortunately, like everything else that’s good for us, sirtuins decline with age. Resveratrol counteracts that decline because it is a natural SIRT booster. In fact, it is the strongest SIRT booster out of more than 2,000 plant chemicals.
When you drink red wine, you are boosting your Sirtuins. So, if you are looking for an excuse to drink more wine, you now have one. Drink without guilt! 🙂
And the next time you’re at the cocktail party buffet table, forget the cheese. Go for the grapes.
Hi Rita – Not sure exactly where to post this question but I hope you can help. I’m interested in introducing resveratrol into my skincare. I found this new product – STOP serum (http://uk.spacenk.com/serum/MUK200013499.html) and was considering purchasing. However, if I already use Sarah Chapman’s Skinesis Skin Tone Perfecting Booster (http://uk.spacenk.com/skinesis-skin-tone-perfecting-booster/MUK200006444.html) and Nude ProGenius oil do I really need it? I find it so difficult to know what these products do and do not do as anti-aging seems to be tagged onto all products anymore. I’m 24 so I really want a preventative anti aging product to interchange/layer with my serums/oils for brightening/hyper-pigmentation/hydration, but if what I’m using is sufficient then I don’t want to waste money. I don’t own many products, so there isn’t much variety in my routine (which I’ve posted below). Thank you for your help!
AM:
Sodium Sulfacetamide 9% – Sulfur 4% Wash (prescribed)
Mario Badescu Special Cucumber Lotion
Hydrating Toner (Darphin Intral Toner/Jurlique Balancing Rosewater Mist, Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe Herbs And Rosewater, etc)
Mario Badescu Buffing Lotion
Sarah Chapman Skinesis Skin Tone Perfecting Booster – or – Sarah Chapman Skinesis Intense Hydrating Booster
Aveeno Lotion + 1 drop of Nude ProGenius Omega Treatment Oil
PM:
Day 1
IF WEARING MAKE UP: Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm
Sodium Sulfacetamide 9% – Sulfur 4% Wash (prescribed)
Mario Badescu Special Cucumber Lotion
Hydrating Toner (Darphin Intral Toner/Jurlique Balancing Rosewater Mist, Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe Herbs And Rosewater, etc)
Mario Badescu Buffing Lotion
Sarah Chapman Skinesis Skin Tone Perfecting Booster – or – Sarah Chapman Skinesis Intense Hydrating Booster
Nude ProGenius Omega Treatment Oil
M2 Skin Recovery Moisturizer
Day 2
IF WEARING MAKE UP: Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm
Sodium Sulfacetamide 9% – Sulfur 4% Wash (prescribed)
Mario Badescu Special Cucumber Lotion
Hydrating Toner (Darphin Intral Toner/Jurlique Balancing Rosewater Mist, Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe Herbs And Rosewater, etc)
M2 Advanced High Potency Skin Refinish/Mama Lotion Formula
M2 Skin Recovery Moisturizer
Hi, I appreciate your question. It’s not easy figuring out the right routine with so many product choices available to us.
First question, is this routine working well for you? No issues? Just checking because adding another product introduces more complexity. If you’re experiencing any problems with your skin, it’s important to get those issues under control first.
I think you could add this Resveratrol treatment to your routine, assuming budget is not an issue. Since age prevention is your goal, antioxidants are definitely the way to go. And looking at your products, I think there is room for more antioxidants. It looks like the Skinesis booster has some Vitamin C. But are you using that all over your face, or just adding a drop to your moisturizer? Unfortunately, I can’t see the full ingredient list of either serum online.
If you were to get this treatment, you could alternate it with the Sarah Chapman serums. Example: If you use SC in the AM, then use STOP in the PM.
Have you looked at any other antioxidant serums? A product with a blend of antioxidants is better. Here are a few that come to mind. Topix Replenix Power of Three has Resveratrol + Green Tea. Arcona Youth Serum has Resveratrol + several forms of Vit C. Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta peel pads have Resveratrol + several AHAs + Vit C — these pads might actually be worth a look. I don’t see an exfoliant in your routine. It’s a treatment you can incorporate into your routine several times a week (it doesn’t have to be daily as recommended). And it would help control the acne and brighten the acne scars.
I have not used STOP and don’t mean to discourage you from it, but the packaging (a tube) is problematic. Resveratrol should be packaged in an airless container (e.g. bottle with a pump).
Thank you for your reply! As I’m based in the UK at the moment (not back in the US until Christmas), it’s not as easy to get the products available in the US. Nonetheless, I found Dr. Dennis Gross and will look into those pads. And thanks for the tip on the packaging.. although I’ll check the STOP product out I think I’m going to wait on purchasing.
Would love to see a post maybe describing ingredients and what they do broadly – i.e. benefits of omegas, benefits of AHAs, etc 🙂
I have been meaning to try this serum- will definitely be trying this in the near future! Thanks for this post:)
I love your last statement- forget the cheese go for the wine! brilliant:)
Resveratrol is the final ingredient I am looking to add to my skincare. I came across these two options. I’ve used products from neither. I’m in Australia so you may not be familiar with these brands. Aspect Dr which I believe is a professional brand and Moogoo more a natural start up use best ingredients company. Aspect Dr I believe uses Resveratrol from grape skins and Moogoo from Japanese Knotweed which I hadn’t heard before. I was considering the Aspect Dr which is more expensive for face and Moogoo to put on body (even though it says face).
I am using AHAS – glycolic and citric acid from NeoStrata. Vitamin C in form of Absorbic Acid in anhydrous base (Paula’s Choice Vitamin C Spot Treatmeant 25%) and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate as part of a general antioxidant serum being (Paula’s Choice Resist Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum). Retinol 1% (Paula’s Choice) Side note, I’ve read that silicones can stop antioxidants getting through so I’m unsure about Paula’s Choice products which are heavy on them. Niacinamide via Olay Regenerist Micro sculpting. Plus Estée Lauder Advance Night Repair and Perfectionist CP +R. Hylauronic Acid mask from Rodial. I alternate using these products mainly at night (like glycolic one night then Retinol the next night) except the antioxidant serum that I use under broad spectrum sunscreen through the day. So I’m missing a good moisturiser and Reservatrol in my routine.