Drinking wine for better skin might be even more exciting than drinking tequila to lose weight. (TBH, it might actually be a tie.) We know this sounds too good to be true, so we consulted our trifecta of celeb skincare experts — Dr. Dendy Engelman, Shani Darden, and Jeannel Astarita — to see if drinking wine can truly act as a beneficial skincare practice.
The verdict? Is wine really good for your skin?
Yes, kind of. Basically, drinking red wine is good for your skin because it contains the antioxidant resveratrol, but there are other ways you can effectively incorporate this ingredient into your routine.
What exactly is resveratrol?
"Reservatrol is a powerful antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes," explained Engelman. "An antioxidant helps protect skin against free-radical assaults by neutralizing oxidative stress that can cause cell damage."
"It helps to reduce inflammation and has antimicrobial properties. It’s a great ingredient for anti-aging," Darden added.
When used in skincare, it not only boasts anti-aging benefits like smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles, but it can also help to control acne breakouts.
Are supplements a better source of resveratrol than a glass of wine?
"You would need to drink a lot of wine to ingest the amount of resveratrol found in a supplement," said Engelman. (Sounds like a challenge to us! Just kidding.) It's best to take a supplement per her recommendation if your true focus is better skin. If your true focus is unwinding after a long day, pop open a bottle of Cab and consider the skincare benefits from your wine an added bonus.
Looking for a resveratrol supplement? Check out our editors' favorites below:
Are there other ways to ingest resveratrol?
Beyond supplements, Astarita is a firm believer in consuming foods that naturally contain resveratrol. "I recommend ingesting it first in whole unprocessed foods," she said. "These include blueberries, cranberries, bilberries, red grapes, pistachios and peanuts."
Is resveratrol beneficial when applied topically?
Yes, it is! While there is not a ton of research around this, Engelman pointed out this promising study on the efficacy of topical resveratrol. The antioxidant is now popping up in skincare serums left and right, and we've seen positive results from the resveratrol products we've tested here at Best Products.
Darden swears by iS Clinical's Hydra-Intensive Cooling Masque. "It contains aloe, hyaluronic acid, green tea, and resveratrol to soothe, hydrate, and protect the skin with antioxidants," she said.
Astarita loves both the Paula's Choice Resist Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Serum and the Skinceuticals Resveratrol B E Serum. (Spoiler alert: We're obsessed with that Skinceuticals serum, too!)
See below to shop other editor- and expert-recommended products:
Read more:
Your Skincare Routine Should Include Hyaluronic Acid
Everything You Need to Know About Anti-Aging Wrinkle Creams, According to an Expert
The Best Vitamin C Serums for Your Brightest Complexion
Follow BestProducts.com on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!
Katie McBroom is an award-winning content creator and freelance writer. Prior to contributing to Biography, she served as Content Editor for Google and Beauty Editor for Best Products. Her work has also appeared in publications including CNN, WWD, Business Insider, Forbes, and Men's Health, among others.
