Despite the , and the problem behind the term, ingredients used to slow down our skin’s clock remain on beauty’s top shelf. The latest on the list of buzzword products—from to —is a compound, dubbed the “molecule for eternal youth,” found in some of our favorite foods. (Hint: it’s in red wine and chocolate, too).
“Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant found in the skin of grapes, berries, and some nuts,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Nicole Ruth tells ESSENCE. With the hashtag #resveratrol at 42.
8 posts on TikTok and a number of products on the market, “it’s been gaining attention in the skincare world for its anti-aging properties.” Below, Ruth breaks down the retinol alternative, the benefits, and what to avoid. Most commonly found in the skin of grapes, berries, and nuts, resveratrol is also a component in (deliciously) addictive foods, like red wine and dark chocolate.
However, you’d have to consume extremely large quantities (150mg a day) to tap into the benefits since only a trace amount can be absorbed by the gut. While drinking hundreds of glasses of , tapping into the topical benefits instead of an aged Cabernet bottle may be more worthwhile. “This works by neutralizing free radicals, which are unstable molecules that damage skin cells and accelerate aging,” Ruth says, which supplements or topical products can do.
“By protecting the skin from oxidative stress, resveratrol helps prevent fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.