Resveratrol is best known from headlines about red wine, which has done it no favours as a skincare ingredient – the topical story is quite separate from the nutritional one, and rather more modest. Here's what it does on skin.
What it is
Resveratrol is a polyphenol antioxidant produced by certain plants as a defence compound. It's found in grape skins, berries and Japanese knotweed, which is the usual commercial source for skincare.
Worth separating clearly: resveratrol taken as a supplement and resveratrol applied to skin are entirely different propositions with different evidence behind them. Nothing about the nutritional discussion tells you what it does in a serum.
What it's used for
In cosmetic skincare, resveratrol is used in formulas aimed at the appearance of dullness and skin that looks tired or uneven. As an antioxidant, it's typically included to support the look of skin against the visible effects of everyday environmental exposure.
It's a subtle ingredient. If you're looking for visible change in texture or lines, retinol or an AHA will do considerably more; resveratrol is a supporting act rather than the main event.
Why it's usually a night ingredient
Most antioxidants in skincare — vitamin C, ferulic acid — are positioned for morning use under sunscreen. Resveratrol is more often formulated for evening, partly for stability reasons and partly because it's frequently combined with other night-time ingredients.
There's no harm in using it in the morning if that's how your product is formulated; follow the instructions on the packaging rather than a general rule.
How to use it
After cleansing, before moisturiser. It's gentle, doesn't sensitise skin to sunlight, and doesn't require any tolerance-building.
It layers well with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and peptides. If you use retinol, applying resveratrol on alternate nights is a reasonable way to run both without asking too much of your skin at once.
Explore our resveratrol skincare, or see all active skincare.