Combine wine o’clock and beauty and what do we get? No, not a spa day gone wrong. Skin care products with wine as a hero ingredient are on the rise. Wine lovers are likely familiar with the reported health benefits of their glass of red, and these attributes extend to beauty when it comes to complexions.
Wine and Resveratrol
Red wine contains an antioxidant-rich trifecta of resveratrol, tannins and flavonoids, according to Teresa Norvell, founder of Intoxicating Beauty, a clean beauty company using organic or all-natural wine, sake, hops and spirits. The potent antioxidants are types of polyphenols, naturally occurring micronutrients in plants. All three come from fermented grape skins and are brilliant for combating free radicals, brightening, keeping skin youthful and elastic and restoring collagen. Furthermore, red wine has natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which can work for acne and hyperpigmentation.
Kerry Benjamin, founder of StackedSkincare, recommends wine skin care for all skin types. Red wine is a hero for fighting the signs of aging because of its high resveratrol and antioxidant content, but the lesser-mentioned white wine is good for oily and congested skin, says Norvell.
Drinking Wine Versus Wine Skin Care
Thinking about rubbing the last few drops from a wine bottle on your skin? Hold up. Benjamin says that applying wine topically doesn’t result in the same skin care benefits as wine beauty products. In the case of the latter, resveratrol is extracted from the skin of grapes, then put into topical solutions for the specific benefit of skin. So save that bottle for consumption and use proper wine skin care products to see results.
Just as you can’t rub your wine on your face to reap the benefits, you can’t depend on drinking wine to translate to any skin benefits. Wine is a bit of a paradox — it is beneficial when wine extract skin care products are applied topically, but drinking too much wine can have negative effects for skin. Norvell promotes drinking responsibly and staying hydrated with water; too much wine can dehydrate skin and lead to puffiness and dark circles. Excess imbibing can even exacerbate eczema and rosacea.
“Applying wine topically in skin care products is a great way for people to reap the skin care benefits of wine without having to consume it daily or at all … ” says Norvell. “And [wine skin care] is hangover-free!” You have skin experts’ permission to have wine in the a.m. and p.m. in the name of better skin with these 12 wine skin care products. Cheers!
[ Next: Who Knew? Fermented Ingredients Also Do Amazing Things for Your Skin Care ]
Wine Beauty Products
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Lapcos
Daily Skin Mask Red Wine 5 Pack, $14 at Lapcos
Always be ready for beauty wine time with this five-pack of plumping sheet masks. Wine extract is combined with smoothing allantoin and brightening blueberry fruit extract to hydrate skin and promote elasticity. There's no flushed wine face here, just nourished, youthful skin.
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Arcona
Wine Oil, $58 at Arcona
This packaging is as sleek as a high-end bottle of wine. The grape-heavy formula includes grapeseed oil to hydrate and resveratrol to rejuvenate skin and fight the signs of aging. The product is made without harmful additives and cold-pressed in small batches to ensure a potent, efficacious oil. We'll toast to that.
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Neogen
Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine, $27 at Soko Glam
Resveratrol also makes a great exfoliator, as evidenced by these red wine pads. The mini pads function as a chemical and physical exfoliator. Slip a finger into the mitt, then gently rub both sides of the pad over skin. Rinse the formula off to reveal smoother, dewier skin.
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Biobelle
#HappyHour Sheet Mask, $3.99 at Ulta Beauty
Any hour is made happier when using this illuminating sheet mask that is infused with wine extract and anti-aging star retinol. The sheet mask itself is also noteworthy. The no-slip formula is constructed out of biodegradable Tencel (made from wood pulp from sustainable forests) and ensures the moisturizing formula gets absorbed into skin.
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TONYMOLY
I'm Real Red Wine Mask Sheet, $3.75 at Ulta Beauty
It's a red, red wine sheet mask to target enlarged, congested pores. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes and drink up the intoxicating scent as the red wine and botanical extracts get to work refining skin.
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Caudalie
Vinopure Skin Perfecting Serum, $49 at Caudalie
Caudalie is very familiar with the benefits of polyphenols and resveratrol for skin. The company's roots trace back to a vineyard in Bordeaux. This lightweight gel serum is formulated with the highest concentration of natural salicylic acid, organic essential oils and grapeseed polyphenols to target blackheads, breakouts and greasy complexions.
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FarmHouse Fresh
Wine Down Overnight Super Antioxidant Recovery Serum, $56 at FarmHouse Fresh
Treat this like the skin care version of a glass of wine after a chaotic day. The supercharged serum has been proven to have 5.8 times more antioxidant capacity than the average moisturizer, thanks to resveratrol extracted from Texas winery grapes and ECGC (the active polyphenol in green tea). Apply a few dots morning and night to hydrate and wake up skin.
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Theraplex
Theraesthetics Resveratrol Peptide Complex, $75 at DermStore
Fight wrinkles with wine? That's the essence of the anti-aging product. A mix of resveratrol (from the skin of red grapes) and six peptides boost collagen, moisturize and soften fine lines and wrinkles. It even aids in removing toxins.
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Vine Vera
Resveratrol Sauvignon Blanc Neck & Chest Cream, $296 at Vine Vera
Want sauvignon blanc without the hangover? This big-budget cream showcases the anti-aging power of green-skinned grapes on the often-ignored chest and neck area. Resveratrol ferment extract is combined with vitamin A and vitamin E to target sun damage, wrinkles and other signs of aging.
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Ofra Cosmetics
Fro-Zay Peel-Off Mask, $17 at Ulta Beauty
A peel-off mask is as satisfying as a fine glass of wine and this brightening treatment combines a bit of both. The shimmering pink mask is infused with wine extract for a powerful antioxidant hit. Apply a thick layer, leave on for 10 minutes, then gently remove to reveal a soothed, more luminous complexion.
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Naturopathica
Sweet Cherry Brightening Enzyme Peel, $58 at Naturopathica
Cherries and wine are a powerful combination as evidenced by this brightening peel. It contains wine extract derived from red cabernet sauvignon grapes grown in France and a sweet cherry puree. The combination results in a pleasing jelly product that targets discoloration.
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100% Pure
Sheet Mask: Does It All Masks, $6 at 100% Pure
Consuming a few too many glasses of wine can have a negative impact on complexions, but that isn't the case when applying a restoring sheet mask like this one. The multitasking mask is loaded with good-for-skin ingredients, including rejuvenating red wine resveratrol, soothing rosehip oil and hydrating carrot seed oil. The formula also has sake to promote a more even skin tone.
