Welcome to the season of the grape. While the ancient fruit has long been a favorite any time of year, grapes truly shines in autumn, when they reach peak ripeness in many parts of the world.
Filled with nutrients and fiber, grapes are well-known for their health benefits—which include lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol levels, supporting digestion, improving cognitive protection and so much more. Lesser known, however, is that the nutrients in grapes are also great for the skin. In fact, ingredients derived from the fruit are used in everything from massage treatments to skin compresses to bath oils to cosmetics.
In the spirit of the fruit’s finest season—a time in which we all want to double down on ingredients that help us achieve a glowy, hydrated visage—here’s a peek at exactly what makes grapes so beneficial for the skin
The benefits of grapes for the skin
Thanks to their high content of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, grapes are considered an anti-aging ally. The outer skins of red grapes, in particular, are high in the polyphenol resveratrol—the same polyphenol that gives red wine its potential heart health benefits.
When it comes to skin, resveratrol’s ability to protect against free radicals also comes into play, helping to reduce inflammation and improve skin elasticity. “Studies have shown protective effects of resveratrol against ultraviolet radiation mediated oxidative stress and cutaneous damages including skin cancer,” one scientific review notes. “Because many of the skin conditions stem from ultraviolet radiation and oxidative stress, this antioxidant appears to have promise and prospects against a wide range of cutaneous disorders including skin aging…Skin is particularly well suited for the use of this promising agent because the antioxidant properties of resveratrol work well against the high oxidative stress that skin cells come under frequently.”
The antioxidant polyphenols in grapes are also accompanied by a host of other skin-boosting nutrients, especially vitamins C, A, K, and B, all of which help to combat cellular aging by stimulating collagen production, stabilizing elastin, stimulating cell regeneration, and shielding the skin from free radical and UV damage.
Grapes also contain something called tartaric acid, a natural alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) which, when applied topically, provides an exfoliating and skin-brightening action. (An interesting, semi-unrelated fact: tartaric acid is the reason grapes are toxic to dogs.)
