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What Are Stilbenes?
Stilbenes are naturally occurring plant antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals, the unstable molecules that damage proteins, DNA, and collagen.
In skin models and early human studies, resveratrol has been shown to limit oxidative injury and reduce collagen degradation to support skin structure.
These plant chemicals or "phytochemicals," can be naturally found in grapes, berries, certain nuts, and japanese knotweed. The molecules plants create to guard themselves against environmental dangers offer humans the same advantages helping to protect and restore skin.
The Science Behind Stilbenes and Skin Health
Antioxidant Powerhouse
Everyday our skin is bombarded by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by sunlight, pollution, normal metabolism, etc. Excessive ROS causes oxidative stress that damages the structures in your skin cells like proteins and DNA. Stilbenes, particularly resveratrol, work to neutralize ROS before they can inflict damage. Compared with classic antioxidants like vitamin C and E, resveratrol has the advantage of being water- and fat- soluble, a duality that means broader antioxidant coverage at a cellular level.
Anti-Inflammatory Action
Chronic low grade inflammation accelerates skin aging by breaking down collagen and elastin while impairing barrier function. Studies show resveratrol and pterostilbene can reduce inflammatory signals and protein activations translating to calmer skin and protection against inflammatory conditions like acne or rosacea.
Cellular Protection and Repair
As UV exposure is one of the leading causes of premature skin aging, proactively using stilbenes can work to shield DNA from UV induced mutations by enhancing repair enzymes and activating sirtuins, the NAD+ dependent proteins that are central to DNA maintenance. They also support your mitochondrial function, ensuring skin cells can maintain the high energy demands of repair and regeneration.
Specific Skin Benefits of Stilbenes
Anti-Aging Effects
One of the most visible roles of stilbenes is in preserving the structural proteins collagen and elastin. Laboratory and small clinical studies show resveratrol stimulates collagen synthesis and protects elastin fibres from enzymatic degradation. In women, significant reductions in fine lines, wrinkles, and skin roughness were observed after 12 weeks of topical resveratrol use.
Sun Protection and Damage Repair
While not a substitute for sunscreen, stilbenes provide a backup layer of UV protection, absorbing certain UV wavelengths and reducing oxidative damage. Studies in human skin cells show resveratrol reduces markers of photoaging and accelerates the clearing of UV-induced DNA lesions. Post-sun exposure, stilbenes may speed recovery of sun-stressed skin.
Problem Skin Solutions
Stilbenes also show promise for hyperpigmentation, acne, and sensitive skin. By inhibiting enzymes that drive melanin overproduction, stilbenes can help reduce hyperpigmentation and even skin tone. Similarly, their antimicrobial properties inhibit the bacteria linked to breakouts, while anti-inflammatory action reduces redness in rosacea.
Choosing and Using Stilbene Products
While stilbenes show promise for protecting and repairing skin, effectiveness strongly depends on how they're delivered. These compounds are chemically sensitive, so application can determine how much actually reaches your skin cells. Two primary strategies are typically used:
Topical creams and serums can provide high concentration, direct local effects where protection and repair are needed most. Serums and creams enriched with resveratrol or pterostilbene provide antioxidant defense and DNA support as soon as they are absorbed. Because resveratrol is unstable in light and air, advanced stabilization systems like liposomes are often used to preserve activity.
Oral supplementation offers broader systemic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support that can extend benefits to the skin. Advanced liposomal formulations can similarly help overcome the poor bioavailability of resveratrol, which is otherwise rapidly metabolized in the body.
Researchers are increasingly exploring combination approaches to maximize benefits, suggesting the most effective strategy is a dual approach. Oral supplementation for whole-body support, paired with topical application for direct skin defense. This mirrors strategies already used with other antioxidants such as vitamin C and CoQ10. Research on NAD+ and skin health similarly demonstrates how cellular metabolic support can protect against UV damage and reduce skin cancer risk, highlighting the importance of addressing skin aging at the cellular level.
As with most products, consistency is key. Visible improvements often appear after two to three months, consistent with the skin's natural renewal cycle. Responses can vary, and while stilbenes can meaningfully support skin health, they are most effective when used as part of a broader regimen that includes sun protection, hydration, and healthy lifestyle choices.
The Future of Stilbenes in Skincare
Research into stilbenes is moving quickly, with novel delivery systems being developed to address their stability and skin penetration challenges. Looking ahead, personalized skincare approaches may even combine genetic profiling with tailored stilbene formulations to match an individual's unique skin aging profiles.
Stilbenes represent a powerful bridge between nature's chemistry and modern dermatological science. By protecting against oxidative stress, calming inflammation, preserving collagen, and supporting DNA repair, they address many of the core mechanisms that drive skin aging. Understanding how NAD+ suppresses inflammatory response provides additional context for why compounds that support cellular NAD+ metabolism, like resveratrol through sirtuin activation, may offer synergistic anti-aging benefits for skin.
Regardless of delivery, stilbenes can offer a biologically plausible, evidence-based path to maintaining healthier, more youthful skin. As the research matures, they may become foundational ingredients in longevity-oriented skincare routines.
