Effects of trans-resveratrol supplementation on skin health

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Created On: 20/02/2026

This randomized controlled trial determined the impact of oral and topical trans-resveratrol (potent antioxidant) supplementation on overall skin health and visible signs of skin ageing, including wrinkles and sebum production.

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Key take away

Combined oral and topical trans-resveratrol significantly reduces facial wrinkles, while topical application alone increases sebum levels, supporting improved skin health.

Background

Method

Healthy women (aged 40 years and above) were allocated to one of four treatment arms: oral placebo with topical placebo (P/P), oral trans-resveratrol with topical placebo (A/P), oral placebo with topical trans-resveratrol (P/A), and combined oral and topical trans-resveratrol (A/A). Volunteers consumed one daily capsule containing 75 mg of trans-resveratrol and applied 1 g of a 1.5% trans-resveratrol cream twice daily to the face over an 8-week intervention period.

Skin assessments encompassed wrinkle severity, skin age, pore size, pigmentation, facial lines (forehead, glabellar, Crow’s feet, nasolabial folds), skin temperature, sebum production, hydration, and elasticity. Additional evaluations included safety monitoring, participant self-assessment, and serum trans-resveratrol levels.

Result

Of the 134 women enrolled, 122 subjects completed the study. At week 8, the A/A group illustrated a noticeable reduction in wrinkle scores compared with the P/P group. Sebum production increased across all treatment groups, with considerably higher U-zone sebum levels observed in those receiving topical trans-resveratrol (P/A and A/A groups) versus placebo topical treatments. No pivotal changes were noted in other skin parameters. Serum trans-resveratrol conjugate concentrations increased markedly in the oral treatment groups at both weeks 4 and 8. All formulations were well-tolerated, with only mild and minimal adverse events reported.

Conclusion

Trans-resveratrol supplementation, administered orally and/or topically, supported improvements in key skin health outcomes. Combined oral and topical use was beneficial in minimizing facial wrinkles, while topical application alone enhanced sebum production, suggesting benefits for skin barrier function. These findings support trans-resveratrol as a safe and potent anti-ageing ingredient for improving visible signs of skin ageing.