Is Wine Good or Bad For Skin?

Wine Not?

Will a glass a day keep the dermatologist away? Probably not. But it could help prevent some free radical damage on your skin, when taken in moderation. Today, we’re looking at the pros and cons for your skin of drinking wine. And if you’re thinking this is going to support your rose’ obsession, sorry! The most beneficial wine for skin is red wines. So, put down your chardonnay and pick up your cabernet to experience these skin benefits.

Skin Benefits of Drinking Wine

• Preliminary research out of the University of Barcelona found that proanthocyanidins, antioxidants found in red grapes, may help prevent oxidative reactions in your skin. Oxidative reactions often stem from sun exposure and can result in damage to cells, which can lead to sunburns, wrinkles and even skin cancer.
• Red wines, particularly organic red wines, are packed with antioxidants like flavonoid, resveratrol and tannin. They help fight free radical damage and aging by restoring collagen and elastin fibers, plumping up wrinkles and tightening sagging skin.
• In addition to fighting free radicals, resveratrol boosts the effects of naturally occurring antioxidants, resulting in a calmer, less stressed complexion.
• Resveratrol even keeps mitochondria (a cell’s energy powerhouse) functioning normally, which, in turn, helps to slow the aging process.
• Red wine is rich in amino acids that improve skin renewal and fight sun damage. The antioxidnats in red wine create a protective barrier against sun damage to prevent skin cancer. (However, red wine should not be considered as a substitute for wearing sunscreen daily!)
• Drinking red wine stimulates the development of new cells in the skin’s outer layers.
• Drinking wine also improves skin hydration to make it look younger, supple and glowing.

Disadvantages for Skin of Drinking Wine

• Alcohol is a hepatotoxin, meaning specifically that it damages the liver. The liver detoxifies your body. So, therefore, wine can be a toxin to the cells that are there to help detoxify your body.
• All alcohol dehydrates the skin, resulting in more sallow and uneven skin tone and texture.

So, as with most things in life, moderation is the key. Before you drink a whole bottle of wine, remember that the recommended cap on alcoholic beverages is one a day for women and two a day for men. This will help keep your skin benefiting from wine, and not suffering! Sources: StyleCraze, Birchbox, Huffington Post, Eating Well