Product Spotlight: Secrets From The Vine

From the dining room to the treatment room, wine is making a splash as the next great antiaging therapy.

For the last decade, the so-called French paradox has taught Americans the value of drinking a glass of red wine with dinner. And spas have discovered that grape by-products—the seeds, skins and stems left after the juice is removed—can be transformed into products and treatments that are beneficial to skin.

The antioxidant effect of grapes is one of the primary reasons cosmetic manufacturers pursue this line of research. Every day, skin absorbs dirt, pollution, smoke and other environmental toxins, which are picked up and carried through the body by free radicals. These radicals will damage other cells if left unchecked, causing premature aging and even some diseases.

Once a product is applied to skin, it's absorbed, along with the health benefits contained within it, by the epidermis and then into the bloodstream. Polyphenol antioxidants destroy free radicals, and those found in grape seeds are especially effective. Some scientists say it's 1,000 times more effective than vitamin E in fighting these destructive aggressors. Resveratrol, a polyphenol antioxidant found in red grape skins, is another effective weapon against free radicals. It's even thought by some researchers to inhibit tumor formation by preventing the growth of abnormal cells.

VB Cosmetics Abrionè Red Wine Essential Oil Mixture. Implement this blend into a mask mixture, or use it in a massage treatment to protect skin and boost circulation. 866.398.9357, vbcosmetics.com