Reading papers is the best way to spend an evening! Right? Guys? Just me. ok, BUT here's what I have found! Read on if you want to see skincare research papers summarized (especially ones related to acne, but there's also much more!)
TLDR Resveratrol for Acne
This study looks into using resveratrol to treat acne because it’s anti-inflammatory, has sustained antibacterial activity against acne bacteria, and it helps keep pores clear (by normalizing hyperkeratinization).
The double-blind study had 20 patients use a resveratrol gel on one side of the face and plain gel on the other side for 60 days (~8 weeks). There was an average reduction of 53.75% in acne severity on the resveratrol side. The plain gel had an average reduction of just 6.10%. By looking at patients' skin under a microscope before and after resveratrol treatment, they confirmed a 66.7% mean reduction in the average area of microcomedones. Remember that microcomedones are not easily seen by the naked eye since they are the smallest type of clogged pore. They are often precursors to more severe/noticable types of acne.
The concentration of resveratrol used in the study is around ~0.001%, so it seems effective in small amounts. The study used trans-resveratrol and not cis-resveratrol. It’s unknown if cis-resveratrol or oxidized resveratrol has the same effects on skin as trans-resveratrol so make sure your resveratrol products are formulated properly by a reputable brand and are protected from light! This will help keep them stable for as long as possible.
I’m not sure if I can repost pictures from the study, but they have great before and after pictures of two patients who had marked improvement.