Whisky’s ingredients are beneficial to keeping the skin healthy, according to a new study.

The national drink of Scotland’s by-products can be used in skincare products to boost the skin’s appearance.

This includes reducing inflammation and puffiness, calming redness and fighting free radical damage from the environment.

The study by Robert Gordon University’s (RGU) School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Aberdeen, discovered that pot ale – the residue from the whisky-making process used for animal feed – provides antioxidant benefits in skincare.

Placing the nutrients and polyphenols from whisky in skincare products is the key element of their research.

The scientists believe it’s the first time whisky by-products have been used to investigate the antioxidant capacity of cells.

Inverness natural skincare firm Zaza & Cruz was involved in the study and now uses the ingredient in its products.

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Founder of the company, Rebecca Hastings, secured the samples used in the tests from a local distillery in the Highland town of Dingwall after several rejections elsewhere.

RGU’s research was initially inspired by the beneficial effects the sake yeast fermentation process had on the skin, proven by a Japanese company in the 1970s.

Carlos Fernandez, senior lecturer at RGU and main investigator on the project, said: “The RGU team has developed a great partnership with Zaza & Cruz and this is reflected by two successful research projects investigating the antioxidant effect of pot ale from whisky for health care products.”

Ms Hastings said the experiment helped her business “look forward to the future”.

She added: “Having the experience of the team at RGU helped me as a business owner in my field to feel confident in the results that they could produce with their research facilities.”

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