Whoever’s serious about their skincare knows retinol is an indispensable anti-wrinkle ingredient – yet its use may lead to peeling and skin irritation.
Bakuchiol, a plant-derived alternative to retinol, helps stimulate cell turnover and reduce fine lines and wrinkles while improving tone and texture. Additionally, its application fades hyperpigmentation while improving tone and texture.
How it works
Bakuchiol has garnered much interest due to its potential anti-ageing benefits similar to those provided by retinol without its adverse side effects, including dryness and irritation. Furthermore, it’s safe for use during pregnancy (though Hollmig recommends speaking to your OB-GYN prior to making any decisions on whether it would work).
Bakuchiol works similarly to retinol by altering gene expression to activate skin proteins and boost collagen production, yet because it’s not derived from vitamin A it’s less likely to cause redness, peeling, and scaling than its counterpart.
A double-blind trial that combined bakuchiol with the melatonin and vitamin C derivative ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate revealed that over 12 weeks, twice daily application resulted in decreased fine lines, wrinkles and sunspots, improved skin tone and elasticity, reduced wrinkle roughness without the usual irritation or dryness caused by retinol therapy; all without increasing sun sensitivity or irritation. Bakuchiol was stable under sunlight without increasing sun sensitivity; nonetheless as with any anti-ageing ingredient it should be protected daily to avoid any adverse outcomes.
Benefits
Bakuchiol works to brighten and smooth skin by increasing cell turnover and strengthening its natural structure from within, strengthening collagen and elastin strands that compose its foundation. For sun-sensitive users who have experienced peeling or redness with traditional retinoids, it may provide an effective alternative.
One study showed that bakuchiol provided comparable results to retinol when it comes to smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin tone, and even reducing hyperpigmentation with reduced irritation. Plus it’s an antioxidant, so can even help slow signs of aging caused by oxidative stress!
As Bakuchiol stimulates skin cell turnover, using it in tandem with exfoliating AHAs (like glycolic or lactic acid ) is recommended to improve texture, combat excess oil production and clear pores of debris. You may use Bakuchiol twice daily–once at night and once in the morning. Just don’t forget sunscreen protection after every use to shield from UV damage!
Side effects
Bakuchiol is a gentle plant-based alternative to retinol that does not cause peeling or irritation when exposed to sunlight, and can even be safely used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. As this ingredient is still relatively new, for best results it should always be used according to instructions or consult your healthcare provider for advice.
Bakuchiol can be used alone or combined with other skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid to increase its effects on the skin. A product containing both bakuchiol and melatonin may help reduce wrinkles and uneven pigmentation while improving tone and texture of skin tone and texture.
Bakuchiol works beautifully when combined with exfoliating ingredients such as glycolic and lactic acids to visibly improve skin texture, fight excess oil, and unclog pores. Just make sure that you follow product instructions to prevent over-exfoliating – which could cause dryness or sensitivity if done too frequently! Generally speaking, use Bakuchiol only on days where other exfoliation treatments or products will not be in use.
Interactions
Although bakuchiol is considered safe, with few known side effects compared to retinoids, it’s still essential to be aware of how it interacts with other products in your routine. It typically layers well with leave-on products containing moisturizing ingredients like squalane and PHAs while working well when combined with serums that target collagen boosting, remodel skin tone correction and smooth fine lines.
Bakuchiol may even help decrease hyperpigmentation. One small study demonstrated how topical 0.5 percent bakuchiol cream significantly decreased inflammation lesions while diminishing any discoloration from healed acne spots.
If you want to add Bakuchiol into your skincare regimen, be sure to select a lightweight formulation suitable for morning and evening use. Bakuchiol goes well with other natural anti-ageing ingredients such as Niacinamide for brightening and Vitamin C to promote skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles.
