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Most people are used to hearing and using retinol. But have you ever tried bakuchiol? It is a more relatively new ingredient that is considered as a natural alternative to retinol. It is considered to be more gentle and less irritating than retinol. Therefore, bakuchiol is a great ingredient for those who have sensitive skin.
What is bakuchiol?
Bakuchiol is a powerful plant based antioxidant ingredient that is considered a natural alternative to retinol. It is extracted from the leaves and seeds of the plant called babchi. The plant babchi has been used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine for a while. This is because the plant contains anti-bacterial, anti-tumour, anti-fungal and anti-filarial activities. The babchi seeds are known to have medicinal properties for those with skin diseases and has been used both internally and topically.
Bakuchiol is popular because it is vegan and also more gentle on your skin. In fact, a study done in 2019, it suggested that there were no difference between bakuchiol and retinol when it comes to treating hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.
Much like retinol, when incorporated into your skincare routine, you might notice an increase in skin elasticity, smoother face texture and less hyperpigmentation. This is because bakuchiol works much like retinol to increase your cell turnover and stimulating your collagen production and therefore reducing wrinkles and photo damage.
The main difference between bakuchiol and retinol is that retinol is known to be harsh and might irritate those with sensitive skin whereas bakuchiol is less harsh and less likely to irritate your skin. Bakuchiol also is known to be anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. This means that it might help those with inflamed and sensitive skin to relieve the redness or irritation. Those who have dry or sensitive skin might be able to tolerate bakuchiol more.
Here are a list of a few of my favourites that are great for those with sensitive skin.
Acure Radically Rejuvenating Dual Phase Bakuchiol Serum
If you are looking for something that is cheaper for your budget then Acure’s bakuchiol serum is a good choice. In addition to bakuchiol, it also includes jojoba oil to help hydrate your skin and turmeric to add some extra antioxidants. The formula is lightweight and hydrating. Despite having jojoba oil in the serum, I didn’t find the oil too much and it was lightweight enough to feel like it does not clog your pores.
I only use a few drops every time, just around 2 to 3 drops is enough to cover my face and spread evenly. A little drop goes a long way and I feel like my skin feels better the next day after using it at night. One bottle is able to last me around 2 to 3 months, depending on how often you use it.
Ole Henriksen Goodnight Glow Bakuchiol Sleeping Creme
This is a great all in one skincare product for night time. When I mean all in one, I mean that you can just use this one product and call it a night and go to bed without worrying about layering different types of serums etc. It includes bakuchiol, AHAs, edelweiss stem cells and other typical skincare extracts. With bakuchiol and AHA, the product is boosted to help improve signs of aging while you sleep overnight.
It smells amazing and it contain chamomile extract to help soothe your skin. For those of you who have sensitive skin, this product should not irritate you. However, I would always check with my doctor or dermatologist if you are not sure. My main reason for why I would recommend this cream is because it is a good all in one cream that makes it very hassle free to use.
Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum
This is a lightweight serum that uses bakuchiol and niacinamide to help reduce the visible signs of aging. In addition to those two ingredients, it also includes hyaluronic acid and squalane to help moisturise and keep your skin barrier working.
This product does have a slight plant or floral smell, so for those of you who don’t like fragrance in their skincare, this product might not be for you. But the smell does seem to go away after a few minutes, or maybe I might have just gotten used to it.
After using it for a few weeks, I did notice my skin felt a little more plump and my visible lines felt a little bit fainter. I did not get any irritation from this product, but some people might be wary of squalane because it does feel a little bit oily.
Ren Bio Retinoid Youth Cream
This is a face cream that uses bidens pilosa, another plant derived retinol alternative that is similar to bakuchiol. It also has properties that help reduce the appearance of aging. In addition to the plant derived retinol, they also have rosehip oil and red microalgae extract. Rosehip oil is a great moisturiser, rich in omegas and has the ability to help with your skin redness. The red microalgae extract can also help provide anti-aging benefits.
All of the ingredients are formulated carefully and does not irritate your skin. You also don’t need a lot to cover your whole face, I think one bottle was able to last me for around half a year. It’s a good all in one cream for those who want a simple skincare routine at night. Just wash and apply the Bio Retinoid Youth Cream.
Bottomline
Bakuchiol and other plant based retinol alternatives have been shown to be not just less irritating to your skin, but also found just to be as effective for your skin as retinol. It is a great ingredient for those who have sensitive skin or to use to start building up your retinol tolerance.
When you are using bakuchiol at night, you should try to cleanse your skin beforehand and if you want to use a moisturiser as well, you should use the moisturiser after your bakuchiol serum. As always, if you are not sure, you should always talk to your doctor or your dermatologist before trying out new skincare products.