Let’s take a poll: How many of my readers have heard of retinol? Please write your answers down in an envelope and mail them to your local Total Youth and Beauty office. But all joking aside, I’m guessing it’s a pretty big percentage. This is for good reason, retinol is one of the most popular skin care ingredients, and it has earned that distinction through tried and true results.
Retinol is one of the few proven wrinkle reducers, while at the same time evening out skin blemishes and improving your overall complexion. It is a swiss-army knife of skin care, with multiple anti-aging benefits that make it a favorite among celebrities, dermatologists, and anyone looking to achieve better skin.
The downside? Retinol is very potent, and can easily irritate and dry skin, so people with sensitive skin have trouble tolerating it. It has been known to lead to stinging, redness, peeling skin, itching and general irritation.
Additionally, those who spend time in the sun need to be extra careful with retinoid creams – I’ve heard reports of users having bad reactions to the sun even after applying a generous layer of sunscreen.
Enter Bakuchiol: The New Retinol Alternative
Bakuchiol (pronounced “back-uh-heel”) is an extract of the plant babchi, a plant that is found in India and is popular for it’s soft purple flowers. This extract certainly isn’t new; Bakuchiol has a long history in medicine for the healing benefits it provides, such as calming redness, soothing rashes and even healing skin injuries like cuts and gashes.
Bakuchiol serum works in a similar fashion as other retinols, by decreasing cell-turnover time, stimulating new collagen production, in turn increasing skin elasticity and firmness, reducing wrinkles and improving overall skin complexion.
Is it just another skin care scam? Nope, bakuchiol has been clinically proven to rebuild new collagen, reduce or remove fine lines and wrinkles in the skin and reduce hyperpigmentation spots. All with only a fraction of the side effects caused by products containing retinol.
Bakuchiol Vs. Retinol
The best part about bakuchiol extract? It gives comparable effects to retinol while being much safer for skin and having a much lower incidence of side effects.
Bakuchiol works with the same genetic pathways to induce the production of new collagen formation in the skin – but here’s the kicker, it doesn’t decrease the size of oil glands or cause irritation or dryness. Honestly, that’s pretty incredible and for some might be akin to a skincare miracle!
This all-natural alternative to retinol is safe for oily, dry and also sensitive skin types, but if you have eczema or rosacea you be careful. Start with a small amount and see how you respond. Most dermatologists recommend using less than normal if you have eczema or rosacea.
Bakuchiol Use For Acne and Oily Skin
The benefits of the babchi plant extends beyond simply giving your skin a healthy glow: Dermatologists also recommend bakuchiol infused products for oily and acne-prone skin types.
The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of the extract make it perfect for those with skim blemishes. Unlike a product like Retin-A or Tazorac, bakuchiol won’t turn your entire face tomato red and have you hiding from the sun.
Can You Use Bakuchiol While Pregnant?
Pregnant women shouldn’t use retinol, as the ingredient has been linked to birth defects. This warning applies to retinoids in all their forms, such as retinoic acid and the popular acne fighting cream, Retin-A.
So does the same warning apply to bakuchiol? While there are some experts who say there’s not enough evidence on the table to make a definitive decision, most have ruled that it is perfectly safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding. This gives it a huge advantage over retinol containing creams!
Best Bakuchiol Products On The Market
Now that you’ve seen that benefits of bakuchiol serum and the low incidence of side effects, you may be wondering where to go to purchase a quality product containing the extract. Don’t worry, the Total Youth and Beauty team has you covered with expert selections. Give these a try and see the wonders the babchi plant can do for your skin!
Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum
Bakuchiol is an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant for the skin, making it the perfect choice for those of use with dry, sensitive skin that doesn’t tolerate the traditional retinols well. The fact that it is anti-bacterial make it a great choice for combating acne and oily skin.
Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum works to brighten and improve skin complexion, while reducing wrinkles and fine lines over time. In addition to bakuchiol, this product contains Hyaluronic Acid and Squalane to hydrate and moisturize skin.
$72 (Shop Now)
OLE HENRIKSEN Goodnight Glow Retin-ALT Sleeping Crème
The perfect all-in-one night cream, with the one-two punch of bakuchiol and AHAs, this product combats all the major signs of aging while you sleep. Targeting fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots, Goodnight Glow will have you waking up looking and feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day.
$55 (Shop Now)
Omorovicza Miracle Facial Oil
In our humble opinion, there isn’t much better than a luxe facial oil for rejuvenating the complexion and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The multitudes of five star reviews on almost every site seem to prove this is a superior product. Infused with buckthorn berry oil, it will quickly become your skin’s best friend.
$102 (Shop Now)
