Unlocking the Power of Bakuchiol: The Natural Alternative to Retinol
Retinol alternatives have been a huge skincare trend.
And there’s a good reason for that.
Most dermatologists agree that retinoids are the most effective anti-aging treatment. However, they often come at a price.
Retinoids have many disadvantages:
1. Dryness, irritation, and peeling for people with sensitive skin
In today’s environment, full of pollution and stress, many people have sensitized skin and can’t use retinoids on the neck and under-eye area. Ironically, these are the areas that show signs of aging sooner than others.
2. You can't use retinoids in the morning.
Retinoids are not stable when exposed to sunlight. UV rays can degrade retinoids, reducing their effectiveness and potentially causing skin irritation. For optimal results, retinoid-based products are best applied in the evening or in combination with sun protection during the day.
3. You can’t use retinols while pregnant or breastfeeding
Many moms would agree that sleepless nights, hormonal changes, and caregiver stress have a huge impact on the appearance of their skin. This is the time when skincare needs to be at its best, but retinoids aren't an option.
These drawbacks are significant, which has led to research into alternative anti-aging solutions.
Research behind Bakuchiol
Bakuchiol is the best-studied retinol alternative on the market. “Due to its ability to stimulate collagen, Bakuchiol helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduce hyperpigmentation, acne, and smooth texture of the skin,” Charnho Park, skincare chemist.
Bakuchiol is a compound derived from the seeds and leaves of the babchi plant, traditionally used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. The long history of practical evidence on its anti-aging and anti-inflammatory benefits inspired researchers to look into the science behind this plant. One study showed that Bakuchiol causes the same changes in gene expression responsible for collagen production & skin thickness as retinol does.
These findings encouraged researchers to compare Bakuchiol to retinol in clinical studies. Both ingredients showed similar improvement in fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and firmness of the skin. However, Bakuchiol users experienced less irritation.
Photographic comparison before and after Bakuchiol treatment.
As seen, the use of lotion with 0.5% of Bakuchiol reduced the appearance of wrinkles around eyes, giving a healthier and firmer complexion.
Complementary studies showed that Bakuchiol works synergistically with acne medications, such as salicylic acid and adapalene. When these ingredients are paired with Bakuchiol, there are bigger improvements in acne, less irritation, and better quality of sebum.
Bakuchiol is also a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect your skin from free radicals and stabilizes other ingredients, such as retinol, keeping them effective longer.
Based on this research, here is everything you need to know about Bakuchiol in your skincare:
What are the benefits of Bakuchiol?
At Regelica, we love multi-tasking ingredients. Bakuchiol is truly an all-in-one skincare hero. You just need one product to address multiple skin concerns including wrinkles, acne, hyperpigmentation, skin firmness, and elasticity.
Who should use Bakuchiol?
Bakuchiol is suitable for all skin types and ages. Showing less irritation, it’s a good alternative for people with sensitive skin and who have experienced side effects from retinoids in the past.
How to pair Bakuchiol with other active ingredients?
The good news is, Bakuchiol can be paired with AHA, Vitamin C, and other popular active ingredients. Moreover, if you use salicylic toners or retinoid treatments, it will reinforce their anti-inflammatory & anti-aging properties and help with irritation.
What percentage concentration of Bakuchiol is effective?
Make sure to use at least 0.5 concentration for best results.
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived ingredient that has an organic earthy scent. Products with high concentrations will have a naturally medicinal fragrance.
How to use Bakuchiol?
Bakuchiol is not photosensitizing. It can be used day and night for powerful anti-aging support all day long.
Bakuchiol is a gentler alternative to retinol. You can use it on sensitive areas such as undereye and neck areas, to address early signs of aging and fight against tech neck.
How soon can I see the results from Bakuchiol?
The clinical studies with 0.5% Bakuchiol showed clear improvement in hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and thickness of the skin after 12 weeks. The Regelica Bakuchiol & Niacinamide Anti-aging cream contains 0.5% Bakuchiol, and you can see from the reviews that our customers see improvements in texture and plumpness of the skin just after the first week.
Consistency is key to any success story. Make sure to stick to your Bakuchiol routine to visibly improve skin density.
