What is Bakuchiol? A Quick Primer

Retinol has been a popular skincare product many people employ for its anti-aging properties.

It has been known to smooth out skin and get rid of wrinkles.

On the other hand, there can be some side effects that come from applying it, including peeling, dryness and redness. The substance is mainly composed of vitamin A, but contains controversial fillers and preservatives. If you prefer more natural products, you might want to avoid it and look for an alternative.

Introducing bakuchiol, a powerful plant-based alternative to retinol that works exactly like it without the side effects. Bakuchiol is an extract derived from the seeds and leaves of the psoralea corylifolia, or “babchi” plant. It has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as antibacterial properties.

Bakuchiol evens out skin tones by deeply penetrating the skin to help decrease the appearance of dark spots or areas of hyperpigmentation. It reduces the appearance of fine lines by boosting collagen and reducing the look of lines and wrinkles. The ingredient speeds up skin cell regeneration by turning over cells. It is suitable for all skin types and also helps soothe and heal skin from any inflammation.

The British Journal of Dermatology conducted a study on bakuchiol and found that it works just as well as retinol when it came to getting rid of fine lines and wrinkles. It also doesn’t decrease the size of oil glands, so there is no dryness or irritation.

This natural ingredient had been traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat skin diseases, but more studies on it have come out recently to show how effective it is.

Many beauty brands have noticed that the ingredient is getting more attention and launched some products using bakuchiol. Ole Henriksen, for instance, dropped a bakuchiol-based line of products called “retin-ALT” that includes the Glow Cycle Retin-ALT Power Serum and the Goodnight Glow Retin-ALT Sleeping Creme. Some other brands that sell products with bakunicol are the Inkey List, with their Bakuchiol Retinol Alternative Moisturizer, and Cocokind, with their Resurfacing Sleep Mask.

To add bakuchiol into your skincare routine, you would use it the same way you would with retinol. It works well with other hydrating ingredients such as squalane and PHAs.

Glycolic acid, however, is one ingredient you should not use with it, as it could degrade the formulation. Whether the results are positive or negative, consider consulting a dermatologist before and after trying out these products.