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Have you heard the buzz about bakuchiol? Touted as a natural alternative to retinol, this skin care ingredient has been trending on social media and popping up in more and more formulas, from face serums to moisturizers. That said, where does this odd-sounding ingredient come from, and why might you choose it over retinol for your routine? Let’s dive into all the details, including:
Bakuchiol is a plant extract made from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant, also called the babchi plant. This flowering herb has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and the Indian Ayurveda system dating back to ancient times for a wide variety of ailments, from ringworm to snakebites to leprosy. The babchi plant is rich in phytochemicals such as flavonoids and also has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties as well.
Bakuchiol has become a popular active ingredient in skin care for its ability to offer some of the same benefits as retinol, including improving the appearance of skin discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles. One of the other benefits of bakuchiol is its anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to help soothe skin.
“If you are looking for a gentler alternative to retinol, bakuchiol may be worth considering,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. “Bakuchiol hasn’t been as well-studied as retinol, but one small study did show that it seemed to have similar effects on skin as retinol in terms of improving hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.” The study was published in the British Journal of Dermatology and followed forty-four women as they used either 0.5% bakuchiol cream or 0.5% retinol cream daily over twelve weeks.
Unlike retinol, which can cause skin irritation such as dryness, flakiness and redness, one of the benefits of bakuchiol is that it is known for being gentler on skin with a lower risk of irritation. While retinol use is not advised during pregnancy or breastfeeding, you might wonder if bakuchiol is a pregnancy-safe retinol alternative. “When it comes to questions about pregnancy, I always defer to your OB/GYN, as they are running the show during pregnancy,” Dr. Schlessinger says.
When it comes to improving the appearance of signs of aging, retinol is certainly the gold standard with widespread clinical results to back its effectiveness. So, why would one be looking for retinol alternatives when it comes to skin care?
“The main reason is irritation,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “Most skin can acclimate to retinol over time by starting slow and using the right moisturizers to counteract dryness or redness. However, some of my patients just aren’t able to tolerate retinol.” If you have sensitive skin and have struggled to use retinol in the past, bakuchiol is a potential alternative.
If you follow a vegan lifestyle, it’s important to note that some retinols are made from enzymes found in animal products such as eggs, milk, fish and meat. This is one reason why you might be looking for a plant-based retinol alternative, and bakuchiol definitely fits the bill there.
Though bakuchiol is touted as a retinol alternative, it actually plays well with retinol in skin care. Some skin care companies are incorporating both bakuchiol and retinol in their skin care formulas for a dual-pronged approach to addressing signs of aging.
Are you ready to check out the benefits of bakuchiol for yourself? These seven dermatologist-recommended skin care products all incorporate bakuchiol in their formulas and will fit right into your at-home skin care routine.
Plant-centric Hungarian skin care line Eminence Organics is among the latest companies to incorporate bakuchiol into their formulas. This daily facial moisturizer combines bakuchiol with niacinamide to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and prevent moisture loss. A twelve-week consumer study, 95% of users reported that their skin felt and looked smoother, and all of the users agreed their skin did not become irritated as with retinol products they had used in the past.
If improving the appearance of the area around your eyes is your goal, this bakuchiol eye cream could be just the ticket. It helps target fine lines and wrinkles with bakuchiol and plumping hyaluronic acid while elderflower extract helps reduce the look of puffiness. In an independent clinical trial, users experienced a 23% improvement in wrinkle depth and a 10% improvement in skin firmness and elasticity.
OBAGI Clinical is really a specialist when it comes to targeting discoloration, and in addition to the formulas it offers with skin-brighteners such as retinol and hydroquinone, it also offers one with bakuchiol. By encouraging cellular turnover, the bakuchiol in this face serum helps gradually improve the appearance of dark spots while also working to improve fine lines and wrinkles. This daily serum also contains five forms of hyaluronic acid to help draw moisture into the skin and provide an instant plumping effect.
French skin care maker Avene calls this face serum a three-in-one product because it helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin tone and boost radiance. The formula combines bakuchiol with plumping hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, which helps brighten skin tone and improve skin barrier function. It also contains Avene Thermal Spring Water, a mineral-rich substance that helps soften and soothe skin. In a two-month clinical study, users experienced a 28% improvement in firmness and elasticity and a 31% improvement in texture.
Bakuchiol isn’t just for anti-aging skin care! This acne spot treatment relies on bakuchiol to help encourage cell turnover and improve the appearance of acne scars. It also contains 5% benzoyl peroxide to target hormonal acne breakouts and REG-ulate360 Complex, a blend of resveratrol, vitamin E, green tea and Genistein, a plant-derived phytoestrogen to help improve hormonally imbalanced skin.
If you’re interested in bakuchiol but would still like to keep a retinoid in the mix, this nighttime face serum from ISDIN combines bakuchiol with retinal, a derivative of vitamin A that tends to be gentler on the skin that retinol. In a one-month clinical study, users showed a 43% reduction in wrinkles. In a three-month consumer study, 97% said their skin looked firmer with a reduction in wrinkles and fine lines, and they also observed no skin discomfort during use.
This daily night cream from Revision Skincare is one way you can experience the dual effects of both bakuchiol and retinol in one single product. It combines 0.25% time-released retinol with bakuchiol to help visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and stimulate your skin’s production of collagen and elastin for younger-looking skin. Vitamin C, peptides, hyaluronic acid and lipid technology round out this robust anti-aging formula, which also contains prebiotics to help nourish your skin’s microbiome.
Now that you’re well-versed in the benefits of bakuchiol, you can learn about more cutting-edge skin care, such as the latest growth factor products on the LovelySkin Blog.
Aaron serves as Editor at LovelySkin. Since graduating from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2016 with degrees in Creative Writing and English, he has immersed himself in the beauty industry. When he’s not writing about the latest beauty trends, he spends time cuddling his dogs, scouring antique stores, playing tennis and hiking.
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