What is Bakuchiol Serum and how to use it.
It’s so much more than an alternative to retinol…
Move over retinol, there’s a new skin-firming solution in town. Bakuchiol has fast become the buzz word of the year, and rightly so.
In fact, a lot of beauty lovers now swear by this powerful, “vegan” elixir thanks to unique properties that mean it acts like retinol, without being too irritating for our skin.
But, what actually is bakuchiol? What’s the science behind this amazing product? How do you even pronounce bakuchiol Goddamnit? (It’s buh·koo·chee·owl by the way). Let’s deep dive into this unique skincare product and find out what all the hype is about.
First. What is Bakuchiol?
Bakuchiol is an extract that comes from the leaves and seed of the babchi plant. This plant can be found all over the Indian subcontinent, and has previously been used in Eastern healing practices like Chinese and Ayuverdic medicine.
The benefits of the babchi plant (particularly toward skin diseases) have been known about for quite some time. However, bakuchiol’s entry into the mainstream beauty world didn’t really kick off until much later.
Babchi plant
In 2014, scientists conducted a study on bakuchiol and concluded that “bakuchiol can function as an anti-ageing compound through retinol-like regulation of gene expression.” A little wordy, but you get the point.
Similarly in 2019, a study concluded that bakuchiol was “promising” because it appeared to have the same anti-wrinkle benefits as retinol. “Bakuchiol and retinol both significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation, with no statistical difference between the compounds,” a study by the British Association of Dermatologists said.
So what does this all mean? Basically, bakuchiol is an anti-aging solution that can target wrinkles and even out skintone. This extract is now being added to lots of anti-aging serums and is proving to be a big hit.
How does bakuchiol compare to retinol?
Retinol has long been touted as the mother of all anti-aging ingredients. It’s a potent ingredient that many brands have developed into unique products.
As plenty of scientific studies have already discovered, retinol and bakuchiol appears to act in the same way. So that means, both are very good at boosting collagen production and helping skin look brighter and more youthful.
Having said this, retinol also has its downsides.
Skin irritation when using retinol is actually quite common. The reason that there might be skin irritation is because retinol is a very powerful ingredient to be applying to your skin. While it does work wonders, its strength can sometimes force your skincells to work overdrive which can lead to ‘retinol burn’.
This is where bakuchiol certainly stands out. The scientific study that we mentioned earlier found there was much less irritation for those testing bakuchiol.
The difference between the two ingredients is their chemical makeup, however their impact on skin firming and anti-aging are very similar. As a result, Bakuchiol has often been dubbed the ‘natural retinol’.
How to use bakuchiol in a skincare routine?
Bakuchiol comes as a serum that is applied topically to your face and neck. You usually put it on before you use a facial moisturizer.
Normally you can use bakuchiol products twice a day, both in the morning and evening. However, it’s important that you read the label of any new skin products that you’re trying out. What’s more, we recommend that you still apply sunscreen after bakuchiol if you’re going to be out in the sun.
Because bakuchiol isn’t as irritating as retinol, it can also be used by itself or in combination with other products. This is great news because (unlike retinol) you don’t need to worry about causing any further irritation when combining skincare and beauty products.
What’s more, you can use bakuchiol and retinol in your skincare routine if you know your skin isn’t prone to retinol irritation.
Many people who use bakuchiol in their skincare routine start to notice visible differences in the plumpness, look and feel of their skin within 12 weeks. Winner.
Products brimming with bakuchiol that we love
Herbivore Botanicals Retinol Alternative Smoothing Serum
Made of 100% natural ingredients (including Tremella Mushrooms) this chic-looking product has a purple tint and comes in glass dropper bottle.
A study by Herbivore Botanical’s team also found that 87.7% of women who tested the product for two weeks believed that their skin felt smoother. 80% also believed it made them look more radiant and helped to improve their skin appearance.
What’s also noteworthy about this brand is that they have a big focus on sustainability within their products, ingredients and packaging. In fact, all of their products come in a recyclable glass bottle.
Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum
Another unique product packed full of goodness comes from Biossance. This powerful serum is packed with squalane and niacinamide as well as bakuchiol.
And… while we’re here, this is another fun fact behind a word that seems unnecessarily ‘scientific’ beyond what it needs to be.
“Phyto” means that it’s something made from a plant. So, “Phyto-retinol” is a plant-based retinol which (you’ve guessed it) is actually known as bakuchiol.
This serum was also tried and tested in house, and 100% of people who used the product for over 30 days saw visible results. While this is impressive, remember that in-house testing usually tends to favour the brand in question.
Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides
The third and final bakuchiol product that we’ve had our eye on recently comes from Medik8. This is a brand that should certainly be on your radar thanks to their incredible sustainable In fact, according to their sustainable agenda, it’s their mission to become 'the world's most sustainable professional-led skincare brand.’
Pre-loved glass bottles has become standard for the brand, and they’ve also implemented other initiatives to tackle palm oil, plastic and excessive waste.
As for their bakuchiol solution, that’s also proved to be a huge hit. Like the other products we’ve listed, the serum has proven to have visible effects while being more gentle on skin. Medik8 has also infused the bakuchiol serum with Inka Omega Oil that provides for Omega 3,6 and 9 support. This, the brand claims, can reduce moisture loss and encourage restoration within the skin’s natural barriers.
The bottom line…
If you’re looking for an alternative to retinol, then look no further. There’s some awesome bakuchiol-packed products on the market that can truly make a difference to your skincare routine. What’s more, some of them also have an affordable price tag. That’s a winner all around.
Just a few drops every day is proven to work wonders on fine lines and wrinkles. So, what are you waiting for?
(PS if you’re still unsure about Bakuchiol vs Retinol, check out our post on Reinoids)!
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