If you’re a skincare buff, you might’ve already heard a bit about bakuchiol. The trending ingredient is popping up more frequently within skincare, and for good reason. Touted as a natural, and gentler, alternative to retinol, bakuchiol is a great option for people wanting the benefits of super skin cell renewal— without the scary side effects. But if you’ve ever really wondered what bakuchiol is, how you use it and what can it really do for you, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your bakuchiol crib sheet, because we’ve got all your questions answered.
What is bakuchiol?
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived, natural alternative to vitamin A (retinol). It’s extracted from the leaves and seeds of the babchi plant, found in India and is an ingredient that can generally be tolerated by all— taking away the side effects that can come hand in hand with retinol (sensitivity, peeling and redness.) It aims to leaves the skin looking plump, hydrated and youthful. Sounds good, right?
What are the main benefits of bakuchiol?
Essentially, bakuchiol helps to heal, calm, and soothe the skin. It’s a major contender in wrinkle-reduction, helping to increase the skin’s firmness— but is also a key power player in fighting off blemishes, redness and large pores.
Does it really work?
We’re faced with skincare claims and promises every single day… so how do you know if a product will really work for you? Understanding how an ingredient works is key to figuring out if it’s right for you.
Bakuchiol works to promote cell turnover and regeneration, helping to heal the skin from within. Its small molecules deeply penetrate the skin, signalling them to make more collagen (hence the plumping, youthful benefits.)
Bakuchiol might be offered as a gentler version of retinol, but that’s no reason to doubt its potency. In fact, a study by Sytheon found that when comparing 0.5% of bakuchiol with 2% salicylic acid, bakuchiol was shown to be more effective at preventing blemishes.
Plus, unlike retinol that can make the skin more sensitive to sun, bakuchiol actually helps to make skin less sensitive to the sun meaning you can apply it both morning and evening to reap its rewards. (NB: Don’t get us wrong: we’re still waxing lyrical about wearing SPF daily.)
How do you use it?
So, now you’re all clued up on the benefits of bakuchiol— it’s time to try it out.
By BEAUTY BAY SkinHit Clarifying Serum, £6.50 is formulated with bakuchiol to treat breakout prone skin and tackle any pigmentation issues that might have arisen from past blemishes. Plus the addition of oatmeal helps to reduce blackheads and amp up your skin’s hydration levels— leaving your skin not only clear, but glowy and radiant too.
Just 1-2 drops are needed, and you can either pat it into skin after cleansing, or mix it in with your moisturiser – depending on just how much hydration your skin needs.
After just a few weeks of daily use, you can expect clearer more radiant-looking skin that’s plumped from within, healthier and happier all around. Dreamy.
