Bakuchiol an alternative to Retinol

Retinol – a great anti-ageing ingredient may not be for you

Retinol, a popular anti-ageing ingredient, has long been a staple of skincare routines.

It’s versatile and effective, keeping your skin looking younger and blemish-free, but it isn’t for everyone.

If you spend any time in the sun, or simply have sensitive skin, you should know there’s a new plant-based alternative that may provide all the benefits of retinol without any of the drawbacks.

Read on to see if you should be switching up your skincare routine.

What is retinol?

Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that’s been smoothing wrinkles and unclogging pores since it was first used as a skincare product in the 1970s. 

It’s popular for a reason. 

Retinol boosts collagen production to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It also fights acne, reduces scarring and neutralises free radicals. It even stimulates new blood vessel growth and exfoliates your skin to give you a healthy glow and even tone.

However, it’s not all good news.

Why retinol might not be for you

Retinol can have unpleasant side effects. 

It can be quite irritating to sensitive skin – users can experience redness, itching, scaling, dryness, discolouration or even burning sensations. Retinol can also exacerbate existing skin conditions, such as eczema or rosacea.

Another concern is that retinol increases your skin’s sensitivity to UV light from the sun. Not only is your skin more susceptible to sun damage, but retinol itself loses its effectiveness when it’s exposed to sunlight.

So, if your skin is delicate or easily irritated, or if you have an existing skin condition, it’s probably wise to avoid retinol products. And if you live in a country with a harsh sun, such as Australia, you’ll need to embrace a life of shade and sunscreen.

Not to worry though, because a gentler, sun-friendly option is now available.

A better alternative – Beeautify Bakuchiol Oil Serum

Bakuchiol is a plant-based, vegan-friendly alternative to retinol.

This natural botanical extract is derived from the babchi plant (Psoralea Corylifolia). Used for centuries in traditional Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic medicine, this herb has long been known as a s

kincare remedy.

Like retinol, the bakuchiol in Beeautify’s Oil Serum has excellent anti-ageing properties.

It reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improves skin elasticity, tone and texture. It boosts collagen production and is a powerful antioxidant, protecting your skin from free radicals.

Beeautify Bakuchiol Oil Serum also has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that can help clear up acne-prone skin and clogged pores, preventing breakouts.  

But the real advantage of bakuchiol is that it’s much kinder to your skin. Studies suggest that while it has comparable anti-ageing potential to retinol, there is a much lower risk of irritation, and significantly fewer side effects, making it a perfect choice for sensitive skin.

Bakuchiol is also stable in sunlight. And, unlike retinol, it does not make your skin more sensitive to UV rays, so you don’t need to spend your days hiding from the sun. 

So, if you’re looking for a plant-based anti-ageing ingredient without the irritation, consider switching to bakuchiol-based products. Your skin will thank you.

Click here for our Bakuchiol Oil Serum

References

American Academy of Dermatology Association, Retinoid or Retinol? accessed August 2022, https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/anti-aging/retinoid-retinol

Bluemke A, Ring AP, Immeyer J, Hoff A, Eisenberg T, Gerwat W, Meyer F, Breitkreutz S, Klinger LM, Brandner JM, Sandig G, Seifert M, Segger D, Rippke F and Schweiger D, Multidirectional activity of bakuchiol against cellular mechanisms of facial ageing – experimental evidence for a holistic treatment approach, Int J Cosmet Sci. 2022 Jun;44(3):377–393, doi: 10.1111/ics.12784, Epub 2022 Jun 9, PMID: 35514037; PMCID: PMC9328396, accessed August 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9328396/ 

Dhaliwal S, Rybak I, Ellis SR, Notay M, Trivedi M, Burney W, Vaughn AR, Nguyen M, Reiter P, Bosanac S, Yan H, Foolad N and Sivamani RK, Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing, Br J Dermatol, 2019 Feb;180(2):289–296, doi: 10.1111/bjd.16918, Epub 2018 Sep 21, PMID: 29947134, accessed August 2022, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29947134/

RK Chaudhuri and K Bojanowski (2014) Bakuchiol: a retinol-like functional compound revealed by gene expression profiling and clinically proven to have anti-aging effects, International Journal of Cosmetic Science, accessed August 2022, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ics.12117 

Zasada M and Budzisz E, Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments, Advances in Dermatology and Allergology, 2019 Aug;36(4):392–397, doi: 10.5114/ada.2019.87443, Epub 2019 Aug 30, PMID: 31616211; PMCID: PMC6791161, accessed August 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6791161/