Bakuchiol
Bakuchiol is a plant-based retinol (vitamin A) alternative, which is used in skincare products such as bakuchiol serums, moisturizers, and creams to help reduce the signs of aging and brighten the skin
What is bakuchiol?
Bakuchiol is a plant-based alternative to retinol (vitamin A) that is found naturally in seeds and leaves of the plant species Psoralea corylifolia, which is a herb native to India and traditionally named bakuchi.
Unlike retinol, bakuchiol is photostable and doesn’t cause photosensitivity - this means that this skincare ingredient isn’t sensitive to light, and it does not make your skin sensitive to UV rays.
Bakuchiol benefits
As skin naturally ages, it becomes thinner, loses elasticity, and fine lines and wrinkles begin to appear. These impacts on the skin barrier can be explained by the changing structure of skin over time, such as the loss of collagen. Clinical studies have shown that bakuchiol may help to reduce the appearance of signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, and stimulate the production of collagen.
If you are looking for a targeted product to reduce the visible signs of aging, try Cetaphil Healthy Radiance Renewing Cream, which is formulated with bakuchiol and also contains 2% niacinamide to deeply hydrate the skin.
Free radicals are unstable molecules that in small amounts are not harmful, but can damage your skin. The accumulation of free radicals in your body is known as oxidative stress. As well as causing fine lines and wrinkles, oxidative stress can cause pigmentation spots on your skin.
Bakuchiol has antioxidant properties which can help to protect your skin against the effects of free radicals on the surface of your skin. Studies have shown that bakuchiol can help to reduce pigmentation on your skin caused by sun damage, as well as help to increase skin radiance and luminosity.
Bakuchiol is a great plant-based alternative for those that do not tolerate retinol well. This retinol alternative is described to have similar benefits as retinol, brought about by the mutual properties that both ingredients have, but clinical trials have found it to be gentler on the skin than retinol.
However, if you have sensitive skin, it’s always advisable to carry out a patch test on your skin when using new products with ingredients you haven’t tried before.
What does bakuchiol do for skin?
Bakuchiol contains many beneficial properties; it has been proven to visibly reduce the signs of aging and improve skin brightness.
References
- Chaudhuri RK, Bojanowski K. Bakuchiol: A retinol-like functional compound revealed by gene expression profiling and clinically proven to have anti-aging effects. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2014;36(3):221-230. doi:10.1111/ics.12117.
- Valgimigli L, Cariola A, El Chami M, Granatieri J. Anti-Tyrosinase and antioxidant activity of Meroterpene Bakuchiol from Psoralea corylifolia (L). Published online 2022. doi:10.2139/ssrn.4251883.
- Draelos Z, Gunt H, Zeichner J, Levy S. Clinical evaluation of a nature-based Bakuchiol anti-aging moisturizer for sensitive skin. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2020;19(12):1181-1183. doi:10.36849/jdd.2020.5522.
- Hoang HT, Moon J-Y, Lee Y-C. Natural antioxidants from plant extracts in skincare cosmetics: Recent applications, challenges and perspectives. Cosmetics. 2021;8(4):106. doi:10.3390/cosmetics8040106.