The Vegan and “Natural Retinol” Called BAKUCHIOL

Benefits And Problems Related to The Use Of The Vegan and “Natural Retinol” Called BAKUCHIOL

BAKUCHIOL emerged into the market as a natural alternative to Retinol and brought with it a lot of speculations, doubts, and yet big promises such as having the same benefits as Retinol but with less irritability. This was how this vegan “Natural Retinol” alternative called BAKUCHIOL became trendy among skincare lovers.

In this article, we will learn a little more about this substance and what we know about it so far.

What we know about BAKUCHIOL

BAKUCHIOL came to the market as a natural alternative to retinol; remembering that retinol is a product derived from vitamin A and has powerful anti-aging action, but it can often cause irritation in sensitive skin and also cannot be used in some cases, such as in pregnant or breastfeeding women.

So having a natural and safe alternative with similar effects is amazing, right?

Basically, this ingredient with a peculiar name, that I confess is hard for me to pronounce, is extracted from the leaves and seeds of the Babchi plant (Psoralea corylifolia), which for us in the Western world, may be new, but in fact, it is an already known to Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic medicine. These practices use practically all parts of the plant and not just the oil extracted from it.

The old story repeats itself, doesn’t it? We have a lot to learn from our ancestors and from oriental medicine! But let’s move on…

Why is BAKUCHIOL Becoming More Famous?

Basically, a British study really gave a spotlight on this substance since it demonstrated good results in women who used creams that contained the ingredient for more than 12 weeks (remember that any skincare only demonstrates true results after constant use, and this is not only for BAKUCHIOL but for almost all known substances in the beauty universe).

In this British study, some women used Bakuchiol while others used the already-known Retinol. According to the study, both Bakuchiol and Retinol decreased superficial wrinkles and skin hyperpigmentation, but those who used Retinol had greater sensitivity, irritation, and flaking.

This study somehow opened the doors for new studies. If you want to learn more, I cited several of them in the sources below. If you don’t want to read all the scientific articles, keep following this website’s publications, where I summarize all the information for you!

Is This Natural Ingredient Really Equal to Or Better Than Retinol?

The actions and benefits of Retinol have already been widely proven, and in recent years, several studies (cited below) are also demonstrating Bakuchiol’s efficacy.

Therefore, it is known that the benefits of both are similar, but there are certain advantages of Bakuchiol over Retinol. These include:

• For us natural products lovers, Bakuchiol is a natural substance, while Retinol is a synthetic substance derived from vitamin A
• Causes less irritation to the skin
• In theory, its use can be combined with other ingredients
• Does not cause photosensitivity and can be used during the day with exposure to sunlight, whereas with Retinol, sun protection is recommended, and its use is nocturnal.

Below, you will find a simplified list of the numerous properties of this remarkable substance.

Possible Properties of BAKUCHIOL

• Reduces the inflammation process by inhibiting pro-inflammatory enzymes
• Studies have shown that Bakuchiol is highly effective against oxidative stress when compared to Retinol
• It has anti-acne properties (reducing inflammation also reduces sebum production and thus the bacteria that cause acne and feed off this sebum)
• Perfects hyperpigmentation and consequently reduces the appearance of dark spots.
• As previously mentioned, It seems not to cause irritation and dryness on the skin. Also, it is suitable for all skin types.
• Bakuchiol stimulates skin cell turnover.
• Improves skin elasticity
• Reduces photo-damage
• It is more stable than Retinol when exposed to sunlight, going through less photodegradation and oxidation.
• It may stimulate the production of collagen type III and the upregulation of collagen type I and IV.
• It won’t clog your pores since it is non-comedogenic.

Are There Any Side Effects to Bakuchiol?

Most studies conducted thus far have not shown any adverse effects from using Bakuchiol. However, it is important to note that Retinol has been known and studied for much longer, while Bakuchiol has only been the subject of studies for a few years. Therefore, it is important to be aware and speak with your doctor if you notice any changes after using Bakuchiol.

Should I Use Bakuchiol for How Long?

Since the moment we are born, we are exposed 24/7 to the effects of time, sun, gravity, pollutants, etc. What I mean is the effects that cause our aging never stop acting on our bodies. Therefore, almost no skincare ingredient will have long-lasting effects if its use is discontinued.

So now, you can understand a little better why the benefits of using Bakuchiol and other substances that we use to slow down aging take time to be perceived (usually 12 weeks, as demonstrated in the first study we cited in this article) and these substances continue to produce beneficial effects on our skin, as long as the product is used consistently.

How Many Times A Day Should I Use Bakuchiol?

Most indications suggest using it twice a day, after cleaning the skin, for at least 12 weeks.

Some Important Concerns

Ok, you have convinced me to use Bakuchiol, and from now on, I will rejuvenate my skin naturally and help the environment, right? Unfortunately, we must take some other things into consideration before reaching that conclusion.

Everything we have discussed so far seems too good to be true, so let’s talk a little more as unfortunately, nothing in life is 100%, and it is no different in the world of cosmetics, even for natural/green/clean cosmetics.

As we have seen, Bakuchiol can be a natural and effective alternative to Retinol, but it comes with its own set of considerations. One important issue to keep in mind is that according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Psoralea corylifolia, the plant from which Bakuchiol is obtained, is an endangered species. This plant only grows in specific locations, and its production was not prepared for the demand generated by the beauty industry when studies on the benefits of this new natural and vegan alternative to Retinol, Bakuchiol, became known to the public.

Therefore, my dear friend, the truth is we know nothing about the attainment of this substance!

Another concern is that Bakuchiol is an important ally in the treatment of some skin conditions, such as Vitiligo, and if this plant becomes extinct, not only will the beauty industry lose it but also individuals who use this substance for other treatments.

Moreover, it is important to note that Bakuchiol is not effective in low doses. Therefore, the products must contain doses ranging between 0.5 and 2% to achieve desired results, or else you will be throwing money away.

Conclusion

As we have discussed, Bakuchiol can be a natural and effective alternative to Retinol, but unfortunately,  it is not sustainable. Now that we know more about this vegan and “Natural Retinol,” we have enough knowledge to decide whether we should or should not use it, right?

And don’t forget: To ensure that you are getting the best results; it is crucial to purchase products from reputable brands that have been clinically proven to contain the appropriate dosage between 0.5 and 2%!

See you in the next article!

Sources:

https://jddonline.com/articles/clinical-evaluation-of-a-nature-based-bakuchiol-anti-aging-moisturizer-for-sensitive-skin-S1545961620P1181X/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9328396/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24471735/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjd.16918

https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00128071-200910040-00005

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32888255/

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2017.00746/full  (not cited in this article, but a very interesting source of information)