Everything you need to know about Bakuchiol

Bakuchiol has been making waves recently in the skincare space for it’s potent antioxidant and anti-ageing properties, but also its gentle approach. Bakuchiol is derived from the leaves and seeds of the plant Psoralea Corylifolia, which has been used in Chinese and Indian medicine for years, but has only recently entered the western skincare scene. It has been dubbed the ‘natural alternative to retinol’ thanks to its similar anti-ageing benefits and encouragement of skin cell turnover.

Clinical studies report Bakuchiol can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as help fight against loss of firmness and elasticity. It aids in the reduction of hyperpigmentation, evening out skin tone and helps increase skin cell turnover and encourage collagen production. Sensitive skin folks can rejoice as Bakuchiol also has skin soothing properties.

In a clinical study (Dhaliwal et al., 2019) Bakuchiol and Retinol both significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation which we love to hear. The study compared 0.5% Bakuchiol applied twice daily to a 0.5% Retinol applied once daily. The results? Both products demonstrated equivalent results with only the Retinol reporting the side effect of stinging and scaling. Pretty impressive!

Benefits of retinol are multiple, however retinol side-effects are well-known, read about our tips to avoid them here. Unlike Retinol, Bakuchiol does not make the skin more sensitive to the sun and is stable in sunlight, making it a great summer alternative. Gentler on the skin, there is no adjustment period so those with sensitive skin need not follow the ‘low and slow’ method often recommended with Retinol / Retinoids to avoid side effects. It is also considered safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women, which is great news for those saddened to be without their trustly Retinol during that time. Lastly, Bakuchiol is also a winner for those who don’t want to restrict their other active products. Retinol can lose its optimum efficacy with certain actives and can be irritating (Hydroxy Acids etc), however Bakuchiol pairs well with all other ingredients, yes even Retinol itself. Some studies have even shown that pairing the two together helps the skin better tolerate Retinol thanks to Bakuchiol’s skin soothing ability. However it is important to note, Retinol is a tried and true ingredient which benefits from the many years of research and data, proving it to be an effective product. Bakuchiol is still a relatively new ingredient and while the data is promising, there isn’t a lot of it, therefore Retinol still holds the gold medal for anti-ageing.

Another benefit of Bakuchiol is its ability to be worn during both the day and night. As it increases cellular turnover sunscreen is still an absolute must. However, it does not expose the skin to the same level of sun sensitivity as Retinol. Bakuchiol can inhibit UV activated collagen-degrading enzymes, helping to reduce photoaging. La Clinica’s range of Bakuchiol products include newcomer - The Rebalancing Oil, read about it here. A lightweight, easily absorbed oil that should be applied as the last step before your moisturizer, we suggest the bestselling Deep Hydration Moisture Cream, and after any serums. The Rebalancing Oil already contains Hyaluronic Acid and 10% Vitamin C so no need to pair with another Vit C or hydration product, instead try a Niacinamide serum such as the Hydrating Vitamin B Serum or the Vitamin Complex Serum.

Other La Clinica Bakuchiol products include The Clear Skin Intensive Spot Serum which provides targeted anti-acne power. Looking for a cream based Bakuchiol product? Try the Rebalancing Day Cream, the Clear Skin Oil Control Cream or the Anti-Ageing Day Cream depending on your skin’s needs and your complexion goals.

Dhaliwal, S., Rybak, I., Ellis, S. R., Notay, M., Trivedi, M., Burney, W., Vaughn, A. R., Nguyen, M., Reiter, P., Bosanac, S., Yan, H., Foolad, N., & Sivamani, R. K. (2019). Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing. The British journal of dermatology, 180(2), 289–296. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.16918