Everything You Need to Know About Bakuchiol: Retinol’s Natural Alternative

It goes without saying that Vitamin A is the gold standard in age-defying skincare ingredients. It’s a real powerhouse when it comes to improving the overall health and appearance of your skin – however, it isn’t suitable for everybody; namely those with incredibly sensitive skin and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

But, all is not lost, because in recent years a new ingredient has come to the fore. Enter: bakuchiol, a clinically proven, natural alternative to retinol. It's an ingredient that’s gradually been growing in popularity, especially amongst the sensitive skin community, and rightly so, because bakuchiol does everything we know vitamin A does for the skin – including speeding up cell renewal, promoting collagen production and keeping skin healthy – but without any of the typical side effects that can be associated with retinoids. Sounds too good to be true, right? But trust us on this one, it really is brilliant.

What is bakuchiol?

Bakuchiol (pronounced bah-koo-chee-ol) is a naturally occurring compound found in both the seeds and leaves of the psoralea corylifolia (babchi) plant native to eastern Asia. It has been studied for its ability to stimulate collagen production, reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin texture and even out tone. Plus, it’s been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

How does bakuchiol differ from retinoids?

Both bakuchiol and retinol offer impressive age-defying benefits, but there are some key differences – particularly in their origin, potential side effects, how they work and suitability for different skin types.

While bakuchiol is a natural compound, retinol is a synthetic form of vitamin A. They both work to help promote skin cell turnover and stimulate collagen production in the skin, in turn helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.

Chances are, you’ve heard of the side effects that some people experience when introducing retinol into their routines – which includes irritation, dryness and redness – but the great thing about bakuchiol is that it’s generally considered to be much more gentle. There are fewer side effects, simply because it is less likely to cause irritation and that’s why it’s more favourable amongst those with sensitive skin.

Retinol is an ingredient that’s widely available and has been studied for many years, whereas bakuchiol is near the beginning of its journey. However, it is gaining popularity and is becoming more commonly used across a variety of skincare formulations.

Photostable

Unlike vitamin A which is only suitable to use at nighttime, bakuchiol has the added benefit of being photostable, meaning it can be used during the daytime as well as at nighttime as it won’t break down when exposed to the sunlight.

Please note; The research supporting bakuchiol’s effects on the skin is promising but is still very new, and there is much more clinical research to support vitamin A. Vitamin A is still the best option for people who are not actively avoiding it.

Potential risks of using bakuchiol

While there aren’t many downsides of using bakuchiol, especially since it's considered safe and is well-tolerated by most people, it’s always good to be aware of any risks that could be associated with it, and that’s why we would always advise consulting with a dermatologist before introducing a new product or ingredient into your routine.

Can you combine bakuchiol with other skincare ingredients?

Generally speaking, yes, you can combine bakuchiol with other skincare ingredients. The ones that compliment bakuchiol’s benefits the most include hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and ceramides. Niacinamide, peptides and gentle exfoliants can also work well with bakuchiol.

However, as with everything, there are a few ingredients that it’s best not to use at the same time as bakuchiol. Those include retinoids, especially prescription-strength ones – like tretinoin – as well as benzoyl peroxide and strong vitamin C formulations, especially if you have sensitive skin. We also recommend that you don’t combine bakuchiol with vitamin A formulas, as this could cause your skin to become irritated and sensitive.

How to use bakuchiol in your skincare routine

One of the many benefits of using bakuchiol is that it’s easy to build into an existing skincare routine, and it’s also a photostable ingredient meaning it doesn’t break down in the sunlight and can therefore be used both morning and night.

For us, a good routine looks like this:

In conclusion

Overall, there’s no denying that bakuchiol really is nature’s alternative to retinol and its growth in popularity is justified. It is a gentle and incredibly effective, plant-based alternative and its ability to address signs of ageing, to act as an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant are seriously impressive.

However, it’s always worth remembering that it won’t work quite as fast or effectively as retinal, but if you fall into the camp of people that aren’t able to use vitamin A for certain reasons, then bakuchiol really is the next best thing – and we also love that it can be used during the day for maximum efficacy.

^{*G. Siegenthaler et al., Retinol and retinal metabolism, Biochemical Journal, 1990, 268, pp 371-378}