RETINOL VS BAKUCHIOL

Retinol is legendary in the skincare world championed by dermatologists, aestheticians, and influencers as the holy grail. However, if you've ever used retinol you'll know it doesn't come without strict application methods and a daunting list of side effects, including irritation, flaking, as well as increased sun sensitivity. But what about retinol alternatives? We're looking at you bakuchiol!

Retinol.

Retinol is the pure form of Vitamin A, which is an essential fat soluable vitamin. It has been scientifically proven to target signs of aging and uneven skin tone, significantly and profoundly affecting the skin's surface. There are several clinical studies that show the proven benefits of retinol and its dramatic impacts on skin.

However, with retinol there are quite often harsh side effects. Regular retinol usage, can cause some skin to become excessively dry, flaky, and constantly inflamed. This is commonly put down to purging, which includes an increase in acne, rashes, flaking, and extreme redness. This extreme irritation, although temporary, is why we choose not to formulate with it. If you want the benefits of retinol without the miserable side effects, read on.

Bakuchiol.

Bakuchiol is a botanical extract derived from the psoralea corylifolia plant. Numerous parts of this plant have long been used in Ayurvedic medicine, due to the potent anti-inflammatory benefits. In clinical studies bakuchiol was proven to produce the same results as retinol, when targeting fine lines and wrinkles and minimizing hyperpigmentation, but the benefits came without the flaking or irritation that comes with Vitamin A use. Bakuchiol has also been proven to stimulate collagen and aid in cellular turnover, making it a more favorable alternative to retinol.

Important to know:
Commonly cosmetic labels will read "Bakuchi Oil, or Babchi Oil on the list of ingredients, and this can confuse customers into thinking the product contains pure Bakuchiol. While Bakuchiol Oil/Babchi Oil are impressive in their own right, they are not the same as pure Bakuchiol in performance, and contain a lesser bakuchiol content at around 9-12%, compared to pure Bakuchiol which is 98%-99% (we use bakuchiol with 99% purity.

For reference:

A 2018 study published in the British Academy of Dermatology conducted a study, pitting bakuchiol and retinol against each other in a 12-week, double-blind clinical trial on human subjects. For the study, 44 participants received either a twice-daily 0.5% bakuchiol product or a once-daily 0.5% retinol product, and their progress was evaluated by a dermatologist who didn’t know which group was which.

Both groups saw improvements in hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and redness, and there was no significant difference between their results, which suggests that using bakuchiol twice a day is as effective as using retinol once a day. Plus, the bakuchiol group reported less skin scaling and flaking than the retinol group.

 

+ A recent randomized, double-blind clinical study between Sytenol® A and Retinol carried out by UC-Davis Dermatologists demonstrated that both compounds significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation, with no statistical difference between the compounds. The Retinol users reported more facial skin scaling, burning and stinging. Authors concluded that Sytenol® A is a more tolerable alternative to Retinol (Dhaliwal et al, British J Dermatology, 2018 Jun 27. doi: 10.1111/bjd.16918).

 

Bakuchiol Vs Retinol, which is best?

The bottom line is, it comes down to personal choice. Personally, I want all the benefits that both Retinol and Bakuchiol can provide, without any side effects (Bakuchiol wins this one).

Here are a few things to consider:

Skin sensitivity:
If you have sensitive skin, like many of us do, Bakuchiol is the right choice for you, offering all the benefits, with minimal chance of irritation.

Acne prone skin:
Bakuchiol is effective for acne prone skin, plus it's naturally antibacterial and soothing for irritated skin.

Results:
You can expect to see results in around six weeks, with consistant, twice daily bakuchiol use, compared to OTC retinol which takes up to 4 months. Perscription retinols take significantly less time.

Usage:
We can't escape the fact that retinol needs a routine and time for your skin to adjust.  Bakuchiol just needs to be used twice a day, morning and night.