Why Bakuchiol is a safe alternative to retinol

Surely, with the stir caused by the change in regulations regarding retinol percentages in products, you have wondered: is bakuchiol a similar alternative to retinol? Will it be just as effective?

If you are considering switching from retinol to bakuchiol, this is for you. And if you didn't know it was being regulated, we will tell you everything.

The world of dermocosmetics is constantly evolving, offering safe and effective alternatives for skincare. Moreover, in the field of natural cosmetics, we are in luck, as we increasingly have within our reach powerful active ingredients that have their origin in nature.

One of the ingredients being focused on most is bakuchiol, a substance extracted mainly from the seeds of the Indian plant Psoralea corylifolia or babchi or bakuchi.

Properties of Bakuchiol

• It is a powerful antioxidant that reduces oxidative damage caused by the sun, pollution, and other environmental factors
• It acts by minimizing skin blemishes and evening out skin tone
• It helps to reduce wrinkles and expression lines
• Retexturizes the skin, leaving it soft and smooth
• It helps improve breakouts and is suitable for acne-prone skin
• It has a powerful soothing effect, which makes it ideal for sensitive or reactive skin, with redness and even rosacea

Bakuchiol vs. Retinol

Bakuchiol and retinol are two distinct molecules with different chemical structures. In other words, they are as different as night and day. So, why is bakuchiol said to be "vegan retinol"?

The key is that they have the same cellular target and trigger the same cascade of benefits at the level of gene expression, which is why clinical in vivo results are very similar.

Both are very powerful ingredients, and some people will prefer to choose bakuchiol either for its vegan origin or because it is an alternative better tolerated by the skin compared to retinol.

What percentage of bakuchiol is best?

Science has shown that concentrations between 0.5% and 2% bakuchiol are the best for obtaining visible results.

At Herbera, we are committed to offering the maximum possible benefit from an ingredient so aligned with our values, so you will find it in a 2% concentration in our products.

Additionally, it was a challenge to find a bakuchiol for you: most suppliers offered it with a low degree of purity. After months of intense searching, we found it: the one we use has more than 99% purity, and therefore, we can guarantee maximum efficacy.

Natural cosmetic products with Bakuchiol

1. BIO SERUM BAKUCHIOL WELL-AGING TREATMENT: with 2% bakuchiol, sequoia stem cells, and high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid. It has a melting texture that prevents and corrects wrinkles in just 3 months. It helps stimulate cell renewal and evens out tone. As if that weren't enough, it contains organic Epilobium, a prebiotic that balances the microbiome and is ideal for skin prone to breakouts. In addition, we replace the water in the formula with chamomile and damask rose hydrosols to add more soothing and antioxidant properties to the product. 2. BAKUCHIOL WELL-AGING CREAM: with 2% bakuchiol, it reduces wrinkles and sagging and evens out tone in 12 weeks. It also contains sequoia stem cells, organic shea butter, and camellina, argan, evening primrose, grape, passion fruit, and prickly pear oils, an antioxidant bomb that provides the skin with biomimetic lipids and a delicious texture. It received an award from the Beauty Shortlist AWARDS in 2023, and those of you who have used it keep coming back. Both products can be used alone, combined with others, or together for maximum well-aging benefits.

Can you combine retinol and bakuchiol?

Yes, you can combine your products with retinol or retinol derivatives with our products with bakuchiol. In that case, since they are two powerful active ingredients, we recommend that you start gradually to avoid irritation.

Can bakuchiol be used during pregnancy?

Yes, bakuchiol is a suitable ingredient during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Is bakuchiol photosensitizing?

Bakuchiol is not a photosensitizing ingredient, although we recommend the use of sun protection in all well-aging treatments (or rather, prevention). References:Chaudhuri RK, Bojanowski K. Bakuchiol: a retinol-like functional compound revealed by gene expression profiling and clinically proven to have anti-aging effects. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2014 Jun;36(3):221-30. doi: 10.1111/ics.12117. Epub 2014 Mar 6. PMID: 24471735.