Perhaps you’re a skincare enthusiast who’s noticed a rise of bakuchiol products in the market. Or maybe you’re reading this term for the first time and have no clue what it’s about. Either way, you’re in the right place if you’re curious about this popular ingredient and want to know why it’s making waves in the skincare industry.
What Makes Bakuchiol Stand Out
Bakuchiol is derived from the bakuchi plant, which has long been utilised in Chinese and Indian traditional medicine. Because it is such a good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, Bakuchiol is often found in skin care items. In particular, it can increase the production of collagen and elasticity. This will make the skin smoother and firmer and minimise lines, wrinkles, and folds from showing up. It can also block pathways in the skin that cause inflammation, keeping redness and swelling at bay and making your skin look younger and more beautiful.
Is Bakuchiol the Right Option for You?
The answer is “Yes” for most people. However, this question becomes more significant if you can’t use retinoids for any reason.
Bakuchiol isn’t a Vitamin A derivative, which means that it’s not related to retinoids in terms of molecular structure. However, it has similar effects of retinol when it comes to slowing down the ageing process. Even better: studies have shown that most skin types tolerate bakuchiol better than retinol, making it the ideal option for people who are advised not to use retinoids. These include:
- People who are pregnant or nursing
- People who have dry skin and/or any health condition that causes skin dryness, such as rosacea
- People who have sensitive skin that easily gets irritated by retinoids
- People who have eczema and severe acne (since retinoids cause severe irritation on their skin)
Bakuchiol has better photostability than retinoids. This means that it won’t easily break down when exposed to UV rays and that it won’t irritate your skin when you apply it before going outdoors and getting exposed to the sun. As a result, you can apply bakuchiol products both day and night without having to worry about skin irritation. Since you can use it twice a day if you want to, you’ll get to enjoy accelerated results and see visible changes on your skin in a shorter amount of time.
How to Properly Use Bakuchiol Products
Even though bakuchiol is a gentler option than retinoids, it doesn’t automatically mean that your skin won’t react to it. So, before using any bakuchiol product, do a patch test by applying a small amount on a clean area on your upper forearm. Allow the product to sit and dry for five minutes before dressing, then observe it carefully for twenty-four hours to see if any irritation occurs. If there’s none, continue using the product as recommended.
If you’ll be layering bakuchiol with other skincare products, you have to check how it interacts with other ingredients. Apply a small amount of your bakuchiol peptide serum once a week only; if you don’t observe any irritation or other adverse effects, gradually increase the application frequency. Doing this is important particularly if you’re pairing bakuchiol with strong ingredients like Vitamin C and other acids.
Bakuchiol may have excellent photostability, but just like other ingredients, it can lose its efficacy when constantly exposed to sunlight. So, choose bakuchiol products that are placed in UV-protected glass bottles and store them at home away from direct sunlight.
Give Bakuchiol a Try Today
With its anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing effects, bakuchiol might be the answer to all your skin care woes. Try a bakuchiol product today and see how it can improve your overall skin tone and texture!
