Filed Under: Botanicals

Bakuchiol: The 411 on Nature's Retinol

Derived from the Psoralea corylifolia plant, commonly known as Babchi, this herb is revered in herbal medicine for its therapeutic benefits. Reputable for its skincare properties, Bakuchiol is clinically proven to have retinol-like functionality.

A gentle, vegan, natural retinol alternative, Bakuchiol provides similar benefits without any of the irritation, redness, or flaking. It is clinically proven to target the same retinoic acid receptors on the skin as retinol and other Vitamin A derivatives. By encouraging skin’s natural renewal process, Bakuchiol helps reduce discoloration to reveal a brighter, smoother complexion. It supports skin's natural collagen production to help increase firmness, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and even skin tone.

At night, skin goes into repair mode. The proliferation rate becomes much higher and regeneration is especially active. This is the perfect environment for Bakuchiol to get to work. It combats skin damage from the day to refine and smooth skin texture. Our Nightly Renewal Cream combines Bakuchiol, plant peptides, and ceramides to gently recalibrate skin’s circadian rhythm for a renewal of suppleness and strength. It enhances skin's regenerative powers during the evening hours to put wrinkles to rest for a visibly rejuvenated look when you wake up.

What Are Some Bakuchiol Benefits? A Deeper Dive

Everything you love about retinol, without any of the harsh side effects. Bakuchiol delivers the skin regenerating benefits that retinol does, but without any of the irritation and redness. At Furtuna Skin, we harness the powerful benefits of bakuchiol in our Nightly Renewal Cream. Here’s what you can expect. 

Even Skin Tone

It happens. As we age, our skin tone changes. Whether excess sun exposure leaves us with areas of discoloration, dark areas under the eyes, or in the hollow of our cheeks, our skin ends up looking less even than it used to. 

To protect your skin, you need antioxidants. Bakuchiol is a powerful antioxidant, which can help fade dark spots on the skin and even out skin tone, thanks to its brightening powers.

Youthful-Looking Complexion

The fountain of youth may not actually prevent you from aging, but bakuchiol can help you turn back the hands of time. 

As we age, our skin cell turnover slows. The longer it takes our skin to renew, the older our skin appears. In our youth, skin cells take between 28-30 days to regenerate. In older adults, the process can take up to two months. 

Slower skin cell turnover rates cause signs of aging like:

  • Dull complexion
  • Fine lines
  • Wrinkles
  • Dark spots or pigmentation

    When you first notice your skin looking older, your first response might be to head to the dermatologist to grab a retinol cream, but the side effects of retinol (dryness, peeling, redness, and irritation) make it a non-viable option for many people. 

    Enter bakuchiol, a natural alternative to retinol that helps support proper skin cell turnover and deliver anti-aging benefits without the harsh side effects of retinoids. Because of its similarity to retinol, using a bakuchiol product in your skincare routine will help maintain healthy skin cell turnover, promote gentle exfoliating properties to help remove dead skin cells from the skin, and erase dullness from your complexion. 

    A bakuchiol retinol alternative is as effective as retinol and easier on your skin. It’s a winning combination for creating the healthy, youthful skin you want. 

    Smooth Texture

    Blemishes, dry patches, and rough areas on your skin can create an uneven texture that makes it hard for you to feel comfortable or even apply cosmetics. Bakuchiol’s ability to support regular skin cell turnover can help smooth skin’s overall texture.

    Skincare products often prescribed for the treatment of breakouts can leave your skin feeling dry and looking red and irritated. A natural solution? Bakuchiol. By gently exfoliating away dead skin cells, bakuchiol keeps your pores clean and helps prevent future blemishes from forming. 

    Because it’s a gentle alternative to traditional blemish control methods, it works well for all skin types. If you have sensitive skin, you’ll find bakuchiol helps keep your blemishes at bay without any harsh side effects

    Likewise, if you have dry areas of skin or rough patches, the gentle exfoliating power of bakuchiol will help resurface these areas of skin, leaving your skin feeling and looking smoother and softer. 

    How Are Bakuchiol and Retinol Different?

    Both bakuchiol and retinol help stimulate skin cell regeneration. Retinoids, a class of vitamin A derivatives, are available by a prescription from your dermatology care provider. While you can purchase retinoids (a milder version of retinol) over-the-counter, they still carry some pretty harsh side effects like:

    • Burning or stinging
    • Itching
    • Peeling, dry skin
    • Redness
    • General irritation  

    Unlike retinol and retinoids, phyto-retinols and bakuchiol deliver the same skin rejuvenating benefits without the harsh side effects, making it a viable option for more people, especially those with skin sensitivity and certain skin conditions that make using other products impossible. 

    How Should I Use Bakuchiol for Best Results?

    When you hit the sack, your skin goes into repair mode. While you sleep, your skin begins to restore, regenerate, and repair. That’s why it’s so important to use a high-quality bakuchiol serum or cream before you say goodnight. 

    Furtuna Skin’s Nightly Renewal Cream is your go-to solution for giving your skin the tools it needs to repair and restore overnight. Packed with the perfect amount of bakuchiol for optimum overnight results, we also combine our Circadian Rhythm Complex of wild foraged plants that help give your skin the vitamins and nutrients it needs to help it repair properly overnight. 

    Our Night Cream also includes ceramides to lock in moisture so you wake up to skin that is super hydrated, never dry. Of course, the foundation of every Furtuna Skin product is our single-origin, organic extra virgin olive oil to help soothe, increase hydration, and improve skin’s elasticity and youthfulness. 

    Does Bakuchiol Have Any Side Effects?

    Unlike retinols and retinoids, bakuchiol doesn’t have any harsh side effects that make it drying or sensitizing to your skin. Slight exfoliation of the upper layer of dead skin cells is normal and expected. You can use our Micellar Cleansing Complex to help gently remove dead skin and reveal a healthier, more radiant complexion. 

    Who Should Use Bakuchiol?

    If you’ve been looking for a retinol alternative serum, bakuchiol is for you. Consider bakuchiol your go-to ingredient for correcting: 

    • Dull complexion 
    • Uneven skin tone
    • Facial photoaging
    • Fine lines and wrinkles
    • Dark spots
    • Sagging, aging skin

    If you’re concerned about using bakuchiol, try spot-testing your product in a small area of your cheek, neck, or forearm. We think you’ll find our night cream is as gentle to your skin as it is to animals (which we never, ever use for testing).

    Should Any Other Active Ingredients Be Avoided While Using Bakuchiol?

    Even though bakuchiol is gentle, it’s still very powerful. Limit the use of combining with products that contain other skin regenerating compounds like retinol, retinoids, or benzyl peroxide, or check with your dermatologist.

    Can I Use Bakuchiol Morning and Night?

    You can use bakuchiol twice daily, but you likely don’t need it. That’s why we only include it in our Nightly Repair Cream. The benefits you get from bakuchiol are most useful to your skin at night. 

    Pair the Night Cream with a powerful Day Cream to help protect your skin during the day and continue skin’s rejuvenation.  

    The Bottom Line

    Bakuchiol is one of our favorite natural skincare ingredients. It works powerfully to stimulate cell turnover and help restore an even, youthful complexion. Often considered a retinol alternative, bakuchiol works similarly to support proper skin cell regeneration without the harsh side effects that normally come along with retinol use. 

    Harnessing the power of the babchi plant, Furtuna Skin has made it easy for you to get the youthful, restorative ingredients you want without any damage to your skin. You deserve skin that looks as youthful as you feel. Trust Furtuna Skin to help give your skin the purest, highest-quality, natural ingredients it needs to thrive. 

    Sources:

    Antioxidant activity of bakuchiol: experimental evidences and theoretical treatments on the possible involvement of the terpenoid chain | PubMed.gov 

    SEER Training: Layers of the Skin | Cancer.gov 

    Retinoids, topical | American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD)

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