Some experts and beauty influencers may convince you that over-the-counter retinol treatments are the most important products in your skincare routine, but these serums and creams may not always be the best choice for your skin. Even products with small amounts of retinol can leave your skin vulnerable to some unpredictable side effects.
But doesn’t retinol have some benefits? Well, yes, and no.
While it’s true that retinol can strengthen your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, so can other products.
Natural retinol alternatives can often provide the same benefits as retinol treatments with none of the unwanted side effects, and they often come with additional advantages that promote glowing skin and discourage breakouts and blemishes.
But before we introduce you to our botanical retinol alternative, it’s essential to understand how it compares to synthetically derived retinol.
What Is Retinol?
Retinol is a type of retinoid designed to help boost skin health. As a vitamin A derivative, this product can help improve the look of aging skin and is largely supported by dermatologists.
Targeting imperfections at their source, retinol works deep within your skin, traveling through the surface to your dermis. Retinol can be converted into its active form, retinoic acid, in this inner layer.
Much stronger than retinol alone, retinoic acid enters your cells and binds to retinoic acid receptors, which sets off a series of chemical transformations leading to the production of two key proteins: keratin and collagen.
Keratin is the protein responsible for protecting your skin, and collagen is the protein responsible for building it. Both play key roles in forming the internal structure of skin as well as ensuring the health of surface cells. Increased amounts of these proteins can help strengthen your skin, provide moisturizing benefits, and assist in the natural process of cell renewal.
Collagen especially is essential to the repair and renewal of skin cells. As your body ages, natural collagen production declines alongside its quality. With less protein in your system, you may see a decrease in skin elasticity, which can cause fine lines and wrinkles.
Why Do You Need a Retinol Alternative?
With chemically synthesized retinol, the benefits don’t always outweigh the risks. The overuse of retinol comes with a serious list of potential complications, all of which are especially common among first-time users and people with sensitive skin.
But even perfectly healthy, seasoned retinol users are not immune to the side effects of this product.
Retinol Burn
The most common complication of retinol use is retinol burn. Frequent in the first few weeks of retinol use, this side effect is characterized by dull and overly dry skin prone to flaking. Retinol burn comes from the red patches of raw skin revealed after peeling.
Even with proper moisturization, retinol users of all skin types and skin textures can expect to experience some degree of retinol burn.
Increased Sun Sensitivity
Another unwanted side effect of synthetic retinol is an increased sensitivity to the sun.
Sunscreen is essential in any skincare routine, but sun damage can be a real risk for regular retinol users. High cell turnover levels leave your skin's surface vulnerable to harmful UV rays.
Even with the right SPF and plenty of lotion, avoiding sun damage and its associated dryness and dark spots is tough when using retinol products.
Is There a Natural Substitute for Retinol?
Retinol is not the way to go if you’re looking to boost the strength and shine of your skin without risking a potentially dangerous downside. So, is there a way to reap all the benefits of the best retinol products without the harsh complications? Fortunately, there is.
Introducing Bakuchiol
Bakuchiol is a botanical retinol alternative that is all-natural. This vegan extract is derived from the Babchi plant and is commonly found in the dry tropical regions of the world, such as the Amazon rainforest. It has long been a staple in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine.
Bakuchiol offers intense hydration and leaves the skin soft and supple, meaning that its components can naturally help support healthy-looking and glowing skin.
With a long list of potential benefits, bakuchiol can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and other signs of aging. The penetrative effect of bakuchiol can help even the appearance of skin tone and potentially reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
But don’t forget the greatest benefit of bakuchiol: there is much less likelihood of experiencing redness or irritation. Unlike synthetic retinol, bakuchiol has no known side effects.
How To Use Bakuchiol Retinol Alternative
Ready to make the switch away from synthetic retinol to a natural alternative? For beautifully glowing skin, look no further than our Nightly Renewal Cream.
Made with the bakuchiol retinol alternative, this decadent moisturizing night cream helps support your skin, working deep within each layer to encourage the appearance of smoother skin. While you sleep, our Nightly Renewal Cream will provide your skin with all the nature-rich nutrients it needs to help restore moisture and brighten skin.
This cream provides all the benefits of a bakuchiol retinol alternative and is also 100% free from GMOs, parabens, and other harsh chemicals that can leave your skin looking and feeling tired.
Furtuna Skin uses only the best and most potent botanical ingredients, harnessing the power of nature to protect and rejuvenate your skin. It even includes antioxidants like ashwagandha and enzyme-rich microalgae.
If that weren’t enough to make you leave behind skincare that’s made with harsh chemicals, Nightly Renewal Cream also features our Circadian Rhythm Complex™ to provide you with more night-time nutrients, such as hyaluronic acid and vitamin C.
Influenced by your body’s own biological clock, our cream uses the power of wildly potent wild-foraged plants to support your skin’s restoration during sleep .
Want More Clean Ingredients?
With Furtuna Skin, you can be sure that your skincare products are as good for the environment as they are for you. Our clean formulas come straight from the land, transforming your skin naturally without any unnecessary synthetic solutions.
With 100% sustainably sourced skincare ingredients like our botanical bakuchiol retinol alternative, you can replace potentially dangerous chemicals like retinol for daily use and embrace innovative natural skincare that performs better than its synthetic-packed counterparts.
Furtuna Skin is dedicated to providing luxury ingredients without sacrificing your skin. Check out our Custom Discovery skincare set, where you can build your own discovery set of sample-size products, including nourishing eye creams, hydrating face oils, and our beloved Nightly Renewal Cream.
With clean ingredients and support you can feel, this skincare set could help get you glowing.
Sources:
Does Retinol Deserve the Hype? A Stanford Dermatologist Weighs In | Scope
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