Bakuchiol in Skincare

Learn about bakuchiol in skincare

BAKUCHIOL IN SKINCARE

Identifying the most natural and healthy ingredients in the beauty products has become a part of our skincare routine. We all discovered the amazing retinol, renowned for the wide range of benefits it provides for your skin. However, unfortunately, it can be irritating to sensitive skin. This is where we are excited to introduce bakuchiol [ pronounced- Bak-ooh-chi-ol ] - a new plant-based ingredient that's fast becoming the popular alternative.
Read on for everything you need to know about the benefits of bakuchiol oil and understand why people are choosing it over retinol.

BAKUCHIOL - WHAT IS IT

Bakuchiol oil comes from the Babchi plant, also called the Psoralea Corylifolia. Bakuchiol oil has traditionally been used in Indian and Chinese medicines, but it's rapidly increasing in popularity as people look for plant-based replacements. Its plant-based and antibacterial characteristics makes Bakuchiol serums and oils more gentle than retinol and better suited for people with skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis or sensitive skin.

But what is the difference between Bakuchiol and retinol?

Meet the natural retinol alternative!

BAKUCHIOL VS RETINOL

It's essential to understand the 'bakuchiol vs retinol' debate when understanding the benefits of bakuchiol oil. Bakuchiol and retinol are compared to each other because of their shared benefits:

1. Helps to fight fine lines and wrinkles
2. Can prevent and alleviate acne
3. Can combat uneven skin tones
4. Stimulates the creation of several types of collagen

But what are the actual differences?

VEGAN FRIENDLY

One of the most significant differences between Bakuchiol and retinol is how vegan friendly they are. Retinol is a type of retinoid made from egg yolk and fish liver oil. Although this is more common when it's used in food, some forms of cosmetic retinol may still follow this practice. However, as Bakuchiol is plant-based, all bakuchiol serums and oils are suitable for vegan consumers.

PREGNANCY SKINCARE

The biggest difference between Bakuchiol and retinol is the ability of using bakuchiol oil safely during pregnancy. It's advised that you do not use retinol during pregnancy because of the effects it can have on the developing baby. The chemical difference between retinol and Bakuchiol is significant enough to assume that there will be no issues using bakuchiol skincare during pregnancy. However, be sure to speak to a doctor if you are unsure about the effects of Bakuchiol during pregnancy.

SENSITIVE SKIN

Despite all the apparent benefits, people with sensitive skin find that retinol can irritate their skin - causing dryness and redness. By accelerating cell turnover, Bakuchiol works to soothe and heal your skin, avoiding irritation while providing the same benefits as retinol. This gives Bakuchiol a strong advantage in the Bakuchiol vs retinol debate.

OTHER BENEFITS OF BAKUCHIOL IN SKINCARE

Now we know what bakuchiol is and how it differs from retinol; what are the benefits of bakuchiol in skincare? Bakuchiol is a powerful antioxidant, the key ingredient in any effective skincare routine. Antioxidants, including Bakuchiol, harbour the ability to prevent the signs of ageing, brighten the skin tone and offer many more benefits for your skin. We've highlighted the key benefits of using Bakuchiol in skincare routines;

1.BAKUCHIOL ACNE PREVENTION

Acne can be caused and made worse by free radicals. As an antioxidant, bakuchiol oil reduces the effect that these free radicals have on the skin, alleviating their impact on sensitive, acne-prone skin.

Bakuchiol oil is also an anti-inflammatory, which helps to tackle red, swollen and inflamed acne.

2. FIGHTS SIGNS OF AGEING

Bakuchiol serums and oils help to speed up cell regeneration and stimulate the production of collagen in your skin. Collagen is a protein that increases the skin's elasticity, enabling it to bounce back into its original shape. Adding Bakuchiol to skincare routines can tackle this loss of collagen and help your skin look as young as ever! Try our Cellular Expert Lift Pure Bakuchiol Anti-Age Day Cream SPF30, it boosts cell’s collagen production by +48% in only 4 hours - the key to younger looking skin.

3. COMBATS DARK SPOTS AND AN UNEVEN SKIN TONE

Unlike retinol, Bakuchiol makes skin less sensitive to the sun's harmful rays. Bakuchiol oil reduces the effect free radicals, like pollution and sun damage, have on the skin. These free radicals can cause imbalanced melanin production, leading to hyperpigmentation and an uneven skin tone. By protecting the skin, bakuchiol products can prevent and even improve the appearance of dark spots and uneven skin tones.

HOW TO USE BAKUCHIOL

With its rising popularity, it's never been easier to add Bakuchiol to skincare routines. From bakuchiol serums and oils to face masks and moisturisers, all are becoming essential products in people's regimes.

As a gentle and natural product, you can start using bakuchiol oil from your mid 20’s and more than once a day - perfect in the morning before moisturising and at night before applying any serums.

We recommend applying bakuchiol oil products after your face is cleansed and pat dry.
The bakuchiol oil works well with other hydrating ingredients like squalane. Unlike retinol, it can be safely used with other products in your skincare regime, including retinol itself as bakuchiol's calming properties let retinol work better and increase skin's tolerance to this well-studied ingredient. However, it is not advisable to use it with glycolic acid, as it could degrade the formula. Although bakuchiol does not cause sun sensitivity like retinol does, we always advise applying sunscreen before exposing skin to the sun.

Try our NIVEA Cellular Bakuchiol Advanced Anti-Age Night Cream for the whole bakuchiol experience.

Skincare Ingredients

Sometimes we know which ingredients we want to use but not which products actually contain them. Sometimes it's easier to browse products based on the ingredients. Click here to browse NIVEA products based on the skincare ingredients they contain.