What is Bakuchiol and what makes it good for sensitive skin? Image by Adobe Stock.
As a Beauty Editor and self-confessed skincare addict taking care of my skin is one of the most important tools in my self-care toolbox. I live by these rules: Never wear makeup to bed, wash my face in the morning and double-cleanse at-night, wear an SPF EVERY. SINGLE. DAY and be very careful and particular about the ingredients I am putting on my skin.
Within the beauty realm, there is one ingredient that has been hailed “the holy grail” of skincare and that is Vitamin A, also known as Retinol. Retinol is derived from Vitamin A and is one of the most effective ingredients at preventing and fighting the signs of premature skin ageing, such as helping to reduce fine lines, acne, pigmentation and sun damage. It works by accelerating cellular turnover, triggering collagen production and evening our your complexion, it also clears out blocked pores and blackheads, making it a hero ingredient if you’re dealing with breakouts. It sounds amazing and it is, but it’s not for everyone – the tricky thing with Retinol is that it can be a bit intimidating for some people, especially those with sensitive skin. It is a very advanced ingredient and some skin types simply cannot tolerate it. Retinol is also not advised to be used for on younger skin – the best time to start using Retinol is in your late 20’s to early 30’s when your collagen levels start to diminish.
This is where Bakuchiol comes in – and let me make this clear that Bakuchiol is NOT a Retinol, it is a Retinol alternative. Bakuchiol is a fantastic option for those who cannot tolerate Retinol as it a naturally derived plant extract from the Psoralea Corylifolia plant, otherwise known as the “Babchi” plant. This plant has got a pretty impressive skincare resume – originally being used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Bakuchiol has been proven to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.
Bakuchiol functions very similar to Retinol – it increases skin cell turnover, stimulates collagen production and helps to diminish signs of skin ageing and sun damage. Bakuchiol is not only a much more gentle option for those with sensitive skin, it is also a vegan alternative, as some Vitamin A’s can be derived from animal products. Bakuchiol also works best in tandem with other skincare ingredients such as Vitamin C, which can brighten the skin and Hyaluronic Acid which will give the skin great hydration.
If this skincare ingredient sounds like a bit of you we’ve picked out three homegrown skincare brands that have amazing products featuring Bakuchiol:
Emma Lewisham Supernatural Triple Vitamin A+ Face Oil RRP: $137