Bakuchiol is trending with sensitive skin types. Retinol is still the gold standard in skincare, but some find retinol hard to tolerate. Bakuchiol is a natural Retinol alternative that has many retinol benefits without retinol side effects. This article explains Why Use Bakuchiol Not Retinol For Sensitive Skin and How to Use Bakuchiol.
What Is Bakuchiol?
Bakuchiol is a phenol that comes from the babchi plant, AKA Psoralea corylifolia.
Bakuchiol is non-irritating but still proven as effective as retinol.
Bakuchiol treats:
- photoaging
- wrinkles
- hyperpigmentation such as age spots and acne scars
- loss of collagen, elastin, and firmness
- acne
Retinol and Sensitive Skin
There are several techniques so sensitive skin types can better tolerate retinol. One of these techniques is retinol buffering.
If you have been unsuccessful with retinol, then Bakuchiol can help. Without the dryness, redness, or irritation of retinol, it gets results.
Bakuchiol hydrates the skin, whereas Retinol dries the skin. Both stimulate collagen production and some degree of skin firmness.
Bakuchiol has proven a viable Retinol alternative for sensitive skin types, especially for photoaging. Prescription retinol is still necessary for optimal skin firming.
How to Use Bakuchiol
Bakuchiol is found in several new clean beauty skincare products focused on gentle or natural skincare.
It may take longer to see results with a Bakuchiol skin product, but Bakuchiol results are excellent with only light peeling. Bakuchiol was used twice a day for 12 weeks in one study that saw improvement in wrinkles, pigmentation, and firmness without the facial skin scaling and stinging seen in the retinol users.
When choosing a Bakuchiol formulation, stick to simple formulations without many other strong actives such as Vitamin C.
Bakuchiol users must always wear sunscreen and limit their use limit of other drying actives, such as aHAs.
Summary of Why Use Bakuchiol Not Retinol
Bakuchiol is plant-based and non-irritating yet clinically proven as effective as retinol. Was the article Why Use Bakuchiol Not Retinol useful? Then you may also enjoy reading How to Use Tretinoin Without Irritation