Bakuchiol is a natural retinol alternative. Its effects on the skin are similar to retinol just minus the negative skin reactions retinol often causes. Bakuchiol can be used to reduce sun spots, increase collagen production and protect against collagen breakdown. It can also improve fine lines and wrinkles and has even shown to be helpful with improving acne prone skin. It accelerates cell turnover which is vital as this process slows way down as we age leaving dull, wrinkled dry skin that should’ve been sluffed off. 

What is really cool about Bakuchiol is that it reinforces your skin’s natural structure from within, boosting the strength of building blocks like collagen and elastin.  It also is a strong antioxidant. The appearance of skin aging is influenced by oxidative stress on the skin, especially from environmental factors like pollution and UV rays. But bakuchiol can help strengthen your skin’s resistance to these stressors.

What is Bakuchiol?

Bakuchiol (buh-koo-chee-all) extract is an oil naturally derived from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia, more commonly known as the babchi plant. It became a skincare tool in early Indian and Chinese medicine. 

Bakuchiol vs. Retinol:

Retinol is a vitamin A derivative, and is known for its ability to stimulate collagen production, diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve the overall look of skin.

Retinol is widely acknowledged as an anti-aging ingredient because of its ability to connect to almost any skin cell receptor site, prompting it to simulate the behavior of a healthy, younger skin cell. Retinol is also a powerful antioxidant that is known to interrupt the free-radical damage associated with wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging.

Retinol has become common and can be found in over the counter anti aging products. However, higher doses must be prescribed by a doctor. 

Retinol is commonly known to irritate the skin. It must be used with great caution because its side effects can outweigh its benefits. In fact, pregnant women are warned not to use retinol during pregnancy and users are advised to stay out of the sun while using the treatment. This is where Bakuchiol shines. Bakuchiol has the benefits of retinol with none of the side effects.

Bakuchiol is also a vegan product where retinol is typically not. 

Related Post: DIY Anti Aging Retinol Face Mask

How to Incorporate Bakuchiol in a Natural Beauty Routine? 

As usual, Lotion Crafter to the rescue! They offer Bakuchiol and it can simply be added to oil based recipes at a specific percentage. Find it HERE.

.25 ounces is $15.95. However, you are only adding .5-2% in each recipe. 

Let’s formulate a face oil and eye roll on, shall we? I’m going to use one of my favorite anti aging carrier oils, rosehip seed oil. I typically like to buy it from Mountain Rose Herbs but I often end up grabbing THIS bottle from Amazon because I use it so often. I’m also going to add castor oil, Vitamin E and I love to add carrot seed oil to eye products since it also has cell regenerative properties. Castor oil is so cool-not only does it have some impressive anti aging properties, it also acts as a vehicle to drive other ingredients deeper into the skin tissue.

If you’d like to keep this simple, you could just add 12 drops of bakuchiol to 1 oz. of rosehip and call it good. I’m in the mood to get creative and make two really great products so I’ll share what I did but either way works! 

1 oz. Bakuchiol Face Oil Recipe:

Use a 1 oz treatment pump or dropper bottle Because this face oil is 100% oil based, the shelf life will be around 6 months with no preservative needed. 

10 ml Bakuchiol Eye Serum Recipe:

Use a 10ml glass roll on bottle. No preservative needed here either. With eye roll ons it is nice to store these in a beauty fridge since the cold roller ball can further help reduce inflammation around the eyes. 

Both of these recipes are as simple as adding ingredients into a bottle. I use a small funnel and then once it’s all in, replace the lid and give it a gentle shake. 

You can use both of these products day and/or night since unlike retinol, bakuchiol does not make you UV sensitive. I always like to use a water based product on my skin right before I apply and oil based product. The water helps the skin drink up the oil. An example of a water based product would be a toner or an hyaluronic acid serum. You could also splash a little water on your skin if you don’t have a water based product in your regime.

Where to Get Ingredients:

I always prefer to get my ingredients at Mountain Rose Herbs. They are simply the best quality. They have fair pricing as well. However, I get wanting to use Amazon so I’ve linked all Amazon in the recipe and made a post on my Amazon storefront for really easy shopping.  Most of everything I’ve linked, I’ve personally used. The bakuchiol, CO2llageneer and Q-MAX are Lotion Crafter. They too are affordable and ship very fast. I can not vouch for any of these ingredients on Amazon. 

Bakuchiol promotes collagen, one of the most vital components of radiant, youthful looking skin. Bakuchiol also triggers skin cell repair for a brightening result. These two functions are absolutely vital in skin that is over 30. I love that bakuchiol is gentle. I always opt for a gentle approach to anti aging rather than harsh products, lasers and injectables. 

xx, Jenni

Jennifer Phillips

Jennifer Phillips worked as a licensed aesthetician for over 8 years before creating the DIY skincare blog, Jenni Raincloud and her natural skin care line, J. Raincloud Organics. Jennifer has been blogging full time for 16 years and loves to gain and share knowledge on how to achieve beautiful skin the natural way.

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