bakuchiol - what it is and what it does

Bakuchiol…have you heard of it? This little constituent is derived from the Psoralea corylifolia plant and is getting a lot of buzz lately as it’s purported to be a substitute for topical retinol. The same anti-aging benefits, without the potential for irritating the skin? Sign us up! But, does it live up to the hype?

By now I’m sure you’re familiar with retinol, the Vitamin A derivative that can be found in serums, moisturizers and even cleansers. It’s a pretty popular and effective ingredient in skincare lines as it stimulates collagen, strengthens the integrity of the skin and minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, depending on the percentage of retinol you’re using, it can overly dry the skin, making it red, irritated and even peel.. Luckily, a plant alternative exists in the form of bakuchiol. So named because it’s derived from the leaves and seeds of psoralea corylifolia or the babchi plant. It’s worth noting that this plant has long been used in both Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese medicine.

Bakuchiol is a powerful antioxidant that has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It visibly reduces photodamage from environmental exposure, can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, increases cell turnover, thereby stimulating collagen production and improves skin laxity. It seems like a good alternative if you do have a sensitivity to retinol. More studies will have to be done over time to determine if it’s equally effective.. But, hey, try it yourself! More and more product lines have begun including bakuchiol in their ingredients, so it shouldn’t be hard to find. I’ve used the illuminating serum from Naked & Thriving with good results (and it’s a clean beauty line). Layer it on in the morning after your toner, but before you apply sunscreen.

If you feel like nerding out and learning more about psoralea corylifolia , click here to read about its benefits, parts of the plant used, herbal actions and more!