BAKUCHIOL vs RETINOL: What You Need To Know
The skincare community loves a buzz-worthy ingredient and right now there’s a lot of discussion around bakuchiol! As you can tell by our NEW Resurfacing Serum, we’re pretty sold on its benefits. But what is it? And what’s the difference between bakuchiol and retinol? Let’s discuss…
What is retinol and what are its benefits?
Retinol (AKA Vitamin A) has long secured its status as a beauty industry go-to. Which is no surprise when you discover its super effective anti-ageing properties. Your skin’s natural cell turnover cycle is around 28 days up until your mid-30s but as you get older, this regeneration slows which can contribute to signs of ageing like fine lines, dryness and dullness. That’s where retinol and its activating abilities come in. It speeds up this process to give you smoother, firmer, clearer and brighter-looking skin (basically all the things most of us are looking to target).
There’s many different types of retinol, some of which are synthetically produced. Anyone who’s ever accidentally started off at a higher percent of retinol without knowing of its potential side effects and woken up with a red, blotchy complexion can vouch for this being something to build up *very* gradually, slowly increasing to a higher concentration over a long period of time. Plus, it can cause increased sensitivity to the sun meaning that this is a night-time routine only kinda product. If you’re going to give it a try, you’ll want to make sure you’re using sunscreen during the day – if you’re not already, that is.
What is bakuchiol and what are its benefits?
Bakuchiol (pronounced bah-koo-chee-all) has been used for many generations as part of Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine and is extracted from seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. Structurally, it doesn’t really have much similarity to retinol but it has very similar effects in terms of supporting cell turnover and delivering those same beautiful skin benefits.
Where it differs from retinol is that it doesn’t come with the potential irritation. It’s suitable for use during the day, for more sensitive skin types and for people who are pregnant. Which is why we’ve infused it into our new advanced Resurfacing Serum, alongside niacinamide and PROTIDA™ technology – a product we can’t wait for you to experience.
As with any skincare ingredient and product, it’s all about finding what works best for your unique skin needs. Don’t forget, whether you try either retinol or bakuchiol, it can take time to get the results you’re seeking… but your patience will be rewarded!
Have you made the switch to a bakuchiol-based product like our new Resurfacing Serum? Share your experiences with us over at @aureliaskincare #aurelialondon