Bakuchiol - Ayurvedic Wonder Ingredient for Youthful Skin
| Authored by: Abhishek Ranjan Jha |
| Reviewed by: Dr. Anita Rana |
| Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes |
“Mom, I wish I never got older,” says a daughter beholding her skin in the mirror to her aged mother. The mother, out of curiosity, asks her why, though.
Mom, look at my skin—how young and beautiful it looks! But if I get old, I'm going to lose my youthful skin, which I don't want," replies the daughter
My dear, Aging is a natural phenomenon; we can neither stop growing nor is our skin going to remain the same. It is the ultimate truth of life that we cannot defy, but there's one secret that will help you to keep your skin young and beautiful.
What’s that, Ma? asks the curious daughter.
“Bakuchiol,” replies the mother. Ooh, sounds interesting. Mom, please spill some beans over bakuchiol.
Her mother starts explaining the secret behind bakuchiol and its properties. Let us also dive in to know about this secret of youthful skin:
Table of Content: |
Bakuchiol and It’s origin
Bakuchi, or Babchi (Psoraleacorylifolia), a) plant natively found in India, has given birth to bakuchiol.
Bakuchiol is a natural extract derived from the seeds of the Bakuchi plant that possesses a significant amount of medicinal properties. It has a long history of usage in traditional households, tracing its roots to Indian Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. Bakuchiol is a meroterpene phenol with the chemical formula C18H24O. It has a chiral tetra-alkylated quaternary center.
Bakuchiol has a long history of medicinal usage in Indian and Chinese medicine, but in the contemporary world, it was first isolated by Mehta et. al. in 1966 and was named after the Sanskrit name of the plant it is extracted from—Bakuchi.
Benefits of Bakuchiol for Skin
Bakuchiol is a multi purpose ingredient that can turn out to be a boon for the skin. From locking in moisture to preventing aging, it's a powerful product that can make your skin younger. It possesses certain chemical properties that increase cell turnover and renewal, heal wrinkles and acne, enrich skin with antioxidants, reduce photoaging, and boost the production of collagen. It also has antifungal properties that help in eliminating fungal-borne skin issues.
Bakuchiol V/s Retinol
So, Mom, I listened to everything you said, but don't we already have a popular product named Retinol available in the market? Why Bakuchiol? asks daughter.
Well before I answer why Bakuchiol, let's first understand what retinol is.
Retinol is a popular skin care ingredient derived from Vitamin A, primarily used to treat aging skin and other related issues. It is the over-the-counter (OTC) version of retinoids, widely used in creams and other skincare products.
As per many reports, Bakuchiol is considered the best substitute for retinol.
Also, do you know one report was published in which:
A randomized, double-blind, 12-week study was conducted in which 44 patients were asked to apply either bakuchiol 0.5% cream twice daily or retinol 0.5% cream daily. A facial photograph and analytical system were used to obtain and analyze high-resolution photographs of patients at 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Patients also completed tolerability assessment questions to review side effects. During study visits, a board-certified dermatologist, blinded to study group assignments, graded pigmentation and redness. Both retinol and bakuchiol significantly reduced the wrinkles. However, the retinol was less tolerable and caused facial skin scaling and stinging.
Hence, over here the Bakuchiol has gotten an edge over Retinol, but this is not it; despite many similarities, there's a significant difference between the Bakuchiol and Retinol. These are:
| Bakuchiol | Retinol |
| Bakuchiol doesn't make our skin photo-sensitive, thus we can apply it anytime as per our convenience. | Retinol makes the skin sensitive to sunlight, hence it is advisable to apply it only during night. |
| It is gentle on skin | It may be harsh on sensitive skin. |
| Ideal for people of all ages. | It is advisable only for the people who are in their late 20s or early 30s. |
| Bakuchiol is considered skin friendly as there have been fewer reports of irritation. |
Retinol is less tolerable and can cause various skin issues like irritation, dryness, peeling, redness etc. |
| People with any type of skin can use this. |
Only people with non sensitive skin are advised to use this. |
| Bakuchiol may be slow but it's safer and effective for skin. |
It's also a very effective product but only people with the ability to tolerate some irritation should choose this product.
|
So, beta have you gotten the answer why bakuchiol, or should I say more?
Nah mom, got it - says the daughter smilingly .Since we have came this far let's dig more about the Bakuchiol.
Efficacy in combating Skin Aging
Many scientists have conducted research on the efficiency of Bakuchiol in making skin youthful, and most of it has accepted and lauded its ability to make skin look younger and beautiful.
As per one of those researches, a systematic review of the literature was conducted. Data were collected and synthesized from online databases with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) protocol.
As a result, more than 125 articles were found, and six studies were selected according to this research. Of the six existing clinical trial studies, all showed that bakuchiol had a beneficial effect on reducing signs of skin aging.
The Bakuchiol helps in reducing signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines, loss of elasticity and firmness, dull skin, uneven hyperpigmentation, skin dryness, and texture irregularities, with minimal side effects.
Steps to incorporate Bakuchiol in Skincare Routine
- Step 1 : Rinse your skin using your preferred cleanser. It will remove oil, dirt, makeup creating a fresh canvas for the rest of skincare products.
- Step 2 : Before you use Bakuchiol, apply the toner in case you've been using one. This is purely your choice, it is not mandatory.
- Step 3 : Bakuchiol, in general, is available in the form of serum or oil. If using a serum, apply a few drops of bakuchiol to your fingertips and gently massage it into your face and neck. If using an oil, apply a few drops and gently press it into the skin after other lighter products like toners or serums. You can use it alone or combine it with other hydrating agents like hyaluronic acid.
- Step 4 : Moisturise your skin after applying Bakuchiol. The moisturizer will lock the moisture.
- Step 5 : Apply sunscreen, in case you're following morning routine.
Tips: Start using Bakuchiol slowly, keep the frequency 2-3 days a week initially and then increase its frequency to daily use, if you are not feeling any irritation or rashes.
How do I choose a Bakuchiol Skincare Product?
Selecting bakuchiol can be a dilemmatic matter for many people, especially for the beginners who are not much aware about skincare.
Bakuchiol is generally available as serums, oils, creams, or facial peels. One can choose any of these depending upon their skin type and their skincare schedule (Morning or Evening) . For instance, the creams are heavier on skin as compared to serums. Also, Bakuchiol is combined with other active ingredients; so before selecting any product, examine those ingredients carefully and choose what best suits your skin.
In case one is not sure about the efficacy of Bakuchiol, one must select the product that falls well within their financial range as pricing has a significant role in our life as well.
Fun Fact: In Chinese, bakuchiol is called Bu Gu Zhi, which literally translates to "bone repairing". It's commonly used as a remedy for bone fractures, osteoporosis, and osteomalacia
Summation
So, since we have touched almost every aspect of Bakuchiol, what do you think about the Bakuchiol, and are you still scared about aging? - Asks the mother
No mom, as you said, aging is a gospel’s truth, and we can't change it, so I don't think there's a point in being dejected about something we can control. Instead we should embrace it.
Now coming to your first question, I really feel that Bakuchiol is a gift from God. It has multiple properties, which is nothing but a boon for the skin. Apart from being anti-aging, it is antifungal as well, and it also possesses properties that enrich our skin with the antioxidants, reduce photoaging, alleviate fine lines, wrinkles, and many more.
The best part about all this is that it's all scientifically proven, which further solidifies our faith in this product.
Though there's a more popular substitute, “retinol,” available in the market, the bakuchiol’s property of being gentle and having fewer side effects makes it more desirable for the people.
Now, I firmly believe that if I incorporate Bakuchiol in my skincare routine, my skin will definitely look more young and radiant”," says the daughter.
“Seems like my daughter has done a PhD in Bakuchiol now," says the mother jokingly.
The mother then pats on her daughter's back and then leaves.
Recommended Products by Blue Nectar:
Shubhr Bakuchi Oil Free Face Serum | Natural Retinol Alternative for Youthful Skin (30 ml)
Related Articles:
Is Bakuchi Serum With Natural Retinol The Best Pick For You?
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29947134/
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/how-does-retinol-work
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