If you love skincare, I’m pretty sure you have heard your favourite influencers talk about a bunch of active ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide and of course retinol, specifically a serum with retinol! With more and more people diving into the natural skincare rage, it’s not abnormal to see people look for natural ingredients that work for their skin. 

There is a specific ingredient designed for every skin concern. If you are looking for a product that will reduce pigmentation then you should probably include vitamin c face serum  in your regime and if your major concern is hydration then hyaluronic acid is your best bet. But what about retinol? Why is it so popular and what is the hype all about?

To clarify all your doubts regarding retinol, here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about retinol.

• What is Retinol?
• What is the best way to incorporate Retinol into your skincare?
• Natural alternative or source of Retinol
• What is Bakuchiol?
• Bakuchiol vs Retinol

What is Retinol?

Retinol is an active ingredient which is found in vitamin A. It is often used in various skincare products like face creams and face serum with retinol, since it is proven that retinol has an anti-ageing effect on the skin and it’s also great for treating acne. Retinol increases collagen production and effectively helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles thus leaving you with healthy and younger-looking skin. So, you can say that retinol is indeed a magic ingredient that you need to include in your skincare range.

What is the best way to incorporate Retinol into your skincare? 

Is Serum with Retinol the best face care product?

Now you can incorporate retinol in a variety of ways, either in the form of moisturising creams, anti ageing cream or body lotions. However, the best way to include retinol into your regime as per our recommendation is via serum for  face i.e serum with retinol. Serums with active ingredients like retinol penetrate faster into your skin and it’s thus more effective, while moisturizers on the other hand form a barrier on your skin and thus are mainly used for hydration and protection. So, if you are including active ingredients in your skincare routine then opting for a serum for face containing those ingredients is the best option, just like a serum with retinol. But what if you get to know that Retinol is not a natural ingredient and can be easily substituted with natural ingredients like Bakuchoil? Let’s read on to find what are the best natural alternatives to serum with retinol and why you should avoid serum with retinol, which is synthetic and artificial.

Why should Retinol be avoided?

Though retinol is a great ingredient for anti-ageing and exfoliation, it is a synthetic compound with a strong concentration. This may eventually lead to skin irritation and with improper use may even ruin your skin barrier. 

If you have sensitive and reactive skin then you might want to stay away from this active ingredient. So, if retinol is not for everyone, is there any natural alternative to this magical ingredient?

Natural alternative or source of Retinol

Well, of course, there is a natural alternative to retinol and face serums with retinol! If you are skeptical of incorporating serum with retinol into your regime and are looking for a natural alternative then bakuchiol is your best bet. Bakuchiol is a natural alternative to retinol and has the same effect on your skin as retinol. Because of this, bakuchiol serum can be an easy replacement for your serum with retinol. 

Another ingredient that is actively included in the formulation of excellent anti-ageing serums is rosehip oils. So, in case you have been looking for natural options that work as well as retinol and serum with retinol, then you know what to reach out for.

What is Bakuchiol?

Because of its countless benefits, bakuchiol (pronounced ba-koo-heel) has been popping up in loads of exciting new formulations as beauty’s new hot “natural” ingredient. The good news is, both clinical studies and anecdotal evidence support the claim that bakuchiol is indeed a great dupe of retinol, the wonder drug for smooth and bouncy skin. 

Bakuchiol is a natural compound that is extracted from Psoralea corylifolia, popularly known as the babchi plant and has been used in Ayurveda and Chinese medicines for centuries. “Bakuchi (Ayurvedic name) has been well known to effectively treat many medical conditions like leukoderma or vitiligo, hyperpigmentation, skin rashes and a host of other skin conditions.

Bakuchiol, much like retinol, increases the production of collagen, thus visibly reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. In addition to this, bakuchiol’s antimicrobial properties prevent acne and further strengthen your skin barrier. 

How to include Bakuchiol in your skincare?

Like retinol, bakuchiol can be used in the form of both lotions and serums for face, but as we have already mentioned earlier, to get the best use out of this vitamin A derivative, we recommend using bakuchiol in the form of serum for face, since it will penetrate faster into the skin and target problematic areas. Unlike serum with retinol which has to be included in your PM routine, bakuchiol-based serums for face can be used twice a day and are the best face serum with retinol alternative. Studies have found that bakuchiol serum for face also provides protection from the harmful radiations of the sun which is great news for all skincare lovers!

Bakuchiol vs Retinol

Both bakuchiol and retinol are excellent active ingredients for your skin. The major purpose of both active ingredients is to reduce the signs of ageing and give you a plump, hydrated skin. However, retinol may not be suitable for people with sensitive skin. Serum with retinol can be pretty harsh on your skin and with regular use, it may lead to the disruption of the skin barrier. Furthermore, experts suggest that retinol should only be used in the PM routine since after the usage of retinol your skin becomes more prone to sun damage. Hence, using retinol or face serum with retinol or retinol cream, in the AM routine may not be the best idea. Also, retinol should never be paired with vitamin C since this may greatly compromise your skin barrier. So, all in all, though retinol is a star ingredient for most, it has its own set of downsides due to which a natural alternative of the same might be a better option.

Bakuchiol on the other hand is as effective as retinol and it's also great for those with sensitive skin and compromised skin barrier. Unlike retinol, bakuchiol is suitable for all skin types and is less irritating than retinol. In addition to this, bakuchiol has been found to protect your skin from harmful radiations of the sun, thus making it a great if the not better alternative to retinol. Because of the many benefits of bakuchiol, it is used as an active ingredient in many anti-ageing serums and is a great ingredient which makes up for great serums for face. Besides its anti-ageing benefits, bakuchiol is also used for combating acne and reducing the visible appearance of pores, thus making it a great ingredient for  serums for oily skin. Additional benefits of bakuchiol include:

1. Evening out skin tone: Bakuchiol is also known to help deal with hyperpigmentation, thus reducing the appearance of dark spot on face.

2. Hydrating the skin: Bakuchiol is also great for deeply hydrating the skin, making it look plumper and youthful. 

3. Sun protection: Unlike retinol, bakuchiol protects the skin from sun damage and is thus a great addition to both your AM and PM routine.

Because bakuchiol is a water-based, lightweight serum for face, it is ideal for summer, especially for those with oily skin and for those looking for a natural substitute to serum with retinol. 

Conclusion – Bakuchiol is the best alternative to Serum with Retinol

If retinol irritates your skin and you are looking for a natural alternative to your favourite serum with retinol, look no further, since bakuchiol is the way to go. Its benefits are countless and the best part is, it works exactly like retinol. 

The best face serum containing bakuchiol, that we recommend is the Blue Nectar Bakuchi Serum. The key ingredients used in this serum for face are bakuchi oil, a natural alternative to retinol which is proven to boost collagen production thus reducing the signs of ageing, it also contains manjistha, whose antioxidant properties help even out skin tone and gives a brighter looking skin and lastly, it contains hyaluronic acid which naturally hydrates and moisturizes the skin. 

So, this was everything you needed to know about retinol and its natural alternative, hope this answered all your queries and will encourage you to include this magical ingredient, Bakuchi, in your regime.

Recommended Products by Blue Nectar:

Shubhr Bakuchi Anti Aging Serum | Natural Retinol Alternative for Fine Lines, Wrinkles & Dark Circle

Kumkumadi Tailam Face Serum for Glowing Skin with Pure Sandalwood & Saffron

Shubhr Vitamin C Face Serum with Hyaluronic Acid | Radiant & Spotless Skin

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