Bakuchiol vs Bakuchi Oil: What they are and how they are different
How Can I Be Sure Of What I'm Getting?
The Importance of Ingredient Literacy
Helping you understand ingredients, how they work, and if they can work for you is a responsibility I take very seriously. The more informed you are about what's in your skincare, the more empowered you are to make purchasing choices that make a real difference in how you feel day to day, and I want you to feel incredible. Chances are you've recently come across a product or two touting a natural retinol alternative called Bakuchiol. It's a fantastic ingredient that has shown similar results to retinoids in clinical studies. In fact I reformulated my face oil Heavy Hitter to incorporate it. But lately I've noticed an increasing number of products named and marketed as containing "Bakuchiol" when they simply contain "Bakuchi Oil." This positioning is misleading at best, and potentially damaging to your skin at worst. What do I mean by this, and what can you do to protect yourself? Let's take a deep dive.
What is Bakuchiol?
Bakuchiol is an isolated bioactive compound derived from the babchi plant. It is purified and standardized, and is safe and effective between .5% and 1% in skincare formulations. The exciting thing about Bakuchiol is that it's a natural alternative to retinol, delivering comparable results with none of the negative side effects like sun sensitivity, irritation or dryness.
Why I recommend it
Bakuchiol modulates retinoid-binding and metabolizing genes, significantly improves multiple dermal and dermo-epidermal junction genes, stimulates Collagen I, III and IV and is clinically proven to reduce multiple signs of aging, including roughness and dryness, fine lines and wrinkles, improvement in skin tone, elasticity and firmness, and increasing radiance and brightness. It's helpful for everything from acne (it's shown to be effective against multiple pathophysiologic features of acne), to hyperpigmentation (may also have a suppressive effect on melanin-producing cells in skin helping lighten dark spots and improve uneven skin tone due to sun damage.) Although nothing works for 100% of us I find it to be pretty universally beneficial.
What is Bakuchi Oil?
Bakuchi oil is extracted (either cold pressed or solvent extracted) from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant, commonly known as Babchi. While babchi oil may contain some bakuchiol, crude babchi oil has no standardization and can also contain compounds like psoralens, which can cause irritation or photosensitivity (heightened skin sensitivity or an unusual reaction when your skin is exposed to UV radiation.) For these reasons I only recommend using products containing the pure isolated bakuchiol, never raw Bakuchi oil for safe skincare.
How can I be sure of what I'm getting?
So how can you be sure the product you're eyeing contains the purified, standardized, and tested bioactive compound? Look for two things. First, the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) name for Bakuchi Oil is "Psoralea Corylifolia Seed Oil," and the INCI name for Bakuchiol is "Bakuchiol" so assuming a brand is following best practices, these will be clearly listed in the ingredients. Secondly, in skincare, ingredients must be listed in descending order (with the exception of ingredients 1% or under, these can be listed in any order) since bakuchiol is only found in formulations in small percentages it will be near the end of the list. Knowing this, you can be reasonably certain with a quick peak at the product label.
You've Got This
Now you understand Bakuchiol VS Bakuchi Oil, what they are and how they are different!
You've been armed with understanding, empowered and informed. Now go forth and purchase confidently!
I'm here to help!
If you are tired of spending tons of money on products that don't work well for you, or even make your skin feel worse, you can book a consultation with me for expert guidance on what products to keep, what to toss, and what ingredients you may want to try. You'll leave the session with more clarity and practical product advice tailored to your life.
If you considering incorporating a bakuchiol product into your skincare routine, Heavy Hitter is a great choice. It's a balanced, lightweight blend of supportive oils like Argan, Evening Primrose, Carrot Seed, Squalane, Hemp Seed and more. Instead of buying one of these at a time you get all of them in one product and 1% bakuchiol too.
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