What’s The Difference Between Bakuchiol & Retinol?
Not only is bakuchiol nature’s hottest alternative to retinol, but it’s way more stable, super effective and gentler on the skin. Here’s everything you need to know.
Some skincare ingredients come and go, while others are never far from the top of every dermatologist’s recommended hit list. And if you’re into the former, we have one question for you: why? We’re not being rude but why would you even bother with flighty ingredients that, sure, might be all over TikTok for three seconds, but have zero evidence that they really work?
No, the ingredients you really need to know about are the ones that stand the test of time and are backed by proof. Clinical studies, trials, research, evidence, you know the drill. The ingredients that have been around for decades and are the stalwarts of every skincare afficionado’s beauty cabinet – think retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and glycolic acid.
Retinol, in particular, is a real powerhouse for skin. With years of research to its name, it’s been proven time and again as one of the best ingredients for polishing up the quality of your complexion. By ‘communicating’ with your skin at a cellular level it works hard to enhance collagen production and encourage cell turnover, therefore doing its best to improve acne breakouts, wrinkles, dark spots, sagging skin, enlarged pores, the lot.
But here’s the thing, retinol doesn’t suit everyone. It’s super effective, for sure, but it’s also pretty hardcore and can be, let’s just say, too much for some skin types. So, while we would never diss the unarguable powers of retinol – it does take center stage with a fair amount of our formulations, after all! – it’s nice to know there are some alternatives out there.
Ceramides, peptides, antioxidants and exfoliating acids all have incredible anti-aging powers that help protect and enhance the look and feel of your health. And just like retinol, they’ve been around the block a few times… because they work. But they do so in very different ways. In fact, up until now there hasn’t been much to choose from when looking to mimic the effects of retinol, with less of the downsides.
And this is why there’s such a buzz right now about new skincare ingredient, bakuchiol.
What Is Bakuchiol?
Bakuchiol (pronounced bah-koo-chee-awl) is the backbone of our NEW Longevity skincare range and offers a brand new, gentler approach to aging. Already being touted as nature’s answer to retinol, bakuchiol is extracted from the seeds and leaves of the babchi plant and has been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, both internally and topically to treat the skin. The reason it’s become such current hot property is because a bunch of clinical studies have come to light showing that, as well as offering anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, bakuchiol offers similar benefits to retinol.
When applied regularly it’s been proven to dramatically improve the surface of the skin by stimulating collagen synthesis and accelerating cellular turnover. And all of this comes with very few, if any, of the irritating side effects.
Retinol Or Bakuchiol? The Facts
Bakuchiol may sound too good to be true, but should you really diss retinol forever more? Or can you actually enjoy them both? Whatever you choose, here are three important facts that distinguish the differences between bakuchiol and retinol.
1. A Classic Case Of Science Vs Nature
Unlike retinol, which is a chemical compound derived from vitamin A, bakuchiol is 100 percent natural. As we’re sure you know, we’re big fans of plant-derived ingredients here at TruSkin and put nature at the core of all of our formulations. At the same time, we believe that both science and nature have their place in skincare which is why we like to combine the two to offer the best solutions for your skin.
If you like to stick with ingredients that have decades of research under their belts then retinol is the one for you. Prefer to go all-out natural? Then bakuchiol is a great choice.
2. It’s All About Tolerance
The most frustrating thing about retinol is the annoying side effects. Of course, these don’t affect everyone and if you start slowly with gentle, carefully curated formulations, you’re sure to find a retinol treatment that works for you. If you have strong skin that’s completely unphased by anything you throw at it, for example, you probably love and use retinol on the reg (in which case, have you tried our Retinol Facial Serum yet? It’s the best.)
Side effects, however, are no joke, and if you’ve ever experienced the dryness, redness, peeling or itching that can come hand in hand with certain retinol products, the knowledge that there’s a gentler alternative out there will be music to your ears.
Of course, it’s always wise to patch test any new skincare products, but past research has shown very few cases of negative side effects from using bakuchiol.
3. The Stability Game
Retinol and sunshine are a bad combination. And not because retinol makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. The real reason is that retinol is unstable and reactive to light which means that if you apply it in the daytime, it won’t work as well. This is why retinol is most often advised for night time use only.
Bakuchiol, on the other hand, is perfectly fine to use both morning and night as it holds up well when exposed to sunlight. Furthermore, due to its gentler nature, it can be used twice daily, every day if you fancy. You could even switch it up with your retinol product if you like, applying your retinol treatment once or twice a week before bed, then a bakuchiol product on alternative nights, as well as in the mornings. Choices, choices, aren’t they the best?
The Takeaway
Retinol has long been the recommended go-to for aging skin concerns. And as much as bakuchiol continues to gain momentum in the skincare industry, this will never change. You might be reading this wondering what the problem with retinol is. And if that’s the case and you never have issues with dryness or flaking skin, then there really is no problem. Retinol is your guy and there’s no reason to change that.
However, if you’re all too familiar with the irritating side-effects of retinol and have tried and failed time and again to make it work for you, then bakuchiol might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Fancy giving it a go? Then look no further. As if by magic we just launched three new products that harness the gentle powers of bakuchiol: Rejuvenating Longevity Serum, Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream and Renewing Longevity Moisturizing Cream. Together, they provide the ideal solution for slowing down the aging process of mature skin.
Already. In. Love.
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![What Is Salicylic Acid And Does Your Skin Need It?]()
Salicylic acid is right up there with glycolic acid for exfoliating your skin. But it also has an extra string in its bow. Listen up, oily skin folks, this one’s for you…
Salicylic acid is one of those ingredients that truly delivers. Forget your snail mucus and 24k gold flakes because they simply don’t live up to the hype. Along with skincare greats like retinol and vitamin C, however, salicylic acid does exactly what it sets out to do. And frankly, that’s all you can ask from a skincare ingredient, is it not?
If you’re not sure what salicylic acid is all about, not a problem, that’s what we’re here for.
So, read on for everything we know about salicylic acid: glycolic acid’s equally as effective, but really quite different cousin…
What Is Salicylic Acid, Exactly?
You’ve heard of AHAs and BHAs, right? Well, salicylic acid sits in the BHA camp. In fact, it’s really the only BHA you need to know about being the single most common BHA used in skincare and cosmetics.
BHAs, or beta-hydroxy acids are fat-soluble chemical exfoliants that break down the bonds between your skin cells to encourage them to slough away more efficiently. Physical scrubs have the same effect, but they use physical pressure alongside grains or textured surfaces to exfoliate your skin. Chemical exfoliants just harness the powers of acids like salicylic to do the same job, improving cellular turnover as a major part of the deal.
Salicylic acid, in particular, is extracted from the bark of willow trees and has amazing exfoliating benefits. But there’s more. It also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities (take that, pimples!) and, because it’s fat-soluble, it has an uncanny knack of penetrating into your pores and getting to work on your sebaceous glands. And that’s a big plus if you have super oily skin you find hard to control…
The Benefits Of Salicylic Acid In Skincare
Exfoliants are a crucial part of a healthy skincare routine. Not only do they boost cell turnover to help give you a smoother, softer and brighter complexion, but they also work hard to improve collagen synthesis. And as you mature, that’s really important since collagen degradation becomes a huge deal as you hit your 30s and beyond.
As we mentioned, however, salicylic acid differs to other water-soluble chemical exfoliants like glycolic, citric and lactic acids. And that’s because it’s fat-soluble which allows it to go deeper below the skin’s surface, penetrating through the lipid layers to really get into the pores. We mean no disrespect to the AHAs of the world, of course, because they’re incredible at what they do – which is to exfoliate at a more surface level. But, if you have oily skin or have trouble with breakouts, blackheads or blocked pores, salicylic acid can offer so much more.
Salicylic acid is almost unbeatable at preventing your pores from becoming clogged with dead skin cells and excess sebum, AND it gently exfoliates your skin by loosening the bonds that hold together those tough, outer layers of dead skin cells. This not only improves the tone and texture of your complexion almost immediately, but it stimulates collagen production helping to stave off premature lines and wrinkles as time goes by.
To summarize, the key benefits of salicylic acid are…
* Exfoliates the skin and removes dead skin cells* Improves cellular turnover* Balances and controls excess sebum* Detoxifies pores* Reduces acne breakouts* Calms inflammation5 Ways To Make Salicylic Acid Work For You
Like most active ingredients, salicylic acid must be given the respect it deserves. Here’s how to use it wisely and effectively...
1. Always Patch Test Salicylic Acid First
Most salicylic acid treatments are well-tolerated by all skin types and safe for daily use. However, there’s always a chance your skin could freak out by this potent, active ingredient, so patch test any new product before applying it regularly. And yes, we know patch testing sounds like a bit of a headache, but it’s really easy and will only delay your product use by a day or so... but it can save your skin a whole lotta pain.
To patch test your product, apply a small amount to a discreet area of your skin (we like to do it behind an ear). Then leave it for 24-48 hours to check for any negative reactions. Most likely, your skin will be fine other than mild redness or tingling which is to be expected with any active product. However, if you experience anything like burning, discomfort, swelling or itching, stop use immediately – this product is not a good fit for you.
2. Listen To Your Skin To Get Your Routine Right
Once you know you’re safe to use your salicylic acid formulation without any negative reactions, introduce it slowly into your routine. Your skin might be strong enough to take it every day… then again, it might not. Start with once a week and then build on that after a couple of weeks as your skin acclimates. And remember to always read the labels of your products as not all serums are built to be used daily, anyway!
Our Vitamin C Super Serum+, for example, is packed with potent ingredients and combines salicylic acid with other skin superheroes like retinol and vitamin C. Because of this we recommend you apply it just two or three times a week for the best results.
3. Get The Most From Salicylic Acid By Using A Leave-On Treatment
Salicylic acid can be used in pretty much any skincare formulation, from cleansers and toners, through to exfoliants, serums and moisturizers. To really maximize its benefits, however, we believe that leave-on products offer far superior results to anything you’re going to wash down the plughole. It’s common sense, right?
On that note, try our 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant which is everything for brighter, clearer, smoother-looking skin. Apply it to clean skin, before your serum and moisturizer.
4. Combine It With Tea Tree Oil
Our Tea Tree Super Serum+ blends salicylic acid with tea tree oil to really hit breakouts from all angles.
Tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of the Australian tea tree and it has awesome anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits making it a shoo-in for helping to calm facial redness at a surface level. Meanwhile, salicylic acid goes deeper to improve cell turnover and help remove excess oil and dirt that can block your pores in the first place. Together they’re truly dynamite. What’s more, our serum has been crafted to be as gentle as possible while still providing all the benefits you could ever want.
As we said, dynamite.
5. Use Sunscreen Every Morning
All experts agree (us, dermatologists, the FDA, need we go on?) that salicylic acid must be used in conjunction with a broad-spectrum sunscreen in order to help protect the skin and avoid sensitivities to UV radiation. It’s basically non-negotiable, so make sure sunscreen is as much a part of your morning routine as cleaning your teeth and brushing your hair.
We like to keep our SPF30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C right there on the shelf next to our serums and eye cream. That way, we never forget.
What Is Salicylic Acid And Does Your Skin Need It?
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