Bakuchiol VS Retinol.
There is a massive trend towards using Retinoids: Retinol, Retinal, Vitamin A. And then there is Bakuchiol. So lets demystify Retinol and Bakuchiol and help you decide which is best for your skin.
What is Retinol?
Retinol is derived from Vitamin A and is renowned in the skincare world with targeting signs of aging, pigmentation, skin tone and texture, helping with acne and the appearance of fine lines and pores because it is excellent at speeding up cell turn over. With higher cell turn over, you have more youthful skin, literally, because it is new. It is no wonder that it is toted as a cure all for skin issues.
However, and this is a biggie, Retinol can cause skin irritation, peeling and dryness. It can also cause skin to purge (which is a good and a bad thing) and cause sun sensitivity (always be Sun Smart when using products with high actives, you don't want to undo all the hard work you've done by exposing sensitive, vulnerable skin to the sun).
What is the difference between Retinol and Retinal?
Both Retinol and Retinal are Vitamin A derivatives falling under the umbrella term of Retinoids. While Retinol is milder, Retinal is quite a lot more potent and more immediately effective. Both Retinol and Retinal do the same things, Retinal just does it a lot faster and with potentially harsher side effects. Retinal is less commercially available than Retinol.
What is Bakuchiol?
Bakuchiol is derived from the Babchi plant and while it has the same benefits as Retinol, in many cases it doesn't cause such wide spread irritation. If Retinol has a moderate to high irritation risk, then, by comparison, Bakuchiol has a low irritation risk. That doesn't mean that it is free from irritation, sensitive skin can still be effected and it can still cause sun sensitivity.
Bakuchiol is a retinol alternative, with all the benefits of retinol while also being an antioxidant. Bakuchiol also supports collagen production, has the smoothing effects of Retinol with a gentler skin experience while being a completely different ingredient. Bakuchiol is more barrier supportive while Retinol shows quicker results and is better for acne results driven treatment.
Should I use Retinol or Bakuchiol?
This is like deciding between an Emerald and a Ruby, both are incredible but in different ways. Bakuchiol doesn't replace Retinol but it is much easier to use for many more people, it just may take a bit longer to get the same results.
Use Retinol if:
- You have resilient skin
- You are a frequent Skincare Active user
- You have Acne Prone Skin
- You are making use of advanced Anti-Aging Skincare Routines
Use Bakuchiol if:
- You have dry or sensitive skin
- You need barrier support but still want results
- You are a beginner in the world of actives or you've just noticed some lines
- You prefer minimalist skincare
- If you cant tolerate regular Retinoids
There is also no rule that says you cant use both 😉