Derived from the Babchi or Bakuchi plant or Psorelea Chorylifolia, this Indian plant has been used in many dermatological problems including vitiligo for ages.
The bakuchiol benefits for acne and skin are now proven by various studies and after doing a lot of research on the same, I am here to tell you everything you need to know about this gentle retinol version.
A good dermatologist recently said that I wish I could tell my 20-year-old self to start using retinol and believe me she looks amazing in her 40s as well.
So retinol is important, that’s taken, but it’s not for sensitive skin people and it has a downside of drying the skin and flaking as well.
Also, they say that to get the same effects of retinol time and again, you need to keep increasing the dose and you can’t use it while pregnant or breastfeeding. So if it can harm the baby’s health, how good can it be for you in the long run?
Here comes Bakuchiol, not even remotely related to retinol but provides all the good things minus the irritation and flaking. Sounds too good to be true? The Benefits of Bakuchiol on the skin have now been proven my friend!
Bakuchiol is amazingly effective for reducing acne, and redness and making the skin look plump and healthier than before. The effective amount is 0.5% to 2% for daily application for treating acne, acne scars, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation and boosting collagen production.
Table of Contents
Bakuchiol Benefits for Acne-Prone Skin
- Non-comedogenic – Bakuchiol unclogs the pores and inhibits the acne-causing bacteria, thereby causing no acne or way less than before.
- Fewer wrinkles – By boosting collagen production in the skin, Bakuchiol helps in keeping the skin plump and young. Thus it prevents the wrinkles from coming too.
- Treats Pigmentation – Those dark spots on your skin that have been irritating you for a long can now rest in peace with bakuchiol.
- Good for Sensitive skin – Sensitive skin doesn’t tolerate retinol in its strong potency. Mine doesn’t. Applying retinol in routine on sensitive skin has been a dream and with bakuchiol, it’s possible.
- Evens Out the Skin Tone – As bakuchiol reduces sun damage and dark spots, it also evens out the skin tone when used consistently for a few weeks. The effects are most pronounced after 12 weeks.
- Wrinkles Reduction – Bakuchiol takes off this retinol magic as well. Not only it reduces signs of ageing including wrinkles but it has a special effect on crow’s feet. The three wrinkles near the outer corners of the eyes are called crow’s feet, bakuchiol helps in reducing their appearance very effectively (source)
- Provides hydration – Hydrated skin is healthy-looking skin. Dry skin can never look healthy and glowy and bakuchiol also provides hydration in contrast to retinol which tends to cause more dryness and flaking in the skin. So if you have dry skin, you have one more reason to love this Indian herb.
- Reduces Oxidative Stress – Oxidative stress is the damage a cell goes through on a daily basis, for example when you keep an apple slice out in the open, it oxidises and turns brown, something like that happens to our skin cells as well and it is the normal process of ageing, Bakuchiol helps in reducing this oxidative stress that makes it a great anti-ageing serum/oil (source) to be included in your routine.
- Collagen Production Booster – Collagen, the thing that makes the skin young and refreshed in our 20s is not that much active in our 30s and it keeps on decreasing as we age. Bakuchiol helps in boosting collagen production and provides hydration to the skin.
How Bakuhiol Works for Acne
- Bakuchiol has antibacterial properties. It prohibits the growth of the acne-causing bacteria P acnes, thereby stopping the new acne from coming.
- Bakuchiol regulates the oil and sebum production on the face by regulating an enzyme 5-alpha reductase, preventing pores from getting clogged so that your skin can breathe without getting all clogged up.
- It also helps in Increasing cell turnover therefore removing dead cells from the skin quickly.
- For Best results use it after this DIY anti-acne facewash or after the whole CTM routine for acne-prone skin.
Bakuchiol Benefits for Acne Scars
Not just acne but Bakuchiol works on acne scars as well, as it treats hyperpigmentation and redness, the scars are either red or dark brown in colour. It helps lighten them up.
Bakuchiol also prevents acne scars from forming by healing the active acne quickly and without leaving any scars.
How to Use Bakuchiol For Acne Treatment
Bakuchiol On the Skin
To get the maximum benefits of bakuchiol for acne, you need to use it the right way. Make sure you don’t use it in excess, as excess of everything is bad and Bakuchiol is no exception.
Start slow whenever you introduce your skin with a new ingredient. After washing your face and toning it with your usual yet effective cleanser and toner, apply the bakuchiol serum followed by the moisturizer/sunscreen.
Always perform a patch test on the back of your ear or nape of your neck to avoid any allergic reactions.
Bakuchiol Drink for Detoxification from within
As acne treatment needs the whole detoxification of the body from within. Bakuchiol is available in India in such a form as well. I vouch for Patanjali’s Kayakalp Kadha (Buy here if You are in the US) (buy here if you are in India), You just need to boil two teaspoons of this in 400 ml of water, and let it simmer until it remains just 100 ml. Drink it twice a week and it will detoxify your body and help you get clear skin. It has a lot of good ingredients along with bakuchiol.
P.S – Please consult your healthcare professional before consuming the drink.
Best Products to Use with Bakuchiol
In some people, bakuchiol can cause dryness, so adding hyaluronic acid, squalene, niacinamide, ceramides or simply a non-comedogenic moisturiser will do the trick. Bakuchiol can be used twice daily, morning and night to avail the maximum benefits.
Bakuchiol Side Effects
- Bakuchiol when INGESTED IN LARGE AMOUNT has shown some liver toxicity so if you are taking it then take it in small amounts. Just twice to thrice a week that too only after consulting your doctor.
- It works slowly and is not an overnight treatment like benzyl peroxide, retinol or other fellows like salicylic and glycolic acid. But Hey! It’s gentle and it works!
- To avoid any allergies, a patch test is essential, people are allergic to even aloe vera gel, what to talk of bakuchiol here. One case of contact dermatitis has been recorded so a patch test is required (source).
- If you have ingested the bakuchiol oil in more than the prescribed amount by your Ayurvedic Doctor then you can have nausea and vomiting. In such cases consult with your Ayurveda specialist and consume curd to reverse its’s side-effects (source).
Bakuchiol Before & After
Read the full study here
FAQs About Bakuchiol Benefits For Acne & Skin
Question. Will Bakuchiol break me out?
Answer. In most cases, bakuchiol doesn’t break out or lead to acne but in some people, a little purging has been noted. So applying in small quantities and doing a patch test is your best bet.
Question. Does bakuchiol clear pores?
Answer. Yes, it does, Bakuchiol helps in decongesting pores and clearing the grime and dirt in them. This makes them appear smaller and less visible, thereby giving a smooth appearance to the skin.
Question. Does bakuchiol remove dark spots?
Answer. Yes, Bakuchiol helps in treating dark spots as well. It regulates the presence of melanin in the skin which is why it is used in the leucoderma or white skin problem as well. So You can rely on bakuchiol to give you an even skin tone.
Question. Does Bakuchiol help oily skin?
Answer. Well, by hydrating the skin with bakuchiol, you can stop the production of excessive sebum in the skin. If your skin is hydrated, You will automatically produce less oil. So yes, bakuchiol can help in the oil production of skin if used with other hydrating products like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalene etc. However, in some people, Bakuchiol can be drying too, so always use it in 0.5% to 2% potency and in the form of a serum or moisturizer and not more than that.
Question What to avoid while using bakuchiol?
Answer. Glycolic acid is said to decrease its efficacy so avoid the use of glycolic acid toners along with bakuchiol serums and creams.
Bakuchiol vs Retinol
- Unlike Retinol, Bakuchiol can be used Day & night both times.
- Bakuchiol is not photosensitive like retinol, it even provides sun protection to some extent.
- Unlike retinol, Bakuchiol in small quantities can be used in pregnant & breast-feeding women
- Retinol is synthetic vitamin A, while bakuchiol is plant-based
- Retinol works faster, bakuchiol is slower than retinol
- Unlike retinol, bakuchiol can be paired with vitamin C (source)
- Bakuchiol can be used on sensitive skin, but retinol can’t be.
- Bakuchiol has no side effects like redness, flakiness, burning, stinging etc that are evident in retinol users (source)
- So when compared with each other, Bakuchiol is gentle on the skin and gives the same results as retinol when used consistently for 12 weeks without any skin scaling and stinging effect (source)
That was all about bakuchiol benefits for acne and overall skin health. I recommend some affordable products that have bakuchiol in them –
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