Bakuchiol benefits for skin

What is bakuchiol?

Bakuchiol is a plant compound extracted from the seeds and leaves of Psoralea corylifolia, also called babchi. The plant has a long history in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine. Bakuchiol has antioxidant activity, meaning it can act against reactive molecules involved in cell damage. That activity is one reason for interest in skincare, rather than a measure of how much younger a face will look.2

Does bakuchiol help with skin aging?

The clearest human results concern fine lines, skin color and smoothness. A small trial involving 44 people, seven of whom dropped out, found similar improvements in fine lines and skin color with bakuchiol and retinol, with less peeling and burning in the bakuchiol group. Another trial involving 60 older women with sensitive skin found improved smoothness and signs of aging using a cleanser and moisturizer containing bakuchiol. Retinoids, which are ingredients derived from vitamin A, have been studied since the 1980s in trials involving hundreds of people. Choose them if established skin aging benefits are your priority and you can tolerate them.1

What are the benefits of bakuchiol cream?

Creams containing bakuchiol have shown improvements in wrinkles, firmness and skin quality. One cream combined bakuchiol with melatonin and a vitamin C derivative and produced those improvements after 12 weeks of daily use. The benefit belongs to the combined formula, not automatically to bakuchiol alone. Combination creams put several ingredients on the same assignment, so bakuchiol does not get to claim all the credit. A cream and a serum can both contain bakuchiol; the format does not make different formulas interchangeable.1

How long does bakuchiol take to work?

Think in weeks rather than expecting an immediate wrinkle change. In a trial involving 43 women, a serum combining 1.5% bakuchiol with 1% Vanilla tahitensis extract was used twice daily for 56 days. Some participants showed improvements in firmness, facial sagging and radiance. The trial had no comparison group, and the reported percentage improvements described responsive participants rather than everyone. Together with the 12 week combination cream results, this gives a practical expectation of gradual change over roughly two to three months, not a fixed deadline for every product.3

Does bakuchiol help acne?

Bakuchiol can help prevent clogged pores, but its role in treating acne is less settled than its wrinkle benefits. It is not an established substitute for prescription retinoids. Products marketed for wrinkles, acne and discoloration give bakuchiol a crowded job description.14

What are the benefits of bakuchiol for sensitive skin?

Bakuchiol is generally gentler than retinol and could suit people with sensitive skin, including those with eczema or rosacea. Irritation and allergic reactions are still possible. If you have a skin condition or use prescription skincare or other active ingredients, discuss adding bakuchiol with your dermatologist.4

Test the finished product first

1. 1Apply your normal amount to a spot about the size of a quarter on the underside of your arm or the bend of your elbow.
2. 2Repeat twice daily for seven to 10 days. Leave a cream or serum on for its normal wear time.
3. 3If the area stays free of redness, itching and swelling, begin using the product in your routine.

How do you use and layer bakuchiol?

1. 1Use bakuchiol once or twice daily. For twice daily use, apply it in the morning and evening.
2. 2Apply a bakuchiol serum before moisturizer.
3. 3Apply a bakuchiol cream after other serums.
4. 4Wear sunscreen during the day. Bakuchiol does not appear to increase sun sensitivity, but sunscreen is still needed.

The 1.5% concentration in the bakuchiol and vanilla serum is a tested example, not a universal starting strength. That formula also contained another active ingredient. A concentration number alone cannot tell you whether a different cream or serum will deliver the same result.3

Bakuchiol and vitamin C can be used together. Vitamin C offers antioxidant benefits and helps brighten and even skin tone; the pairing can complement those goals.4

Can you use bakuchiol during pregnancy?

Bakuchiol's safety during pregnancy is not settled. Being a gentler alternative to retinol does not make it an established pregnancy safe alternative. Speak with your healthcare provider before using bakuchiol while pregnant.4

When should you stop using it?

If a product causes redness, itching or swelling, gently wash it off and stop using it. A cool compress or petroleum jelly can help relieve the reaction. See a dermatologist if the reaction is severe and those measures do not help. If reactions recur and you cannot identify the cause, a dermatologist can arrange patch testing to find the trigger. The problem can be another ingredient in the formula, including a preservative or fragrance, rather than bakuchiol itself.5