How to use bakuchiol cream

How do you use bakuchiol cream on your face?

1. 1Apply any serums you already use first.
2. 2Apply the bakuchiol cream after your serums.
3. 3Keep wearing sunscreen during the day, including when bakuchiol is part of your morning routine.

The order changes with the format: bakuchiol serum goes before moisturizer, while bakuchiol cream goes after serums. The cream belongs in the cream step, rather than a special ceremony invented by the front of the jar.1

Can you use vitamin C with bakuchiol cream?

Bakuchiol and vitamin C can be used together. If your vitamin C is a serum, apply it before the cream. Ask a dermatologist about combining bakuchiol with other active products if you have a skin condition.1

What results should you expect?

Bakuchiol is a retinol alternative with promising results for wrinkles, dark marks and damage associated with sun exposure. Research has found reductions in wrinkle scores and uneven pigmentation, including when bakuchiol was used alongside other ingredients. The useful expectation is gradual improvement in appearance, not a new face delivered with the jar.2

There is no settled timetable for visible results from every bakuchiol cream. One tested formulation increased fibronectin, a component of the skin's supporting structure, after four weeks. That is a change within the skin, not a four week deadline for wrinkles to disappear. Research also points to antioxidant activity and effects on proteins involved in skin structure, but those processes are not something you can judge in a bathroom mirror.3

Who should be careful?

Bakuchiol is generally gentler than retinol and may suit sensitive skin, including skin affected by rosacea or eczema. Irritation and allergic reactions are still possible.1

Stop using the cream if it causes irritation or a rash, and seek medical advice about a suspected reaction. Contact dermatitis, an inflammatory skin reaction following contact with a substance, has been reported with bakuchiol. A gentler reputation does not make an irritating cream worth continuing.2

If you are pregnant, speak to your healthcare provider before using bakuchiol. Its safety during pregnancy is not established, so do not treat it as an automatically safe substitute for retinol.1