Retinol Side Effects and A New Alternative...Bakuchiol
At this point, you have probably heard that retinol should be part of everyone’s anti-aging regimen. It is highly recommended by doctors, but do you really know what it is, how it works, and how old you should be to start using it?
What is Retinol?
Retinol is a Vitamin A derivative that falls under the wider category of retinoids. It was approved in the 1970s for use in acne patients. When applied to the skin, it promotes cell turnover and prevents the clogging of pores, which not only defends against blemishes but helps all of your other skincare products to penetrate and work better.
Retinol contains a variety of benefits for the skin and can help:
Treat acne
Clear pores
Increase cellular turnover
Increase collagen
Promote elasticity
Decrease hyperpigmentation
Brighten skin
Diminish and prevent fine lines and wrinkles
Refine skin texture and tone
How Does Retinol Work?
Retinol promotes cell turnover by causing skin cells to turn over and shed, revealing the healthy skin underneath. By increasing the renewal rate of cells, pores are able to stay clear which can then prevent acne. Cell turnover also helps to even skin tone by diminishing and preventing hyperpigmentation, otherwise known as dark spots.
One of the benefits of retinol is that it increases collagen production. The body naturally produces an abundance of collagen, which promotes youthful and plump skin. That being said, collagen production begins to decline around the age of 25! Retinol helps to promote collagen production in the body which is proven to promote skin elasticity while reversing aging by decreasing fine lines and wrinkles.
Retinol Cream Side Effects
Retinol is one of the most highly researched and recommended skincare ingredients by medical professionals. Although retinol provides a plethora of benefits for the skin, there are some side effects of using retinol that should be discussed.
Side effects of using retinol may include:
Redness
Irritation
Burning
Itching
Dry skin
Flaking and peeling of the skin
Increased sensitivity to the sun
Is There a Safer Alternative To Retinol?
I’ve recently found out about an ingredient taking the skin-care world by storm…Bakuchiol.
Bakuchiol is a plant extract that offers the same skin benefits of a retinol, without the irksome side effects. It is an ingredient derived from the psoralea corylifolia plant, aka the "babchi" plant. The plant has a long and impressive skin-care resumé, starting with its use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.
Bakuchiol has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as antibacterial properties. It functions in a similar way to a retinol, increasing cell turnover thereby stimulating collagen production and diminishing signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity, and overall photo damage.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Dermatology found that not only did bakuchiol work as well as a retinol when it came to addressing signs of aging, but that it was also was less irritating. A natural, non-irritating alternative to retinol that's just as powerful? Yes, please. (As a bonus, bakuchiol is also a vegan alternative to retinols, as some forms of it are derived from animal products.)
See what products I recommend featuring Backuchiol.
Major thank you for these two articles for helping put this post together:
https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/a22777936/what-is-retinol/
https://www.allure.com/story/what-is-bakuchiol-retinol-alternative
