Bakuchiol
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
Bakuchiol is widely regarded as a gentle, plant-based alternative to retinoids, favored by users who experience irritation from traditional retinol or tretinoin. It is frequently recommended for its ability to improve skin texture and fine lines without the typical 'purging' phase or harsh side effects, though users generally agree that its results are subtler and take longer to manifest than high-strength actives.
Pros
- Gentle alternative for sensitive skin that cannot tolerate retinoids
- No 'purging' phase or significant irritation reported by users
- Effective for smoothing skin texture and reducing the appearance of fine lines
- Can be used alongside retinol to potentially reduce irritation and enhance results
- Plant-based ingredient often used as a substitute during pregnancy or breastfeeding
Cons
- Results are slower and less dramatic compared to tretinoin or high-dose retinol
- Some users perceive a lack of extensive clinical research compared to established retinoids
Caveats
- While often cited as a pregnancy-safe alternative, users note that hormonal changes can still make skincare results unpredictable
- Opinions are mixed regarding the amount of scientific evidence backing its efficacy compared to retinal
Best for
- Individuals with sensitive skin prone to redness or peeling
- Those seeking a 'retinol-like' effect during pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Users looking for a low-maintenance addition to a simple skincare routine
Avoid if
- You require the fastest and most potent anti-aging results possible
- You prefer ingredients with decades of clinical data over newer plant-based alternatives
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 6-month half-life. The evidence is older, with a median source age of approximately 208 days, and comes exclusively from r/SkincareAddiction.
Sentiment
12 positive (86%) · 1 mixed (7%) · 1 negative (7%)
Trust + time weighted score: +80% · raw score 79%
What redditors said (10 of 14)
bakuchiol is another option thats plant based and supposed to work like retinoids without the harsh side effects
Also look into bakuchiol - it's like the gentle plant version of retinol and actually has some decent studies behind it
some ingredients like retinal and bakuchiol (very popular in Korean eye creams) have not had a lot of clinical studies in general (retinal has a lot of scientific evidence to back it up as it is metabolized into retinol and then tretinoin, bakuchiol has not had much clinical research to my understanding).
Gentle chemical exfoliant first, clear the dead skin cells. Niacinamide (no more than 5%) next. Add a retinoid or bakuchiol for the long term effect.
I switched to bakuchiol over 18 months ago and never looked back. My skin is soft and smooth and my 11s are now invisible. No purge, no irritation and it fits with the rest of my simple routine.
The alternative is something like bakuchiol which has similar effects as lower dose retinoids but without the purge or irritation.
Bakuchiol is as good as it gets for a topical in this area during pregnancy. Since botox and retinoids are a no-no bakuchiol also effects cell-turnover but is gentler and has no purge.
I can't use retinoids as my skin is too sensitive so I use bakuchiol instead and those products that increase cell turnover really make a huge difference. I had one spot of PIE for more than a year and three months on my serum and it was gone without a trace.
Bakuchiol + retinol — actually makes retinol work BETTER with less irritation. There's a 2019 study on this
Nothing from the retinol family while pregnant or breastfeeding, but bakuchiol is apparently a good mimic
Compare
Bakuchiol vs Hypochlorous AcidBakuchiol vs Lion Pose Unspotted SerumBakuchiol vs Darron Barrier Repair Serum
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