1. WHAT IS BAKUCHIOL?
Bakuchiol is a compound derived mainly from the plant Psoralea corylifolia, native to India and Sri Lanka. It a plant-based and has been shown to improve lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, elasticity, firmness, and overall reduction in photo-damage without the undesirable effects usually associated with retinoid therapy. 1.

2. HOW DOES BAKUCHIOL WORK?
Bakuchiol can promote collagen by enhancing the activity of human skin fibroblasts and postpone skin aging by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases 2. It therefore improves the depth of wrinkles. It also influences several antioxidant processes, activating a transcription factor that plays a significant role in cellular resistance to oxidative stress, preventing mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, and scavenging oxygen free radicals.Bakuchiol also improves hyperpigmentation by disrupting melanin synthesis, by blocking both alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone activation and tyrosinase (the rate-limiting enzyme in melanin synthesis) thereby decreasing pigment intensity and surface area on the skin. 3

3. “WHY” IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU?
Photodamage is premature skin aging that is responsible for most of the age-associated changes of the skin, especially in the background of prolonged and repeated sun exposure and in those with fair and less pigmented skin. Sun protection is the first line of defense against photoaging. Topical retinoids are considered first-line treatments for those who desire treatment for photoaging.

However, common side-effects such as skin redness, peeling, scaling, burning, stinging, and dryness often result in non-adherence with retinoids. Bakuchiol has been shown to combat photodamage with fewer side effects than retinol such as scaling 3 and is more tolerable in those with sensitive skin. It is also tolerated during the daytime as it has not been shown to increase photosensitivity. However, it is important to note that some people may still be allergic or sensitive to bakuchiol because it is plant-derived.REFERENCES:

1. Chaudhuri RK, Bojanowski K. Bakuchiol: a retinol-like functional compound revealed by gene expression profiling and clinically proven to have anti-aging effects. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2014; 36:221–230.doi:10.1111/ics.12117 [PubMed]
2. https://europepmc.org/article/med/25345139
3. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjd.16918