Renew skin with Esse’s new Bakuchiol Serum – nature’s retinol
For decades, retinoids have been dominant ingredients in anti-ageing products. This group of ingredients is effective, but their toxicity makes them risky to use, and the side effects put many clients off. Esse has incorporated a natural alternative into its latest Bakuchiol Serum. Bakuchiol is known as nature’s retinol and the result is an equally effective product that smooths wrinkles, improves firmness, and reduces pigmentation without the risks.
“Many groups have highlighted the toxicity of retinol and the FDA is concerned that retinoids speed the development of cancer lesions. The EWG scores it 9 out of 10 – with 10 being the most toxic1”, explains Trevor Steyn, the founder of Esse. “From the outset, our goal has been to optimise skin health. Adding toxins to a complex ecosystem, like the skin’s microbiome, is risky. This is why we’ve never even considered retinol as a potential ingredient.”
The European Commission introduced draft regulations to alter the regulatory status of retinoids in June this year, so their use will be heavily restricted in future.
What is Bakuchiol?
Bakuchiol is a natural alternative to retinoids: “The key advantage of using Bakuchiol over retinol is that the side effects are absent. Bakuchiol is photostable, meaning it can be safely used during the day without the risk of phototoxicity, and it’s also safe to use in pregnancy,” says Steyn.
Not to be confused with babchi oil, Bakuchiol is purified from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia, a plant found in Eastern Asia. Babchi oil is the unrefined seed oil and it has some toxicity problems of its own. The purification process is critical and Esse tests every batch with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. Bakuchiol is a pure compound that is well-tolerated, making it suitable for breakout-prone skin, premature aging, and hyperpigmentation.
Benefits of Bakuchiol
In a treatment study, Bakuchiol showed identical improvements to retinol in the reduction of lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation - without any of the side effects. Multiple studies have shown that Bakuchiol increases the expression of genes that produce collagen and elastin, improving firmness and elasticity. Bakuchiol also performed on par with retinol in the reduction of hyperpigmentation and age spots.
Esse’s Bakuchiol Serum can simply be added to one’s normal skincare routine to enhance anti-ageing effects.
Reference:
1. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/706889-RETINOL_VITAMIN_A/
