The Gentle Retinol Alternative That Deepika Padukone & Dia Mirza Swear By

Let’s be honest: not everyone is on board with retinol. The powerful active ingredient has received a lot of clout in the beauty community for being effective in treating multiple skin concerns. Yet many who prefer simple and natural skincare over multi-step routines believe that using retinol might just ruin their skin. It’s a fair fear to have and I could never convince my peers who have the same belief to try retinol either. Then, I found a great alternative that works as good as retinol does but is much gentler on the skin.

The alternative I’m talking about is all natural and even celebs who are major skincare geeks like Deepika Padukone and Dia Mirza swear by it. Read on to find out all about it.

What Is The Alternative To Retinol?

The alternative hero ingredient to retinol that is gentler on the skin is bakuchiol. It is considered as a natural alternative to the active ingredient retinol as it is derived directly from nature, specifically the seeds of the babchi plant. Retinol on the other hand, is usually synthetically produced.

Bakuchi oil rose to popularity in the skincare industry as well for being almost as effective as retinol in treating multiple skin concerns. Basically, whatever retinol does for the skin, bakuchi oil can do it too, but with lesser side effects since retinol is known to cause irritation and breakout the skin, especially for sensitive skin types.

Celebs Who Use Bakuchi Oil

Bollywood beauties like Deepika Padukone and Dia Mirza swear by bakuchi oil and they are skincare aficionados too. Deepika said, “Bakuchi oil helps with giving you that kind of even skin tone and helps with the texture of the skin.” Dia Mirza also said in an interview that her current beauty obsession is “Keeping my face moisturised always” with a bakuchiol facial oil.

Is Bakuchi Oil Better Than Retinol?

One of the biggest advantages of using bakuchi oil is that it can be used anytime of day or night and in any weather conditions. Retinol on the other hand comes with a few restrictions. Retinol cannot be used during the day as it can make your skin photosensitive to the sun. Retinol also can be drying on the skin and therefore should be used in moderation, especially when the weather is cold and arid.

Benefits Of Bakuchi Oil For Skin

Bakuchi oil is a natural antioxidant and therefore it protects against environmental and free radical damage.
This hero ingredient helps even out skin tone and skin texture. It also helps soothe itchiness and inflammation.
Bakuchi oil increases cell turnover which in turn reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties that make it suitable for acne-prone skin and all other skin types as well.

Best Bakuchi Oil Products In The Market

Deepika’s 82E Bakuchiol Slip is a great illuminating face oil that leaves no greasiness or sticky feeling on the skin. It instantly boosts radiance and gives the skin a soft glow.

The St.Botanica Retinol 1% + Bakuchi Oil 2% + Tripeptide 1% + Hyaluronic Acid 0.5% Face Serum is a multitasking face serum that has both retinol and bakuchi oil in its formula and it is extremely gentle and non irritating.

The TAC Bakuchiol Under Eye Gel is one of my favourite skincare products because it helps with reducing the appearance of dark circles and preventing signs of ageing around my eyes.

The Inde Wild 1% bakuchiol is a night serum that works just like a retinol face serum but without any dryness or purging.

If you want to try the pure goodness of bakuchi oil, get your hands on the Deve Herbes Pure Babchi (Bakuchi) Oil. I even like to use this product in my skincare DIYs.