July 12, 2022

ARE ALL BAKUCHIOL SERUMS EQUAL?

When a product is called a certain name, you expect it to contain that ingredient or do that specific thing.

Called Vitamin C Serum? You expect it to contain Vitamin C and not only that, but Vitamin C which can be readily & safely used by your skin to brighten & fight free radical damage.

Bakuchiol Serum? Well, you’re expecting it to contain Bakuchiol. 

Unfortunately this is not always the case. Let us explain.


WHAT IS BAKUCHIOL?
It’s the 100% natural active ingredient extracted from the seeds of the psoralea corylifolia plant (also called Babchi seed extract).

Native to the Indian Himalayan regions of Pakistan & China, psoralea corylifolia is a prolifically growing wild plant, used in traditional & ayurvedic medicine for some time.
While anecdotally known to have healing physiological properties, Babchi seed extract could not be used in commercial products as it contains phototoxic phytocompounds. AKA it causes skin & eye sensitivity to light resulting in blisters, sunburn & even skin conditions (not ideal).


THE NATURAL RETINOL ALTERNATIVE
In 2007, Sytheon introduced Sytenol® A. 
A 99% pure bakuchiol, free from unwanted phototoxic phytocompounds - yay! Finally we could harness the amazing power of the psoralea corylifolia plant, without the negative risks and side effects.
Bakuchiol’s popularity then reached new heights after the British Journal of Dermatology published a double-blind clinical study comparing it to retinol in 2019.
But what was tested in this clinical study? It wasn’t just any old Bakuchiol or Babchi Seed Extract, it was Sytenol® A by Sytheon. This is the ONLY form of bakuchiol clinically tested & proven both safe for use, with all skin benefits of retinol yet without any of its associated irritation, when used at a level of 1%. 
This publication saw many brands jump on the Bakuchiol bandwagon, creating products using inferior psoralea corylifolia extracts rather than Sytenol® A.

Yes it’s far cheaper to produce and thus purchase, but these forms have no clinically proven skin benefits and more importantly are still carrying all the original risks associated with non-Sytheon bakuchiol.


COMPARING BAKUCHIOL PRODUCTS 
To see if their suspicions were right, Sytheon actually purchased a selection of Bakuchiol serums and tested them to see just how much bakuchiol they contain.
Shockingly, they found some with Bakuchiol levels as low as 0.000227% in water-based serums. Bakuchiol is undeniably yellow, highly lipophilic - aka fat soluble, not water soluble.

 

THE INCI LIST 
Luckily, in the EU, the beauty industry is regulated with a compulsory INCI list system. 
Here you can see exactly what extract is being used in your Bakuchiol Serum, e.g. Babchi extract, Psoralea corylifolia extract, Bakuchi oil or Bakuchiol (Sytenol A)  

Unfortunately, things are not so strictly monitored in Australia or the USA, as the INCI list system is not compulsory.

This means brands are free to mislead customers by listing inferior babchi extracts as Bakuchiol, marketing it as having the same benefits of Retinol which only the Sytenol® A Bakuchiol has been shown to have. 
 
 
BAKUCHIOL CELL REGENERATING SERUM

We are dedicated to thoughtfully formulating products with quality ingredients that give real results. It’s why we only use Sytenol® A by Sytheon in our Bakuchiol Cell Regenerating Serum.

Not only does our Bakuchiol contain Sytenol® A but it also has a range of star actives in a synergistic blend of retinol-rich wildcrafted &/or organic cold-pressed oils.

Star ingredients like…

  • Vitamin C ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate at 10% - Say bye bye to pigmentation
  • Skinlift DPHP - Say hello plump skin with the induction of collagen & elastin production
  • CoEnzyme Q10 - To fight free radical damage & protect against signs of premature ageing
  • Cold-pressed Wildcrafted Cacay Oil - The highest source of natural retinol, it softens & smooths noticeably improving skin tone
  • Buriti Oil - Boosts circulation resulting in glowing skin, plus is the richest source of natural beta-carotene
  • Carrot Seed Oil - Antibacterial & antifungal, it fights premature ageing, calms the skin, nourishes & decongests pores


Our award winning, best selling Bakuchiol Cell Regenerating Serum feeds your skin the nutrients & actives it needs to regenerate youth promoting collagen, increasing radiance & firmness to the skin. Who doesn’t want that?