The new active retinol substitute for sensitive skin that you must be familiar with.

At HL, we recognized the need for skin renewal even when it’s sensitive, and we developed a unique renewal cream that renews the skin, increases cellular renewal and slows down the skin's aging, while at the same time protecting sensitive skin and preventing itchiness and redness.

The renewal cream, which was recently incorporated into the Calm Derm range, is based on an agent considered the “rising star” in the beauty-treatment industry - bakuchiol. 

The substance is produced from the seeds of the bituminaria plant and is in extensive use in India as well as in Chinese medicine for treating a wide range of skin diseases. 

Bakuchiol forms a herbal substitute to retinol and works on the same receptors in the skin cells as retinol, thereby 

considerably stimulating collagen production, accelerating cellular renewal, improving the skin’s elasticity, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and is used as an anti-oxidant.

Furthermore, bakuchiol has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties but irritates the skin less than retinol, which is especially suited to sensitive skin.

What’s the difference between bakuchiol and retinol?

Retinol is a Vitamin-A derivative.  Its renewal and anti-aging capacity are caused by the fact that it increases cellular renewal and accelerates the renewal of the 

epidermis - the top skin layer. 

That way, it helps generate new and healthy skin cells, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, improves pigmentation and skin spots, and even improves acne.  However, its main drawback is the fact that it stimulates the skin and causes heightened sun sensitivity.  In sensitive skin and in situations of inflammatory skin diseases, sensitivity to retinol is elevated, and it may also cause irritation, signs of burning, and even increased inflammation.  For that reason, the beauty care and medical industries avoided using it in these situations.  In addition, retinol cannot be used during pregnancy or when breastfeeding, as Vitamin A and its derivatives are considered teratogenic to the fetus and baby. 

On the other hand, bakuchiol is produced from a plant source - found in seeds and in the leaves of the bituminaria plant (Psoralea corylifolia).  The plant extract was used for many years in Chinese and Indian rehabilitation medicine.  The reason it is considered the natural alternative to retinol is that it acts by way of the same receptors in the skin cells that retinol uses and stimulates collagen production. 

Bakuchiol was also found in medical trials to be highly effective for skin renewal, eliminating wrinkles, reducing pigmentation, improving the skin’s elasticity and firmness, as well as handling acne conditions.  On the other hand, as opposed to retinol, bakuchiol, as clinical trials have proven, is much milder and does not cause irritation, dryness or sun sensitivity.  Therefore, it can also treat sensitive skin and various skin diseases.  Furthermore, since it contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents, it can help treat sensitive skin and inflammatory conditions.

In addition to bakuchiol, the renewing cream contains polyhydroxy acids (PHA) that are produced from a plant source, which also act to considerably renew the skin and not cause redness or irritation.  As a result, the use of the renewing cream contributes to more youthful, healthy and radiant skin.  

8 advantages that bakuchiol has for facial skin

1. Safe for sensitive skin and conditions of inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea and more.
2. Can also be used during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
3. Accelerates skin-cell renewal.
4. Stimulates collagen production.
5. Acts as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
6. Reduces fine lines, wrinkles and advanced signs of aging.
7. Similar to retinoids, it helps treat acne.