With all the chemicals found in everything from the food we eat, to the household products we use, to the skin care products we put on our bodies, it’s no surprise that so many people are seeking healthier options these days. Here at Whish, we’re committed to enabling people to make intelligent choices for their skin, which is why we are so proud of our anti-aging products that harness the power of Bakuchiol, a 100% edible natural retinol alternative and other natural and organic retinol-like ingredients that help turn back the clock on the aging process. If you know anything about skin care, then you’ve probably heard of retinol—a derivative of vitamin A. There are several types of retinoids available on today’s market, ranging from retinol found in drug store beauty products, to prescription-strength retinoic acid which requires you to pay your dermatologist a visit. Retinol is best known for its amazing anti-aging qualities, but its use doesn’t come without a downside. With a slew of negative side effects like dryness, redness, peeling, UV sensitivity, and a tolerance build-up period for many users, people have been turning to gentler natural retinol sources like Bakuchiol. Retinol is also notoriously unstable and difficult to compound. It reacts to UV light and can lose its strength if not handled properly. It also needs a lot of preservatives to keep its potency in the formulation over time. So not only is Bakuchiol a natural alternative to retinol, it also doesn't require all those nasty preservatives to keep it stable. Many of the retinol products on the market now lose their efficacy due to lack of proper preservatives. Here we’ll highlight the benefits of using Whish products with Bakuchiol and other natural sources of retinol to nourish skin, unlike other products laden with synthetic chemicals that can cause skin damage and irritation. Bakuchiol Is Your New Best Friend Is bakuchiol as good as retinol? We totally get it. If you’ve ever used traditional retinol, you probably have a love/hate relationship with it. You love the results, but you hate putting chemicals on your face (not to mention the time it takes for skin to adjust to using retinol) or maybe it’s both. Retinol has been around since the 1970s—revered for its ability to treat different skin issues, like acne, wrinkles, sun damage, and even warts and psoriasis. But, as we said earlier, retinol can cause some pretty unpleasant side effects. Additionally, a lot of people tend to go overboard when using retinol, thinking that more is better when it’s definitely not. For many, there can be an adjustment period that skin needs to go through since retinol encourages rapid cell turnover—exposing fresh, new skin cells. Bakuchiol, on the other hand, is a 100% natural retinol and antioxidant found in the seeds and leaves of the Psoralea Corylifolia plant. Clinical research shows that Bakuchiol has a retinol-like effect on the skin when applied twice daily and touts all the benefits of traditional retinol such as: reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, reduction in the appearance of pimples and acne, improvement in skin texture, reduction in hyperpigmentation, discoloration and scarring, and all without the harsh, drying, and UV sensitive side effects. With a gentler and safer substitute to retinol, there should be no reason why you wouldn’t jump on the all-natural skincare bandwagon! But Don’t Let Us Just Tell You…Here Are the Facts We know that both Bakuchiol and retinol improve the appearance of skin—reversing the signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles and even improving acne-affected skin. But since retinol promotes skin cell shedding and increased collagen production, this process leads to the exposure of fresh, but extremely delicate skin. Retinol may give you the youthful look you’re longing for, but don’t even think about going outside without sunblock and a hat to protect your face from the sun if you’ve been using retinol. UV sensitivity can occur when retinol is exposed to sunlight, as this causes product to breakdown more rapidly (another reason why you typically only use retinol at night!). Bakuchiol is safe to use day or night (we actually encourage you to use products with this ingredient morning and night) because it defends against UV-induced skin damage, keeping skin protected at all times. This miracle ingredient has zero structural resemblance to retinol, so there’s not even a tiny chance that you’ll experience the same negative effects as you might with a traditional retinol cream or serum. In a clinical study, participants showed the following results after 12 weeks of use of natural Bakuchiol: 46% saw an improvement in skin brightness 39% saw an improvement in skin tone 52% saw an improvement in skin radiance 46% saw an improvement in eye area appearance 29% saw an improvement in fine lines & wrinkles 39% saw an improvement in skin elasticity/firmness With all these benefits, this is without a doubt the retinol alternative to know about! If your ready to give it a try, Whish Recovering Night Cream is a great place to start. It is loaded with 2% Bakuchiol which will gently help reduce the appear of fine lines and wrinkles while you sleep. Harnessing the Power of Nature’s Ingredients When it comes to your skin care, it’s best to avoid products with ingredients that you can’t pronounce, and stay away from products containing parabens, sulfates, phthalates, diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), and petrochemicals. These harmful chemicals are absorbed through your skin, which is your largest organ, and cause a range of health issues. Whish all-natural and organic anti-aging products are safe for long-term use and put in the overtime on your skin so you don’t have to. We’ve harnessed the power of natural ingredients in the formulation of our products to provide incredible results. Our natural retinol creams are some of our most popular anti-aging products. Whish Replenishing Day Cream and a Recovering Night Cream, for example, both utilize the power of Bakuchiol and organic rosehip oil to offer a gentle solution to common skin issues. If your looking for an eye cream, why not try a bakuchiol eye cream? Our eye cream helps reduce the appearance of bags and dark circles and is incrediblly gentle Whish Repairing Bakuchiol Eye Cream. If you looking for a little bakuchiol booster, we also have our Founder's Vault Bakuchiol Boosting Drops. This bakuchiol oil is loaded with Bakuchiol and can be used as a stand alone face oil or can be mixed with your favorite bakuchiol day cream, night cream, or body cream for an added boost. (Rose)Hip Hip Hooray! Organic rosehip is quite magical if we do say so ourselves. Not only is it chock full of vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids, it also contains beta carotene, a form of vitamin A. Thanks to the beta carotene, rosehip oil encourages cell turnover (similarly to retinol) to reveal smooth, new, healthy skin. Organic Argan Oil to the Rescue If you love using facial oil, why not use one that also minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles? Our natural face oil is a lightweight, fast-absorbing, ultra-moisturizing face cream that utilizes the benefits of organic argan oil for its anti-aging qualities. Thanks to a combination of vitamins A & E, argan oil is scientifically proven to improve skin’s elasticity. We’ll take that as a win! And we can’t forget about the delicate eye area! All too often the first signs of aging show up around the eyes (thanks, crow’s feet). Our new Repairing Eye Cream is a natural retinol eye cream that also uses the power of argan oil to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while giving eyes a much-needed pick-me-up. Your Search for a Retinol Alternative Is Over So, if you’re guilty of loving those retinol results, but can’t stand the pesky and uncomfortable side effects and want to pursue a natural and equally effective approach, then Bakuchiol is an incredible alternative. In fact, all our Whish products are made with naturally sourced and organic ingredients. We pride ourselves on solving skin problems through finding unique, natural ingredients, and then extensively testing them (never on animals) to make sure they produce real results you can see and feel. Remember, ladies and gents, it is never too early or too late to stay one step ahead of the aging curve by investing in your skin with all-natural products and a rock solid skincare routine. Up your skin care ante with our entire collection of products formulated with natural and organic ingredients as seen on broadcast television and in publications such as People, Marie Claire, and US Weekly. Your new and improved complexion is just around the corner!