If skincare is your thing, I’d bet my life’s fortune that you've heard of retinol.
To jog your memory, though, retinol is basically the golden child of the skincare world, thanks to its ability to boost collagen production (the protein in skin that keeps it plump and firm) and increase cell turnover (your skin’s natural renewal process). Translation: It can smooth fine lines and wrinkles, treat acne, fade dark spots, and brighten dull skin.
But for all its miraculous effects, retinol isn’t for everyone, especially if the idea of peeling, itchy skin just doesn’t appeal to you.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid it too — using retinol can harm your baby’s development.[1]
On top of that Retinol products also tend to contain fillers and preservatives, a no-no for those of us who prefer to stay closer to nature and use plant-based products.
But let’s be honest… We all want to maintain youthful-looking complexion.
Meet Bakuchiol
Now for the very first time, scientific research is unanimous that there is indeed a 100% plant-based alternative to Retinol that delivers the same incredible results without any of the downsides!
Bakuchiol—pronounced “buh-koo-chee-all”—is an extremely impressive plant-derived ingredient (it comes from the babchi tree) with antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties.
In fact, this ingredient is not new to people, but only now we have the scientific backing to prove that it really does work. (below I share my personal experience)
Bakuchiol has been used for 1000s of years in ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines to treat wounds and scars, but only now do we finally know it’s positive benefits to achieving youthful skin without the need to rely on potentially toxic and unsafe chemical formulations.
“When it comes to a natural, plant-based retinol alternative, there is only one ingredient that has been extensively studied and proven to mimic the activity and benefits of retinol,” says cosmetic chemist Al-Nisa Ward, CEO, and owner of consulting firm Cosmetic Science Innovations. “That ingredient is bakuchiol.”
In 2019 a study published in the British Academy of Dermatology, put bakuchiol and retinol against each other in a 12-week, double-blind clinical trial [This means that neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving treatment versus who's getting a placebo] on human subjects.
For the study, 44 participants received either a bakuchiol or a retinol product, and their progress was evaluated by a dermatologist who didn’t know which group was which.
Both groups saw improvements in hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and redness, and there was no statistically significant difference between their results, which suggests that using bakuchiol is as effective as using retinol. Plus, the bakuchiol group reported less skin scaling and flaking than the retinol group.
Without doubt Bakuchiol is here to stay and while not many people know about this magical ingredient yet, the results are going to speak for themselves.
So as any other skincare fanatic I decided to do a little test on myself and replace the synthetic Retinol with an all-natural solution.
For one month I used a 100% Natural serum called Rose Youth Elixir, which caught my attention for the exceptionally well balanced mix of natural ingredients - Bakuchiol, Hyaluronic Acid, and Rose Damascena Oil and Rose Water.
Now after 4 weeks of using this Bakuchiol powered elixir, I am ready with my verdict
I was really excited to try the Rose Youth Formula formula as I read it has several patents on it, meaning you can’t find this in ANY other brands.
It’s approved by a dermatologist with ZERO irritation and is completely safe to use AM and PM.
Bakuchiol, Hyaluronic Acid and Rose Damascena Essential Oil and Rose Water all completely natural and organically sourced ingredients, working together simultaneously to deliver smooth, bright, and healthy-looking skin.
Furthermore, all these 100% natural ingredients have been proven with clinical trials to be effective in minimise and slow down the effects of aging.
There has never been a product like this on the market! Do you now see why I was SO excited when I heard about this?!
I've been using this for over a month and am blown away at how much of an impact this lovely Rose serum has had on my fine lines and wrinkles.
WOW.
The first thing that stood out to me was the pleasant consistency of the serum. The formula is right in the middle, which means it’s not thin nor too thick.
It comes out of the dropper easily and it doesn’t just slide through your hand.
The texture is lovely and it feels silky and hydrating when you put it on. The elixir doesn’t feel heavy on the skin and soaks in very well.
The first impression I got after applying the serum was the tightening effect I experienced. This is definitely a game changer for those who are 30+ and who are slowly starting to move towards mature skin. The tightening effect is amazing and you can feel it immediately after applying the serum on your skin.
Another very pleasant surprise, was that even with my extremely dry skin I noticed right away that my skin never felt as dry in the morning.
From past experience with Retinol, my face would always feel tight and uncomfortable in the mornings, but this is just not the case with this formulation.
I think the mix of Bakuchiol with Hyaluronic Acid worked very well together and in the mornings, even before starting with my beauty routine, my skin still felt very plumped up and hydrated.
About two weeks in using the Rose Youth Elixir my skin was just photographing beautifully.
As someone who loves taking selfies, it was smoother and plumped up on photos. And my skin was feeling so healthy and fresh.
I do attribute this to the Rose Youth Elixir because I hadn’t changed anything else in my skincare routine. The ingredients really had this beautiful hydrating, skin plumping effect on my skin and this was only 2 weeks after I started using it.
Does it do what it says it’s going to do? One of the promises of the Rose Youth Elixir is that it’s going to smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
As you guys know a lot of products say this and very few that I’ve tried have actually managed to do it ! This product did that! And I never thought I would say that after using Retinol!
The third week was the time when I started noticing the anti-aging results.
Before I started using this product my fine lines on my forehead were significantly deepening over the past year and that was concerning for me.
While most of these “anti-aging” products never really showed much of an impact, the little magic Elixir from Gentle&Rose was the first one that actually delivered a noticeable difference!
I have to say… I. Am. Impressed.
Other natural anti-aging products I’ve used have not shown such obvious positive results in such a short amount of time. Not only that, but it has reacted so well to my sensitive skin.
This magical Elixir from Gentle&Rose has completely replaced all my retinols and peels – I simply just use a cleanser, Rose Youth Elixir, and a moisturizer.
The results have been great only after 4 weeks of using this product, so I can only imagine what it would be after using it for 12 weeks as advised by the brand itself.
Compared to other natural formulas I've tried in the past, this is by far the fastest and most effective one. It really makes a difference that the treatment has a high concentration of Bakuchiol and Hyauronic Acid and you can see the visible effects of it on your skin.
There are many environmental factors that can negatively affect your skin and cause it to age faster, even if you are using anti-aging products.
This is because most products are only trying to fix the after effects of aging like targeting fine lines. But, thanks to its antioxidant properties, the Rose Youth Elixir not only fights these signs of aging, it also helps protect the skin from environmental factors like free radicals and sun exposure.
Most definitely!
I got the 3 bottles deal for €29 each.
I gave a bottle to my sister and my neighbor and now they are also hooked on the powerful Rose Youth Elixir bakuchiol formula.
My skin looks and feels great, and I’ve cut my morning routine in half.
With healthier-looking skin, I don’t feel like I need to wear as much makeup or hide any imperfections.
If you’re thinking about switching over to Gentle&Rose's Youth Elixir, I will include a link below with a special discount.
The first time I tried to order it, it was sold out. This brand only produces limited batches of this product, because they want to ensure that the quality is always high.
So, if you’re thinking about ordering, I wouldn’t hesitate to order a couple of extra bottles!