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THE GLOW UP

News from the beauty aisle BAKUCHIOL RETINOL'S CRUELTY-FREE DOPPELGANGER

Bakuchiol might not have the same name recognition as retinol, but if the beauty experts are correct, it’s just as formidable an anti-aging weapon - and one you might want to consider switching to. By Carla Thomas

We’ve long loved retinol for its ability to increase cell turnover and keep our mugs looking youthful, but we’ve spotted more and more clean beauty advocates touting bakuchiol as an all-natural replacement. Why is bakuchiol suddenly having a moment with beauty buffs?

For one thing, it’s vegan! It might surprise you to learn that many retinols are made with egg yolks and fish liver oil. Bakuchiol, however, is derived from seeds of the bakuchi, a plant native to India where it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. This makes it a cruelty-free and more environmentally friendly option than retinoids.

What does it do, you ask? Everything retinol does and less! Bakuchiol mimics all the same anti-aging properties of Vitamin A derivatives, like boosting collagen and reducing fine lines and wrinkles, but minus the horrible side effects such as redness, inflammation, and peeling that can often crop up with retinol and retinoids.

If you’ve been looking to clean up your skincare routine with sustainable and ethical beauty products, or just have sensitive skin that hasn’t reacted well to retinol in the past, here are a few bakuchiol-based products for you to try out.

BYBI BAKUCHIOL BOOSTER

A night-time booster to incorporate into your skincare routine, this vegan-friendly alternative keeps it simple with just two all-natural ingredients; one percent bakuchiol, perfect for improving skin’s texture, and squalane, a cruelty-free emollient derived from olives. And the price point for a serum is pretty unbeatable!

$125 from Sephora

SYMPLI BEAUTIFUL REVITALIZING VITAMIN A COMPLEX

Talk about an A-list! This powerhouse formulation uses not just one but three different forms of animalfree Vitamin A (bakuchiol, carrot root and retinyl palmitate) to keep your skin healthy and naturally glowing. $134 from iherb.com

ESSE RESURRECT SERUM

This probiotic skincare line uses sustainably sourced African plants and flowers. Esse's latest serum uses a Namibian desert plant that's prized for its ability to rehydrate and regenerate cells after long periods of drought. It also contains a healthy dose of bakuchiol and GABA, an amino acid that helps to increase the production of dermal cells, making it a potent anti-aging product worth splurging on. $920 from Esse Skincare

BEAUTY NEWS

SLOW GLOW

Homegrown beauty brand Purearth is hitting the high street, launching at Lane Crawford IFC this fall! This proudly local slow beauty brand has been making us swoon over their Ayurvedicbased skincare since 2014, with products made entirely from rare botanicals that are wild harvested by farmers and grassroots producers in the Himalayas. Crafted in small batches, their products have previously only been available online, or at a handful of select organic stockists around Hong Kong, so we’re thrilled to learn that it’ll be that much easier to sample and shop Purearth’s all-natural skincare and wellness collections! We particularly love the Mitti Raw Honey Face Masque ($434), a richly nourishing concoction made with sustainably sourced honey that’s become a cult favourite among beauty buffs. The Lane Crawford location will also serve up the brand’s signature line of herbal teas at an in-house tea bar, as well as offering masterclasses and one-on-one Ayurvedic skincare consultations.

purearth.asia

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