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Bakuchiol serum is increasing in popularity with more and more brands adding it to their skincare products. You can make your own an all-natural version with babchi oil (the plant it comes from) and customize it for your skin. This recipe is full of antioxidants and helps fight signs of aging and blemishes.
I’ve talked about bakuchiol (psoralea corylifolia) before and why it’s a little different than babchi oil. Essentially, bakuchiol is one of the constituents derived from the babchi plant. While it’s a powerhouse on its own, the components of the whole plant work synergistically together. Both ingredients are used in skincare, but babchi is the pure, pressed seed oil of the plant.
A lot of bakuchiol serums have an ingredient list longer than my arm (plus they can get pricey!). So I wanted to come up with a DIY bakuchiol serum alternative.
I used babchi seed oil in this recipe for several reasons. It’s less processed than bakuchiol and it’s oil soluble. Bakuchiol dissolves best in alcohol and certain chemicals (though it is oil soluble) so it can be a little trickier to work with. If you have bakuchiol and want to use that instead you can. It’s highly concentrated so you don’t need much, only 2-3 drops in this recipe. Any more can cause skin irritation.
Bakuchiol is commonly called a retinol alternative. They both reduce the appearance of fine lines and improve skin texture. But many people with sensitive skin find retinol can cause side effects. And dermatologists don’t recommend retinol during pregnancy (it’s toxic!).
Babchi oil or bakuchiol has a whole host of skincare benefits. It works as a brightening moisturizer for all skin types and improves skin tone. The babchi plant also has a long list of traditional medicinal uses.
It’s often used as an anti-aging ingredient because of its antioxidant and firming properties. This beauty product is more than just a natural retinol alternative serum. Bakuchiol or babchi are also good for breakouts and acne-prone skin. Here are some other ways babchi and bakuchiol products benefit the skin.
Retinol can negatively interact with other exfoliation ingredients or toners to cause irritation. Unlike retinol, bakuchiol plays nicely with other skincare ingredients. You can use bakuchiol skincare alongside a vitamin C serum, squalene, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe, or niacinamide.
I’ve combined the babchi oil with a blend of carrier oils and essential oils that are great for mature skin. Even if you’re not at that stage of life yet, they can help protect the skin and reduce the signs of aging as we get older.
Most of these ingredients can do double duty and are also good for oily, acne prone skin. If your skin leans towards oily, then grapeseed oil is a lighter alternative to the avocado oil in this recipe.
Safety note: Ylang ylang essential oil shouldn’t be used above .8% topically according to Tisserand. This recipe keeps it at .5%, but if you have very sensitive skin or have damaged skin then use it with caution or omit.
If you’re too busy to make your own or don’t want to get all of the ingredients, then here are a few healthier options. These natural bakuchiol serums are paraben free, cruelty-free, and have at least a 4-star rating.
Since it’s oil based I apply this after my cleanser and toner. Some experts recommend applying a daily dose of sunscreen afterward. Personally, I don’t use or recommend daily sunscreen use (for several reasons).
This article was medically reviewed by Madiha Saeed, MD, a board certified family physician. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
What type of ingredients do you look for in a facial serum? Have you ever tried bakuchiol or babchi before? Leave a comment and let me know!
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Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.
Hi! Could you please tell me the percentage of Bakuchiol this recipe yields? I’m trying to make a face oil that is 1% Bakuchiol. Thanks!
This is formulated at .5% bakuchiol to avoid skin irritation.
Can any of the oils in the recipe be exchanged for caster oil?
You could add some castor oil or use it instead of the jojoba or argan oil. However castor oil does boost hair growth, which you may not want on your face.
I may have done mine wrong. I was so confused on making my own serum. I use 2oz bottle with Cacay, Lavender, Argan, Clary sage and jojoba. Although, I may have added too much Bukuchiol. Just to be honest it may have been 15-20 drops. Should I throw it out? Transfer to a bigger bottle and add more carrier?
Thanks for your help!!
If you used bakuchiol instead of babchi oil I would start over and use just 3 drops of bakuchiol in this recipe. It can be a skin irritant if it’s used at 15-20 drops here.
Hi Katie,
I am out in the sun a lot. Should I be concerned about the photosensitivity of babchi oil? Are you aware if the MB Herbals Bakuchi Oil is hexane-free? Thanks for your advice and lovely blog.
Ashley
When it’s used at or below 5% dilution it usually won’t cause photosensitivity. It also has a sun protectant effect by protecting against sun damage. You could use it at night though if you want to be extra careful. And the linked brand is cold pressed so it shouldn’t have any hexane.
Hi. I am for the first time trying to make a facial oil from Bakuchiol oil that is said to be 99% pure and astaxanthin oil to help with hydration and wrinkles. The astaxanthin oil is 10%. Can you please tell me how to mix the two? Would it be 1 or 2 drops of bakuchiol to what part astaxanthin oil? Thank you!!
Hey can I add hyloronic acid to this to make it a bit more of heavy hitting serum and if so how much ? And what would I change ? Thanks for any advice
This serum is oil based and hyaluronic acid is water soluble so the two won’t mix without an emulsifier. That’s an entirely different formula. There’s a hyaluronic acid serum recipe here though if you want to make that and use it before using the babchi or alternate between the two. https://wellnessmama.com/beauty/hyaluronic-acid-serum/
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