But unlike ordering your iced coffee with a splash of oat milk, switching to a plant-based skin-care regimen is a bit more of a commitment. And if a product isn’t going to deliver glow-boosting benefits, it’s probably not going to secure a permanent spot on your shelf.
Luckily, New York City board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD, is sharing all the intel on which plant-based skin-care ingredients are totally derm-approved—and they happen to be the stars of the new, responsibly sourced Youth Boost line from Sky Organics. From cleansing to toning to moisturizing, you can easily start integrating these ingredients into nearly every step of your routine without skimping on glow.
Keep reading for the plant-based skin-care ingredients (and their derm-backed benefits) to add to your beauty cabinet.
Bakuchiol
If a retinol has been on your add-to-cart list because of its youth-boosting powers, know this: plant-based bakuchiol has actually been shown to rival retinol’s benefits.
“Bakuchiol is an extract of the Babchi plant long used in Ayurvedic medicine,” Dr. King says. “It is one of the few retinol alternatives for which studies back up the pseudo-retinol effect of anti-aging and skin-brightening.”
One study in the British Journal of Dermatology found that bakuchiol could reduce signs of sun damage equally as well as retinol. And another paper in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science reported bakuchiol’s role in reducing lines and wrinkles and improving skin elasticity. “Bakuchiol seems to be activating the genes that regulate collagen and elastin production—the same ones retinol activates,” Dr. King says.
The icing on the plant-based cake is that bakuchiol isn’t actually a retinoid, so it won’t irritate or redden skin, Dr. King adds. Pro tip: Apply Youth Boost Bakuchiol Night Serum before bed, and and you’ll start reaping all the smoothing and firming benefits of retinol’s chemical-free cousin overnight.
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