Hero Ingredient: Sytenol® A Bakuchiol

June 25, 2024

What Is Sytenol® A (Bakuchiol)? Your Guide to the Retinol Alternative

By SYTHEON

For decades, beauty brands have used retinol in their skincare products to combat acne and reduce signs of aging. Unfortunately, retinol can also cause scaling, irritation and stinging. That’s why brands and consumers alike have sought a retinol alternative that offers the same benefits without the negative side effects. Enter: Sytenol® A.

Sytenol® A possesses several notable characteristics that make it a desirable ingredient in skincare formulations:

Functional analog of retinol
Photochemically stable
Easy to incorporate into day and night treatments

What Is Bakuchiol?

Bakuchiol is a natural compound derived from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant, also known as the babchi plant. Bakuchiol was first isolated in 1966 by Mehta et al. from Babchi seed and was named after the plant’s Sanskrit name, Bakuchi.

In the beauty care industry, Bakuchiol is creating a real buzz because it does everything retinol can do while proving safe for sensitive skin.

However, not all Bakuchiol is created equal. To achieve the desired benefits, purity matters. In fact, to use the INCI name Bakuchiol, the ingredient must be a highly defined active with over 99% purity. Anything lower (i.e., 99% purity) cannot list Bakuchiol on the label. If the ingredient lacks that threshold of purity, it can contain undefined by-products that are at best banned for use in personal care and at worst dangerous to consumers.

Unfortunately, there are actives out there that claim to be Bakuchiol but do not comply with the INCI ingredient registered as Bakuchiol.

Sytenol® A not only meets standards but also represents the standard in purity and safety. It’s REACH-registered and the only Bakuchiol approved for use in China, and most Bakuchiol-related research articles cite Sytenol® A. For example, a UC-Davis study published in the British Journal of Dermatology concluded that Sytenol® A matches the established benefits of retinol.

Clinical Study

In a randomized, double-blind, 12-week study in which 44 subjects were asked to apply either 0.5% Sytenol® A Bakuchiol cream twice daily or 0.5% retinol cream daily. A facial photograph and analysis system was used to obtain and analyze high-resolution photographs of subjects at 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks.Results shown for subject who applied 0.5% Sytenol® A Bakuchiol cream twice daily. Validated by UC Davis Dermatologists - published in the British Journal of Dermatology (2019),tel.

(Source: https://sytheonltd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Sytheon_ProductFlyer_SytenolA_v2.pdf)

Stimulation of Collagen I, III & IV
Inhibits Matrix Metalloproteinases
Protects Mitochondrial Genome
Increases Mitochondrial Biogenesis
Anti-Inflammatory
Clinical Study Versus Retinol: Reduction in Wrinkle Surface Area and Hyperpigmentation
Anti-Acne Study: Significant Reduction in Acne Lesions and Skin Tone Improvement

Sytenol® A: The True Natural Alternative to Retinol

Sytenol® A is a natural skincare ingredient that’s scientifically proven to reduce wrinkles, photoaging and hyperpigmentation. It works just as well as retinol, except for a few major differences:

Sytenol® A can be used during the day and night, while retinol can only be used at night.
Sytenol® A is compatible with sensitive skin, unlike retinol.
Sytenol® A is plant-based, while retinol is a synthetic derivative of vitamin A.

Because of these distinctions, Sytenol® A is viewed as the true natural alternative to retinol. What’s behind this powerhouse ingredient, and what makes it so special? Short answer: It’s all about Bakuchiol, and the fact that Sytenol® A is the only scientifically validated and worldwide accepted ingredient that’s 99%+ pure Bakuchiol.