Babchi: A Wonder Ingredient for Your Skin

Despite Babchi’s increase in skin care products, many consumers still don’t know exactly what it is, or how to say it. Pronounced “buh-koo-chee-all” or “back-uh-heel,” this skincare ingredient is known as nature’s retinol. Babchi has been making its way toward mainstream beauty since the 1970s, but with the rise in demand for natural beauty, Babchi is finally having its moment.

Babchi is a powerful herb that acts as a medicine to treat and prevent many skin & scalp conditions like rashes, infections, vitiligo, pigmentation, wound healing, eczema, psoriasis, and alopecia areata to name a few. With the recent resurgence of plant-based remedies as a natural & safe alternative to allopathic medicine, Babchi oil is making its way to many skin and hair care products.

Babchi has become popular in modern skincare for a variety of reasons. The ingredient can offer similar, if not the same, results as retinol, but is more tolerable for many. The British Association of Dermatologists conducted a randomized, double-blind study comparing the two. Some patients were asked to apply a 0.5% retinol cream for 12 weeks, while others were asked to apply a 0.5% Babchi cream for 12 weeks. No statistical difference was determined between the two ingredients, but the results for both were the same. All patients reported results of a decrease in wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, but those who used retinol reported more scaling and stinging. For those with sensitive skin, studies like this are encouraging for testing out Babchi at home.

Babchi is found almost all over India and therefore the herb is regionally known by different names like bakuchi, bavachi, suparnika, sitavari, kushtanashi, bawchi to name a few.

Designated by the scientific name Psoralea Corylifolia and commonly called Bakuchi/Babchi, the seeds of this beneficial plant are kidney-shaped, bitter in taste, laden with astounding healing properties and yield a potent oil – bakuchi oil. These include uplifting heart functions being a natural cardiac tonic, relieving fever, cough, cold, and ameliorating diabetes symptoms, besides their extensive use as a topical treatment for skin disorders like psoriasis, vitiligo, acne and for supporting the growth of long, thick, healthy hair.

Bakuchi or Babchi is the new wonder ingredient that has powerful skin healing properties! Let us talk about this super ingredient in detail that is synonymous with being a miracle additive to several skin products. All parts of this magical plant are useful such as the stem, roots, leaves and seeds; however the powder of its seeds and the oil are the most potent and effective remedy for the skin. Babchi seeds have been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda and now have found their place in modern science as well.

Incorporating Babchi into your skincare routine is simple as well. It can be used in conjunction with retinol as well as common ingredients retinol shouldn’t be mixed with. Because Babchi is not as sensitizing as retinol, it can be used both morning and night; however, because of its renewing properties, many dermatologists recommend only using it at night to allow it to perform its best results. An added bonus is, unlike retinol, Babchi is safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding. Even more so, this ingredient is vegan, while not all forms of retinol are.

Can Babchi Replace Retinols?

Retinoids are defined as a family of naturally occurring compounds comprising Vitamin A(retinol) and its derivatives. Retinol stimulates cellular activity and strengthens the protective barrier of the skin to avoid loss of moisture and collagen-promoting tissues. Babchi works with a similar genetic function and results in an improvement in fine lines, wrinkles, elasticity, firmness and reduction in photodamage without the risks involved with the usage of Retinoids.

Health Benefits of Babchi:

Augments Skin Health

Laden with antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, Ayurveda recommends bakuchi as a powerful panacea to heal and remedy various skin conditions like vitiligo, psoriasis, acne etc. Owing to its blood purifying properties which help in removing toxins from the blood, it helps in treating a host of skin infections as well. It not only helps in shielding the skin from oxidative free radical damage due to harmful UVA and UVB rays, but also reduces the risk of the various signs of aging like wrinkles, blemishes, spots, fine lines, and dark circles. It is also beneficial for treating allergic conditions like acne, pimples, zits, psoriasis, scabies, eczema and many more. It is even useful in healing cracked heels.

Evens Skin Tone

Babchi deeply penetrates the skin to help lessen the appearance of dark spots or areas of hyperpigmentation. It reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen production

Eliminates Skin Dryness

While Retinol and other skincare ingredients may dry out skin or cause irritation, Babchi is gentler and isn't known to cause any irritation.

Speeds Cell Regeneration

Babchi sends signals to your cells that it's time to amp up collagen production and cell turnover. By promoting cell turnover and healthy cell regeneration, Babchi helps soothe and heal your skin from the inside out.

Suitable For All Skin

By promoting cell turnover and healthy cell regeneration, Babchi helps soothe and heal your skin from the inside out. Being gentle on the skin, mostly anyone can use it.

Nurtures Hair Growth

Bakuchi is packed with powerful phytonutrients that stimulate the growth of hair roots i.e. follicles. Applying bakuchi oil regularly on hair and scalp vastly improves hair texture and thickness, controls hair loss, and even helps in preventing premature greying of hair strands. Furthermore, bakuchi oil is a blessing for thwarting dandruff thanks to its antifungal traits, thereby resolving an itchy, flaky scalp and supplementing the growth of long, thick hair.

How To Use Babchi?

Skincare products containing Babchi extract should be applied to cleansed face and neck. Choose a Babchi serum or lotion-like treatment if you want a lightweight formula that layers easily with other leave-on products in your routine. If it's a moisturiser with Babchi, apply it after your serum.

Babchi oil is great for dry, dehydrated skin. If using a heavier oil-based formula, it should generally be applied at night, as the last step in your routine.

Since an increasing number of skincare products contain Babchi, you'll be relieved to know that the product texture doesn't impact efficacy. What counts is the concentration of Babchi. The inclusivity of Babchi is what makes it so popular among those who are weary or disheartened by retinol. Babchi’s properties include being anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, causing it to be more sensitive-skin friendly. Many people with dry, sensitive skin struggle with retinol due to the results of irritation and redness, but Babchi’s properties make it much more usable. It plays a perfect role as a face oil for dry skin, as the anti-inflammatory properties help manage oil and blemishes. The gentle makeup of Babchi delivers powerful results that can be enjoyed by many.