PRODUCT REVIEW: AMPERNA PRO+ BIO RESURFACING RETINOL ALT – THE BEST BAKUCHIOL CREAM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
AMPERNA | PRO+ BIO RESURFACING RETINOL ALT
Over the past two years, the “Retinol alternative,” Bakuchiol, has become somewhat of a skincare ingredient superstar. I’d venture to guess it’s because there are quite a number of people who aren’t comfortable with Retinol in any of its forms — me among them. One of the most common reasons for that trepidation is sensitivity. Retinol can very often be sensitizing — even when the user proceeds with caution.
Just the other day, a good friend texted me first thing in the morning, something she rarely does. She had overdone it with a 1% Retinol treatment the night before and woke up with her face on fire. She wasn’t aware that the face cream she was using was going to affect her in that way, having been comfortable using Retinol before. But this particular formula happens to be no joke and, in just one application before bed, caused severe redness, discomfort and peeling by morning.
(If you’re curious, I advised that she do nothing. In cases like this one, it’s best to let your skin relax and repair itself, rather than give it even more to process. I recommended she simply cleanse with a super gentle cleanser and apply a soothing moisturizer — both without actives, fragrance, alcohol or any other potential irritants.)
Just about a year ago, I first blogged about Bakuchiol and the skincare marketplace for products made with the new, natural Retinol alternative. It’s funny looking back on that article now, Bakuchiol Retinol Alternative Anti-Aging Serums from The Inkey List, Herbivore & More!
There were only a handful of Bakuchiol anti-aging moisturizers at the time. Today, it’s quite common for a skincare brand to offer a product with Bakuchiol or, at the very least, to use the active in their formulas.
But, Amperna is the first to offer a safe probiotic Retinol alternative with the Pro+ Bio Resurfacing Retinol Alt. Common sensitivity to Retinol isn’t the only reason to opt for a Bakuchiol formula.
Women who are pregnant are often advised to steer clear of Retinol, or Vitamin A. Because Bakuchiol has been proven an effective anti-aging replacement, Bakuchiol is the perfect option.
Similar to Amperna’s Pro+ Bio Resurfacing Retinol Rx, the Pro+ Bio Resurfacing Retinol Alt is a really well-formulated anti-aging serum for face. It contains the same brightening and soothing complexes for a potent treatment — and one of the best Bakuchiol creams.
What is Bakuchiol?
For insights on what Bakuchiol is and how it can be considered a viable alternative to Retinol, I turn again to the the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team:
A natural antioxidant and anti-aging ingredient found in the seeds and leaves of the plant Psoralea corylifolia. This plant, also known as babchi, is native to and grows throughout India, where it plays a role in Ayurvedic medicine, and is also found in China (where it’s used in Chinese natural medicine) as well as parts of Africa. Ongoing in vitro (Petri dish) and in vivo (on skin) research has shown that bakuchiol seems to have skin-restoring ability when applied twice daily, and that it may also have a brightening effect on skin. Research has also shown this plant ingredient has soothing and anti-wrinkle properties as well as helping to visibly improve skin color and tone.
Bakuchiol is often touted as an alternative to retinol minus the sensitizing effects some people experience from retinol. The association between bakuchiol and retinol is because many of its benefits seem to mimic what retinol does; however, it’s important to distinguish that bakuchiol is not identical to retinol. It’s not an equivalent replacement any more than a blueberry is the nutritional equivalent of an apple.
Science has revealed that bakuchiol interacts with many of the same areas in skin as retinol, sometimes by taking the same pathway, other times by going a different route but still leading to the same results, such as diminished wrinkles, improved elasticity, and smoother skin. In either case, we’re confident that bakuchiol is a promising, beneficial ingredients whose actions can complement and enhance what retinol does for skin.
Research has confirmed that bakuchiol works best in concentrations between 0.5-2%. Amounts lower than that have not been shown to provide retinol-like benefits.
Like the full-blown Retinol version, there’s a potent concentration of Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, or Azelaic Acid Salt, to gently exfoliate the skin and soothe signs of irritation. The soothing complex in the Pro+ Bio Resurfacing Retinol Alt also contains tried-and-true Bisabolol, Oat Kernel Extract and Allantoin as well as Amperna’s signature probiotic, soothing Lactococcus Ferment Lysate.
An effective skin brightener on its own, Azelaic Acid, is combined with 5% Niacinamide and Licorice Root Extract.
Amperna’s Pro+ Bio Resurfacing Retinol Alt is an anti-aging powerhouse and pro-skin health serum with the addition of a plumping, bio-fermented Oligopeptide, Yeast Ferment Extract and Soy Amino Acids.
Adds Kiri, “We’ve taken our range one step further with our new products. We’ve included our Bio Fermented Oligopeptide. Yeast Ferment Extract and Soy Amino Acids help to stimulate skin renewal, they actively help refine and restore skin texture and radiance safely. They still contain our probiotic complex.”
Seriously, the Amperna Pro+ Bio Resurfacing Retinol Alt is an excellent anti-aging treatment and the ideal alternative to Retinol.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Amperna Pro+ Bio Resurfacing Retinol Alt for $60 ($80AUD) here. For a limited time, enjoy 20% off all Amperna probiotic skincare with code SKINCARMA20.
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The Ingredient List of the the Amperna Pro+ Bio Resurfacing Retinol Alt:
Aqua, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Hydrosol, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate (Azelaic Acid Salt), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Yeast Ferment Extract (Bioferment Oligopeptide), Soy Amino Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Bakuchiol, Sodium-L-Lactate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Bisabolol, Dipotassium Glycyrithizate, Avena Sativa (Oat) Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Liquorice) Root Extract, Isostearyl Alcohol, Boswellia Serrata Gum, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Hyaluronic Acid, Zinc Oxide, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate.
