MooGoo Bakuchiol (1%) Natural Retinol Substitute Active Serum 25ml

Retinol (Vitamin A) has been a fan fave among skincare aficionados for years now and the hype is real. Retinoids work by prompting surface skin cells to turn over and die rapidly, making way for new cell growth underneath. They hamper the breakdown of collagen and thicken the deeper layer of skin where wrinkles get their start. They are also helpful with pigmentation issues and blemish-prone skin.

So if it’s so amazing, why doesn’t MooGoo use it? Well, first it's well known to cause severe irritation in some people. Redness, stinging and flaky skin are a few of the signs that your skin doesn’t react well to Retinol. Retinol also makes your skin more sensitive to sun exposure which is counter-productive in Australia. Retinol also comes with a warning to pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding; which is a bit concerning. Even those who don’t have sensitive skin often react to it at first. It's also not a natural ingredient.

We aim to make our products as gentle, especially the sensitive types (and aren’t there a lot of us out there now!). For a few years now we’ve looked at the research looking for natural ingredients that can pack the same anti-ageing punch as Retinol without the negative effects. Bakuchiol is new but has some great supporting studies. Pronounced bah-koo-chee-all, this plant-based alternative is derived from the Babchi Herb comes with some impressive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which is probably why it has started to earn the moniker of “plant-based Retinol”.


Highlights:

Bakuchiol is a natural alternative for Retinol as Retinol can irritate the skin
Studies found it particularly effective on photodamaged skin.
A plant-based and derived from the Babchi Herb.
Stimulates collagen production and diminishes signs of fine lines and wrinkles
Serum base is moisturising Jojoba Oil, Natural Vitamin E and Shea Butter
This silky-smooth serum is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin
Free of Phenxyethanol, Parabens and anything else we don’t want on our own skin.

Do serums go underneath or on top of moisturiser?

Serums go directly onto the clean skin, under your moisturiser. Apply directly to the skin after cleansing and allow it to soak in for a few minutes before following with your favourite moistures. We have a few.

How often do the serums need to be applied?

For best results, use your serum every night before bed before you apply your moisturiser.

Is this a face serum or an eye serum?

We like to keep things simple even if marketing can sometimes tell us otherwise and get us to believe we need a different product for every part of the body and even different parts of the face. All of our serums are made for your skin so rub it on whenever you like on your face and around the eye area. Feel free to use it on your body as well, we don’t discriminate.

Are serums safe to use around the eye area?

Our serums are safe to use around the eye area, however, we don’t think it will not feel great on the eyeball, so avoid contact with eyes. If product gets into your eye, simply rinse out with water. If using an oil, they do heat up to body temperature and can spread out across the skin. We recommend applying the serum to the orbital bone around the eye, not directly on the eyelids.

'Fragrance' is listed as one of the ingredients in this product. What does this mean?

When we first started making products, we used a blend of essentials oils to give them a lovely fragrance. But many people have severe reactions and allergies to them, even in small amounts. As a result, and because we make products for people with sensitive skin, we took them out of most products. Instead, we helped to develop a special kind of fragrant oil, whereby each component in it is less than the EU allergy threshold. This is how we can have a pleasant-smelling product without the reactions. The scents we use are proprietary blends from the company we get them from, and we’ve had no reactions since we made the switch. Also, of course, it is free from phthalates, which is the main concern in fragrances.

Where does the Bakuchiol you use come from?

Our Bakuchiol is naturally extracted from the Psoralea Corylifolia plant. We highly value the ethical sourcing of our ingredients and understand that there is some concern around this plant potentially being an endangered species. We source this particular ingredient from India where Psoralea Corylifolia is overly abundant. According to the CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), Psoralea Corylifolia is not on the list of endangered species. We don’t just ensure this ingredient is ethically sourced, we have also taken the time to ensure it is extracted in an ethical manner.

It's recommended not to use Retinol while pregnant or breast-feeding. What about Bakuchiol?

Most online sources say that Bakuchiol is safe to use during pregnancy and while breast-feeding. However, there are no specific studies on this as presumably, it’s ethically difficult to do, just as most natural ingredients don’t have particular studies on pregnant women. In the cases where there isn’t any specific cause for concern, we advise people that it’s best to do whatever they feel most comfortable with.

As with all natural ingredients, patch test for allergies before use

Please be aware that the ingredients we use in our formulas may be updated occasionally and therefore vary from time to time. Please refer to the ingredient list on the product packaging for the most up-to-date and relevant list of ingredients.

Water (Aqua), Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Caprylic Capric Triglycerides (Silky Natural Ester), Bakuchiol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Cetearyl Alcohol (Plant-Based Emulsifying Wax), Phospholipids, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Glycolipids, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Piroctone Olamine (Olamine Salt), Fragrance - Oatmeal (Phthalate-Free), Citric Acid (to balance pH).

Because we make our products for our families, we have a strict ingredient philosophy that excludes ingredients like Parabens, Phenoxyethanol and penetration enhancers.

Please be aware that the ingredients we use in our formulas may be updated occasionally and therefore vary from time to time. Please refer to the ingredient list on the product packaging for the most up-to-date and relevant list of ingredients.