Rowan & Thistle

PLATE No. 007

Ingredient Collection

Bakuchiol CO₂

Psoralea corylifolia

Botanical plate of Babchi (Psoralea corylifolia): a leafy babchi plant with spikes of small lilac flowers, a sprig of violet flowers, a stem of rounded seed pods, a cluster of dark seeds, and a deep red drop of Bakuchiol CO₂.

Figure Key

  • Fig. 1 Babchi Plant (Psoralea corylifolia)
  • Fig. 2 Babchi Flowers
  • Fig. 3 Babchi Seed Pods
  • Fig. 4 Babchi Seeds
  • Fig. 5 Bakuchiol CO₂

The Ingredient

Bakuchiol is a plant-derived skincare ingredient obtained from the seeds of the babchi plant. Best known as an alternative to retinol, it is valued in facial care for helping skin look smoother, firmer, and more even while offering another option for people who find traditional retinoids difficult to use.

From Plant to Ingredient

  1. Bakuchiol CO₂, step 1 — Babchi Plant: a leafy babchi plant with slender spikes of small lilac flowers.

    1. Babchi Plant

    The babchi plant produces small violet flowers followed by seed pods containing the seeds from which bakuchiol is obtained.

  2. Bakuchiol CO₂, step 2 — Babchi Seeds: a cluster of oval, matte black-brown babchi seeds.

    2. Babchi Seeds

    The dark, mottled seeds contain bakuchiol, the plant-derived compound used in skincare.

  3. Bakuchiol CO₂, step 3 — Bakuchiol CO₂: a deep red drop of the extract.

    3. Bakuchiol CO₂

    The finished ingredient is a concentrated reddish-brown liquid containing bakuchiol isolated from the seeds.

Why We Chose It

Bakuchiol gives us a plant-derived way to support smoother, firmer-looking skin without simply trying to imitate retinol. We especially value it for facial care designed to support the appearance and feel of skin as it changes over time.

What You'll Notice

  • Smoother Appearance — Helps skin look and feel smoother over time.
  • Firmer Look — Helps support a firmer, more resilient appearance.
  • More Even Appearance — Helps skin look more balanced and even.
  • Refined Texture — Helps rough or uneven-looking skin appear more refined.

Botanical Profile

Scientific Name
Psoralea corylifolia
INCI Name
Bakuchiol
Plant Part Used
Seed
Final Ingredient
Liquid Extract
Origin
China

A Closer Look

Bakuchiol is often called a “plant-based retinol alternative,” but bakuchiol and retinol are not the same ingredient. Bakuchiol is a distinct compound found in the babchi plant and is not a form of vitamin A. The comparison comes from research into some of the similar ways the two can influence the appearance of skin—not because one is a botanical version of the other.

Products Featuring Bakuchiol CO₂ Featured In

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