Bio-retinol VS Retinol
September 11, 2023 – Marina Engervik
Our founder, Marina E. Engervik, often writes professional articles for the industry magazine Kosmetikk. This time she has written about bio-retinol and retinol. Read on if you want to learn the difference between these two popular super ingredients.
There's a lot of talk about retinol these days. But what exactly is bioretinol, also called phyto-retinol, and is it better than regular retinol?
Retinol is a synthetic derivative of vitamin A, and among the most widely used active skincare ingredients with proven ability to improve fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone and reduce acne. Unfortunately, retinol can also have side effects, and products with retinol can irritate the skin, cause itching or other annoying skin reactions.
We would like to have the good effects of retinol, but without the side effects. That's why we're now going to look at the natural alternative to retinol, namely bio-retinol. What is it exactly?
The term “bio-retinol” is often used in the skin care world to refer to natural and plant-based ingredients that have retinol-like effects on the skin, and that enable the skin to make its own, effective vitamin A. Bio-retinol can be extracted from plant crops that contain carotene, using oil extracts of, for example, sea buckthorn berries, carrot seeds or rose hips and other plant crops. There are many varieties out there, but the ones mentioned in this article are the most widely used and recognized for their good effect.
Plants that are sources of bio-retinol are always very rich in carotene (carotenoids), which are the precursors to vitamin A. When the skin is nourished with carotene, it is converted into vitamin A. This allows the skin to utilize the vitamin in a completely natural and very efficient way, and there is a more synergistic effect. You can compare it to eating healthy, nutritious food; eating the food itself will always provide the body with more holistic nutrition than just taking a dietary supplement pill that contains the same nutrients. The body is better able to utilize the food. Bio-retinol is a bit like giving the body the nutritious food, instead of just the dietary supplement.
Bakuchiol is perhaps the best-known bioretinol, as it was the first of its kind to hit the market. Bakuchiol is extracted from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, also known as the babchi plant. It has been used as a medicine in the East for centuries, and originally comes from India. In 2014, a study was published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science that compared the effects of bakuchiol and retinol on skin aging. The study found that bakuchiol was as effective as retinol in reducing fine lines and wrinkles, but with fewer side effects. Bakuchiol is also a potent antioxidant, and can help protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals.
Rosehip oil is extracted from the fruit and seeds of the Rosa canina plant, which grows wild in Europe and Norway. It is considered a superfood for the skin and a popular ingredient in skincare products due to its high concentration of vitamins A and C. Rosehip oil is very high in carotene, which is immediately converted into vitamin A when it comes into contact with the skin. It therefore helps to stimulate collagen production, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve skin texture. Rosehip oil is also very rich in antioxidants, which can help protect the skin from sun damage and pollution.
Sea buckthorn oil is extracted from the edible berries of the sea buckthorn plant, Hippophae Rhamnoides, and grows wild in Europe and Norway. Like rosehip oil, sea buckthorn oil is also a superfood for the skin, and a rich source of vitamin A precursors, including beta-carotene and other carotenoids. Sea buckthorn oil can help stimulate the production of new, healthy cells, promote collagen production and reduce the appearance of lines and scars in the skin. It is also an incredibly good source of antioxidants, which can help protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals.
Another new and exciting method for making bio-retinol has also now arrived.
on the track. Simply explained, plant sugar is fermented, then distilled, and out
you get a pure and completely naturally derived bio-retinol. Smart chemists have mixed this retinol alternative in sunflower oil, and stabilized it with vitamin E and rosemary extract so that the skin can absorb it. According to the manufacturer Givaudan, it has proven to be just as effective as synthetic retinol, in addition to causing the skin to produce more hyaluronic acid, which provides an even better anti-aging effect. This completely new and natural alternative to retinol has been named RetiLife, and we will probably see more and more of this type of bio-retinol in all skin care.
So is bio-retinol a better alternative to traditional retinol? According to a study from the British Journal of Dermatology, daily use of bakuchiol has been shown to be as effective as retinol in combating wrinkles and hyperpigmentation after just 12 weeks, and participants who used retinol reported more itching and burning than those who used natural bakuchiol. So bio-retinol is as effective as retinol, but without any side effects. Bio-retinol is also not affected by sun exposure, and can therefore be used both during the day and at night. Retinol, on the other hand, is often recommended only at night to avoid possible skin sensitivity when exposed to the sun. Therefore, you can safely use bio-retinol to a greater extent.
There is a lot going on now with the development of bio-retinol. We see that the market wants an alternative to retinol that is effective and has no side effects, and at the same time is also sustainable and safe for both the skin and the environment. When comparing bio-retinol and retinol, it is mainly the way in which the skin gets vitamin A that is the big difference, and both paths lead to the goal: The cells are told to renew themselves faster, and the result is smoother and healthier skin.
5 quick facts about bio-retinol
1. Bio-retinol is an alternative to retinol that comes from natural ingredients.
2. Bio-retinol works by converting carotene into vitamin A in the skin.
3. Unlike retinol, which can cause various skin irritations, bio-retinol is gentle, making it an excellent option for those with sensitive skin.
4. Bio-retinol is rich in antioxidants, which can help protect the skin from damage caused by UV radiation and pollution.
5. Bio-retinol also has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, and can therefore treat acne and other skin conditions such as rosacea and eczema.
Which Marina Miracle products contain bio-retinol?
We use bio-retinol in several of our products where we see that bio-retinol will provide good benefits and effects for the skin. In these products we use bio-retinol in the form of oil and extract of organic rosehip and/or sea buckthorn:
