This post contains affiliate links. Product provided by Sophie Official.
Bakuchiol is the new buzzword in the world of skincare. Touted as a pregnancy safe, plant-based alternative to retinol, it is understandably making people curious. Bakuchiol is advertised for its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It can encourage cell turnover, which is likely where comparison to retinol originates.
Slosophy Newtinol Toner contains bakuchiol and other plant extracts to help with moisture retention, cell regeneration, and hydration. It also promises to reduce hyperpigmentation and acne. I can only find it on the brand’s official website.
How to use:
Apply after cleansing
Gently pat in - more than one layer can be used, if needed
Follow with the rest of your routine
Can be used in the morning and/or evening
Slosophy Newtinol Toner is colorless and thicker than water. It takes some shaking to get it out of the bottle (I like to pretend I’m in the Shaker Weight infomercial from the early 2000s while I do it). I notice an almost medicinal scent that’s not exactly pleasant but also not a deal breaker. It doesn’t linger. After applying and sealing in with moisturizer, there’s no stickiness which is a huge plus.
My impressions
I wish people would stop marketing bakuchiol as a retinol alternative. Sure, it has its benefits, but I do not think the results are close to those of retinoids. Retinoids are also much better studied. According to Dr Dray (love her content!), bakuchiol is an antioxidant and studies suggest that it may have some of the same effects as retinoids. However, data are limited and these studies were not done on people. There is also no data as far as it being pregnancy safe.
When it comes to the Slosophy toner, I do notice hydration and plumping while using it. I’m not pregnant and have no plans to be, so I am also incorporating actual retinoids (you can find my favorites in my Amazon influencer section). The scent is not my favorite thing by any stretch, but I can tolerate it.
There’s a subtle but sure way to spot a favorite among my many skincare products - I simply reach for those options more often than others. I haven’t been reaching for the Slosophy toner much. It’s also really pricey, in my opinion, and I’m not sure the benefits are worth it. Of course, this is just my experience, and someone using this daily who cannot tolerate retinoids may have a different opinion. It’s not a fail but also not a fave, and considering the price, I wouldn’t repurchase this with my own money.
Want more content? Find me on YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, and in my private Facebook group. Subscribe below to receive blog updates via email. And read this post for my favorite shops and discount codes or check out my Amazon favorites.
Slosophy Newtinol Toner ingredients (please note that these may not be in order): WATER, DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERETH-26, BAKUCHIOL, ECTOIN, DIPOTASSIUM GLYCYRRHIZATE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, FRUCTOSE, COCONUT ACID, PROLINE, CARBOMER, ARGININE, PROPANEDIOL, GLYCERIN, SODIUM HYALURONATE, WITHANIA SOMNIFERA ROOT EXTRACT, ALLANTOIN, CAPRYLHYDROXAMIC ACID, HYDROXYECTOINE, BOSWELLIA CARTERII OIL, ORYZA SATIVA CALLUS CULTURE EXTRACT