C Repair Oil: Retin-Alt + 10% Vitamin C + Bakuchiol
C Repair Oil: Retin-Alt + 10% Vitamin C + Bakuchiol
Looking for a natural retinol alternative? One that can be safely combined with your other skincare products AND a hefty dose of vitamin C?
I created this ultra-light oil blend for those of us seeking the benefits of retinol without the long list of well-documented problems associated with its use.
Featuring Olive Oil Squalane, Argan oil, α-bisabolol, the maximum amount of the most effective stable, non-oxidizing form of Vitamin C available, together with Sytenol®A Bakuchiol, a safe, effective, non-irritating, plant-derived, 100% natural retinol alternative.
2 options are available. The formulas are identical, the only difference is that option 2 (the new option, with eo) includes bisabolol and helichrysum, juniper berry, and geranium essential oils at 1% (the aroma is barely detectable). While option 1 (no eo) contains just the bisabolol, without the other essential oils.
1 ounce bottle. I send each bottle with both a pump dispenser (as shown) and a dropper.
Product Highlights: all the benefits of retinol WITHOUT irritation!
Improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Smooth and plump up the skin.
Increase skin firmness.
Help protect against photoaging.
Even and brighten skin tone: Used morning and night under pure mineral zinc sunscreen you should notice a fading of dark spots in about 6-8 weeks.
Stimulate and support healthy collagen production: Beware of creams formulated with pure collagen; they simply can't live up to their claims. Why is that? Collagen is a large, complex molecule. The huge braided molecule is just too big to penetrate your skin and can not get down into the dermis. We can, however, support collagen synthesis!
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Non-irritating + Safe for all skin types. Everyone can enjoy both options, even those with sensitive skin.
Gender Neutral: Excellent for men and women.
10% Vitamin C: Sytenol®A Bakuchiol can be safely combined with 10% Vitamin C and can be used morning and night.
Contains 1% of Sytenol®A Bakuchiol: 99% purified Psoralea corylifolia. Sytenol®A Bakuchiol is proven to be a safe, effective, natural alternative to retinoids. It’s a purified extract naturally derived from the seed of the Bachi plant.
Note: Sytenol®A Bakuchiol and Bakuchi seed oil are not the same thing! The Bakuchi plant (Psoralea corylifolia) goes by many different names. The oil pressed from the seed of this plant is not the same as Sytenol®A Bakuchiol and should not be applied directly to your skin. Bakuchiol (little b) is an active chemical component of Bakuchi oil. Sytenol®A Bakuchiol is an isolated and purified form of bakuchiol (little b) with the dangerous elements removed. Scroll down for more info.
UPDATE: Two Options Now. The base formula is the same for both options, with option 1 being the formula first introduced in 2022. Scroll down to see the ingredient highlights and the full ingredients list. *** Both options include n-alpha bisabolol, a plant terpene derived from the steam-distilled essential oil of the Candeia tree of Brazil (Terpenes are the most common class of chemical compounds present in essential oils). It’s renowned for its skin-soothing properties, as a natural antioxidant and antibacterial, and as a penetration enhancer. It has also been shown to have a skin-lightening effect by inhibiting the synthesis of melanin. It is an integral part of the formula.
Option 1 (NO EO): This option does not include additional essential oil enhancement. It is a good choice for those who prefer no additional essential oil in their facial skincare or those with more sensitive or reactive skin.
Option 2 (WITH EO): Enhanced with 1% helichrysum essential oil, juniper berry essential oil, and Geranium essential oil for a touch more aroma than that experienced with the original blend. 1% is just enough essential oil to impart a soft, slightly floral, herbaceous scent, plus you get a little more bang for your buck, so to speak: these essential oils are renowned for their healthy aging benefits and are also well tolerated by most skin types, making Option 2 suitable for those with mild sensitivities.
Ingredient Highlights:
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Just scratching the surface here - there’s a lot packed into this beautiful little berry and earning it a special spot in my skin care line.
Sea Buckthorn is an extremely powerful skincare oil LOADED with antioxidants and diverse healing compounds. Just the intense RED color suggests there’s something here.
Our skin is made up of 20% palmitoleic acid. As we age, production diminishes, contributing to the appearance of fine lines and skin aging. Palmitoleic acid is usually found in trace amounts in oils (1% max) Sea buckthorn berry oil contains a whooping 35%,
Vitamins A, Beta-carotene, squalene, campesterol, brassicrakol, Vitamin E, carotenoids, polyphenols, phytosterols. All work to protect against inflammation, promote elasticity, repair UV damage, stimulate collagen synthesis.
Extremely rich in antioxidant carotenoid components protects, heals and repairs skin.
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Alpha (a) Bisabolol is also known as levomenol, a natural monocyclic aromatic terpene. It’s the primary constituent of German chamomile essential oil, renown for it’s skin soothing properties.
Steamed distilled n-Bisabolol distilled from the bark of a tree. It can also be synthesized, so watch for the n- in front of the name.
Bisabolol is proven to be:
Anti-inflammatory - reducing redness, swelling, pain.
Antipruritic - reducing itch
Penetration enhancer: Bisabolol is well absorbed and enhances the absorption of other ingredients, greatly increasing the effectiveness of a lotion or cream.
Anti-oxidant: reduces oxidative stress on skin tissue.
Speeds healing of sunburn, mild burns, wounds, and skin irritation
Reduces the chance of scarring by speeding the healing of wounds and blemishes.
Anti-microbial: effective against staph, epidermidis, and corynebacteria, Candida albicans
Inhibits the break down collagen and stimulates collagen production helping soften and smooth skin texture, reducing the formation of fine lines.
A natural skin brightener by Inhibiting melanin synthesis and combating hyperpigmentation, may protect from skin cancer.
Decreases trans-epidermal water loss, increasing skin hydration and elasticity.
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Pomegranate Oil is a powerhouse of beneficial skin compounds:
Protects skin from free radical damage; able to absorb UVA and UVB solar rays, reducing the effects of ultraviolet radiation on the skin, including skin cancer. An excellent oil to use prior to sunscreen. It’s is being studied to determine if it can kill skin and breast cancer cells when applied topically.
Reduces skin inflammation
Inhibits pathogenic bacterial and fungal growth.
Speeds and improves wound healing.
Reduces the chances of acne breakouts or dandruff.
Promotes pro-collagen synthesis
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One of my absolute, favorite luxury facial oils! Some of you will know something about Squalane. Recently studied for its almost miraculous "healthy-aging" and skin softening properties. Our skin produces its own version of this vital oil, but over time produces less and less of it.
My source of squalane is Olive Oil. Olive oil squalane is renown for its ability to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It soaks in fast and leaves almost no residue! Extremely resistant to rancidity and will not clog pores (comedogenic rating = 0).
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Another healthy aging powerhouse oil is Argan nut oil, which grows in extremely harsh and particularly dry, dessert like conditions. Because of this “dry land” plant seed oil are especially beneficial as we age.
Argan nut oil is rich in diverse compounds, including vitamin E, polyphenols, sterols, and antioxidants with a silky smooth texture and quick absorption. It’s renown for it’s ability to support parched, dehydrated skin and protect from UV damage.
INGREDIENTS: †ØOlive Oil Squalane, ¥Pomegranate seed oil, ØTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate 10% (oil soluble Vit. C), Sytenol®A Bakuchiol, ¥Supercritical CO2 Extracted Sea Buckthorn Berry fruit oil, *¥Argan nut oil, *Vitamin E Acetate, †Steam distilled n-alpha bisabolol.
Ingredient key: *Organic, †Naturally Derived, ¥virgin + organic + unrefined + cold pressed, ØECOCERT
Option 1 NO EO: No additional essential oils enhancement.
Option 2 WITH EO: Enhanced with 1% helichrysum essential oil, juniper berry essential oil, and Geranium essential oil.
HOW TO USE: Day or Night
This ultra-light repair oil is all about soaking in fast and deep where it delivers its payload to your skin cells…
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Apply C Repair Oil after you freshen your skin in the morning. For a morning freshen up I suggest just splashing with warm water or enjoy a toning honey wash. How to Wash with Honey?
Pat dry, spritz with Hydrosol to tone, apply serum, lotion or cream first.
Apply 1-2 pumps of your C-Repair Oil and allow to soak in for about 4-5 minutes.
Always, every day, apply mineral zinc sunscreen and/or makeup.
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Remove sunscreen and makeup in one step with my Cold Cream Cleanser.
Pat dry, spritz with Hydrosol to tone, apply serum, lotion or cream first.
Apply 2-3 pumps of your C-Repair Oil and allow to soak in for about 4-5 minutes.
Digging deeper …
Why seek an alternative to Retinoids?
Today, the term "retinoids" is a catch-all for an array of vitamin A-based skincare products most commonly used for acne and anti-aging. Retinoids include retinal, retin-A, and retinol.
There are very few skincare ingredients that can compete with the proven efficacy of retinoids.
So why not just rely on these?
As we age, we produce fewer and fewer skin oils. Retinoids have been shown to decrease the size of oil-producing glands, impairing our skin’s ability to produce enough of its own oils to seal in dermal moisture, keep skin supple, and support the skin’s microbiome. As a result, over time, retinoid use can lead to feeling more persistently parched, tight, and dehydrated.
Retinoids often cause skin irritation, redness, and flaking. This is a well-documented problem with retinoids in general.
Retinoids can cause the skin to be more vulnerable to sun damage and should only be used at night. We can not include retinoids in our morning skincare routine without increasing the risk of sun damage.
Combining retinoids with vitamin C is a big no-no. These two ingredients do not play nice together, and doing so seriously increases the potential for enhanced photosensitivity. Beware of when and how you combine different skin care products to reduce this risk.
Retinoids are not safe to use during pregnancy.
Retinoids are entirely synthetic. So if you are interested in plant-derived skincare, give Bakchuciol a try.
Retinoid overuse can lead to the development of chronic skin dryness, irritation, and discoloration.
ENTER … Sytenol®A Bakuchiol
The compound bakuchiol (little b) is often referred to as “plant retinol” and is naturally present in the seed of the Bakuchi plant (Psoralea corylifolia). The plant itself goes by many common names and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times.
What most people interested in this “plant-retinol” are not aware of is the fact that the pressed seed oil contains naturally occurring compounds called psoralens, which can be phototoxic. I don’t think it wise to apply the pressed seed oil to our skin. I’m not the only one who shares this opinion; the unpurified seed oil is not recommended for the skin! Babchi oil-induced phytophotodermatitis mimicking burn injury - PMC
Sytenol®A Bakuchiol, on the other hand, is a highly purified extract of this seed - with the dangerous compounds removed. Bakuchiol | Sytenol® A | Sytheon Ltd.
At just 1% (the maximum recommended amount in a formula), Sytenol®A Bakuchiol has been clinically demonstrated to reduce hyperpigmentation and wrinkles as efficiently as retinol, along with high levels of skin tolerance. Considered very safe and unlikely to cause irritation or photodamage, earning an EGW Rating of 1, generally safe to use during pregnancy.
Sytenol®A Bakuchiol vrs. Retinoids
In this study (British Journal of Dermatology), comparing Sytenol®A Bakuchiol to retinoids, it was found to match retinoids pros without the cons: Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoaging.
Decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Improve skin tone and texture
Reduce hyperpigmentation
Does not cause phototoxicity
No increase in irritation, flaking, or scaling.
No reduction in natural skin oil production.
VITAMIN C IN SKINCARE:
The information I provide next is not widely known or appreciated.
If protecting against photoaging of the skin, the number one cause of skin damage is the reason we’re including Vitamin C in our skincare.. we need to take heed.
WHY?! When used incorrectly, most forms of Vitamin C have the potential to make our skin more vulnerable to the very thing we’re using it for in the first place: protection from the damaging rays of the sun.
There are over half a dozen “forms” of vitamin C used in skincare, leading to much confusion, even among experts.
To add to the confusion, most forms of Vitamin C can be extremely fragile with troubling reactive tendencies due in part to the rapid breakdown in the presence of oxygen, creating disease-causing “oxidized lipid metabolites.” These compounds are highly toxic to skin cells! Vitamin C derivative ascorbyl palmitate promotes ultraviolet-B-induced lipid peroxidation and cytotoxicity in keratinocytes.
How we use it, what we combine it with, the age of the product, how it’s handled by the user, the manufacturing process, and more all play a role in the oxidative process.
A real concern arises when we are including vitamin C in our routine, along with other products containing retinoids.
When combined with vitamin C, retinoids pose a real danger, having been proven to increase skin photosensitivity, impair skin pH, and damage the acid mantle.
ENTER …. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Vitamin C Ester
A stable, non-irritating, bio-available vitamin C ester with high anti-oxidant activity. Not only has this form of Vitamin C proven to support collagen production and help to minimize the effects of environmental aging while promoting a brighter, more luminous skin tone, BUT it’s also highly resistant to the dreaded lipid oxidation we see in ascorbic acid (safety data sheet), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Vitamin C Ester is safe, stable, and provides the antioxidant properties to support healthy aging.
RELEVANT PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH:
Babchi oil-induced phytophotodermatitis mimicking burn injury - PMC
Topical Vitamin C and the Skin: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications - PMC
Stability, transdermal penetration, and cutaneous effects of ascorbic acid and its derivatives. CHART (look for Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, also known as Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate)
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