Comparative Efficacy of Bakuchiol Oil and Encapsulated Bakuchiol Cream on Facial Skin Quality: A 28-Day Pilot Study

Context: Along with the rapid growth of the beauty product industry, the community highly favors the use of plants as beauty ingredients and facial treatments. Bakuchiol, a lipid-soluble compound derived from Psoralea corylifolia is a gentle alternative to retinol in anti-aging skincare. To enhance its penetration into the skin, bakuchiol is formulated in liposomes through encapsulation technology. Aims: To compare the efficacy of 0.5% bakuchiol oil and encapsulated 0.5% bakuchiol cream formula on facial skin quality. Methods: The subjects consisted of 17 respondents, aged 25-45 years, with various skin types. Two creams, 0.5% bakuchiol oil cream and encapsulated 0.5% bakuchiol cream, were applied twice daily in the split face for 28 days. The study utilized the A -One Tab Skin Analyzer device to measure facial skin quality by scanning facial moisture, pores, sebum, and wrinkles levels on days 0, 14, and 28. Data obtained in the form of numerical values were analyzed using a comparative method employing both parametric and non-parametric methods with the aid of the SPSS software. Results: The study results indicated that both creams enhanced skin moisture, reduced pore size, and improved wrinkle scores. However, the encapsulated bakuchiol cream performed better in minimizing pore size, sebum levels, and wrinkle scores. Conclusions: The study findings imply that the use of encapsulated 0.5% bakuchiol cream formulation had a more pronounced effect on improving facial skin quality compared to the 0.5% bakuchiol oil cream formulation, signifying the superior efficacy of the former.