When I first heard of bakuchiol, I thought it was yet another skincare ingredient slash marketing ploy carefully crafted to draw in the “all-natural” consumer group. A plant extract that acts like retinol without side effects? It sounds too good to be true, and conveniently fits the bill for those looking for “clean” and vegan product alternatives.

As a member of several beauty communities, I’ve noticed the different stages in a person’s dedication to beauty. It begins with a casual interest in cute products, followed by a more serious commitment like building a collection, and succeeded by being more aware of things like the ingredients that go into the products. If you’re part of the latter group, you might even find yourself questioning if all those other ingredients absolutely have to be in there.