AM vs PM: Stratia Lipid Gold with Bakuchiol?

I used to slather bakuchiol on every morning like it was sunscreen. Turns out my skin was basically yelling at me in tiny red bumps.

Bakuchiol is a retinol alternative — but it’s not a morning thing. It breaks down in UV light, which makes it useless (or worse, irritating) if you’re not doing PM-only. Your expensive morning serum is literally evaporating by lunch.

Stratia Lipid Gold with Bakuchiol is $28 for 1.7 oz. The claim that got me? “Barrier repair plus retinol-like renewal in one step.” I was skeptical — that’s two jobs for one product.

Photo: ibnu ihza / Unsplash

It’s not a one-trick pony. The bakuchiol does the heavy lifting, but the lipid blend is doing the real work. Your skin can’t repair itself if the barrier’s broken — this fixes the foundation first.

• Bakuchiol: retinol-like cell turnover without the irritation
• Ceramide NP: fills gaps in your barrier like mortar
• Squalane: mimics your skin’s natural oil — sinks in fast
• Panthenol: stops the bakuchiol from drying you out

Photo: Rosa Rafael / Unsplash

It’s a thin golden lotion — not a cream, not a gel. Absorbs in about 20 seconds. Zero greasy film. I actually forgot I put it on twice, which for a PM product is a compliment.

Week two: I woke up with a random dry patch gone. Week three: my forehead lines looked… softer? Not gone, but like they’d relaxed. The weird part? My nose stopped producing an oil slick by morning.

Photo: El S / Unsplash

Redness down 40% (I checked with my roommate’s opinion, not a microscope). Pores looked smaller — they weren’t, but less gunk = they *appeared* smaller. Texture still exists. It’s not a miracle.

Photo: freestocks / Unsplash

Use it at night, every night, and give it a month. Your morning routine should stay boring — this is the evening drama you actually want.