By Wishtrend might not flaunt the mainstream fame of the global giants yet among dedicated k-beauty followers it enjoys near cult status for its ingredient-focused formulas and science-leaning approach. The brand’s latest launch arrives with a wink in its title: Vitamin A-Mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream sounds like something a comic-book chemist would mix up after hours, promising heroic results while you sleep.
According to By Wishtrend this thick but hypoallergenic overnight treatment pairs a punchy 300 ppm of retinal with a generous 10 000 ppm of plant-based bakuchiol to firm dull skin, blur fine lines and leave pores looking tighter. The airless pump keeps those actives stable while a supporting cast of niacinamide, ceramides, centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid works to comfort and hydrate.
I spent a full two weeks patting it on nightly, logging texture changes and any side-effects to see whether the cream lives up to its confident name and deserves a spot in your routine.
Disclosure: this is not a paid or sponsored review. The jar was purchased with my own money and every opinion here reflects my personal experience. Your skin is unique so outcomes may differ.
What Is Vitamin A-Mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream?
This cream is classified as an overnight treatment, meaning it is designed to be applied as the last step of an evening routine and then left on while you sleep. Overnight products tend to feature active ingredients that can break down in sunlight or increase skin sensitivity, so night-time use reduces irritation risk and allows the skin’s natural repair processes to take advantage of those actives.
The formula pairs two vitamin A derivatives: retinal at 300 ppm and bakuchiol at 10 000 ppm. Retinal is the direct precursor to retinoic acid, the form the skin can use immediately, so it usually works faster than classic retinol. Bakuchiol is a plant extract that delivers similar benefits to retinoids but with a lower likelihood of flaking or redness. Together they aim to improve uneven tone, fine lines and overall firmness while being less aggressive than prescription-strength options.
Beyond vitamin A, the cream contains niacinamide for barrier support, ceramides and macadamia oil for moisturization, centella asiatica to calm potential irritation and multiple weights of hyaluronic acid for water retention. The texture is intentionally thick to seal these ingredients in overnight and the product sits in an airless pump to protect sensitive actives from oxygen and light.
In short, this is a leave-on night cream that targets early signs of aging, texture irregularities and dehydration by combining potent but buffered actives with barrier-friendly hydrators.
Did It Work?
In the name of science I benched my usual overnight serum for three full days before starting this test run, which felt very lab-coat worthy even if the rest of the routine stayed the same cleanser toner lightweight essence then this cream on top. Fourteen nights seemed long enough for first impressions yet short enough to dodge the purging phase some retinoids can trigger.
The pump dispenses a small dollop a little larger than a pea. One and a half pumps covered face and neck without piling on excess. I warmed it between fingertips then pressed it in rather than massaging which helped it sit better. The texture is rich almost buttery and leaves a dewy film that never quite dries down so side-sleepers may find a bit transfers to the pillow.
Nights one to three brought a faint tingle around my nose and chin plus a whisper of redness by morning that subsided after moisturizer and SPF. No flaking or burning though which I often get from over-zealous retinol products. By night five the tingle had vanished and my skin felt comfortably hydrated when I woke up not tight or shiny.
Midway through the trial I noticed a soft focus finish when I looked in the mirror at breakfast. Texture on my cheeks appeared a touch smoother and a post-blemish mark on my jaw started to soften at the edges. Pores around my nose however looked unchanged and two tiny clogged bumps popped up on my forehead, likely from the heavier occlusive base.
By day fourteen the “wow” moment had not arrived. My complexion was even and calm which is always welcome yet fine lines at the outer corners of my eyes looked identical in depth. Firmness claims were hard to verify too; skin felt plush thanks to the emollients but not measurably tighter. In short the cream delivered gentle exfoliation level glow and solid overnight moisture without irritation but stopped shy of transformative.
Will I keep it in rotation? I will finish the tube on retinoid rest nights because it plays nice with my barrier yet I will not rush to repurchase. It works, just not quite well enough to nudge my current favourites off the shelf.
Main Ingredients Explained
Retinal sits at the heart of this formula, present at a respectable 300 ppm. It is the direct precursor to prescription retinoic acid so it converts quickly once applied delivering collagen stimulation and mild surface exfoliation. Think of it as the more efficient cousin of retinol yet still gentler than a doctor’s script. Because vitamin A can thin the uppermost skin layer you will want to introduce it slowly and always pair it with diligent SPF the morning after.
Bakuchiol clocks in at a headline-grabbing 10 000 ppm. Extracted from the babchi seed this phyto-compound has been shown to target wrinkle depth and uneven tone in a manner similar to retinoids but with a calmer side-effect profile. It also doubles as an antioxidant which helps defend against free-radical dullness.
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) arrives early in the INCI list at a likely barrier-supporting 2-5 percent. Over time it strengthens the lipid wall so moisture stays in and irritants stay out. It also helps rein in excess sebum so can cut down the chance of future clogged pores.
Ceramide NP teams up with macadamia seed oil hydrogenated lecithin and glycerin to replenish lost lipids and cushion the skin overnight. Macadamia oil carries a moderate comedogenic rating of 3 so if you are highly prone to congestion this richer emollient could potentially sit in pores and trigger bumps. (Comedogenic means an ingredient has the potential to clog follicles and spark blackheads or breakouts though individual tolerance varies.)
Centella asiatica extract and its triterpenes soothe redness while beta-glucan and adenosine step in to calm any retinal sting. Three molecular weights of hyaluronic acid plus trehalose give the cream its bouncy finish by pulling water into the epidermis and holding it there till morning.
The rest of the deck is largely functional: an airless pump with low-irritation preservatives like hydroxyacetophenone and ethylhexylglycerin keeps the formula stable fragrance free and friendly even for sensitive noses.
Is it vegan? Not quite. The presence of collagen (an ingredient usually sourced from fish or bovine skin) means strict vegans will want to skip it though vegetarians who are comfortable with animal-derived proteins may be fine. The blend is otherwise free of animal-based waxes or lanolin.
Pregnancy safety is a harder line. Dermatologists generally advise avoiding topical vitamin A derivatives when expecting or nursing so anyone in that chapter should seek medical approval before applying.
One last note for ingredient obsessives: the cream is silicone-light relying more on plant oils and triglycerides for occlusion so it layers well under slugging balms if you need extra winter protection.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Here is the quick rundown after two weeks of nightly use.
What Works Well:
- Buffered retinal plus bakuchiol delivers gentle brightening with little to no peeling or sting after the first few nights
- Rich occlusive base leaves skin comfortably hydrated till morning so extra moisturizer is optional
- Airless pump keeps the actives stable and dispenses a tidy pea sized amount with no mess
- Barrier friendly blend of niacinamide ceramides and centella helps counter typical retinoid dryness so routine adjustment is minimal
What to Consider:
- Thicker texture may not suit very oily or acne prone skin and can transfer to pillowcase for side sleepers
- Results show up gradually so anyone seeking a dramatic lift or pore shrinkage might feel underwhelmed
- Falls on the pricier side for a mid strength vitamin A cream compared with similar k beauty options
My Final Thoughts
Two weeks in, Vitamin A-Mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream has earned a solid 7/10 in my ledger. It behaves like a courteous houseguest: respectful of the barrier, mildly brightening, always leaving a glass of hydration by the bedside. Yet like many polite visitors it also shies away from tackling the heavier chores, so the deeper wrinkles and enlarged pores remain much the same. I have tested enough overnight treatments to know that a fortnight is only the opening chapter, still most of my go-to vitamin A creams manage to hint at bigger things to come within that time. Here the promises feel a touch ambitious for the pace of progress on display, though nothing rings blatantly untrue.
Who will appreciate it? Beginners to retinal, anyone prone to retinoid irritation, normal to dry skins that crave a cushy occlusive layer and those who enjoy a fuss-free pump. Who should think twice? Very oily or congestion-prone types, impatient seekers of dramatic tightening and budget hawks comparing cost per ounce.
Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, but with caveats. I would flag that the glow is gradual, advise them to keep blotting papers handy if they are shiny by nature and remind them that stronger options exist once their skin is ready for a step up.
If you want alternatives I have road-tested plenty. Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is my favourite all-rounder: silky texture, balanced actives and a friendlier price tag that makes nightly diligence easier. For a more clinical vibe Advanced Night Restore by Medik8 layers peptides over a lightweight ceramide base and leaves skin feeling freshly pressed by morning. On dehydrated evenings the classic Water Sleeping Mask from LANEIGE drenches without clogging, while Murad’s Resurgence Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream delivers a slightly punchier retinol hit wrapped in a surprisingly breathable gel-cream.
Before you hit checkout remember the sensible stuff. Patch test on the jawline first (sorry for sounding like an over-protective parent) and build up usage slowly if you are new to vitamin A. Keep SPF in heavy rotation the next day, understand that results plateau when you slack off and accept that skincare is maintenance not magic.