A plant compound sold as a gentle retinol alternative. One small head-to-head trial found it matched 0.5% retinol with less irritation; the evidence is thin.
Bakuchiol comes from the seeds and leaves of the babchi plant (Psoralea corylifolia). It has no structural resemblance to retinoids, but in lab skin models it switched on a similar set of genes, including collagen genes.
The best human study is a 12-week randomized, double-blind trial in 44 adults: 0.5% bakuchiol twice daily and 0.5% retinol once daily reduced wrinkle area and pigmentation about equally, and the retinol group had more scaling and stinging. That is encouraging, but small, short and without a placebo group.
One small randomized double-blind comparison with retinol (44 people, 12 weeks, no placebo arm) plus lab work and an uncontrolled case study from the ingredient supplier. Results are promising but unreplicated in large trials; 'as good as retinol' rests on that single trial.
44 adults applied 0.5% bakuchiol cream twice daily or 0.5% retinol cream daily for 12 weeks; both reduced wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no significant difference, and retinol users reported more scaling and stinging.
From the ingredient supplier: bakuchiol produced a gene-expression profile similar to retinol in a skin model and increased collagen production; a 12-week use study without a control group reported improved lines, pigmentation and firmness.