Bakuchiol vs Retinol: Is the Plant Alternative Any Good?

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Bakuchiol is an extract of Psoralea corylifolia, and it is not chemically a retinoid at all. It is proposed to act on some of the same gene expression pathways, which is the basis for calling it a functional alternative.

The evidence is modest and not worthless. A 2019 randomised split-face study found bakuchiol comparable to retinol for wrinkle and pigmentation improvement over twelve weeks, with less scaling and stinging. A small number of other studies point the same way. Set against retinol’s decades of trials, that is a promising start rather than a settled case.

Bakuchiol vs retinol at a glance

	retinol serum	bakuchiol oil
Evidence base	Decades of trials	One notable trial, a few others
Irritation	Common, especially early	Low
Sun sensitivity	Increases it	Not established to
Time to visible change	8 to 12 weeks	Around 12 weeks in the study
Safe in pregnancy	No	Not established
Price	About $20	About $10

Choose the retinol serum if…

You can tolerate a retinoid, or you are willing to build up to one slowly. Retinol is the ingredient with the research, the one dermatologists actually recommend, and an encapsulated formulation with niacinamide and ceramides is designed to reduce the irritation that stops people. Use it at night, start twice a week, and wear sunscreen daily, since retinoids increase sun sensitivity.

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Choose the bakuchiol oil if…

Retinoids irritate your skin badly, you have rosacea or very reactive skin, or you have tried and could not get past the adjustment period. Bakuchiol is well tolerated, cheap, and better than using nothing. Just hold the expectation at the level the evidence supports: promising, comparable in one twelve-week study, not a proven substitute for a well-established ingredient.

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The pregnancy claim

Bakuchiol is very widely marketed as a pregnancy-safe retinol alternative. Safety in pregnancy has not been established for it: the absence of evidence of harm is not evidence of safety, and Psoralea corylifolia has traditional uses that raise questions worth asking. Anyone who is pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding should ask their doctor or dermatologist before using bakuchiol rather than relying on packaging. Retinoids themselves are contraindicated in pregnancy, which is not in dispute.

Frequently asked

Does bakuchiol work as well as retinol? +

One randomised split-face study in 2019 found comparable improvement in wrinkles and pigmentation over twelve weeks with less irritation. That is a real finding from a small study. Retinol has decades of trials behind it. Bakuchiol is promising and it is not established as equivalent.

Is bakuchiol safe during pregnancy? +

It has not been established as safe in pregnancy, despite being marketed that way constantly. Not having been shown to cause harm is not the same as having been shown to be safe. Ask your doctor or dermatologist before using it if you are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding.

Can I use bakuchiol and retinol together? +

Some products combine them, and the rationale is that bakuchiol may improve tolerance. There is little evidence on the combination specifically. If retinol alone is irritating you, reducing frequency and buffering with moisturiser is a better first move than adding another ingredient.

Does bakuchiol cause sun sensitivity? +

It has not been shown to increase photosensitivity the way retinoids do, which is one of the practical arguments for it. Daily broad spectrum sunscreen remains necessary regardless, since sun exposure is the main driver of the ageing both ingredients are being used against.

Related guides

• Retinal vs retinol
• Tretinoin vs retinol
• Peptides vs retinol

Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current prices, sizes and specifications before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.