In a nutshell, the research on bakuchiol so far seems promising, but more studies are needed. “It’s difficult to quantify the exact benefits on the skin because studies have either been performed in vitro, meaning not on human skin but in a lab, or have been performed without perfect study design, which makes drawing firm conclusions difficult.” As interest in so-called clean beauty continues to rise, bakuchiol has become one of the “it” ingredients in this category because of its purported ability to promote healthy skin aging. Makers of bakuchiol say it’s a natural, plant-derived alternative to a retinoid or retinol, which is a vitamin A–based chemical that helps improve the turnover of skin cells and stimulates collagen synthesis for smoother and more radiant skin. Updated Measures for Pregnancy Prevention During Retinoid Use. European Medicines Agency. March 23, 2018. Dhaliwal S, Rybak I, Ellis SR, et al. Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Assessment of Topical Bakuchiol and Retinol for Facial Photoaging. British Journal of Dermatology. February 2019.

It’s important to point out that this study was done on only 13 people, so more research is needed to fully understand how effective bakuchiol is in treating acne and how it compares with retinoids, which are commonly recommended to treat mild to moderate acne. The ingredient may also be effective on acne. In a pilot study, a topical 0.5 percent bakuchiol cream decreased the number of inflammatory lesions and lessened discoloration left over from healed acne spots, leading researchers to conclude that bakuchiol may be effective for mild to moderate acne, especially in skin of color. Chaudhuri RK, Bojanowski K. Bakuchiol: A Retinol-Like Functional Compound Revealed by Gene Expression Profiling and Clinically Proven to Have Anti-Aging Effects. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. June 2014.

Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

Brownell L, Geen S, Yaping E, et al. A Clinical Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Topical Bakuchiol (UP256) Cream on Facial Acne. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. March 2021.

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Can you use bakuchiol every day?

Bakuchiol has similar properties but is gentler on skin, so the idea is you get the perks (smoother, brighter skin) without the pitfalls (redness, irritation). Draelos ZDS, Gunt H, Zeichner J, et al. Clinical Evaluation of a Nature-Based Bakuchiol Anti-Aging Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. December 2020.