After 12 weeks, bakuchiol and retinol performed equally well at reducing wrinkles and dark spots on the face. The key difference: bakuchiol caused significantly fewer side effects like scaling and stinging, making it gentler on skin while delivering similar anti-aging results.

44 people used either 0.5% bakuchiol or 0.5% retinol for 12 weeks in a double-blind study (meaning neither participants nor researchers knew who got what). High-resolution photos and dermatologist assessments tracked changes in wrinkles, pigmentation, and redness over time.

Funding not disclosed in abstract