Both bakuchiol and retinol reduced wrinkles and dark spots equally over 12 weeks. The key difference: retinol users experienced more scaling and stinging, while bakuchiol was gentler on skin. If you want retinol's anti-aging results without the irritation, bakuchiol performed just as well.

44 people used either 0.5% bakuchiol or 0.5% retinol for 12 weeks. Researchers took high-resolution photos and measured changes, while a dermatologist graded skin improvements without knowing who used what.

Funding not disclosed in abstract