Evidence recordApplied to skin
Bakuchiol
Answer
In one 12-week trial of 44 people, 0.5% bakuchiol twice daily and 0.5% retinol once daily both improved wrinkles and pigmentation, with no statistically significant difference between groups; retinol caused more scaling and stinging.
Check the formulaEvidence grade
Moderate
Useful human evidence supports the claim, with a meaningful limit in scale, duration, formulation or consistency.
Where it stops
This was one small head-to-head study with no plain-cream arm and different dosing schedules, not a non-inferiority or equivalence trial. Most other human studies in a systematic review were uncontrolled or tested combination formulas, and none of these sources establishes pregnancy safety.
Sources
Sources · 3
Source 1
Br J Dermatol, 2019- Design
- Randomized double-blind head-to-head study
- Participants
- 44
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Measured outcome
- wrinkle surface area, hyperpigmentation, scaling, stinging
- Studied formulation
- 0.5% bakuchiol cream twice daily, 0.5% retinol cream once daily
Finding
Randomized double-blind head-to-head study in 44 people over 12 weeks: both groups improved from baseline on wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation, with no statistically significant difference between groups; retinol users reported more scaling and stinging. There was no vehicle arm and the schedules differed.
Source 2
J Cosmet Dermatol, 2022- Design
- Systematic review of 29 reports
- Measured outcome
- photoageing, acne, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, adverse events
- Studied formulation
- bakuchiol alone or in combination formulas
Finding
Systematic review of 29 included reports found 16 preclinical studies and seven clinical studies; the evidence base was predominantly preclinical and the authors called for additional rigorous controlled human trials.
Source 3
Skin Res Technol, 2026- Design
- Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
- Participants
- 80
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Measured outcome
- skin lightness, colour evenness, spots, roughness, melanin, erythema, acne, elasticity
- Studied formulation
- genistein, bakuchiol, vitamins and ceramides combination product
Finding
Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in 80 men over 12 weeks: the combination modestly improved lightness, colour evenness, spots and some roughness measures, but not melanin, erythema, acne or elasticity. Bakuchiol was not tested alone.