{
  "id": "bakuchiol",
  "idVersion": 1,
  "ingredient": "Bakuchiol",
  "route": "topical",
  "grade": "moderate",
  "gradeLabel": "Moderate",
  "claim": "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.",
  "caveat": "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.",
  "published": "2026-09-19",
  "sources": [
    {
      "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29947134/",
      "journal": "Br J Dermatol",
      "year": 2019,
      "n": 44,
      "design": "Randomized double-blind head-to-head study",
      "duration": "12 weeks",
      "percentages": [],
      "outcome": "wrinkle surface area, hyperpigmentation, scaling, stinging",
      "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.",
      "formulation": "0.5% bakuchiol cream twice daily, 0.5% retinol cream once daily"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36176207/",
      "journal": "J Cosmet Dermatol",
      "year": 2022,
      "n": null,
      "design": "Systematic review of 29 reports",
      "duration": null,
      "percentages": [],
      "outcome": "photoageing, acne, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, adverse events",
      "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.",
      "formulation": "bakuchiol alone or in combination formulas"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41562471/",
      "journal": "Skin Res Technol",
      "year": 2026,
      "n": 80,
      "design": "Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial",
      "duration": "12 weeks",
      "percentages": [],
      "outcome": "skin lightness, colour evenness, spots, roughness, melanin, erythema, acne, elasticity",
      "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.",
      "formulation": "genistein, bakuchiol, vitamins and ceramides combination product"
    }
  ],
  "peopleReport": null
}