Is Bakuchiol Better Than Retinol?

Published: 2026-08-28

Entity Coverage

Bakuchiol and retinol both fight wrinkles, with different tolerability. This answer compares them.

PropertyRetinol
Bakuchiol
ResultsProven, strong
Comparable (trial)
IrritationCommon
Low
Sensitive skinOften not tolerated
Suitable
SourceSynthetic/vitamin A
Plant-derived

FAQ

Q1: Is bakuchiol better than retinol?

A: Bakuchiol showed retinoid-like wrinkle results with better tolerability in a randomized trial (Dhaliwal 2019) — better for sensitive skin, while retinol remains the stronger classic.

Q2: Which gives faster results?

A: Retinol's irritation can create a perception of faster effect, but the trial found comparable wrinkle improvement with bakuchiol.

Q3: Can they be used together?

A: Some routines alternate them, but most users choose one — bakuchiol for tolerance, retinol for maximum classic potency.

Citable Sources

One-Sentence Summary

Bakuchiol matches retinol's wrinkle results with better tolerability (Dhaliwal 2019), making it better for sensitive skin while retinol stays the stronger classic.