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How this guide was made: researched from the 2019 bakuchiol vs retinol trial in the British Journal of Dermatology, the American Academy of Dermatology, Cleveland Clinic and MedlinePlus, plus Anna's own retinoid routine. Prices were checked on Amazon on November 2 and November 3, 2026.
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Bakuchiol gets called “plant-based retinol” everywhere. So is it really a gentler swap, or just a nice story? I’ve been on the retinoid side for years. I started with The Ordinary retinoids, moved up to prescription tretinoin, and now I use retinals too.
I used a bakuchiol cream for about 5 months, but I went back to tretinoin because I needed something stronger for my skin marks and acne scars.
In this post, we’ll look at what the research actually shows, who should pick which, and how to use each one without irritating your skin.
Retinol has decades of research behind it for fine lines, texture, and sun damage. Bakuchiol has much less. In one small 12-week study, both 0.5% bakuchiol and 0.5% retinol improved wrinkles and dark spots; researchers found no significant difference between them, and retinol caused more scaling and stinging. That’s promising, but it doesn’t prove they work equally well.
- Consider retinol if your skin handles it and you want the best-studied option.
- Consider bakuchiol if retinoids keep irritating you or you want a gentler option.
- Want something stronger? Ask a dermatologist whether prescription tretinoin fits your skin. That’s what I did.
If you’re building a full routine, my skincare routine for your 30s shows where a retinoid fits, and my guide to the types of wrinkles shows what each one needs.
What Is Bakuchiol, And What Is Retinol?
Retinol is a form of vitamin A. Your skin turns it into retinal (retinaldehyde), then into retinoic acid, the form that does the work. Tretinoin is retinoic acid itself, so it skips those steps, and that’s why it needs a prescription.
Bakuchiol comes from the seeds of the babchi plant (Psoralea corylifolia). It isn’t a retinoid and it isn’t vitamin A. In lab studies, it seems to switch on some of the same skin genes, which is why it gets the “plant-based retinol” label.
Plant-Based Retinol Vs Retinol: Where Each One Fits
Bakuchiol isn’t a retinoid, so it doesn’t belong on the retinoid ladder at all. Here’s how the common retinoids relate:
- Retinyl esters (like retinyl palmitate). They need the most conversion steps and are usually the mildest.
- Retinol. Your skin turns it into retinal, then retinoic acid. The most common over-the-counter retinoid.
- Retinal (retinaldehyde). One step away from retinoic acid.
- Tretinoin. Retinoic acid itself. Prescription-only, and the most studied for wrinkles.
- Adapalene. A different kind of retinoid, sold over the counter in the US and used mainly for acne.
The ingredient isn’t the whole story. A high-strength retinol can feel harsher than a gentle retinal, so strength and formula matter too.
Bakuchiol Vs Retinol Study: What The Research Shows
The study everyone cites is a 2019 randomized, double-blind trial in the British Journal of Dermatology. 44 people used either 0.5% bakuchiol twice a day or 0.5% retinol once a day for 12 weeks.
- Both groups had less wrinkle area and fewer dark spots.
- There was no statistically significant difference between them.
- The retinol group reported more scaling and stinging.
That’s promising, but keep it in proportion. The study was small and short, and the two products were used on different schedules (bakuchiol twice a day, retinol once). Finding no significant difference also isn’t the same as proving they work equally well. Retinoids, on the other hand, have decades of research, including long-term studies of tretinoin on sun-damaged skin. So bakuchiol looks like a real option, not a proven equal.
Research has continued since then. A 2026 trial in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology gave 73 adults either 0.5% bakuchiol or the same cream without it for 84 days. The bakuchiol group saw more improvement in wrinkles, dark spots, and radiance, with no peeling. But it didn’t test retinol; almost everyone in it was a woman, and it was funded by the company that makes the bakuchiol it tested.
Bakuchiol Vs Retinol: Side-By-Side
| Question | Bakuchiol | Retinol |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A plant extract from babchi seeds | A form of vitamin A (a retinoid) |
| Research | A few small studies, the main one 12 weeks long | Decades of studies |
| Fine lines and dark spots | Improved in the 2019 study | Improves with steady use |
| Irritation | Usually low | Dryness, peeling and stinging are common at first |
| When to use | Morning or night | Night |
| Sun sensitivity | Wear SPF anyway | Wear SPF every day |
| Pregnancy | Not well studied; ask your doctor | Avoid |
| Best for | Sensitive skin, retinoid beginners, gentle routines | Anyone whose skin tolerates it and wants proven results |
Bakuchiol Vs Retinol At A Glance
Read the infographic text
Bakuchiol (plant extract from babchi seeds): a few small studies; fine lines and spots improved in small studies; usually low irritation; morning or night; not well studied in pregnancy, ask your doctor; best for sensitive skin and gentle routines.
Retinol (a form of vitamin A, a retinoid): decades of studies; improves fine lines and spots with steady use; dryness and peeling at first; night only; avoid in pregnancy; best for skin that tolerates it.
The retinoid family: retinyl esters, retinol, retinal and tretinoin (prescription). The ones on the left need more conversion steps; tretinoin is retinoic acid itself. Bakuchiol is not a retinoid, so it sits outside this family. Strength and formula matter as much as the ingredient.
Good to know: in a small 12-week study, 0.5% bakuchiol and 0.5% retinol both improved wrinkles and dark spots with no significant difference, and retinol caused more stinging. That doesn't prove they work equally well. Wear SPF 30+ every morning with either one.
Quiz: Bakuchiol Or Retinol, Which Is Better For You?
Quiz
Bakuchiol or retinol: which fits you?
Answer all four questions to see what may fit you. It's a starting point for your own research or a chat with your dermatologist, not a prescription.
Answer all four questions to see your result.
A general guide, not medical advice. Patch test anything new and follow your product's label.
Bakuchiol Vs Tretinoin: Why I Stuck With Retinoids
I’ve tried both sides. I used a bakuchiol cream for about 5 months. It was a good, gentle cream, but I needed a more powerful formula for my skin marks and acne scars, so I went back to tretinoin. Bakuchiol isn’t bad. It just wasn’t enough for what I wanted. My 5 months with one cream isn’t a study, of course. It’s just what worked for my skin.
One thing worth knowing: post-acne dark marks and indented acne scars are different problems. Flat dark marks can fade with time, sunscreen, and topical treatments like retinoids. Deeper, indented scars often need in-office treatments, so a dermatologist is the best person to ask.
Here’s my retinoid path, step by step. Keep in mind it’s my established routine after years of retinoids, not a starting schedule.
Where I Started: The Ordinary Retinoids
I started with The Ordinary retinoids. They’re cheap, simple, and a good way to learn how your skin reacts. These days I mix The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane into my body cream. That’s my own habit, not a brand recommendation.
My bottle, photo enhanced with AI
Where I started
The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane
Best fit: A simple, budget retinol for skin that's ready for a higher strength
Price: $9.90 for 1 fl oz on Amazon (November 3, 2026)
My experience: I started with The Ordinary retinoids before I moved up to tretinoin. Now I mix this one into my body cream, which is my own habit, not a brand instruction.
Watch: The Ordinary suggests starting with the 0.2%, then the 0.5%, before the 1%. Use a few drops at night, refrigerate after opening and use within 3 months.
Check price on AmazonWhere I Am Now: Prescribed Tretinoin
My tretinoin is prescribed, and I use it every other night around my mouth but not on my lips. It’s the strongest option I’ve personally used. There’s no product card here because it’s prescription-only, so talk to a dermatologist about whether it’s right for you.
My Retinal Nights: celimax Retinal Shot
On my non-tretinoin nights, I use a retinal serum instead, so my face still gets a retinoid every night. My skin built up to that over years, so it’s not where to start. I never layer two retinoids on the same area in one night.
What I use
celimax Retinal Shot Tightening Booster
Best fit: An over-the-counter retinal (0.1%) for skin that's already used to retinoids
Price: $18.60 for 0.51 fl oz on Amazon (November 2, 2026)
My experience: I've used it for about a year, on my non-tretinoin nights. My skin looks plumper.
Watch: My first bottle came from a TikTok Shop seller. It was way too yellow, like paint, and it turned my skin red. I suspect it was counterfeit. Buy from a trusted seller.
Check price on AmazonRetinal For My Eyes: numbuzin Eye Cream
The skin under my eyes is thinner, so it gets its own retinal eye cream instead of my face retinoid.
My under-eye wrinkles guide has the rest of my eye routine.
What I use
numbuzin No.9 NAD+ Retinal Volumetox Eye Cream
Best fit: A retinal eye cream I use under my eyes
Price: $15.80 on Amazon (November 2, 2026)
My experience: I've used it for about a year.
Watch: Use one retinoid under the eyes, not two. I put moisturizer on top.
Check price on AmazonBefore the numbuzin, I used the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum: Ginseng + Retinal. It was good while it lasted, but I find the numbuzin better. I’m also loving the VT PDRN Reedle Shot Firming Eye Cream, which isn’t a retinoid. You can see how I use it in my skincare routine for your 30s.
Product image
What I used before
Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum: Ginseng + Retinal
Best fit: A budget retinal eye serum with ginseng and niacinamide
Price: $17 for 1.01 fl oz on Amazon (November 3, 2026)
My experience: I used it before the numbuzin. It was good while it lasted, but I find the numbuzin better.
Watch: It's still a retinoid, so don't layer it with another one under your eyes, and wear sunscreen.
Check price on AmazonHow To Start Retinol And Reduce Irritation
- Start slow. Use it 2 nights a week, then add a night every couple of weeks if your skin feels calm.
- Use the amount on your label for your whole face, on clean, dry skin. That’s usually a pea-sized amount of cream or a few drops of an oil.
- Moisturize after. If your skin is sensitive, you can apply moisturizer first to buffer it.
- Skip the corners. Keep it away from your lips, nostrils, and the inner eye area.
- Wear broad-spectrum SPF 30+ every morning. Retinoids can cause irritation and make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so use them at night and protect your skin by day.
- Give it time. Fine lines usually need 3 to 6 months of steady use.
How To Use Bakuchiol
- Follow your product’s label. In both studies above, people used 0.5% bakuchiol twice a day.
- It can go on in the morning or at night, before your moisturizer. It’s more stable than retinol, and the Cleveland Clinic says it pairs fine with vitamin C.
- Patch test first. Bakuchiol is gentle for most people, but any plant extract can cause a reaction.
- Wear sunscreen every day, too.
Can You Use Bakuchiol And Retinol Together?
Yes, many people do, and some formulas already combine them. That doesn’t guarantee that layering two separate products will be less irritating, though.
If you try it, add one at a time so you know what your skin is reacting to. I keep it simple: never two retinoids on the same area in one night. For more pairs to avoid, see my post on skincare products you shouldn’t mix.
Bakuchiol Vs Peptides: Which One Do You Need?
They do different jobs, so you don’t have to pick. Bakuchiol is used as a gentle retinol alternative. Some peptide formulas have evidence for improving the look of aging skin, but results depend on the peptide and the whole formula. I use a peptide essence with my retinoids, not instead of them. My guide to active ingredients explains how they fit together.
Bakuchiol Or Retinol During Pregnancy
Retinoids, including retinol and tretinoin, should be avoided if you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant. If you’re breastfeeding, the advice is less clear-cut, so check with your doctor first.
Bakuchiol is often called the pregnancy-safe swap, but it hasn’t been well studied in pregnancy. Ask your doctor before using it. Daily sunscreen is the safest anti-aging step while you wait.
FAQs About Bakuchiol Vs Retinol
Final Thoughts
Bakuchiol is a real, gentle option, and I’m glad it exists for sensitive skin and for anyone who can’t use retinoids right now.
But if your skin handles retinoids, they still have far more research behind them. For me, tretinoin and my retinals won. Choose the one your skin lets you use consistently, because steady use matters more than strength.
Plant power or retinol power,
Anna
P.S. from Sushi
Meow. Mommy keeps talking about bakuchiol and retinol, and it's sooo boring here. What is bakuchiol anyway? Can I eat it? No? Then give me a treat.
Safety Notes
Safety Notes
- Avoid retinoids, including retinol, retinal and tretinoin, if you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Ask your doctor about bakuchiol and while breastfeeding.
- Patch test new products, including plant extracts like bakuchiol.
- Don't use a retinoid on the same night as exfoliating acids or peels unless your dermatologist says so.
- Stop and see a doctor if you get swelling, blistering or a rash that doesn't settle.
- Wear SPF 30+ every day with any retinoid.
Resources
- British Journal of Dermatology (2019): Bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing
- Cleveland Clinic: Bakuchiol, a gentler retinol alternative
- American Academy of Dermatology: 11 ways to reduce premature skin aging
- American Academy of Dermatology: How to test skin care products
- MedlinePlus: Tretinoin topical
- Cleveland Clinic: Wrinkles
