Bakuchiol

A meroterpene phenol extracted from Psoralea corylifolia seeds that activates retinoid receptor pathways despite being structurally unrelated to retinol. One well-cited double-blind RCT (Dhaliwal et al., Br. J. Dermatology 2019) found 0.5% bakuchiol comparable to 0.5% retinol for lines and hyperpigmentation with significantly less peeling and sensitivity. A legitimate option for retinol-sensitive skin. Caveat: the comparison most marketing implies — to prescription tretinoin or higher-percentage retinols — is not what the evidence shows. Evidence base remains narrow compared to the retinol literature.