active
Bakuchiol
The plant-derived (Psoralea corylifolia / Cullen corylifolium seed) retinol-alternative that Ole Henriksen, Herbivore Bakuchiol Retinol Alternative, and Biossance Phyto-Retinol turned into a clean-prestige category. Real clinical data (Dhaliwal et al. 2019 split-face vs retinol) shows comparable wrinkle and pigment benefit with significantly less irritation — the rare clean substitute that lives up to the marketing. Pregnancy-safe positioning (vs retinol contraindication) drives demand.
Benefits
- retinol-comparable smoothing and tone-evening with less irritation
- pregnancy- and breastfeeding-safe (one of the few alternatives that is)
- AM-compatible — no photosensitization, unlike retinol
Example uses
- Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum
- Herbivore Bakuchiol Retinol Alternative
- pregnancy-safe night serums
Formulation notes
Effective at 0.5–2% in serums, oils, and creams. Oil-soluble — formulates naturally with squalane, jojoba, marula, rosehip. Pairs with vitamin C (AM) and panthenol/ceramides (PM). Stable across pH and light, which retinol is not.
Watchouts
Sourcing variability — Psoralea corylifolia harvest pressure in India is the open sustainability question; Sytheon's Sytenol A is the standardized synthesized-equivalent for traceability. Concentration honesty matters — many SKUs use trace amounts and overstate the claim.
INCI & aliases
psoralea corylifolia extract · cullen corylifolium · sytenol a · phyto-retinol
Clean beauty perception
Strongly trusted — the rare clean alternative with peer-reviewed equivalence data.
Brands using Bakuchiol
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