Bakuchiol works like retinol without being retinol—it reduces wrinkles, dark spots, and acne in ways comparable to actual retinoids. Researchers looked at 30 studies and found it delivers real anti-aging results, plus one bonus: lab tests suggest it might have anti-cancer properties on skin cells. The downside? Only one adverse event (contact dermatitis) was reported, but there's not enough human testing yet to know the full safety picture.

This was a systematic review—researchers searched through PubMed for all published studies on bakuchiol and skin. Of the 30 studies they found, most were lab-based (16), with only 7 actual human trials, plus reviews and one adverse event report.

Funding not disclosed in abstract