The best bakuchiol anti-ageing products

This naturally-derived, sustainable ingredient shows promise in a field overrun with nonsense claims

I try not to burden you with unpronounceable beauty jargon but – just when you’d finally twisted your tongue around hyaluronic andretinyl palmitate – I invite you to wrestle with: bakuchiol. This naturally derived, sustainable ingredient shows much promise in a world overrun with nonsense claims.

Early but credible clinical trials suggest that bakuchiol, while wholly different from proven skin anti-ager retinol in terms of composition, behaves similarly: reducing wrinkles, improving firmness, evening out skin texture and tone – only without any of retinol’s drawbacks. Unlike retinol, bakuchiol is photostable, meaning it can be worn day and night instead of only the latter. It doesn’t cause increased sensitivity or redness, or the telltale peeling of early retinol use. It needn’t be packaged as carefully. It’s thought to be safe in pregnancy. Rosacea and eczema sufferers who mightn’t touch retinol with a bargepole can also get in on the act – even at high concentrations (you want at least 0.5% bakuchiol).