The anti-aging benefits of retinol are hardly a secret, but there is a plant-based alternative that’s slightly lesser known. The best bakuchiol serums deliver the brightening, tightening effects of retinol, minus the irritation—ever-more imperative as the temperatures dip.
Vogue’s Favorite Bakuchiol Serums
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Paula’s Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment
“Winter means lower humidity, more indoor heating, and a higher risk of dryness and barrier damage, which can amplify all of retinol’s side effects,” says Mollie Kelly Tufman, PhD, molecular biologist and founder of the Beauty Lab. Even for those who can tolerate retinol, “Swapping to bakuchiol [for the season] can be a smart move if your skin is feeling tight, flaky, or sensitized,” she notes. “You still get the benefits of retinol, but in a form that’s less likely to push an already-dry winter skin barrier over the edge.”
“The main benefit of bakuchiol is that it can stimulate collagen production,” board-certified dermatologist Mina Amin, MD, tells Vogue. “In a 12-week clinical study, bakuchiol resulted in significant improvement in facial fine lines and wrinkles, skin elasticity, firmness, and pigmentation.” Ready to give the botanical active a whirl? Ahead, get everything you need to know about bakuchiol—from the right serums to how to appropriately add the skin-care ingredient to your routine.
Best Overall: Isdin Isdinceuticals Melatonik
- Why We Love It: Designed for nighttime use, this three-in-one serum has a silky texture and active ingredients that work while you dream. “This is a great multitasking, lightweight serum-in-oil well-suited for mature skin,” Deanne Mraz, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut, previously told Vogue. “The hero ingredient—melatonin, a powerful antioxidant—works with your body’s natural circadian rhythm to support recovery and repair from acquired damage to skin cells [from] UV rays, environmental stressors, and oxidative damage.” Enriched with bakuchiol, “this also works proactively to restore skin vitality, elasticity, texture, and tone by stimulating collagen and elastin production,” Dr. Mraz said.
- Key Ingredients: Melatonin, vitamin C, bakuchiol
- Bakuchiol Concentration: Not disclosed
- Size: 30 ml