12 Best Bakuchiol Skincare Products That Are Derms' Anti-Aging Secret Weapons

Best Overall

ISDIN Isdinceutics Melatonik Serum

$175 at Amazon $175 at Dermstore $170 at Isdin.com

Skin Type: Dry | Benefits: Reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines & firmness | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This one serum can do the job of about three or four, cutting your skincare application time in half. “This is a great nighttime product that I recommend often,” says Robinson. “It combines bakuchiol with vitamin C and topical melatonin, ingredients that work together to repair damaged skin cells and promote flexible, rejuvenated skin while you sleep.” (And no, unlike the oral supplement, topical melatonin won’t make you sleepy, but it is a potent antioxidant.)

It’s a top choice for bedtime skincare routines to undo any damage from environmental free radicals incurred during the day. And the serum-in-oil texture both applies and soaks into the skin beautifully, so you never have to worry about ending up with greasy residue on your pillow.

Best Budget

Acure Bakuchiol Serum

$10 at Amazon View on Grove.co View on Acure.com

Skin Type: All | Benefits: Rejuvenates and protects the skin | Size: 0.6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While retinol formulas are plentiful at the drugstore, that’s not quite the case with bakuchiol (though here’s hoping that's changing). That makes wallet-friendly finds like this one all the more noteworthy. As the name suggests, it’s a two-part formula. The top layer is an antioxidant-rich essence, and the bottom is a moisturizing serum (so make sure to give it a good shake before using it to blend the two). Bakuchiol, soothing blue tansy extract, and skin-balancing probiotics are all in the mix.

It has such a hydrating, silky formula, so we recommend this for dry skin types who are looking to add moisture to their anti-aging routine. Retinol can often be drying, so this is a great alternative that can still work to combat signs of aging.

Best With Antioxidants

Oskia Pro-Collagen Serum

View on Spacenk.com

Skin Type: Dry, normal, combination, oily | Benefits: Reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines & firmness | Size: 0.19, 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This pick is a reformulation of the brand’s OG Super 16 serum, now including, you guessed it, bakuchiol. It’s just one of a litany of nutrients and bio-active ingredients that includes, among other things, a mineral-rich seaweed extract, assorted B vitamins, and a variety of antioxidants to promote a youthful complexion by protecting the skin from environmental stressors such as pollution.

It's a bit sticky when you first rub it in, but it absorbs fast and plumps and hydrates skin pretty much instantly. Plus, it smooths out lines and wrinkles with continued use. If you're looking for a serum that feels lightweight on the skin and absorbs well under your sunscreen and makeup, this is the pick for you.

Best Night Cream

OLEHENRIKSEN Goodnight Glow Retin-ALT Crème

$36 at Kohls.com

Skin Type: Dry, normal, combination, oily | Benefits: Evens skin tone and targets fine lines and wrinkles | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie associate social media editor Star Donaldson loves this p.m. powerhouse. Unlike retinol, you don’t have to use bakuchiol at night, but it’s always a good idea to apply active ingredients while you snooze; that’s when your skin naturally goes into repair mode and can best maximize the product's effects. Along with the bakuchiol, there are alpha-hydroxy acids—glycolic and lactic—for a mild exfoliating effect that can mitigate acne and hyperpigmentation and further ups your skin’s glow factor. Finally, tons of moisturizing and conditioning ingredients will help you wake up with a soft and supple complexion.

Best Serum

InnBeauty Project Slushy

$32 at Sephora $28 at Credo Beauty View on Innbeautyproject.com

Skin Type: All | Benefits: Hydrates and protects in one | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A universal rule of thumb: serums will always give you a better bang for your buck when reaping the effects of active ingredients. They tend to contain a much higher concentration than what's in creams or lotions. Technically, this one is a serum-moisturizer hybrid—a unique texture, consistency, and concept unlike what we’ve seen before. Bakuchiol extract gets spun into a hyaluronic acid-based serum at a super-high speed during formulation, resulting in a fun-to-use, slushy-like texture. It also has yuzu in its formula, which contains naturally occurring vitamin C to boost radiance and even skin tone.

This is a one-stop shop that does everything from hydrating to minimizing the appearance of pores. And we’d be remiss not to mention the brand’s sustainability efforts—this product boasts the first-ever completely curb-side recyclable bottle (it’s made with no metal spring so that it can go straight into the bin). If you have oily skin or skin that gets irritated easily from rich or heavy products, we think this will be a great pick to add to your routine.

Best Mask

Cocokind Resurfacing Sleep Mask

$24 at Amazon View on Cocokind.com

Skin Type: All | Benefits: Reduces the appearance of dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles while hydrating skin | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Swap your standard night cream for this overnight mask a few times per week and prepare to be amazed. The bakuchiol in the formula targets lines and dark spots while other plant-derived ingredients, like beta-glucan and squalane, work to keep the skin barrier strong and healthy. The result: skin that looks smoother, more even, and much more supple come morning. Beauty sleep indeed. The only thing we don't love about it is it has a somewhat viscus consistency.

Best Eye Cream

Burt’s Bees Renewal Firming Eye Cream

$14 at Amazon $18 at Walmart View on Burtsbees.com

Skin Type: All | Benefits: Deeply hydrates and improves skin texture around the eye to reduce dark circles and puffiness | Size: 0.58 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you have dry eyes or wear contact lenses, using retinol on wrinkles around the eyes is not recommended, as it could cause even more irritation. However, with this bakuchiol-based cream, you can effectively address fine lines and other signs of aging that are prone to that area without upsetting the delicate skin balance there. Paired with hydrating vitamin E, it's the star of the show in this 99% natural formula. The only downside? The packaging makes it challenging to use up all of the product.

Best With Retinol

Revision Skincare Retinol Complete 1.0

$134 at Amazon $122 at Dermstore

Skin Type: All | Benefits: Combats dryness and smooths | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

“This is a personal favorite of mine, as it contains both retinol and bakuchiol, along with vitamin C to address multiple signs of aging,” says Robinson. Aka, it's the skincare minimalist's dream. While yes, bakuchiol and retinol are often positioned as an either/or situation, by combining small amounts of time-released retinol (a more stable version that causes less irritation) with bakuchiol, this product can deliver all of the skin benefits of retinol more gently, explains Robinson. Bakuchiol even enhances retinol’s effects, not to mention it offers those always important antioxidant properties.

Best With Retinol, Runner-Up

Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment

$65 at Amazon $65 at Sephora $65 at Dermstore

Skin Type: All | Benefits: Firms and smooths signs of aging | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This product is another great starter pick if you want to ease into retinol (or keep the ingredient concentration to a minimum); it only has a 0.3% concentration. It's also a more affordable option. We think it's one of the best anti-aging picks for sensitive skin as it's a gentler formulation. However, if you have eczema or other skin conditions, you might want to choose a formula that only contains bakuchiol—retinol can still be somewhat irritating. 

This formula can target myriad skin issues, from wrinkles to uneven tone and texture. It also contains peptides (an ingredient popular for boosting collagen and treating fine lines) as another active, making it the perfect, multitasker to add to your anti-aging routine.

Best Firming

Erno Laszlo Firming Cream

$108 at Amazon $146 at Ecosmetics.com

Skin Type: All | Benefits: Contours and firms the skin | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If sagging skin—which can happen as you age due to the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin—is your primary complexion concern, try this guy. A dynamic duo of bakuchiol and spirulina maxima (aka blue-green algae) work together to re-contour and re-firm the skin. It’s also packed with heavy-hitting hydrating ingredients (think chia seed oil, shea butter, and olive oil), but the texture is still lightweight enough to use either morning or night.

Best Product Booster

BYBI Beauty Squalane Oil Booster

View on Amazon View on The Detox Market View on Bybi.com

Skin Type: All | Benefits: Contours and firms the skin | Size: 0.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We truly appreciate that this pick contains, quite literally, only two ingredients—bakuchiol and olive-derived squalane. But we also love this for a super-easy way to incorporate straight-up bakuchiol into your existing routine. Mix a few drops of this into any serum, moisturizer, or balm you’re already using—it’s that easy. (Yes, you can also use it solo.)

Best Moisturizer

Alpyn Beauty PlantGenius Melt Moisturizer

$60 at Amazon $25 at Sephora $25 at Credo Beauty

Skin Type: All | Benefits: Hydrates and plumps the skin | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Keeping your skin well hydrated is a big part of keeping fine lines and wrinkles at bay, so a nourishing moisturizer with bakuchiol in the formula is clutch. We love this one from Alpyn Beauty, a brand that prioritizes wild plants and natural ingredients in its formulas. It also contains ceramides, squalane, and hyaluronic acid for extra moisture (and moisture-locking ability) and has a lightweight texture that soaks into the skin easily and doesn't feel heavy. With continued use, you'll notice that your skin feels softer and smoother and looks brighter.