What is bakuchiol and how does it compare to retinol?

Bakuchiol is a plant-derived ingredient from the babchi plant that has been shown in studies to mimic retinol's collagen-stimulating and cell-turnover effects with significantly less irritation. It is a popular retinol alternative for sensitive, pregnant, or nursing skin. While effective, research suggests it is generally less potent than retinol at equivalent concentrations, but it works well as a complement or substitute.