Can You Use Bakuchiol in the Morning? Bakuchiol, Sunlight & Sunscreen Explained

Bakuchiol is often discussed alongside retinol, which can create an understandable question: should bakuchiol also be reserved for the evening?

The short answer is no.

Current evidence supports the use of bakuchiol during the day as well as at night. Unlike retinoids, bakuchiol has not been shown in clinical studies to increase photosensitivity, and available stability research suggests that bakuchiol is considerably more stable under light exposure than retinol. That makes it a practical ingredient for both morning and evening skincare routines.

That does not, however, make sunscreen optional.

Does Bakuchiol Make Skin More Sensitive to the Sun?

One of the practical differences between bakuchiol and traditional retinoids is their relationship with daytime use.

Retinoids can be associated with irritation and increased sensitivity, and retinol itself is chemically vulnerable to light. Bakuchiol behaves differently.

In a 12-week randomized clinical study comparing 0.5% bakuchiol with 0.5% retinol, participants using bakuchiol applied it twice daily — morning and evening. Researchers reported no photosensitivity in the bakuchiol group and specifically noted that it was well tolerated during daytime use. Participants using retinol also experienced more scaling and stinging.

More recent laboratory stability research also demonstrates a substantial difference under prolonged light exposure. In one study, bakuchiol retained considerably more of its original concentration than retinol after extended light exposure, although bakuchiol itself was not completely immune to degradation over time.

So the more accurate conclusion is not that bakuchiol is completely unaffected by light.

It is that bakuchiol is considerably more compatible with daytime use than retinol, and available clinical evidence has not demonstrated the same increase in photosensitivity.

Can You Use Bakuchiol in the Morning?

Yes.

Bakuchiol can form part of a morning skincare routine, provided the finished product itself is designed for daily use.

A simple morning routine might look like:

1. Cleanse
Begin with clean skin.

2. Apply lightweight serums if used
Water-based products are generally applied before richer creams.

3. Apply your bakuchiol moisturiser or treatment
If bakuchiol is already incorporated into a moisturising cream, that product can perform both roles in a single step.

4. Finish with sunscreen
Broad-spectrum sunscreen remains the final step of a morning skincare routine.

Bakuchiol's daytime compatibility should never be interpreted as protection from ultraviolet radiation.

If Bakuchiol Does Not Increase Photosensitivity, Why Do You Still Need Sunscreen?

Because sunscreen and bakuchiol have entirely different jobs.

Bakuchiol is a cosmetic skincare active studied for concerns including the visible appearance of wrinkles, pigmentation and photoageing. Sunscreen, by contrast, is designed to protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation.

A skincare active being suitable for daytime use does not mean that it provides meaningful UV protection.

Daily sun protection remains particularly important when your objective is to address visible signs associated with cumulative sun exposure or uneven pigmentation.

A 2026 randomized study of topical bakuchiol also reported improvements in measures including wrinkle appearance and hyperpigmentation, but those findings do not turn bakuchiol into a substitute for sun protection.

The practical rule remains simple:

Bakuchiol may be used during the day. Sunscreen should still finish the morning routine.

Does Bakuchiol Need to Be Paired With a Moisturiser?

Not necessarily.

The answer depends on the format of the product, rather than bakuchiol itself.

If you use a lightweight bakuchiol serum or oil, you may still prefer to follow it with a moisturiser depending on your skin and the rest of the formulation.

If bakuchiol is already incorporated into a properly formulated moisturising cream, however, a second moisturiser is not automatically necessary.

This distinction matters because skincare routines are sometimes built around isolated ingredients rather than finished formulations.

A finished cream is more than its hero active. Humectants, emollients, occlusive ingredients, peptides, botanical components and the overall formulation determine how the product behaves on skin.

Where Crème de L’Éternité™ Fits

MELANUA® Crème de L’Éternité™ is not a bakuchiol serum that requires a separate moisturiser afterwards.

It is a rich daily moisturising cream formulated with bakuchiol alongside Matrixyl® 3000 peptides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, shea butter, macadamia oil, sweet almond oil and Australian Kakadu plum.

That allows bakuchiol to sit inside the moisturising step itself.

For that reason, Crème de L’Éternité™ is designed for morning or evening use rather than being treated exclusively as a night-time active.

Morning

Cleanse → serum if desired → Crème de L’Éternité™ → sunscreen

Evening

Cleanse → serum if desired → Crème de L’Éternité™

Whether additional products are needed ultimately depends on individual skin needs, climate and the rest of the routine.

Is Bakuchiol the Same as Retinol?

No.

Bakuchiol and retinol are chemically different ingredients.

Bakuchiol is frequently described as a retinol alternative because research has investigated overlapping cosmetic outcomes, including the appearance of wrinkles and pigmentation. In the well-known 2019 comparative clinical study, both ingredients improved measured signs of facial photoageing, while bakuchiol was better tolerated.

That does not make the two ingredients interchangeable.

Their chemistry, stability, tolerability and use patterns differ — and those differences are part of why bakuchiol can be particularly interesting for people who want an active-led routine that can extend comfortably into the daytime.

For a deeper comparison, read Bakuchiol vs Retinol: The Evidence Behind Two Different Approaches to Skin Ageingin the MELANUA Journal.

The Takeaway

Bakuchiol does not need to be treated as a night-only ingredient simply because it is often compared with retinol.

Available evidence indicates that:

• bakuchiol can be used during the morning as well as the evening;

• clinical studies have not demonstrated the increased photosensitivity associated with retinoids;

• bakuchiol shows considerably greater stability under prolonged light exposure than retinol, although it is not completely immune to degradation;

• a bakuchiol cream does not automatically require another moisturiser on top;

• and sunscreen should still be the final step of every morning routine.

The more useful question is therefore not simply “When can I use bakuchiol?”

It is:

How has bakuchiol been formulated into the product I am using?

Because in skincare, the finished formulation matters as much as the ingredient name on the front of the jar.

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References

Dhaliwal S, Rybak I, Ellis SR, et al. Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing. British Journal of Dermatology. 2019;180:289–296.

Khan Z, et al. Prospective, Double-Blind, Vehicle-Controlled Assessment of Topical Bakuchiol on Photoaging in a Chinese Population. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2026.

Zhong et al. Bakuchiol Ferulate: A Novel Functional Retinol Analog With Enhanced Photostability and Reduced Phototoxicity for Cosmetic Applications. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2026.

Individual responses to skincare ingredients and formulations vary. Patch testing before first use is recommended. This article is for general cosmetic education and is not medical advice.