My skin was in a toxic relationship with tretinoin — peeling, red, and honestly? Over it. So I swapped it for Haruharu Wonder‘s bakuchiol serum for 30 days, expecting a downgrade. I was wrong.
By day 4, the flakes were gone. By day 12, my skin had this weird, quiet calm — no drama, just even texture. That’s when I got suspicious.
A $25 fermented rice serum that claims to do what retinol does — without the purge. It’s a milky, lightweight liquid that sinks in before you finish blinking.
Bakuchiol, not retinol
Plant-based retinol alternative — zero irritation, still smooths.
Fermented black rice
Asian beauty staple — brightens and plumps without stripping.
Squalane base
Moisturizes while it works — you don’t need a separate hydrating step.
Photo: ibnu ihza / Unsplash
It’s not just bakuchiol in water. There’s a whole fermented complex here that does the heavy lifting. The texture says “light” but the formula says “deep.”
- Bakuchiol: Smooths fine lines without the purge
- Fermented black rice: Brightens and evens tone
- Squalane: Locks in moisture, doesn’t clog pores
- Niacinamide: Calms redness and tightens pores
Photo: kevin laminto / Unsplash
The first pump feels watery — almost too thin. Then it dries down to a soft, velvety finish that smells earthy, like rice water. Not perfume-y. Weirdly grounding.
Week 2 was the surprise — my forehead lines weren’t gone, but they looked… shallower when I caught my reflection in bad lighting. That never happens with tret.
Photo: Harper Sunday / Unsplash
Fine lines: softened, not erased. Texture: noticeably smoother by week 3. The dark spots? Still there, just less angry. My skin barrier finally feels normal — no tightness, no random breakouts.
Photo: Element5 Digital / Unsplash
I’m not going back to retinol. This isn’t a compromise — it’s an upgrade for anyone who wants results without the red, flaky side effects. My skin looks like it gets 8 hours of sleep every night. It doesn’t.