The eye contour area is thin and fragile. It can develop dark circles, under-eye bags, or wrinkles such as crow’s feet. Could bakuchiol benefit this delicate region? Is it well tolerated? We’ll clarify these points.

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- Active Ingredients
- Bakuchiol for eye contour care?
Bakuchiol for eye contour care?
- Focus on the benefits of bakuchiol for the eye area
- Is bakuchiol harmful to the delicate skin around the eyes?
- Sources
4 to 5
times thinner than the rest of the face.
Between 2 and 50
eye blinks per minute on average.
Focus on the benefits of bakuchiol for the eye area.
The area of the eye contour is one of the most fragile and most stressed areas of the face. It has an average thickness of 0.3 to 0.5 mm versus 1 to 1.5 mm elsewhere. It also contains few sebaceous glands responsible for sebum production, resulting in a fragile hydrolipidic film. This makes the eye contour vulnerable to dehydration and external aggressors. Add repeated movements from blinking and facial expressions, and the eye contour is first to show signs of aging.
The bakuchiol is a promising active ingredient to prevent and soften eye-contour wrinkles and fine lines.
Indeed, studies have shown that bakuchiol increases the expression of type I, III, and IV collagens in fibroblasts, whose production tends to decrease with age. At the same time, this ingredient stimulates aquaporin 3 synthesis, a protein that plays a key role in water and glycerol transport across cell membranes. This enhances skin hydration and supports barrier function, effects beneficial around the eyes.
The benefits of bakuchiol for eye contour care, including the reduction of crow’s feet wrinkles, were demonstrated in a clinical study of 17 women with sun-induced skin aging, commonly called photodamage. In this single-blind protocol, participants applied a cream with 1% bakuchiol to the entire face twice daily for twelve weeks. Clinical evaluation assessed wrinkles, roughness, dryness, skin firmness, and overall eye-area appearance. Results relevant to the eye area, shown in the table below, indicated a progressive, significant improvement in these measures.
Evaluated parameters | After 4 weeks | After 8 weeks | After 12 weeks |
---|---|---|---|
Wrinkle depth (instrumental measurement) | - 7% | - 13% | - 20% |
Skin roughness (instrumental measurement) | - 2% | - 10% | - 21% |
Eye-area appearance (assessed by a dermatologist) | + 8% | + 24% | + 46% |
Eye-area appearance (assessed by panelists) | + 22% | + 24% | + 35% |
Photographs were taken at the beginning and end of the study to illustrate changes around the eye contour. One of these images, highlighting a clear reduction in wrinkles in a participant, is shown below.

The benefits of bakuchiol for the eye area do not stop there: this ingredient is suggested to reduce the appearance of pigmented dark circles, linked to excessive melanin deposition. Generally hereditary in origin, this type of dark circles appears as a brown to black discoloration under the lower eyelid. Although no studies have examined the effects of bakuchiol on brown dark circles, this molecule is known for its capacity to counter hyperpigmentation. Indeed, the bakuchiol inhibits the enzyme tyrosinase, which facilitates the conversion of tyrosine into melanin. It reduces the expression of melanogenesis-associated proteins such as TRP-1 and TRP-2.
Several clinical studies have shown the benefit of bakuchiol in treating pigment disorders. One study by Sivamani et al. involved 22 volunteers with various signs of photoaging and uneven skin tone. For twelve weeks, participants applied a 0.5% bakuchiol serum each day. Pigment intensity assessed by image analysis software decreased during the study. After twelve weeks, pigment intensity dropped by 15%.

Bakuchiol may exert a similar effect on the eye contour by reducing the visibility of brown under-eye circles, although specific clinical studies are needed to confirm this.
Note : This refers to pigmented dark circles, not vascular ones related to dilated blood vessels under the eyes or to poor lymphatic drainage, nor to hollow circles caused by subcutaneous tissue sagging. To date, no known mechanism of action for bakuchiol indicates it can address either type of dark circle.
Is bakuchiol harmful to the delicate skin around the eyes?
The bakuchiol offers a favorable tolerance profile, making it suitable for the eye area.
That said, it remains important to perform a tolerance test before applying a bakuchiol-containing product around the eye area—a good practice for any new skincare product. To do so, apply a small amount to the inner elbow or wrist and wait 24 to 48 hours to confirm there is no redness, swelling, or itching. If there is no reaction, you can begin applying the product around your eye. Remain vigilant during the first applications, as this sensitive area can react even if the inner elbow was unaffected.
Key points to remember.
Generally well tolerated, bakuchiol helps care for the eye contour.
By stimulating the production of various collagen types, bakuchiol can help improve skin elasticity and prevent and reduce crow’s feet.
Bakuchiol may also help reduce the appearance of pigmented dark circles by inhibiting tyrosinase, although specific studies are needed to confirm this.
Sources
CHAUDHURI R. K. & al. Bakuchiol: A retinol-like functional compound revealed by gene expression profiling and clinically proven to have anti-aging effects. International Journal of Cosmetic Science (2014).
SIVAMANI R. K. & al. Prospective, randomized, double‐blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing. British Journal of Dermatology (2019).
ROTSZTEJN H. & al. The eye area as the most difficult area of activity for esthetic treatment. Journal of Dermatological Treatment (2020).
KIM S. Y. & al. UP256 inhibits hyperpigmentation by tyrosinase expression/dendrite formation via rho-dependent signaling and by primary cilium formation in melanocytes. International Journal of Molecular Science (2020).
PRZEDNOWEK K. & al. Relationship between eye blink frequency and incremental exercise among young healthy men. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2022).
SODHA P. & al. The use of bakuchiol in dermatology: a review of in vitro and in vivo evidence. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (2022).
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