Retin-A, the prescription go-to for the acne-plagued, has also become the gold standard for people looking to, well, look younger. A form of vitamin A, Tretinoin (as the drug itself is called; “Retin-A” is a trade name) gradually encourages the skin to repair itself, which eventually means fewer wrinkles and discolorations.

However, as with any drug, there are side effects. Retin-A causes your skin to thin (don’t even THINK about getting an eyebrow wax—goodbye, skin), as well as render it more susceptible to the damaging UV rays of the sun (don’t even THINK about getting a tan—goodbye, unburnt skin). The treatment can also cause severe dryness, flaking, and redness, which you might agree isn’t great.

Enter Origins “Plantscription” serum, a powerful natural alternative to this mixed bag. Formulated with Anogeissus, a wound-healing, antimicrobial West African plant, “Plantscription” promises to fade wrinkles and restore “bounce” to sagging skin—without the dryness, the flakes, the photosensitivity. The company says that it takes about 4 weeks to see a change, but I’ve been using it at night and in the morning for one week and already I can see some old acne scars fading and some of that elusive “radiance” restored. The serum goes on smoothly, sinks in almost immediately, and has only the slightest hint of a lovely, grassy scent. And thank the heavens, no flakes or inflammation in sight.

When science and nature come together, it’s a beautiful thing.

Origins "Plantscription" Anti-Aging Serum