Retinoids are practically the sweet nectar of the dermatology gods: year after year, they remain their favorite, and derms simply can’t get enough of them. And why not? Retinoids have been shown to do everything from accelerating cellular turnover to reducing lines and wrinkles to smoothing skin to eradicating acne. As Dr. Ranella Hirsch, M.D., a Cambridge-based dermatologist once said, “We have beautiful, profound data that shows if you use retinoids for 20 years, you’re going to look a lot better than someone who doesn’t.”
But what about patients for whom retinoids are not well-tolerated? In the dry winter air, even patients with non-sensitive skin types can find the skin-thinning action of retinoids to be too harsh. That’s where Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Serum ($55.00 for 30 mL, get 6% off through eBates) comes in: the serum features concentrations of Anogeissus tree bark, Siegesbeckia and rosemary that have been found to be 88 percent as effective as a prescription retinoid at reducing wrinkles, without the irritation of a retinoid. The product won’t even be released until February 2011, but you can get a free sample through Facebook by giving the Origins page a “Like” and following the directions on the screen.
The Clinical Trial
In the trial, patients were subjected to twice-daily applications of the serum for three months. Results were assessed by dermatologists every four weeks. At week four, there was a 51% reduction in lines and wrinkles. At week 12, a 41% improvement in firmness of the skin was noted. Below is a copy of the results generated, as shown on the Origins Facebook page.
Ingredient Analysis: Anogeissus Tree Bark, Siegesbeckia, and Rosemary
Anogeissus tree bark, Siegesbeckia and rosemary extract are all relatively new ingredients in skin care, and are likely novel discoveries resulting from the heightened interest in “all-natural” skin care research as of late. Nonetheless, Anogeissus tree bark has been found to have significant antioxidant activity, as well as to accelerate the rate of wound healing in rats by increasing skin’s production of fibrillin, a structural protein of skin. Fibrillin is necessary for the skin to build elastin, which keeps the skin firm; therefore, it is likely the increase in skin firmness exhibited in the aforementioned clinical trial may be attributed to Anogeissus.
Siegesbeckia has been demonstrated in research published in the European Journal of Pharmacology to inactivate the pro-inflammatory transcription factor NF-kB. Researchers currently believe NF-kB inhibition may be an essential key to delaying aging, as stated in this 2010 study in Genes and Development. As Dr. Alexander Hoffman, a biochemistry professor at the University of California San Diego recently told Wired, “[An NF-kB inhibitor] would be the best wrinkle cream ever, because it would actually work.” Well, sir, Origins may have found one here – although, of course, it is not known to what extent Plantscription (or any other cream) decreases NF-kB activity, and whether complete eradication of activity, while unlikely, would be entirely beneficial or not. Still, based upon what is known, Origins Plantscription looks promising.
Interestingly enough, Origins does not even mention NF-kB inhibition as a potential benefit of using the serum. Instead, the informational pamphlet reads, “Siegesbeckia stimulates collagen and elastin repair,” which may be a by-product of decreasing inflammation. Some scientists look at the cell as an energy-limited microcosm of an animal: Only after all of the basic needs are fulfilled (i.e., food, shelter, safety) can energy be completely directed towards rebuilding and repairing, i.e., making things better. (Let’s face it: If you have $5 left to your name and are starving, you’re going to buy food, not that Yankee Candle. Even if it is a really good buy…) Which is likely the case here: Once inflammation is reduced by Siegesbeckia, the cell can rebuild more collagen and elastin.
As for rosemary extract, it tastes good on broiled potatoes (yum!), and it’s also a fairly potent antioxidant for your skin. Rosemary works as a free radical scavenger of oxygen free radicals, and has been shown in the journal Agricultural and Food Chemistry to synergistically increase antioxidant activity when used in conjunction with vitamin E. Pretty impressive stuff, especially for all-natural ingredients!
The Bottom Line
I think I’ll leave it to a licensed dermatologist and ethanobotanist to sum it up: As Dr. Marcus McFerren tells Brooke Le Poer Trench in the February 2011 issue of Allure, “I prescribe retinoids because they work, but I often see women using them before the results are optimized, due to irritation and redness. [Origins Plantscription] serum is nearly effective at reducing lines and wrinkles as a prescription [retinoid], but without the same discomfort. Frankly, I’m surprised at how comparable the results are.” Meeee toooo…
Now, if only this product were cheaper, I’d be in heaven. Or at least on Earth with prettier skin in the winter, ha! (I like to keep on a pretty strict budget for my skin care.) At any rate, it’s a great product, it’ll be in stores starting in February 2011, and I added an offer for you online shoppers to get 6% off below. Happy buying! 🙂
Product Rating: 8.0/10
- High concentration of proven ingredients: 3/3
- Value for the money: 2/3
- New technology or unique formulation: 3/3
- Sunscreen: 0/1
How Do I Get My Free Sample?
Sign up for the Origins Facebook page here. Limited time offer – Available while supplies last.
Love It and Want 6% Off Everything at Origins?
Sign up for eBates.com and get 6% back from your entire purchase at Origins.com.