I got sent this serum by a small-batch brand in Vancouver and almost ignored it because the packaging screams “farmer’s market essential oil.”
Turns out that’s the point — Found Beauty is run by two women who literally wild-harvest ingredients from the Amazon. No labs. No synthetic copies. They just… go get the plant.
It’s a plant-based retinol alternative from the babchi plant. $48 CAD for 30ml. The claim: same collagen-boosting, fine-line-fading power without the peel or purge.
No irritation period
I slapped this on a compromised moisture barrier and zero sting. That never happens with retinol.
Actually hydrating
Squalane is the second ingredient. Your face feels plump, not tight.
It smells like earth
Not floral. Not “clean beauty fake lavender.” Just straight-up damp forest floor.
Photo: Rebecca Aldama / Unsplash
The ingredient list is comically short — like 8 things. They don’t even use preservatives because the bottle is designed to be used in 6 months. That’s either terrifying or brilliant.
- Bakuchiol: smooths texture without peeling skin off
- Squalane: sinks in 10 seconds, no grease
- Vitamin E: stops the oil from going rancid
- Wild-harvested babchi: ethically sourced from Brazil, not a lab vat
It’s a lightweight oil — think runny honey. Absorbs completely in 12 seconds flat. I use 4 drops and my face looks like I just did a sheet mask.
Week 3 and my forehead lines are softer, but my one deep smile line still exists. The surprise? It calmed a random red patch near my nose that retinol always inflames.
My skin is smoother but not airbrushed. The glow is real — like I slept 8 hours instead of 5. Texture improved maybe 30%. That stubborn chin congestion? Still there, just less angry.
This is the retinol alternative for people who gave up on retinol alternatives. It won’t transform your face overnight, but it will make your skin behave better every single day.