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I Tried Every Youth To The People Bestseller — & This Is My Honest Opinion

I really blame high school for my obsession with my skin. After learning through several personal experiences that washing my face with Neutrogena’s oil-free Clear & Defend cleanser and swiping on astringent without following up with moisturiser was — shocker! — not the best formula, I’ve become a more discerning consumer when it come to my dry, acne-prone complexion (yep, I have the best of both worlds).

Typically, I manage my breakouts with benzoyl peroxide and a Tretinoin prescription from my derm, but I’m still always looking for that holy grail skin-care brand to supplement my routine and also keep the dryness at bay. Lately, my eye’s been on Youth To The People with its chic, glass bottle packaging and natural-leaning ingredients that are supposed to deliver the youthful side of the company name; and who have only just launched in the UK this year. So, I decided to try everything the brand has to offer and post my honest opinions, ahead.

FY, if you’re inspired by any of my reviews, you should head over to the Youth To The People homepage where they’re currently holding a competition to celebrate their UK arrival. Running from 26th September to 17th October, five winners have the opportunity to win three of their best selling products: the Superfood Cleanser, Air Whip Superfood Moisturiser and 15% Vitamin C + Caffeine Energy Serum.

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Youth To The People Superfood Kale Antioxidant-Rich Face Cleanser, £38

Let’s talk about the scent first: It smells very much like… kale and spinach with a hint of ‘commercial’ cucumber. I don’t know if it’s a memory from my childhood, but I can’t tolerate the smell of cucumber in products and this cleanser triggered that. But I held my breath and worked it into a lather and was rather pleased and surprised with the thick, luxe consistency.

My face was a little dry after using it, but nowhere near as dry as my CeraVe wash leaves my skin. After I continued to use it, I got over the scent. It’s a thick cleanser that foams nicely with water, so if you’re looking for an everyday formula that gives your skin a gentle cleanse without sucking all the moisture out of it — and you’re up for dropping £38 — this is for you.

Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser, $, available at Youth To The People

Youth To The People Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial, £52

This resurfacing facial will resurface a lot more than you bargained for if you’re too aggressive — so be gentle. The fine bamboo granules mildly exfoliated my skin as long as I didn’t rub too rigorously. It left my skin feeling really clean, but not like it was going to crack.

The suggested frequency is 1-2 times a week, but I think once a week might be best for me.

Youth To The People Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial, $, available at Youth To The People

Youth To The People Adaptogen Soothe + Hydrate Activated Mist, £38

This is the best smelling product of the line because it has no smell. It was cooling and calmed my irritated skin — the likely result of using a lot of new products over the past few weeks. I took it for a spin in the park and my face didn’t feel sticky even after a few hours in the late summer sun. Since I don’t use witch hazel anymore, this mist is a great addition to my little skin-care product family.

Youth To The People Adaptogen Soothe + Hydrate Activated Mist, $, available at Youth To The People

Youth To The People Superberry Dream Eye Cream, £45

This smells like a good night’s rest. I don’t really know how else to describe it, but you’ll know what I mean when you try it. After noticing how much softer it made the small area of skin where I did a patch test, I started using it on my sensitive under eyes.

It’s supposed to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, but I haven’t been using it long enough to see a real difference there. Still, the squalane and moringa have both worked to hydrate and smooth my puffy eye bags significantly. I will definitely continue to use this cream.

Youth To The People Superberry Dream Eye Cream, $, available at Youth To The People

Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream, £45

The company says this moisturiser is best for combination to oily skin, and I think that’s why I didn’t love it. It’s very light, which wasn’t enough for my dry skin. Those who have an oily complexion might find solace in this whipped cream, which won’t make you shiny. For my fellow dry skin people, turn to a thicker moisturiser (I like the Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid Deep Moisture Miracle Cream and Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream Moisturiser for Dehydrated Skin).

Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream, $, available at Youth To The People

Youth To The People Adaptogen Moisture Cream, £54

This moisturiser really made my skin feel soft. It’s a little thicker than the Air-Whip Cream, and I appreciated that because my skin needs all the hydration it can get. My dry skin sucked up the jojoba and shea butter. Typically I’d run from shea butter because I know it’s too thick for my skin and clogs my pores (leading to breakouts), but this formula managed to moisturise without feeling heavy, which is a win in my book.

Youth To The People Adaptogen Moisture Cream, $, available at Youth To The People

Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask, £47

This is YTTP’s best seller, and it was out of stock for weeks before I received it. I was eagerly anticipating its arrival, but when I untwisted the cap, I couldn’t do it. What I mean is I couldn’t tolerate the sweet scent long enough to put it on my face. It’s not an unpleasant smell — a tropical maqui and prickly pear combo — but it’s too sweet for my taste.

Still, I did a patch test and despite the strong scent, it didn’t irritate my skin. Even though it’s called a mask, it’s quite light. And judging from the way it left my skin, I could see this vitamin C and hyaluronic acid mask giving my face the much-needed boost of moisture it needs at the end of the day.

Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask, $, available at Youth To The People

Youth To The People Kombucha + 11% AHA Power Exfoliant, £35

Swiping on this toner before dabbing on my spot treatment (the iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Pimple Paste Overnight Drying Paste) blessed my skin. After cleansing, I poured a bit of it on a cotton round and wiped away the extra dirt clinging to my face for dear life. I wasn’t a fan of the scent, but I appreciate the fact that the formula works. I’ve noticed that partnering toners with my acne spot treatment delivers on shrinking my smaller pimples overnight.

Youth To The People Kombucha + 11% AHA Power Exfoliant, $, available at Youth To The People

Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil, £41.50

As you’ve probably picked up by now, scent and texture are big for me. And I don’t know if I’m the only one, but any serum that has prickly pear makes me prepare to feel a strange tingly sensation on my skin. Luckily, that was all in my head. The serum didn’t bother my skin at all, but it also didn’t really do anything for me. Compared to my results with other items in the line, this wouldn’t be first on my list for a repurchase.

Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil, $, available at Youth To The People

Youth To The People Superfood Hydrate + Firm Eye Cream, £34

A thick eye cream like this gets my respect. It created the feeling of a spa day from the comfort of my bathroom, and it left the skin under my eyes soft and smooth. While I’m still learning the importance of having an eye cream in my routine, this peptide-packed jar is a great first step. It gives my eyes moisture, essential fatty acids, and… kale, surprisingly, to keep the delicate skin in that area free of free radicals.

Youth To The People Superfood Hydrate + Firm Eye Cream, $, available at Youth To The People

Youth To The People 15% Vitamin C + Clean Caffeine Energy Serum, £64

I’m asking for the real Vitamin C serums to please stand up because this new product from YTTP is the winner. Made with squalane and dragon fruit to hydrate and Vitamin C to brighten the dark spots left by maskne, this serum doesn’t leave my skin sticky, and I think I even saw a glimmer of a glow on my forehead and cheeks before applying it under my moisturiser.

Even my mum, who has extremely sensitive skin, has been able to use this serum without any reactions; and if I can get my mum to love one new product after never having a skin-care routine, it calls for celebration. Like other items in the line, it’s not cheap — but if you’re going to splurge on one item, I’d make it this.

Youth To The People 15% Vitamin C + Clean Caffeine Energy Serum, $, available at Youth To The People

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