It’s no coincidence that some Youth to the People skincare products could be mistaken for a bottle of cold-pressed green juice. Founders Greg Gonzalez and Joe Cloyes told Forbes the inspiration for their skincare company was born from their love of fresh juices and a healthy lifestyle. They decided to apply those same principals, like cold pressed extraction, to skincare. With products like Kale Green Tea Spinach + Vitamins cleanser, it’s easy to think these products are good enough to eat. Here’s a look at the story behind Youth to the People (YTTP), its best-selling products, and is it worth a try?
What Is Youth to the People?
Youth to the People launched in 2015 with three products, a serum, toner and moisturizer. Gonzalez and Cloyes, who are cousins, come from a skincare focused family. According to Forbes, their grandmother had her own skincare line and five of her seven children were estheticians or cosmetologists. Their aunt Lori and Gonzalez’s mother, Lisa, are their mentors.
The duo, who are based in Los Angeles and are fans of cold pressed juices, decided to take a similar “green” approach to skincare. As they told Forbes, “We were really inspired by the way certain companies were cold pressing extracts from juices and that led to think about how we can cold press these super plants that have more antioxidants and phytonutrients, and deliver those same benefits topically.”
Youth to the People stands out not only for its ingredients like kale, spinach and yerba mate, but for its concept. The skincare line is designed for all genders and all skin types.
What is the Youth to the People Philosophy?
Youth to People says that “ingredients are our muse” and at its core is an “unparalleled high-performance skincare philosophy that began more than 40 years ago” with their grandmother Eva. The company embraces many ingredients that are found in wellness focused food and drinks, including kale, kombucha, spirulina, yerba mate and green tea as well as adaptogens. Think of it as food for the face. YTTP relies on cold pressing to extract the most amount of nutrients from each ingredient. YTTP also says it champions conscious consumption and its formulas are cruelty-free and 100% vegan. Giving back is also part of the YTTP philosophy. The company says it supports “non-profits and activists working to amplify diverse voices and increase inclusivity, build a more just world, and save the planet.”
What Are The Most Popular Youth to the People Products?
Youth to the People sells products in kits as well as individually, such as cleansers, masks, moisturizers, mists and serums. Some of the best sellers include a bottle of Kale + Green Tea Spinach Vitamins Superfood Cleanser. The pale green cleanser contains cold pressed antioxidants as well as alfalfa, and can be used twice a day. The Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream is formulated with kale, spinach and hyaluronic acid, and this moisturizer is designed for all skin types. It has the texture of a gel-cream and can also double as a makeup primer. Adaptogens are herbs that are meant to help with stress and fatigue, and are thought to help normalize the adrenal system. They are found in the Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream, which can be used morning and night and contains three different adaptogens, including ashwagandha, which is sometimes referred to as “Indian ginseng.”
The Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial is an exfoliating scrub powered by caffeinated teas as well as fruit enzymes. Bamboo and diatomaceous earth are used as sustainable micro-exfoliants. Maqui (a fruit), prickly pear, acai, and goji are some of the key ingredients in the Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil, which also contains jojoba and sunflower oil. It can be used alone or mixed in with moisturizer, or added to foundation. The bright yellow Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask can be worn overnight to help hydrate the skin, thanks to maqui, acai, prickly pear and vitamin C.
How Much Do Youth to the People Products Cost?
Youth to the People products are sold at a mid price point. The Superfood Essentials Bundle contains four products (the Superfood Cleanser, Superfood Skin Reset Mask, Superfood Firm + Brighten Serum and the Superfood Air Whip Moisture Cream) sells for $170, while the Your Youth Regimen Skincare Kit for dry skin is $180, and contains five products- the Superfood Cleanser, Adaptogen Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream, Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil, Superfood Firm + Brighten Serum and the Adaptogen Soothe + Hydrate Activated Mist. Individual products are generally around $40 to $50 each. The best selling Superfood Cleanser retails for $36, and the Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask is $48. Both the Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial and Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream are $58.
Is Youth to the People Cruelty Free?
Yes. The products are cruelty free and vegan.
What Ingredients Are in Youth to the People?
Youth to the People products incorporate wellness ingredients that are commonly found in smoothies and green juices, and some of the products seem like they could double as acai bowls. The Superfood Cleanser is packed with kale, spinach, green tea and alfalfa. The kale adds a dose of vitamins C, E and K while the spinach is meant to add hydration and the green tea is anti-inflammatory. A key ingredient in the Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream is a hyaluronic acid. It occurs naturally in the body and is found in many skincare products as it can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. The cream also contains kale, spinach, green tea, alfalfa, vitamins C, E, K.
The Superfood Skin Reset Mask is formulated with kale, spirulina (a blue-green algae) as well as micro-algae. The Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial is packed with enzymes, papaya and pineapple, and the exfoliation comes from bamboo and diatomaceous earth (a soft, naturally occurring rock). Rounding out the mask are extracts of yerba mate and guayusa, which are both caffeinated plants. A bottle of Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toner contains 8% lactic acid and 3% glycolic acid to exfoliate the skin while the ferment from kombucha black tea and tree bark work as prebiotics to “enhance the skin’s natural microbiome” according to the company.
Where Can I Buy Youth to the People ?
Youth to the People products are sold on the company website as well as at Sephora, Nordstrom and Amazon.
Does Youth to the People Work?
It is always tempting to try a buzzed about skincare line, but finding the right product for your skin can be complicated. One person’s hero product may do nothing for you, leaving you wondering what all the hype is about.
Youth to the People has received plenty of editorial write ups since it launched. The Superfood Cleanser won an Allure Readers Choice Award in 2020, and the Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask scooped an Allure Best of Beauty Award as well as a Refinery29 Beauty Innovator award. Business Insider reviewed the Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil, noting “If you like the fresh, dewy look or to be described as ‘glowing,’ then this is for you.” The writer described the Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser in this way: “Simply put, it does what it’s supposed to, and it does it with ‘clean’ ingredients.” Harper’s Bazaar included the Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toner in a story looking at a health and wellness coach’s favorite Sephora picks.
What do actual customers have to say about Youth to the People?
On Amazon, the Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream gets a 4.2 out of 5 star rating, from about 160 reviews. Some people called it “life changing” and “the BEST cream ever” that “goes on like buttah.” For others it was “just okay” and “felt slimy.” On Nordstrom the product gets a 4.5 out of 5 star rating. Reviews range from “it didn’t moisturize” to “Hands down the best moisturizer I’ve ever used.” Sephora customers also gave it 4.2 out of 5 stars. For some it was the “bomb dot com cream for combo skin!!” and the “perfect summer moisturizer.” Others decided it was “not worth it” or “not worth the money.”
The Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask gets 3.9 out of 5 stars on Nordstrom, 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon and 4.5 stars on Sephora, where it has over 1,000 reviews. For some it was a disappointment and “did absolutely nothing fabulous for my skin” or it made them break out. For others, it was all love, with a customer noting “dream Mask sums it up!” and urging others to “buy it now!”
On Sephora, the Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser has more than 2,000 reviews and a 4.3 out of 5 star rating. “It does wonders for oily skin” and others said it “was great for acne prone skin.” Customers who gave it low stars wrote that it caused cystic acne, or just didn’t work. “Did not cleanse well, and failed to remove both non-waterproof eyeliner and sunscreen b) eye irritation/stinging and c) very drying, my skin felt tight after using this.”
What Are Some Alternatives to Youth to the People?
While Youth to the People has plenty of fans, perhaps it didn’t work for you or you’re looking for something else. One brand to consider is Formulyst.
Formulyst makes it easy to create your own skincare routine. Each skincare concern is assigned a number, and your personal combination will be just as unique as you (and your skin) are. All you have to do is find your formula, and follow the numbers.
The ideal cleanser should give skin a deep clean without stripping it of too much moisture, which means your face will be squeaky clean without feeling tight and dry. Formulyst’s Gentle Foaming Cleanser does exactly that. This ultra-gentle foaming cleanser whisks away dirt, sweat and makeup but won’t over dry the skin. Skin is left clean and feeling soft and supple thanks to nourishing rosehip seed oil as well as vitamins A, C and E.
Formulyst’s Active Serum is packed with good for you ingredients, such as nourishing vitamins B and E, and vitamin C, which helps skin look brighter. Rounding out the all-star list are ferulic acid and niacinamide which help stabilize the formula and boost the potency of vitamin C.
Formulyst’s Pro-Collagen Serum is formulated for aging skin and contains a potent mix of peptides and proteins. Gently pat a few drops of this hydrating serum on the face to help to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
There’s no need to compromise when it comes to finding skincare that is effective and safe. Carrot & Stick takes a tough love approach to skincare, perfectly balancing the power of plants with cutting edge science. Not only is Carrot & Stick good for your skin, it is also good for the environment as the formulas skip harmful chemicals as well as the preservatives, emulsifiers and thickeners commonly found in skincare products.
Sources: Forbes, Allure, Business Insider, Harper’s Bazaar
