My Honest Youth To The People Review

With three free samples per visit, Sephora is quickly becoming my favorite place to browse. On a recent trip, I thought Youth To The People looked promising, so I brought a few products to an employee. She gave me each sample in an individual bag, which seemed a little odd because the previous store had given me samples in small containers.

When I got home, I found out why: she had squirted two of the products directly into their respective bags, leaving me with loose, sticky globs. Not what I would have done, but okay.

Anyway, three products would've made a short review, so I decided to pick up two more on a later visit. As always, this is an honest, non-sponsored review that's not trying to sell you anything. I'm just here to help you make an informed decision about skincare.

What is Youth To The People?

Youth To The People is a vegan and cruelty-free skincare company that enriches its products with superfoods, plant extracts and other scientifically proven ingredients. While the business has changed significantly over the years, Youth To The People continues a family legacy that started in 1979 with an inclusive cosmetics line.

Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask

Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask includes prickly pear, jojoba oil, maqui and superfood berries that may hydrate your skin and give your face a healthy glow. To use this mask, you'll apply the formula to your face before bed and rinse it off in the morning.

Inside the container, this product had an off-white hue and a clean, woodsy aroma. The formula spread easily when I applied it to my face. Once I climbed into bed, I was a little worried that the mask would stain my bedsheets, so I lay on my back and hoped that I wouldn't thrash around too much while I slept.

Luckily, the payoff was worth it. When I rinsed it off in the morning, the mask had almost given my face a complete makeover. My skin was clearer with less redness and reduced pore visibility, and the surface was soft to the touch. Better yet, the mask had given my skin a healthy glow--the benefit of giving the ingredients several hours to work their magic.

Adaptogen Skin Repairing Moisturizer

Formerly known as Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream, Adaptogen Skin Repairing Moisturizer is your source for reishi mushroom, lipids and peptides, which may soften your skin and relieve inflammation. You'll apply this product in the morning and evening as part of your regular skincare routine.

With a woodsy scent and a creamy, luscious texture, this formula seemed fairly promising. Applying it to my face created a cool, refreshing sensation, and for the rest of the day, my face did feel softer and plumper. However, I can't say that my appearance changed significantly.

Thinking that I hadn't used enough, I decided to use more the next day. Still, I ended up with the same result. After using the product for about a week until I ran out, I concluded that this is a mild moisturizer that has some benefits, but it won't resurface your skin. If that's what you're looking for, I'd recommend a mask or facial instead.

Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial

For some reason, Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial has disappeared from the Youth To The People website. I'm not sure if they renamed this product or discontinued it entirely, but since it's still available at Sephora, I'll share my review anyway.

This product aims to exfoliate your skin with the natural caffeine and enzymes found in pineapple, papaya, guayusa, yerba mate and bamboo. When you need a facial, you'll apply the formula to your skin, wait two minutes and wash it off. The grainy, abrasive texture caused some mild tingling when I used this product at home.

After a single use, my skin had a cushiony, silky texture that I've never gotten from any other product. I wasn't sure how long this would last, but my skin was still softer and less oily in the morning. Clearly, this product is great at scrubbing away dead skin cells and revealing the fresh layer underneath. Just watch out for extra sensitivity afterward.

Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream

Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream may hydrate and strengthen your skin with a proprietary blend of green tea, alfalfa, spinach, kale, vitamin C and vitamin E. For best results, you'll apply this cream after cleansing your skin in the morning and evening.

The white hue, mild fragrance and light, airy texture made this cream seem like a refreshing treat for my skin--and, sure enough, my skin instantly felt cooler after I applied this product. For the rest of this day, the surface was a little softer and more pliable, although this wasn't the most hydrated it's ever been.

Like Adaptogen Skin Repairing Moisturizer, I thought that this product might need a few days to work, but I always ended up with the same result. To be fair, the website promises "lightweight hydration," and that's what you'll get--a mild dose of moisture, not deep and intensive hydration.

Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Body Butter

Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Body Butter includes nourishing ingredients, such as shea butter, cupuaçu butter, jojoba seed oil and fruit extracts, that may brighten and hydrate your skin. You can apply this butter after you get out of the shower to lock in moisture.

The creamy, decadent texture and perfumey aroma gave me high expectations for this product. While the formula spread easily, it took some effort to massage the butter into my skin. Afterward, I felt a little damp and sticky--but this butter was well worth the trade-off.

In the morning, I was delighted to see plump, healthy skin in the mirror. My skin tone was more even, and--best of all--I had a glowing "dewy" appearance that made me look younger. This butter didn't eliminate every skincare concern, but it was the best my skin had looked in a while.

For the rest of the day, my face was soft and nourished without the need for an extra moisturizer. As a result, I recommend this product to anyone who's looking for a quick fix and doesn't have time for maintenance.

Overall Verdict

Youth To The People was a bit of a mixed bag. Some of their products resurfaced and revitalized my skin, while others offered mild hydration and not much else. Their butters, facials and masks appear to be the most effective. Still, people with dry or combination skin might have a different experience, so don't be afraid to grab a few samples and see for yourself.

Have you tried Youth To The People products? What did you think? If not, which beauty brands are your favorites? Sound off in the comments.