I believe that youth is music, forever lasting, forever young. 🎵
With the closest dose you can get without a prescription, welcome Youth To The People’s latest launch, Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum. With a stabilized 0.15% retinaldehyde, the serum is amplified with retinol embraced ingredients of Niacinamide, adaptogens and ceramides. Timely enough, when their team sent over the product to test long before the launch date, I had been meaning to incorporate a retinal in my routine for a couple of months before that. Though excited but nervous to test it because ceramides usually don’t work with my skin (surprisingly), the Youth Serum is officially one of my favourite Youth To The People products coming at a shock with how phenomenally the formula worked for me. (Wait until you see the overnight results photos below…) After testing the serum for almost two months, I’m thrilled to be breaking down everything for you today, from formula to usage to understanding how retinal works. As one of the most unique products I’ve seen in the retinoid world, prepare to be enamoured with its formula and innovativeness.
Youth To The People is 100% vegan, sustainable and clean cruelty free made in California. Created for all genders, all skin types, all skin tones—all people—backed by three generations of skincare expertise. Skincare for All® — Read about Youth To The People here alongside the meaning of PRO-GRADE VEGAN™ here.
Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum
Before we dive in, what IS retinol/retinal?
Retinol (Vitamin A) is a powerhouse known to aid in collagen production, help reduce the look of wrinkles, minimize the appearance of large pores, boost radiance and essentially, everything you’d want in a serum to help promote a healthy, bouncy skin barrier. Often times, many fear using a retinol because they’re scared of a “purge” phase, though it is totally normal. (That’s skin cell turnover, baby!)
Inevitably, retinol can cause mild irritation to the skin barrier regardless if used carefully, depending on how much % each person and their skin barrier can handle. With patience, safe usage, reading instructions and ensuring ample amounts of sun protection with SPF, your retinol journey is really going to be unique to you but worth it when done correctly. Just like any skincare product, a lot of it is trial, error and patience.
Now, retinal is essentially the same thing, but it moves quicker.
Retinol - Slower, over time
Retinal - Quicker
Retinoic Acid - rX Tretinoin
The choice is really up to you as you know your skin barrier best.
My skin type: Balanced/dry.
Ideal for: Retinal can work on most skin types, though topical applications with folks that have sensitized skin barriers, eczema or rosacea won’t necessarily be the best candidates. Retinal is a journey in itself, so proper research and talking to licensed professions is highly recommended if you’re debating starting. (S/O to the esthis and derms!)
Product details:
Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum is the closest % of retinal you can get without a prescription. It’s a barrier-strengthening serum amplified with soothing ingredients to help repair UV damaged skin, aid in elasticity loss, diminish and prevent the look of wrinkles and fine lines and promote a healthy, plump and smooth barrier. (Spoiler for my review, but they should’ve call this the “texture remover serum” because my cheek texture is practically gone. Like, a ghost… gone.)
Instantly + overnight — Immediately smooths, softens and leaves a glow.
Product claims with continued use:
Decreased fine lines + wrinkles
Smoother texture
Improved look of dark spots + age spots
Minimized appearance of enlarged pores
Improved radiance
Prevents formation of future signs of aging.
Dessey tip: For people that have a similar skin type as mine with rosy, textured cheeks, I love using their Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream over top. Both the Retinal Youth Serum and Adaptogen Cream share an ingredient called Ashwaganda, which helps in blocking off environmental stressors that can sensitize the skin barrier.
Texture and scent:
Texture — Lightweight
Scent — Fragrance-free.
How to use:
Especially if it’s your first time using a retinal product, following instructions and moving with patience is the way to go. There are a few basic rules to using retinal, so I’ll list them in point form and follow up with a detailed list suggested by YTTP.
Nonnegotiable:
PM use only
Use on clean, dry skin
Never use a retinol/retinal the same day you’ve exfoliated
Always wear sunscreen
Retinal Youth Serum directions from YTTP:
Use at night. Do not use on the same day you’ve used an exfoliant.
After cleansing, apply onto clean dry skin avoiding eye area. Follow with your current daily moisturizer or face oil.
Start slowly. 2 times per week the first week. Assess skin each morning.
Increase frequency to 3 times per week during weeks 2-3, working up to 4 times per week in weeks 4-6 as tolerated. If you see any signs of irritation, please dial back usage.
Key ingredients:
— Retinaldehyde: With a stable dose of 0.15% stabilized retinaldehyde, the results will deliver more efficacy than retinol. As mentioned above, retinaldehyde is a powerhouse to help collagen production, help reduce the look of wrinkles, minimize the appearance of large pores, boost radiance and essentially, everything you’d want in a serum to help promote a healthy, bouncy skin barrier.
— 5% Niacinamide: As one of the most popular ingredients in skincare, Niacinamide is also a powerhouse ingredient to help with smoothing texture, calms the moisture barrier and fits beautifully into this formula to help soothe the skin while the retinal performs. 5% is an gorgeous percentage to promote a balanced, even and glow skin tone.
— Adaptogenic Mushroom Complex (shitake, maitake, reishi): Soothes irritation, helps calm down inflammation and reduces redness.
— Ashwaganda: Blocks off environmental stressors that can sensitize the skin barrier.
— Triple Ceramide Complex: With 3 Essential ceramides, the complex blend locks in moisture and fortifies the skin barrier.
— Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane + Vitamin E: Juicy, plumping, replenishing ingredients to help with moisture, softening and hydration to the skin.
View the full ingredient list for the Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum here.
My experience + thoughts
I’m going to let my FIRST time usage overnight results speak for the first portion of my thoughts…
I said it in my Oasis Serum review and I’ll say it here again, but over the last few months my skin barrier has been completely compromised due to environmental stressors, harsh weather changes and day to day stress. So, naturally I’ve been thinking of ways to maintain optimal skin health with barrier protection. The last few months I’d been wanting to incorporate a retinol into my routine, but steadily. I had randomly tried one or two in the past, but never stayed consistent for no other reason that I was nervous and impatient. This time around, I was ready to commit with the Youth Serum, but I’ll be honest… I was really scared. Not scared because of the retinal, but because of the ceramides. If you’ve been following along my page and my skin journey, you know 99% of products I’ve tried that are ceramide focused cause me to breakout intensely. For what reason? I couldn’t tell ya. So, yeah, naturally seeing ceramides on the bottle for this product made me hesitant but after looking at the formula, I told myself that the blend of them alongside the adaptogens would hopefully counteract any of the potential irritation of the retinal, and so I was correct.
The Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum is by far one of my favourite Youth To The People products to date. Yet again, I’m left speechless at their innovative formulas and concepts with their products. As you can tell from my results, the product worked for me instantly. In the trial period that I’ve been testing the product, I’ve shockingly not gone through ONE purging phase. My skin barrier is genuinely the smoothest it’s been in a very long time, my redness has decreased significantly and so much of the texture on my cheeks is vanished. (That niacinamide is working overtime!) But truly, I’m at a loss for words how effective this retinal is in the short amount of time I’ve used it. Their chemists absolutely nailed this formula and I’m sooooooo curious to see everyone’s retinal journey who tries this. I think what I love most about my experience with the Youth Serum is how gentle it’s been on me. The blend of the ingredients compliment each other seamlessly and it comes to no shock that I haven’t experienced any irritation, sensitized skin or harsh reactions to the retinal.
We do need to talk about the colour of the serum for one second… It’s my *only* thing I need to mention with the formula, but a minor one at that. As you’ve seen in my photos, the serum dispenses a gorgeous, bright yellow, almost golden liquid. It doesn’t stain my pillows, but it definitely leaves a tint on my skin, not drastically, but it does. I suppose the bright side of it is that it’s a product instructed to be used in the evening and you won’t be going out with it, but it’s still something significant to mention, though it disappears quickly. It can be spread easily and blends in decently with your moisturizer of choice, thankfully. Of course, with washing my face in the morning there won’t be a tint. Though, fear not because the gorgeous yellow is naturally found in retinal!
I have to add, I’m SO happy they decided to go with retinaldehyde as their first introduction to retinoids. A lot of vegan and clean brands tend to gear towards plant based “alternatives,” namely “bakuchiol.” Though there’s nothing wrong with itl, I’d prefer a real retinoid. What I love and admire most about Youth To The People is their mission to educate consumers about their product formulas that blend superfoods and science with no fear mongering and real results through both real studies and people.
Overview
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Price: $68.00 USD / $88.00 CAD for 1.0oz/ 30 mL
Please keep in mind that I’m in Canada which means I review my products with a Canadian price tag/conversion in mind.
Packaging and user experience: Once again, we have a gorgeous apothecary packaging with a dark brown bottle which sits beautifully alongside their Vitamin C and Oasis bottles. With a classic pump bottle, you can’t go wrong.
Does a little go a long way? For my personal preference, I usually go in with 3-4 pumps to ensure spreadability but honestly, 2 pumps will suffice and yes, a little does go a long way.
Would I repurchase? A million times over.
Do I think it’s worth $88.00 CAD? You know what? I absolutely do. Because it does everything it claims and more.
Fun news: I have a discount code for 15% off YTTP goodies just for you! DESSEYDOLL at checkout, only at youthtothepeople.com (US only) on launch day, 3/8.
Available for purchase:
Disclaimer: The Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum was sent by the Youth To The People for a trial campaign. As always, all thoughts are organic and trial periods were tested authentically for over one month and a bit.
Youth encompasses all things embrace and I want us to feel a little closer. Let’s celebrate innovation in youth over on my Instagram and chat here. Just like music, youth is forever.