Naya

Youth To The People Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum, Review

meet Retinol's big sister

Foreword

If you are 25+ and all about preventative skincare, then this post is for you. Today we will review one of the most intriguing anti-aging products by Youth To The People. You may remember me talking about the brand's Polypeptide 121 Future Cream (read here) and Peptides + C Energy Eye Concentrate (read here), two products I truly enjoyed. So I am excited to share with you my recent discovery.

Curious? Then please keep on scrolling

My Skin: dry, sensitive

About the Product

Youth To The People Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum (72 USD; Made in USA) - is described as a lightweight serum that tackles fine lines, wrinkles, and texture. It also helps with acne and blemishes. This is the closest dose of Retinal that you can get without a medical prescription.

But what is Retinal?

Retinal, aka Retinaldehyde, is an advanced Vitamin A derivative used in skincare to accelerate skin cell renewal, strengthen the barrier, and stimulate natural collagen production. Retinal is much more potent than Retinol, so think of it as its cool, older sister. Plus, if that wasn't great enough, Retinal has unique properties that kill acne-causing bacteria.

Packaging: simple, practical design. The bottle is made of tinted glass that protects the serum from sunlight (I would still recommend storing it inside a cabinet or in its original box). You get a classic pump and a total of 30 ml/ 1 fl oz worth of product. This packaging is fully recyclable.

Formula: the Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum is a water-based formulation rich in 5% Niacinamide (tightens pores, improves the skin barrier and tone), Squalane (skin-smoothing), Glycerin (retains moisture), Grifola Frondosa Fruiting Body Extract (antioxidant), Cloudberry Seed Oil (retains moisture, brightens), Arginine (promotes collagen), Ceramides (prevent trans-epidermal water loss), and Retinal. You also get a multitude of plant-based extracts and oils here, as well as hydrating Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate (mentioned towards the end of the list).

Vegan🌱 Cruelty-free🐇

Texture: watery consistency of a bright yellow color. Once applied, the tint sheers out and practically disappears.

Scent: no added fragrance. This serum does have a slight "green" scent to it, like most vegan skincare products. It is barely noticeable and does not linger on the skin.

Application: the Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum is a PM-only product. Start gradually, using it once a week, and add more days as you go. I am no stranger to Retinol or AHAs/BHAs, but still, I was cautious. After all, Retinal is times stronger than Retinol, and with my sensitive skin, I did not know what to expect.

first impression

While my skin did not purge, it felt dry and flaky the morning after. This happens with things like Glycolic Acid for example, which was somewhat expected. Over time, seeing that the formula was quite gentle on my skin, I increased the use up to two to three times a week. For my needs that is more than enough. No breakouts or irritation.

long-term use

The brand claims that you can see results in one week. My concerns, such as texture and some fine lines on my forehead, improved to various degrees. I would say I noticed more progress with the lines, they are hardly noticeable. And it only took a month, which is amazing. Due to my young age, I can't say anything about how this product would work on deep wrinkles. As for the texture, I see more results from AHAs and BHAs. I would say the Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum leaves my skin reasonably drier, compared to Retinol. It usually takes me a day or two of intense hydration to bring it back to its usual happy state. However, looking at my pores, it is still worth the effort.

Verdict

Does the Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum live up to its claims? I say yes. While I am new to Retinoids, this is still the most potent one I have tried thus far. It also works the quickest. I see how a formula like this would suit almost all skin types, even sensitive ones. For my dry pals out there, make sure to use a rich cream with this serum for the best results. If preventative skincare is your go-to approach then you might enjoy this Youth To The People creation. I give it a B+ rating.