Reviewed: Youth To The People’s Superfood Cleanser, a Gentle Gel Cleanser That Won’t Dry Out Your Skin

• What it does: Cleans skin, removes makeup.
• Best for: All skin types.
• Key ingredients: Aloe, kale, spinach, green tea, vitamin C, glycerin, provitamin B5, vitamin E.
• Made without: Sulfates, silicones, alcohol, phthalates, parabens.
• Cruelty-free: Yes.
• Editor’s rating: ★★★★☆

Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser is a hydrating gel cleanser that removes dirt, oil and makeup, all without drying or irritating your skin.

It was the brand founders’ very first product idea prior to launching in 2015, and it’s still their number one seller to this day. “This cleanser is a really high-quality product that does a great job of cleaning the skin, removing makeup, and it’s pH balanced,” explains co-founder Joe Cloyes in an interview with InStyle. “It’s a gel formula but it doesn’t strip skin because there’s no sulfates or phthalates in it.”^[1]

It’s also 100% vegan and chock-full of antioxidant-rich superfoods, which is why it’s been dubbed a “green juice cleanse for your face.”

Unlike most gels, this cleanser isn’t just for oily skin. Since Youth To The People products are formulated for all skin types and all ages, it’s suitable for virtually everyone. 

Here are some of the key ingredients in the Youth To The People Cleanser:

• Mild surfactants: Rather than harsh sulfates, it cleans with gentle, plant-derived cleansing agents.
• Aloe: The juice of the aloe vera plant is both hydrating and soothing.
• Kale: Just like a green juice, cold-pressed kale extract delivers moisture and is rich in vitamins C, E and K.
• Spinach: Although it’s not widely used in skincare, spinach is said to have calming, conditioning and cooling properties.
• Green tea: It’s best known as an antioxidant, but green tea is also anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial.
  
• Vitamins: In addition to the naturally-occurring vitamins in the superfoods, there’s also vitamin C (THD ascorbate) for mild brightening, provitamin B5 (panthenol) for moisture, and vitamin E for fighting free radicals.
• Glycerin: This hardworking humectant helps draw in hydration.

It’s not just the formula that makes the Youth To The People Cleanser so popular. It’s also the packaging.

First of all, you’re getting a lot more product than most brands give you—a full 8 oz. instead of the usual 5 oz.

It comes in a sturdy glass bottle with a pump, which makes dispensing the gel quick and easy. (If you need to travel with it, all you do is push and twist the pump back down, and it will securely lock. There’s also a mini 2 oz. size, if you prefer.)

Everything is recyclable, too, from the glass bottle to the plastic pump to the outer box. Alternatively, you can buy a 16 oz. refill size to reduce recycling and fill up your smaller container(s).

As for the texture, the best way to describe it is a rich gel. It’s clear, with a barely-there yellow tint, and a slightly thicker feel compared to most gel cleansers.

Rather than a sudsy foam, it produces a very mild, slightly milky lather as you massage it over wet skin. It also smells fantastic—very herbal and fresh.

The Youth To The People Cleanser can be used as often as twice per day. In the mornings, a single cleanse should be sufficient, but at night, double cleansing is recommended to thoroughly remove any makeup and sunscreen.

So what have my results been like with this face wash?

Well, I’m on my second 8 oz. bottle now, if that’s any indication of how much I love it. I’m constantly testing out different cleansers in order to write about them on this website, so it’s rare for me to actually finish one. But the Youth To The People Cleanser is a product that I always come back to.

What I appreciate most is how well it cleans and softens my skin without leaving it dry and uncomfortable. With some cleansers, my face gets so tight and dehydrated that I have to hurry up and put on moisturizer. Not with this one—I can wash my face and then take my time applying the next steps in my routine. (And y’all know I have a lot of steps! 🤣) 

Just keep in mind that my skin is combo-ish (normal cheeks and oilier through the T-zone). If you're quite dry, then you’ll probably find that a creamy face wash (like Blume or First Aid Beauty) works better for you, even though this product is technically for all skin types.

As for the added vitamins and “superfoods,” I’m not convinced that such ingredients can offer significant results in a cleanser, since it’s only on your skin for about a minute before you rinse it off. You’re better off using a separate vitamin C serum, for example, if you really want antioxidant or brightening benefits.

However, even if they’re more of a marketing thing, this cleanser is still great value. On a per ounce basis, it’s cheaper than the cleansers from Drunk Elephant, Indie Lee, Glow Recipe and Summer Fridays—even more so if you buy the 16 oz. supersize!

For these reasons, I give the Youth To The People Cleanser four out of five stars: ★★★★☆