Michelle Villett/The Glow Memo
Youth To The People Cleanser Review: This Is the Bestselling Face Wash at Sephora, But Is It Worth the Hype?
Gel cleansers don’t have the best reputation. While they’re known for their ability to give your skin a deep-cleanse, they can often leave your face feeling dry, tight and stripped of moisture.
Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser promises not to do this. It’s described as a “powerful, but gentle” daily face wash that removes makeup, prevents build-up in your pores, and balances your skin’s pH level—all without drying or stripping.
With more than 6,000 four-star reviews, it’s also the number one bestselling cleanser at Sephora. But does it live up to the hype?
I put it to the test. After going through a full bottle of this cleanser, I’m ready to give you the lowdown on what it’s really like and whether you should try it.
What It Is & Who It’s For
Michelle Villett/The Glow Memo
The Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser is a water-based gel cleanser that produces a sulfate-free lather.
“This cleanser is a really high-quality product that does a great job of cleaning the skin, removing makeup, and it’s pH balanced,” says the brand’s co-founder, Joe Cloyes. “It’s a gel formula but it doesn’t strip skin because there’s no sulfates or phthalates in it.”1
Does that mean it’s suitable for everyone? Well, not so fast.
When the product first launched in 2015, it was said to be gentle enough for ALL skin types, even sensitive skin. However, that seemingly changed after the brand released a second cleanser, the Strawberry Dream Cleansing Balm, in 2021.
Now, the brand recommends its Superfood Cleanser for oily, combination and breakout-prone skin, while the Cleansing Balm is for dry and sensitive types.
Personally, I agree with that distinction—especially since the Superfood Cleanser is meant to be used twice per day. In the morning, a single cleanse is sufficient, but at night, double cleansing is ideal to thoroughly remove any makeup and sunscreen.
Packaging & Texture
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One of the reasons the Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser is so popular is because of 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. cleanser size. So it’s actually better value than the gel cleansers from Glow Recipe, Drunk Elephant and Summer Fridays, to name a few.
Rather than plastic, it comes in a sturdy glass bottle. The pump makes dispensing the gel quick and easy, and if you need to travel with it, all you do is push and twist the pump back down, and it will securely lock. (Or you can get 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).
Michelle Villett/The Glow Memo
One or two pumps is all you’ll need to wash your face and neck. You’ll notice that the product is clear, with a somewhat richer, thicker texture than most gels. One of my favourite things about it is the scent, which is super fresh and herby.
Michelle Villett/The Glow Memo
You can wet your face and neck first, and then massage it in for about 30 seconds. Or, if you need to remove stubborn makeup, you can apply it directly to dry skin, adding more water gradually as you massage.
Either way, it will produce a light lather, which rinses off easily with water when you’re done.
Ingredients & Benefits
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Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe Vera) Juice, Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate, Polysorbate 20, Brassica Oleracea Acephala (Kale) Extract, Spinacia Oleracea (Spinach) Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Glycerin, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Decyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Laurate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex (CI 75810), Gardenia Jasminoides (Jasmine) Fruit Extract, Fragrance/Parfum.