Add to Cart is a new reader interest series that breaks down products and launches in beauty and skincare from your wish list. Has something caught your eye and preoccupied your desires? What products are you curious to learn more about? Let us know what's living on your wish list in the comments - each month, we'll select, buy, and review one product to see if it lives up to the hype!
'Tis the season... to be followed around Instagram by new product releases and sales. Seriously, I have had so many tempting things trail me across IG, Facebook, Google Ads, everywhere! There are always so many bright and shiny things tempting you to add to cart. And, sure, some end up arriving as wonderful surprises in some of our beauty subscriptions. Sometimes we see them in a spoiler, and keep our fingers crossed, just to open our box and see it has other delightful things but maybe not that special new launch you had your fingers crossed for. Add to Cart is a series where we explore these new launches and spoilers that have us drooling! Are they worth an official add-to-cart moment?
This month we are diving into a reader favorite brand: Youth to the People. It does sometimes make that rare appearance in subscription boxes, but it is certainly more of a unicon brand and when you do see it, it is usually in a smaller sample size. So when YTTP launched this new toner, it seemed to tempt quite a few of us. So, I bought it.
The Product We Chose: Youth To The People Mandelic Acid + Superfood Unity Exfoliant, 4 fl oz - $38
My Subscription Addiction paid for this product. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes and items).
This solution arrived in very pretty and very YTTP green glass. The bottle was packaged in a kraft paper box.
Youth to the People is a brand that launched in 2015 and has quickly become a favorite for loads of people concerned with responsible ingredients and conscious packaging. From YTTP:
We are proud to formulate all of our products in California, sourcing our extracts from local suppliers when possible. Our formulations are vegan, cruelty-free, and won’t cause harm to our oceans once rinsed off of your face. Our products abide by the EU’s list of 1,300+ ingredients that are restricted for cosmetic use.
It's also a family-owned company and proudly passionate about the planet and social causes. Basically, if you are a skincare junkie who liked to spend your money with companies who think about the world beyond just skincare, this brand is easy to root for. Especially since some of their products work incredibly well and are already cult favorites.
One of their new launches this year is the product we will be diving into today! It is a liquid toner that arrived in a gorgeous green glass bottle and features a blend of active ingredients aimed at cleansing pores and smoothing skin's texture.
The Ingredients
Here is a closer look at the ingredient list:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Flower Water, Mandelic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Salicylic Acid, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Water, Gluconolactone, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice Powder, Brassica Oleracea Acephala (Kale) Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Leaf Extract, Spinacia Oleracea (Spinach) Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Glucosamine HCL, Panthenol, Glycerin, Arginine, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate.
The Key Players and What They Do
Mandelic Acid: An AHA that helps dead skin detach from the face and benefits overall texture.
Salicylic Acid: A BHA that goes deep into pores and helps loosen gunk and buildup. This helps prevent breakouts and also helps exfoliate dead skin cells.
Gluconolactone: A PHA that can help thicken skin over time and also helps keep skin moisturized. It is also great for antiaging because it is an antioxidant.
Green Tea Extract: One of my favorite antioxidants! It helps prevent aging and is also antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
Aloe: Moisturizing and healing.
Other goodies? Licorice root extract, panthenol, and German chamomile extract.
My Takeaway
What Does It Smell Like?
Medicinal, green, and fresh. It's a lighter scent that doesn't hang around long.
What Does It Feel Like?
Water, really. It is a little heavier and slippery-er? Slippier? You know what I mean. But on the face it is weightless.
When Should I Apply This?
The easy answer here is after your cleanser. Use a cotton round and add a few drops, then apply! As far as day or evening? I personally like using it at night after cleansing and before a serum and cream/oil. You could also use it in the AM after washing your face and before your serum/moisturizer/makeup. You need to be wearing SPF while using this product (and probably all the time anyway) because the acids can make you sun sensitive.
Who Is It For?
If you are interested in smoothing your skin texture, preventing congestion/acne, and also boosting overall hydration, this is worth a try.
Should You Buy Youth to the People Superfood Unity Exfoliant?
In my opinion? Yes. This green bottle holds a ton of stuff that will benefit most skin types and it is gentle enough to use daily, though if you are more sensitive, try it out a few times a week. If you already have a BHA or AHA toner that you love (my mind automatically goes to a certain BHA toner from Paula's Choice that is also excellent!) then you are safe without this, at least until your other bottle runs out. If other similar toners have felt too harsh for your skin, this might be a gentle alternative that includes a trio of beneficial exfoliating acids instead of just one or two.
Ready to Add to Cart? Get it here!
What's Next?
Well, I need your input on what you want to see reviewed next! Here are the newer launches that have been living inside my head rent-free and following me around on screens both small and large:
1 of 7 | COLOURPOP The Mandalorian palette
I know Olaplex has been mentioned before and we can totally dive into that! I am just currently testing out a haircare brand that needs to be the only thing on my head for a few weeks, so we will revisit this next month for sure if you all are still interested!
Also, I would love to see your suggestions in the comments! What new launch has you wondering if it is worth an Add to Cart? Let me know in the comments below!
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.