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Youth To The People Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum for dry sensitive skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Youth To The People Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum

High

  • HighDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

One of the best serums for dry sensitive skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate exfoliation and barrier support for your dry and sensitive skin due to the presence of retinal and niacinamide, while squalane and glycerin provide essential emollient and humectant actions for hydration.
  • The retinal concentration promotes skin renewal, addressing fine lines and wrinkles with general skincare benefits that are supportive for your skin concerns.
  • The product is safe for your dry and sensitive skin as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients, minimizing irritation risks.

How to apply

  • Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
  • Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.

People Say

★4.7Overall rating based on 1000+ reviews

Users with acne-prone and textured skin report significant improvements in smoothness and clarity, often seeing faster results than with traditional retinols without the typical irritation. While the yellow tint and high price point are common complaints, the majority find it to be a gentle, effective solution for brightening dark spots and refining pores.

Highlights

  • Smoother texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “acne has disappeared”
    • “skin looking super smooth”
    • “smoothing rough skin”
    • “helped with texture”
  • Gentle and non-irritating Often Mentioned
    • “zero irritation redness”
    • “gave me nothing but happy skin”
    • “gentle efficacy”
    • “no discomfort”
  • Yellow tint Often Mentioned
    • “turned skin yellow”
    • “stained my skin”
    • “yellow tint looks odd”
    • “face yellow and tacky”
  • Brightening and glow Sometimes Noted
    • “visibly brighter”
    • “radiant look”
    • “dark spots fading”
    • “even out skin tone”
  • Fast visible results Sometimes Noted
    • “results in one week”
    • “fast acting”
    • “results within couple weeks”
    • “shocked by amount of results”
  • High price Sometimes Noted
    • “very expensive”
    • “pricey side”
    • “costs way too much”
    • “out of budget”
  • Hydrating feel Rarely Noted
    • “plump juicy brighter”
    • “hydrating ingredients”
    • “skin feels better”
    • “not heavy or greasy”
  • Dryness and flaking Rarely Noted
    • “felt dry and flaky”
    • “little drying”
    • “drys out the skin”
    • “skin felt dry”
  • Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
    • “not doing anything”
    • “didn't find added value”
    • “unhelpful for acne”
    • “no change in pores”
  • Pump issues Rarely Noted
    • “pump is awful”
    • “pump hard to press”
    • “stiff pump”
    • “impossible to get little product”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, kohls.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, youthtothepeople.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Youth To The People Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum a great fit for dry sensitive skin?

This serum is a great fit because it offers gentle renewal and barrier support using retinal and niacinamide, while squalane and glycerin bring essential hydration to dry, sensitive skin. It is formulated safely to minimize irritation risks.

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

This serum is a great fit because it contains retinal and niacinamide for gentle renewal and barrier support, alongside squalane, glycerin, and ceramides that provide deep hydration and keep your skin calm and smooth. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it lacks harsh ingredients and has a very safe profile.

What does Retinal do for dry sensitive skin?

Retinal may help smooth fine lines and improve skin texture, but for dry and sensitive skin it is unlikely to be a good fit on its own. This skin type needs products that include gentle hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to lock in moisture and protect the skin barrier.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2024Dermatology, 1999

What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?

Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This treatment serum goes in your evening routine after cleansing and toning, followed by a moisturizer to keep your skin soft. Using it at night also provides extra safety around sun exposure.

Can I use this serum with AHA, and in what order?

It is best to avoid using this serum in the same routine as an AHA to prevent extra irritation on dry, sensitive skin. Using them on alternate nights or separating them into different routines is a safer way to get the benefits of both.

How often should I use this serum?

This treatment is a great fit for your dry and sensitive skin, and is used in the evening routine. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes squalane and glycerin for hydration.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts, but the retinal in it may cause temporary flaking and mild purging as your skin renews. The formula includes soothing ceramides and squalane to help keep your skin calm and hydrated while it adjusts.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Twice-daily application of a plant adaptogen serum combined with moisturizing lotion before and after non-ablative fractional laser treatment reduced dryness and erythema and improved global skin healing and quality compared to moisturizing lotion alone in women with mild-to-moderate photodamaged skin.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2026

  • Twice daily application of retinaldehyde 0.1% and 0.05% creams for 3 months improved skin texture and hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in 40 female Korean volunteers, with only the 0.1% cream significantly improving the melanin index.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018

  • Topical retinaldehyde demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo, leading to decreased bacterial counts without inducing resistance.

    Dermatology, 2002

  • Topical 0.05% retinaldehyde applied over 1 year significantly increased epidermal thickness of the temple and cutaneous elasticity compared to an emollient control group in 40 aging skin patients.

    Dermatology, 1999

  • Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008

  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005

  • Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.

    Molecules, 2025

  • Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.

    Antioxidants, 2025

Ingredients

Water, Butylene Glycol, Triethylhexanoin, Niacinamide, Squalane, Cyclodextrin, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Grifola Frondosa Fruiting Body Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Arginine, Retinal, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Letinus Edodes Mycelium Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil Shea Oil, Ceramide Eop, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Capryloyl Glycerin Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Diheptyl Succinate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phytosterols, Propanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Raspberry Ketone

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play