Youth To The People Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum for combination skin
Retinal
Niacinamide
Ceramides
Squalane
Adaptogens
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 treatment for your combination skin, as retinal helps minimize fine lines and niacinamide evens skin tone, while also providing hydration and soothing benefits supportive for oily shine.
- The presence of hyaluronic acid further aids in hydration, and niacinamide's seboregulation properties are beneficial for managing oiliness.
- The product is safe for your combination skin with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 1000+ reviewsUsers 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
How well does Youth To The People Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum work for combination skin?
Youth To The People Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum works moderately well for combination skin, as retinal smooths fine lines and niacinamide evens tone while keeping oily shine in calm check. This treatment relies on ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to provide balanced hydration without feeling heavy. To work best for this skin type, a product of this type needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA that balance oil and boost radiance safely.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Scientific Reports, 2024
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Retinal and niacinamide make this serum a good fit for combination skin because retinal helps smooth fine lines while niacinamide evens skin tone and helps manage oily shine. A treatment for this skin needs effective ingredients like niacinamide and propolis or zinc PCA that regulate oiliness and provide hydration without causing excess oiliness or dryness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
What does Retinal do for combination skin?
Retinal helps smooth the skin and reduces signs of aging or breakouts when used regularly. It is unlikely to cause severe irritation when introduced gradually, keeping combination skin feeling calm and smooth.
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2011
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps things simple and safe around sun exposure. Combination skin works best with treatments that pair smoothing ingredients like retinal with soothing agents and lightweight hydrators to manage oily shine without drying.
Can I use this serum with AHA, and in what order?
You can use this serum with AHA by applying the AHA first and following with this treatment, though combination skin often needs products that balance oil and provide gentle hydration without overloading the skin.
How often should I use this serum?
Use this treatment serum in your evening routine, starting just once a week to let your skin adjust safely. Combination skin of this type needs a balanced routine with gentle hydrating ingredients and oil control to manage both dry and oily areas effectively.
Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin, as it avoids heavy, pore-clogging ingredients. Retinal may cause some initial purging as it speeds up skin renewal, but the added niacinamide and ceramides help keep your skin calm and balanced.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Topical 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, 2021Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.
Scientific Reports, 2024Twice 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, 2018Topical retinaldehyde demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo, leading to decreased bacterial counts without inducing resistance.
Dermatology, 2002Topical 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, 1999Topical 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, 2008Topical 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, 2005Topical 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.