Youth to the People 15% Vitamin C + Clean Caffeine Energy Serum for mature skin
Ascorbic Acid
Clean Caffeine
Squalane
GlycerinHigh
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for mature skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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
- This serum offers excellent brightening and evening of skin tone for your normal skin, as multiple forms of Vitamin C like 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate work synergistically to stimulate collagen and provide antioxidant protection.
- While it provides general hydration and antioxidant benefits with ingredients such as Glycerin and Ergothioneine, it lacks specialized ingredients to effectively target your wrinkles and fine lines.
- The formulation is safe for your normal skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week, and work up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this serum after your toner and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- You can apply the serum on dry skin for the best results against fine lines.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 1.7k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dull, tired, or sensitive skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to visibly brighten the complexion and reduce morning puffiness without causing irritation. While many report a "healthy glow" and improved skin tone, results regarding hyperpigmentation vary, and the product is often noted for its unique, lightweight texture that layers well under makeup.
Highlights
Visibly brightens skin Mostly Mentioned
- “skin appeared brighter and had a healthy glow”
- “fading my post-acne dark spots”
- “complexion looks more awake”
- “gave a subtle brightening effect”
Gentle formula Often Mentioned
- “didn't break me out”
- “gentle on sensitive skin”
- “no tingling or stinging”
- “stable vitamin C not sensitizing”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly into skin”
- “layers well with no pilling”
- “non-sticky and lightweight”
- “milky gel-like consistency”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “price feels a bit steep”
- “a little overpriced”
- “better options for cheaper”
- “expensive for the size”
Reduces puffiness Sometimes Noted
- “minimized morning puffiness”
- “helps look less puffy in mornings”
- “face looks more awake”
- “great for depuffing eyes”
Strong ginger scent Sometimes Noted
- “strong ginger scent”
- “smells like ginger root”
- “scent is too strong”
- “not a fan of the smell”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “no noticeable results after 4 weeks”
- “didn't see a difference”
- “no real results”
- “didn't do anything for me”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “leaves a sticky residue”
- “feels a bit tacky”
- “texture is slightly sticky”
- “sticky finish before drying”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, cultbeauty.com, youthtothepeople.com, spacenk.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Youth to the People 15% Vitamin C + Clean Caffeine Energy Serum a great fit for mature skin?
This serum is a great fit because multiple forms of Vitamin C work together to brighten your skin, even out its tone, and help build firmness. It is very safe for your skin with no harsh ingredients that might cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for mature skin?
Ascorbic Acid, clean caffeine, and squalane make this serum a great fit for mature skin by helping brighten the tone and provide antioxidant protection. These ingredients support a smooth and healthy look while remaining very safe and unlikely to cause irritation.
What does Vitamin C do for mature skin?
Vitamin C helps mature skin by smoothing out wrinkles, brightening dark spots, and boosting firmness. It works by encouraging collagen production to keep skin looking youthful and radiant.
What does Caffeine do for mature skin?
Caffeine helps protect mature skin against sun damage and early aging by acting as an antioxidant that fights off daily environmental stress. It also helps boost microcirculation, which may give tired skin a more awake and refreshed look.
Frontiers in Physiology, 2019Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2013
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though some serums of this type can also be used in the morning or twice a day. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying this vitamin C in your morning routine and your retinol at night. Using them at different times of the day helps avoid irritation while still giving you brightening and anti-aging benefits.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum fits well in the evening routine for simplicity and safety, though some formulas like this may also be used in the morning or twice a day. Antioxidant treatments like this help brighten skin and protect against daily damage with a very safe profile.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for mature skin because its gentle formulation avoids harsh ingredients and is safe for daily use. It helps keep skin smooth and hydrated without feeling heavy.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Topical sunscreen formulations containing caffeine combined with UV filters increased in vivo anti-UVB protection by approximately 25% and showed higher SPF values compared to caffeine-free sunscreen, while being well tolerated by the skin of healthy subjects.
Frontiers in Physiology, 2019Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022A topical cosmetic slimming product containing tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, caffeine, carnitine, forskolin and retinol significantly reduced body circumferences and improved skin aspect compared with placebo in 78 women over 12 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011Caffeine gel combined with choline geranate showed high skin permeation capacity and superior clinical results in cellulite treatment compared to caffeine gel without ionic liquid.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2021Caffeine stimulates metabolic activity in hair follicles and acts as an antioxidant through adenosine pathway interactions, showing potential as an effective and safe management option for hair loss despite current study limitations.
Molecules, 2025Squalane 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, 2025The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Ascorbic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Squalane, Triethyl Citrate, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Benzoate, Lauroyl Lysine, Passiflora Edulis Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Ilex Guayusa Leaf Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Pullulan, Mannitol, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Oil Root, Calcium Gluconate, Silica, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ergothioneine
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
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.