It’s not news that I am obsessed with Youth to the People. I haven’t yet gotten my hands on their new Mandelic Acid + Superfood Unity Exfoliant though, so stay tuned for that. BUT I am more than happy to chat about their launch right before the exfoliant. It’s the Youth to the People Superclay Purify + Clear Power Mask. I’ve got combo oily skin, so clay masks have always been a staple in my routine. Here’s my honest review of the Superclay Purify + Clear Power Mask. Spoiler: I love it.
The Highlights I Loved
There are so many things to like about this clay mask from the ingredient list to the application to the aesthetic. It’s an amazing experience through and through.
It has multiple types of clay in it: volcanic, French green, and white clays come together to pull excess oils, impurities, and pollution from your pores. And they do it without drying your skin out excessively. More on that later.
Their active clearing complex: 2% niacinamide, BHA, and red willow bark. This helps minimize your pores (thanks, niacinamide!) as well as clear your pores out as deeply as possible. Salicylic acid (AKA BHA) is oil-soluble, enabling it to get further into your pores and unclog them from the inside. Side note: this is a different mechanism than how AHAs work, since AHAs are more surface level than BHAs are.
The texture is incredible: it’s light and super spreadable. It feels almost like a cream because it glides around so easily. I found that the best way to use this mask is to spread a REALLY thin layer. Normally with clay masks, they dry so quickly and I will apply a thick layer. But with this one from Youth to the People, you want to make sure you do a thin layer or else it won’t dry down.
It doesn’t make your skin feel tight or dry: on the same point as before, the clay doesn’t dry STRONG. I’ve even had the mask on for like 15-20 minutes, which is beyond the directed 10-15 minutes. And I have not had any issues with dryness or tightness. I don’t even run over to my toner to give myself some hydration after. That’s a testament to how complex this formulation is, particularly about its ability to purify the skin without overdoing it.
The Things I Didn’t Love So Much
The long list of things I loved might have made you think this was a grand slam of a product. And yes, it truly is. But you know I always have to bring a balanced review! So here are some of the negatives of the Youth to the People Superclay Purify + Clear Power Mask.
It’s $36 for 2 oz. While I will admit that I was heavy-handed with the clay application before I learned the best practices, this is on the more expensive end for a clay mask. For reference, a clay mask I find myself recommending very often to friends is the Otzi Dough Therapy ($30 for 3.4 oz)
The narrow jar (very much characteristic of YTTP and their jars — I am used to it with the YTTP Superberry Hydrate + Glow Mask too) makes it hard for my fat hands to reach the bottom. I do like that it is compact and does not take up much space on my shelf. But getting to the bottom requires me to pull out a spatula. While that is not the end of the world, it is more effort since my hands end up getting messy from all the clay anyway. I would rather not take that extra step with a spatula. But yes, I will probably be repurposing this jar anyway. My spice cabinet is going to be PACKED with skincare jars.
The color: I will admit that this one is a very me thing. But I was not a big fan of the blueness of the mask. It’s so random and I have no clue where it comes from. This is clearly NOT an issue with the mask’s efficacy (which, as we know, is very good!). Instead, it is just a weird thing where I don’t like to look at myself with the mask on when it starts drying. It gives me those weird goosebumps that some people get when they look at holes or something. IT’S A WEIRD ME THING AND I WILL ADMIT IT!!
Final Thoughts
Yes, 100% would recommend this. Sometimes, I like to imagine the ideal life in my head where I have enough money to comfortably afford a decent skincare routine. When I imagine this perfect life, I definitely have this YTTP Superclay Mask on my shelf, on my bathroom countertop, and on my face twice a week. With that said, I do not recommend this if you’re living on a budget. And there is no shame in that because I get it. I was living on $34K in Boston, paying almost half my paycheck in rent. I would not recommend this product to myself back then. But now, I am a little more comfortable. I have a little bit extra room. And yes, I am recommending this product to the person who can afford the mask and wants to take care of their skin.
The results are there. The mask is amazing. I would use this forever and ever if I could.
Thanks for reading my review! If you want more skincare tips and tricks, check out my Instagram.