Is Youth To The People Cruelty-Free & Vegan? (Is It Worth The $$?)

Youth To The People is a superfood-obsessed skincare line that is cruelty-free, vegan, sustainable, and socially driven. Could it be everything we’ve looked for in a brand?

Youth To The People is cruelty-free. It doesn't conduct animal testing on its products, nor does it distribute its cosmetics where animal testing is required by law. Youth To The People is also 100% vegan – it doesn't use any animal-derived ingredients.

Youth To The People (YTTP) was founded in 2015 by a family of beauty pioneers!

The Californian-born brand prides itself in making whole, clean, and nutrient-dense products for all skin types, ages, and genders.

It focuses on using potent antioxidants and phytonutrients from premium plant extracts. Of course, everything is consciously-sourced and packed with good stuff for your skin.

Beyond their formulas, YTTP claims to be sustainably and ethically driven. Could you ask for more?  

Well, let’s see!

We dug into the brand’s history to find out whether their claims are legit and if they’re just greenwashing us (like so many cosmetic companies do these days). Here’s what we found.

Is Youth To The People Cruelty-Free and Vegan?

Youth To The People Cruelty-Free and Vegan Range

Youth To The People is 100% Cruelty-Free

It does not:

  • Test any of its products or ingredients on animals;
  • Purchase any ingredients tested on animals within its supply chain; or
  • Distribute its products to any countries that require animal testing by law.

Youth To The People is 100% cruelty-free and has the accreditation to prove it. We’ll explain why it’s actually trustworthy a little further down. (Hint ­– not all certifications are made equal!)

Unfortunately, YTTP was acquired by L'Oréal in 2021 – which is not (and never has been) a cruelty-free brand.

This brings us to our next point:

Youth To The People is Vegan

Yup – this accessible skincare brand is entirely vegan. It does not use any animal-derived ingredients in any of its products.

However, it's worth knowing that Youth To The People is the exception and not the rule.

Most mainstream skincare brands are not 100% vegan. These are certain animal-derived ingredients to look out for in general:

  • Honey & beeswax – these ingredients pose many health benefits to your skin and wellbeing. They have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and are loaded with essential vitamins.

    Just because beeswax isn't vegan, it doesn't mean it can't be cruelty-free. Find out more here: Can Beeswax Be Cruelty-Free?
  • Lanolin – this ingredient, like honey and beeswax, is used in skincare and cosmetics because it is incredibly hydrating. It is basically the waxy oil that comes from sheep wool. Lanolin can be cruelty-free – follow this link for more details.
  • Collagen – is an essential protein that plays an integral role in strengthening skin, as well as in elasticity and hydration.

    Naturally, collagen can only be found in connective animal tissue. But today, it's possible to make vegan collagen by genetically modifying yeast and bacteria.
  • Carmine – this ingredient is the red pigment made from the crushed female cochineal insect. A little gross, no? But it is completely harmless and is used in makeup to get those rouge tones.

    To find out why carmine is so cruel and the shocking amount of products that use it, you need to read this: Is Carmine Cruelty-Free and Vegan?
  • Squalane – is a cosmetic ingredient predominantly harvested from sharks' livers but can also be derived from plant sources. (Find the best vegan squalane products here.)

    Squalane is an excellent ingredient because it mimics your skin's natural oils. It's anti-inflammatory, packed with antioxidants, and non-comedogenic.

If you're interested in finding the best Youth To The People vegan products or finding vegan brand alternatives – keep reading or click on this link: YTTP’s vegan products.

Animal Testing Policy and History

Youth To The People is committed to making cruelty-free products. It has never tested its formulas, ingredients, or finished products on animals (and we don’t think it’ll ever start).

Cruelty-Free Status in 2022

Here is a screenshot of YTTP’s official statement regarding its cruelty-free policies and vegan products, taken from its website:

Youth To The People Cruelty-Free Website Claim

Certification

Youth To The People is Leaping Bunny, and PETA certified – overachievers much?

While you might know PETA very well – it surprisingly doesn’t hold the strictest cruelty-free regulations. It only requires a brand’s written consent that abides by the PETA code of conduct.

Certification from Leaping Bunny is ideal because it holds rigorous standards and does regular audits to ensure they are upheld. It proves that:

  • No animal testing is conducted on the ingredients, formulas, or final products they sell.
  • No animal testing is conducted by the brand suppliers or on their ingredients or formulas.
  • No animal testing is done by someone else that the company itself paid for.
  • Any other form of testing (beyond ingredient and consumer safety), such as worker safety and environmental health, are considered and evaluated.

If you see a bunny stamp on the back of your product bottle – that's an excellent sign. But don't let the image itself fool you. A lot of brands are using fake logos to deceive consumers.

Do your homework and see which products are genuinely cruelty-free first. This article will help you: Which Cruelty-Free Logos Can You Trust?

Is Youth To The People Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law? 

Youth To The People does not sell any of its products in stores in China or any country that requires animal testing on cosmetics by law.

China has a shocking track record. It is the country with the most animal testing globally, with over 20 million animals used per year.

However, if you live in China or are concerned about its cruel beauty policies, there are a couple of loopholes.

Here's how to find cruelty-free cosmetics in China: Are Cosmetics Made in China Cruelty-Free?

The Best Vegan Youth To The People Products

Youth To The People has a great range of vegan products that continues to expand. It prides itself in developing a product with you (the consumer) and the planet in mind.

To save you some time, here are some of its most popular skincare products:

  • Superfood Cleanser
  • Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream
  • Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask
  • Triple Peptide + Cactus Oasis Serum
  • Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream

You can find a complete list of YTTP’s vegan products on its website.

Vegan Alternatives to Youth To The People

YTTP is an excellent option if you’re looking for true vegan and cruelty-free skincare. Unfortunately, it’s not cheap.

We’d mark it in the medium to high price range with a moisturizer costing anywhere between $50-$70.

Although we love what the brand stands for ­– the price it may make it difficult for everyone to embrace vegan skincare.

So, if you're looking for 100% vegan cosmetics that are more reasonably priced, here are some alternatives to try:

Is Youth To The People Natural and Organic? 

This is another area that YTTP shines. The brand is very transparent about which ingredients it chooses and why.

They use a combination of natural and synthetic ingredients with a priority on ensuring all formulas are safe and clean.

Clean vs. Natural Ingredients

The term "natural" is not regulated for cosmetics and skincare. In other words, it doesn't hold one specific meaning.

Usually, it means a product is free of certain more toxic synthetic ingredients, including parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and more. But people also interpret "natural" to mean ingredients of immediate plant origin.

Here's the thing: "natural" is not necessarily good. Just because an ingredient is natural (take olive oil, for example) doesn't mean you should rub it on your skin and sit in the sun to fry yourself like a chicken breast!

All products use a certain amount of synthetic ingredients in their formulas. YTTP is no exception – but it does choose to use better or clean synthetics.

If a synthetic ingredient is "clean," it means it is safe and non-toxic for us. Its purpose is to preserve the stability of a beauty formulation.

A few naturally-derived ingredients Youth To The People uses to enhance its cosmetics include:

  • Spinach leaf extract is an antioxidant that is chock-full of minerals and vitamins. Not only does it strengthen, moisturize, and restore your skin’s health. It also reduces the appearance of sun damage, dark spots, and signs of aging.
  • Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance in our skin that helps maintain moisture and boost tissue regeneration and wound healing.

    As we age, we produce less hyaluronic acid – making it an essential ingredient in our beauty products.
  • Green tea extract is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been shown to alleviate concerns like rosacea and dermatitis because it soothes irritated, red, or swollen skin.

    Green tea has also proven to treat acne and oily skin while preventing conditions like loss of skin elasticity and premature aging.  

Does Youth To The People Use Safe Ingredients?

According to Skin Safe, Youth To The People has a 91% allergen-free ranking for each product.

All YTTP products are free of gluten, nickel, soy, dye, and parabens. The brand also avoids common preservatives, irritants, and propylene glycol.

Reading the ingredient list is crucial because Youth To The People is not 100% hypoallergenic or non-comedogenic, and they do not claim to be.

However, certain products are specifically for these concerns, so make sure you buy what your skin needs.

The EU/UK Have Stricter Ingredient Regulations

We don’t want to scare you, but you HAVE to read up on any product’s ingredient list before you make a purchase – especially if you live within the United States. The reason why will shock you.

The FDA has only banned or restricted 11 harmful chemicals from cosmetics within the country. Europe and the UK, on the other hand, have banned 1,328!

Although YTTP uses clean formulas – it’s worth noting that you should always avoid the following ingredients in skincare products:

  • Ethoxylated ingredients (PPG, PEG, and polysorbate)
  • Ethanolamine compounds (DEA, MEA, and TEA)
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, aka teflon®)
  • Propylene glycol (pg) & butylene glycol
  • Polyacrylamide
  • DMDM Hydantoin
  • Phthalates
  • Triclosan
  • Formaldehyde

Are Cruelty-Free Ingredients Safe?

If you’re worried about how safe it is to use cosmetics not tested on animals – please relax and take a sigh of relief.

There is no reason why cruelty-free products shouldn’t be as safe as anything tested on animals.

Not only is it easy to test ingredients without using animals altogether, but there are so many pre-approved ingredients you can use to make cosmetics that there is no need.

If you’re interested, here’s more on the subject: Are Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Safe?

Is Youth To The People Sustainable and Ethical? 

Youth To The People has sustainability and ethical initiatives as part of the brand ethos.

The three pillars they use to guide every impact-related decision are:

  • Sourcing clean and nutrient-dense ingredients without destroying the environment.
  • Striving to do more for the planet through conscious consumption.
  • Working to amplify diverse voices and increase inclusivity.

Some of YTTP’s ethical initiatives include:

  • Assisting with organizations that help women, girls, and communities of color most affected by climate-related catastrophes.
  • Working to safeguard wild spaces and biological diversity while finding innovative solutions to climate breakdown.

It's no secret that the world has a huge waste problem, and cosmetic brands only make it worse by using unsustainable packaging and harmful ingredients.

Some of the ways Youth To The People is taking strong environmental accountability is by:

  • Using biodegradable formulas with natural ingredients.
  • Prohibiting the use of synthetic microbeads that pollute our waters and harm marine life.
  • Offering refillable items to increase the longevity of product containers and decrease packaging waste.
  • Sourcing ingredients from local suppliers in California.
  • Choosing glass over plastic product containers.
  • Partnering with Heinz - a glass manufacturer in Germany that is committed to sustainable business practices.
  • Partnering with Neenah, an FSC-certified (sustainably sourced paper) mill in Wisconsin.
  • Using an FSC-certified printing press, Calitho, based in Concord, California, for local manufacturing.
  • Striving to ensure that 57% of all product lids will be made from PCR material (post-consumer recycled) by the end of 2022.
  • Using their ‘To The Planet Fund’ to donate company proceeds to projects like the Global Fund for Women, Climate Resolve, Eden Project, Coalition for Clean Air, and Center for Biological Diversity.

Youth of the People also has some goals set for the near future. These include:

  • Donating $1 million through their ‘To The Planet Fund’ to non-profit organizations promoting climate protection.
  • Having a 25% energy reduction across all operations by 2025.
  • Aiming to achieve net zero carbon emissions through broad energy reductions and offsets.
  • Working towards 100% recyclable packaging.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a brand that has effective products and aligns with some of the highest ethical values, look no further.

We’ve scrutinized this brand, and they’ve come out pretty darn clean!

Youth To The People stands for everything we need more of in this world – a more sustainable future in cosmetics.

All their products are cruelty-free, vegan, sustainably sourced, and ethically produced. There’s little not to love from this superfood skincare hard hitter.

We appreciate how transparent the brand is with everything they do, from the ingredients they use, their supply chain, and their sustainability and ethical initiatives.

The only unfortunate thing to consider is that YTTP is owned by L’Oréal. Luckily, from what we can tell, this has had little effect on how the brand conducts its business.

Make sure to keep an eye on Youth To The People. We can’t wait to see what more they create and achieve in the future.

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