[ENG] Review: Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask

This review contains PR samples° and affiliate links* You ever tried a product for the first time and instantly knew it’s amazing? Of course not, because that never happens, right? Right?! Wrong! I swear, this is what happened with me and the Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask, which of course means I have to share my full review with you guys!

The product name for this sleeping mask is awkwardly long, so I couldn’t fit in a snazzy additional title, but it would probably be something like: “magical mask treatment that can literally transform your skin overnight!” But then, maybe you would start to think I’ve definitely been paid large sums of money to rave so shamelessly about the Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask (I haven’t, sadly), so it might be better to not go for that title after all.

So, yeah, I really am pretty amazed by this mask. If you follow me on Instagram, this comes as no surprise, since I’ve already raved about it there a couple of times. I received a few products from Youth To The People a while ago and have been testing my way through them, but the Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask is by far my favourite out of the bunch. So, what’s so special about it?

Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask: Superfoods for Juicy Skin

Youth To The People is a US indie brand that I remember first hearing about when they still only had a few thousand Instagram followers and one product launched, their famous Superfood Kale Antioxidant Cleanser. By now the brand has established itself as a staple for many skincare lovers, and especially if you are someone who supports sustainability and inclusivity, YTTP will appeal to you – they really walk the walk and do not just talk the talk when it comes to diversity: their Instagram and website are full of beautifully diverse faces and bodies, it is a joy to see.

Youth To The People is also one of those “hipster” brands that exudes urban coolness and understated, minimalist luxury. Honestly, it is a brand that I feel I am potentially not cool enough to use. But hey, I can live with that, because the products are too awesome for this spinstery, awkwardly “how do you do, fellow kids?”-esque Gen Xer to miss out. Oh, did I mention that YTTP also passionately supports a number of political and ecological causes? For Pride Month, they released a special edition of the Hydrate and Glow Face Mask, with proceeds going 100% (yes, that’s right – all of it, the whole lot, not just a measly dollar) to LGBTQIA+ non-profits. The cover art for this special edition was also created by LGBTQIA+ artists.

So, a brand worth supporting just for these things, right? Well, and then, again, you can also add “great products” to the list of reasons to get intrigued. Which brings us back to the Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask and its bright yellow amazingness!

Sleeping masks, overnight masks and sleeping creams are a bit of a hazy category that originated in – where else? – South Korea. I believe Laneige was one of the first brands to ever develop this type of moisturiser-mask hybrid, a watery gel that still had some strong occlusive qualities, meant to seal in moisture overnight so that you can wake up to extra plump, juicy skin. Many people claim sleeping masks are just glorified moisturisers, and I kind of get that, but I would say their texture and purpose sets them apart from your average day and night cream. I actually use sleeping creams on top of my night time moisturiser, but then this might be because I have oily to combo skin and rarely gravitate towards thick creams. So for me, a sleeping cream is the perfect way to seal in my hydrating layers without my skin feeling overpowered.

The Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask is marketed as a radiance-boosting overnight mask, packed full with the superfood extracts that are essential to YTTP’s branding. In the case of this sleeping mask, maqui or “Chilean wineberry”, goji berry, moringa and prickly pear are the superfoods that give the product its name, all rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients that can be beneficial for the skin’s ability to combat free radicals. Prickly pear in particular is currently a bit of a rising beauty ingredient star, with Korean darling Huxley* one of the brands that uses it as a main ingredient. The oil of this cactus fruit is said to be anti-inflammatory and lightweight enough to be suitable even for oilier skin, a great facial oil that also calms down redness and keeps skin smooth and supple, while prickly pear extract is often used in anti-pollution skincare due to its high antioxidant contents.

Here is the full list of ingredients for the Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask:

“Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Betaine, Isopropyl Myristate, Stearic Acid, Opuntia Tuna (Prickly Pear) Extract, Euterpe Oleracea (Açaí) Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum (Goji) Extract, Aristotelia Chilensis (Maqui) Fruit Extract, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearyl Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Glyceryl Laurate, Squalane, Carbomer, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Natural Fragrance, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2).”

Apart from the superfood extracts, the Glow Dream Mask also contains a Vitamin C derivative, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate – vit C derivatives are more stable than pure L-ascorbic acid and thus easier to add to a skincare formula without losing efficacy, but on the other hand they tend to not be as effective as pure ascorbic acid. From how I understand it, the jury is still out on how well they actually manage to brighten skin, but apparently the derivative used in this mask is one of the more effective ones overall. Hydration comes from humectants glycerin and hyaluronic acid, while squalane and sunflower oil provide moisture and emollient protection. Allantoin and panthenol both are popular skin-soothers great for sensitive and redness-prone skin. The mask is free from ethanol/alcohol and has no added fragrance or essential oils – it does have a fragrance which apparently is a natural by-product of the added plant extracts.

Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask: Overnight Results?!

Listen, I am as sceptical as the next person when someone declares a product working “overnight.” We all know skincare takes time to show any positive effects, so using something only once or twice and then declaring it the best thing ever is of course deeply suss! So, you can imagine how baffled I was when I woke up the morning after applying the Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask for the first time overnight and looking in the mirror to see… radiant skin?! The product did what it advertised to do?!

And not only did my skin look brighter and more radiant (that coveted “lit from within” kind of glow), it also felt noticeably softer when I did my morning skincare routine. I kid you not, my hydrating toners and serum just seemed to glide onto skin so smoothly that I almost had trouble getting through all my usual layers. My skin just didn’t need as much pampering and hydrating treatments as it usually does! Truly, it is hard not to use words such as “magical” to describe the effects of this overnight mask.

The Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask has a lovely texture, though it may be a little too heavy for very oily skin types. I would describe it as a lotion-style moisturiser texture, not too oily, just rich without being thick or balm-like. It doesn’t feel as stifling as some sleeping creams can, and I like that it doesn’t have that petrolatum jelly or silicone-y thickness. Nothing wrong with either of those two ingredients, but I just don’t enjoy these types of textures as much on my skin, which is easily overwhelmed.

The Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask sinks nicely into skin and doesn’t leave a weird film like so many sleeping creams or masks. You can feel that something rich and velvety is on your skin, but it feels pleasant and not uncomfortable. The true magic with this product definitely happens overnight, so don’t expect it to magically transform your skin the moment you apply it. This definitely has a very distinct scent, which I personally love: it’s almost slightly musky and sensual, mixed with a whiff of fruitiness, but the smell isn’t perfume-y or cloying at all.

Now, I have noticed that if I use the Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask too often during the week, it can become a bit too much for my skin, especially around my period, and there is a risk of breakouts developing around my chin and left cheek (side sleeper problems, sigh). To me, this is more of a weekly to bi-weekly treat, which just gives my skin a luxurious extra boost of glorious radiance and skin barrier pampering. If you have dry skin, you may enjoy the mask more often though!

As I mentioned above, I tend to use overnight masks in addition to my regular moisturisers, but you can also try the Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask as a replacement for your usual nighttime cream if you find this a little too much. Both works fine, it really just depends on your skin’s needs.

The YTTP Superberry Hydrate and Glow Mask is suitable for all skin types I would say, though again might be a tad too rich for oily and younger skin prone to breakouts. It’s great for anyone struggling with dryness and dehydration, and for special occasions when you need to wake up with “red carpet” skin! Guys, seriously, it’s so good – I’m lovestruck.

So, where can you buy the Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask? If you are in North America, you can visit the YTTP online store, where the 59ml glass jar costs 48$, or you can also find this at Amazon* for currently the same price (and I believe they ship internationally from there too). Sephora also sells this, but I can only link to the German Sephora store due to geo-locking. The mask is available at Sephora Germany for currently only 28.45€, a really great price! And UK-based retailer Cult Beauty also sells the Hydrate + Glow Mask, currently for 32£.

Let me know in the comments: Have you tried any Youth To The People products yet? What’s your take on overnight masks, yay or nay?

Take care guys, and stay safe – don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest K-Beauty and skincare news, and check out my other work, e.g. my review of the Heimish Moisture Surge Gel!

°PR Sample, kindly provided by a brand or shop – I am not obligated to write this blog article, was not paid for the article, and my opinions are entirely my own.
*Affiliate Links, meaning I earn a small commission if you decide to use the link to purchase an item. This does not raise the purchase price for you, and it helps me and my blog to grow – so, thank you for supporting me in this way!!!