The Best Dupe of the Youth To The People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser

Skincare marketing can be confusing. Organic, natural, non-comedogenic…these terms are being thrown at us without one set of universally understood definitions. Why am I saying this in a post about beauty dupes? Because many cleansers are formulated with fancy active ingredients to stand out in the market, which often leads to an increase in the price point of the cleanser; however, for cleansers to be effective delivery agents of these active ingredients, for them to be absorbed into the skin, higher concentrations are required and time on skin needs to be extended but most still lose their potency when they are washed off.

is one of the most popular cleansers for its green smell, green color, and literally green superfood ingredients like kale, spinach, and green tea. It's also marketed to be non-stripping - a gentle gel cleanser that can remove makeup and dirt. As I previously mentioned, the superfood antioxidant ingredients definitely kicked up its price to $36 (8oz), but how much actually penetrate the skin? It's still a big question mark. Youth to the People does recommend you to leave it on the skin for at least 30 seconds for active ingredients to work.

Many other more affordable gentle and conditioning cleansers are available though.

The Paula's Choice Perfectly Natural Cleansing Gel

($18) is also formulated with antioxidant ingredients that are gentle yet effective for cleansing the skin without irritation or drying it out. Those with sensitive skin have this as a cult favorite. One of Glossier's best-selling products, the

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser

($18), is another great conditioning gel cleanser with glowing reviews.

Our closing message? Invest in a good serum vs. relying on a pricey cleanser for antioxidant benefits. Cleansers are for cleansing😉