Kale + Green Tea Spinach Vitamins Superfood Face Cleanser
YTTP's Original Flagship
Verified reviewer
Pros & cons.
- +Amino-acid surfactant system (cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine + sodium cocoyl glutamate) is gentle and effective
- +Kale, spinach, and green tea extracts at meaningful top-ten INCI positions
- +Fungal-acne safe formulation
- +Vegan and cruelty-free with Clean at Sephora certification
- +Lathers without stripping the skin barrier
- +Decade of real-world user validation and consistent formulation
- −Added fragrance and essential oils rule it out for sensitive or rosacea-prone users
- −$39 is a premium price for a rinse-off product with functional drugstore equivalents
- −Doesn't fully remove heavy makeup or waterproof sunscreen on its own
- −Green color is from an added colorant rather than the kale and spinach
- −Pump dispenser can clog with repeated use
The full review.
About Youth to the People
The ‘clean beauty gentle gel cleanser’ category barely existed before Youth to the People launched in 2015. Sulfate-free, botanical, and antioxidant-added foaming washes existed, but this product crystallized the premium Sephora aesthetic: green gel, amino-acid surfactants, top-of-the-INCI superfood botanicals, and a signature scent. The Superfood Cleanser was YTTP’s founding product. Over the next decade, it became a Sephora best-seller with over fourteen thousand reviews and inspired dozens of imitators. This longevity is rare. It raises a question: is the Superfood Cleanser actually great, or did it just define the category? After studying the formula, the answer is closer to the former.
Formula
The surfactant system matters most for a cleanser, and YTTP got it right. Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine at position two and sodium cocoyl glutamate at position three form the primary cleansing complex. Both are amphoteric and amino-acid-derived. They are gentler on the skin barrier than sulfates and produce a soft foam instead of an aggressive lather. This baseline makes the product tolerable for twice-daily use across most skin types. Kale, spinach, and green tea leaf extracts appear consecutively at positions eight, nine, and ten. Because a cleanser only contacts skin for thirty to sixty seconds, high INCI placement doesn’t provide the same antioxidant benefit as a leave-on serum, but it shows these extracts are in meaningful concentrations rather than trace amounts. The green tea provides polyphenols that briefly contact the skin to offer mild soothing effects.
Below the superfoods, the INCI includes tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (a lipid-soluble vitamin C with limited benefit in a wash-off product), panthenol, tocopheryl acetate, chamomile flower extract, alfalfa extract, glycerin, and a complete preservation system. The cleanser is fragranced. ‘Fragrance/Parfum’ sits near the bottom of the INCI with hexyl cinnamal, linalool, and limonene—three EU-listed allergens. For most, this creates the signature clean, herbal-jasmine scent. For fragrance-sensitive users or those with rosacea, this is a reason to look elsewhere. Chlorophyllin-copper complex sits at the very end of the INCI; this cosmetic colorant provides the signature bright green color. While marketing implies the color comes from kale and spinach, a single colorant line provides the hue.
Texture
The experience is reliably pleasant. A pea-to-dime-sized amount dispenses easily from the pump, lathers into a soft foam with wet hands, and spreads smoothly on damp skin. Thirty seconds of massaging covers a full face, and the cleanser rinses cleanly with lukewarm water. Skin feels clean afterward without tightness, stinging, or the squeaky feeling of poorly formulated foaming cleansers. The scent lingers for a few minutes then fades. The Superfood Cleanser removes light daily makeup and sunscreen on its own. For heavier makeup, full coverage foundation, or water-resistant mineral sunscreens, a double cleanse with an oil-based first step is better; YTTP sells that product alongside this one. The Superfood Cleanser works as a second cleanse or a morning wash, not a universal first step.
Common Complaints
The limitations are real. Thirty-nine dollars for a foaming cleanser is a price premium over drugstore amino-acid cleansers like Paula’s Choice, The Inkey List, and Eau Thermale Avène, which offer comparable gentleness for less. Fragrance and essential oils rule this out for sensitive users, those with active rosacea, or compromised barriers. The pump dispenser can clog, especially if stored tipped or if the nozzle is rinsed. While superfood botanicals are in the top ten INCI positions, the rinse-off nature limits their efficacy. The Superfood Cleanser is a good gel cleanser that tells a botanical story, but the value is not in the story.
Who Should Buy
The value is defensible for specific buyers. A 237ml bottle lasts four to six months with twice-daily use, costing roughly seven to ten dollars per month. Clean beauty enthusiasts who value the brand positioning, botanical list, and signature experience can justify this purchase. Users wanting a gentle foaming cleanser without the botanical story may find the price hard to justify against cheaper alternatives. Youth to the People’s decade-long track record and L’Oréal ownership since 2021 provide consistency and quality control that newer brands lack. The formulation has held up well without reformulation. The Superfood Cleanser earned the brand its place and still justifies its spot on the shelf.
Ingredient analysis.
Full INCI list
Water/Aqua/Eau, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe Vera) Juice Powder, Brassica Oleracea Acephala (Kale) Leaf Extract, Spinacia Oleracea (Spinach) Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Glycerin, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Decyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Laurate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Gluconolactone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Gardenia Jasminoides (Jasmine) Fruit Extract, Fragrance/Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Formate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Limonene, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex (Ci 75810)
Skin match.
The science.
The Science
The surfactant system, not the botanicals, provides most of the evidence for this cleanser. Research shows amino-acid-derived surfactants like sodium cocoyl glutamate disrupt the skin barrier less than sulfate surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate. A 2016 review in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science compared the mildness of amino-acid surfactants and their growing use in modern cleanser formulations. Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine is an amphoteric surfactant with similar gentleness data; it often pairs with amino-acid surfactants to balance foaming and cleansing power. This combination is one of the most evidence-supported approaches to gentle daily cleansing.
Botanical evidence is limited because this is a wash-off format. Green tea (Camellia sinensis) has extensive research on its polyphenol content, specifically epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which has documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in skin. Contact time is the limit — thirty to sixty seconds of skin contact in a cleanser cannot deliver the same functional benefits as a leave-on serum. Kale and spinach extracts provide flavonoids, carotenoids, and chlorophyll, which all have antioxidant activity, but research on them in topical cleansers is thin. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) contains bisabolol and chamazulene with documented anti-inflammatory effects and has a longer history of topical use. Alfalfa extract adds saponins and trace vitamins. The botanical package supports the brand positioning, but the cleanser's functional value rests on the surfactant system and the inclusion of panthenol for post-cleanse comfort. This is a realistic assessment of any well-built modern gentle cleanser.
Dermatologist Perspective
Dermatologists generally view the Youth to the People Superfood Cleanser as a credible gentle gel cleanser for most skin types, especially those seeking a clean beauty formulation without sulfates. Board-certified dermatologists note that amino-acid surfactant cleansers like this one are a sensible daily choice and that this specific surfactant combination is gentler than older sulfate-based alternatives. Dermatologists typically recommend it for patients with combination to oily skin who want a daily foaming cleanser without barrier disruption. For patients with sensitive skin, rosacea, or fragrance allergies, dermatologists generally recommend fragrance-free alternatives. Dermatologists also emphasize that cleansers — regardless of formulation — have limited effect duration, and recommend focusing budget on leave-on products for skin concerns rather than investing heavily in wash-off steps.
Where it fits in your routine.
Apply a pea-to-dime-sized amount to wet hands or damp skin. Massage into a light lather over the face for 20-30 seconds, then rinse with lukewarm water. Use morning and evening as your first step, or as a second cleanse after an oil-based step to remove heavy makeup. Keep the cleanser out of the eyes. Follow with toner, serums, and moisturizer as needed.
At $39 for 237ml, the Superfood Cleanser sits in the premium gel cleanser tier. One bottle lasts 4-6 months with twice-daily use, costing $7-10 per month. This price works for clean beauty enthusiasts who value the brand positioning and botanical profile. For users seeking only surfactant gentleness, cheaper alternatives from Paula's Choice, The Inkey List, or Eau Thermale Avène offer comparable functional results. YTTP's decade of market validation and consistent formulation make this the safer premium choice, but 'safer' and 'better value' are not always the same thing.
People with normal, combination, or oily skin want a gentle foaming gel cleanser without sulfates. Clean beauty enthusiasts value the superfood-forward brand positioning. Users want a morning cleanser that refreshes without stripping the barrier. Users seek a fungal-acne-safe cleansing option.
Choose a fragrance-free alternative like Cetaphil or La Roche-Posay Toleriane if you have sensitive skin, rosacea, or fragrance allergies. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser works better for very dry skin users who prefer non-foaming cream cleansers. Budget-conscious users can find similar gentleness in drugstore amino-acid cleansers for a fraction of the price. This cleanser does not fully remove heavy makeup on its own.
Product details.
Light green gel that lathers into a soft foam on wet skin
Fresh herbal-jasmine note from the gardenia extract and added fragrance
Frosted plastic bottle with a pump dispenser, available in multiple sizes
The green gel dispenses easily and lathers into a soft foam on wet skin. Most users find the scent pleasant and fresh, but fragrance-sensitive users may notice it. The cleanser leaves skin feeling clean but not tight. No adjustment period is required.
4-6 months with twice-daily use
12 months
All Year
The backstory.
The Superfood Cleanser was Youth to the People's first product and the one that established the brand's superfood-forward identity. Co-founders Joe Cloyes and Greg Gonzalez built the initial formulation around the idea that skincare should incorporate the same antioxidant botanicals being celebrated in food culture, and the cleanser's signature green color — from chlorophyllin-copper complex, listed at the very end of the INCI — became shorthand for the entire clean beauty category's botanical positioning. Over a decade later, the formula has remained essentially unchanged while the brand expanded around it.
About Youth to the People
Established Brand (5–20 years)The Superfood Cleanser is the original Youth to the People product from the 2015 launch. It has been the brand's best-selling hero product for over a decade and has some of the largest real-world user data in the clean beauty cleanser category.
Common myths.
Kale and spinach extracts in a cleanser provide antioxidant benefits to skin.
Cleansers rinse off in 30-60 seconds, limiting contact time for any topical active. The botanical extracts provide mild soothing and marketing consistency, but they do not replace leave-on antioxidant serums. The gentle surfactant system provides the real functional benefit, not the superfood list.
A $39 cleanser is always better than a $10 one.
Surfactant type and pH are the main formulation variables for a rinse-off product. Drugstore amino-acid surfactant cleansers offer comparable gentleness at lower prices. The YTTP Superfood Cleanser is well-formulated, but its price reflects brand positioning and botanical cost rather than a functional advantage over cheaper alternatives.
FAQ.
Is the Superfood Cleanser gentle enough for daily use?
The amino-acid-derived surfactant system (cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and sodium cocoyl glutamate) is gentler than sulfate-based alternatives. Most skin types can use it twice daily. The fragrance and essential oil components may irritate very sensitive users, but this cleanser is a tolerable gel cleanser in its price range for stable skin.
Does this remove makeup and sunscreen?
It removes light daily sunscreen and minimal makeup, but it does not remove full face makeup or heavy sunscreen. For waterproof mascara, full coverage foundation, or mineral sunscreen, use an oil-based first step before using this as your second cleanse.
Why is this cleanser green?
Chlorophyllin-copper complex, a plant-derived cosmetic colorant, provides the signature green color and sits at the end of the INCI. Kale or spinach extracts do not provide the color, even if they support the superfood brand story. This green tint is one of the most recognizable visual signatures in clean beauty.
Is the Superfood Cleanser fungal-acne safe?
Yes — the formulation lacks the esters and fatty alcohols that typically trigger malassezia overgrowth. Users with fungal acne generally tolerate this cleanser well, though individual reactions vary and a patch test is wise for sensitive conditions.
How does this compare to CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser?
They serve different purposes. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is a creamy, non-foaming cleanser with ceramides, best for dry and sensitive skin. The YTTP Superfood Cleanser is a gentle foaming gel cleanser for combination, oily, or normal skin that wants a clean feel without stripping. Neither is better; they are different formats for different preferences.
Is this cleanser worth $39?
The formulation is good, but the price reflects brand positioning and botanical cost alongside functional advantage. Users who value clean beauty positioning, the superfood ingredient story, and the signature YTTP experience will find the price defensible. Users seeking purely functional amino-acid surfactant cleansers can find comparable gentleness for less from Paula's Choice, The Inkey List, or Eau Thermale Avène.
Can I use this with retinoids?
This cleanser works for retinoid users. It removes daily residue without stripping the barrier that retinoids already challenge. Use it before applying a retinoid in the evening. After rinsing fully, let skin dry completely before applying the retinoid to minimize irritation.
What the community says.
"Gentle enough for daily use without stripping"
"Signature green color and fresh scent"
"Excellent morning cleanser that doesn't over-clean"
"Lathers well without feeling harsh"
"Fragrance may bother sensitive users"
"Expensive for a rinse-off product"
"Doesn't fully remove heavy makeup on its own"
"Bottle pump can clog"
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