Review: Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toner by Youth To The People

More power to me.

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Now with a total of 10 products in their line, Youth To The People’s latest addition, Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toner is a beautiful addition to complete the whole youth routine. Before launching, their team sent over the toner for me to test and I feel so empowered.

Youth To The People is 100% vegan, sustainable and clean cruelty free made in California.

Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toner claims: Free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, pegs, mineral oil, silicones, artificial colours.

Suited for: All skin types.

Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toner

What it is: An exfoliating toner.

What it does: Kombucha Power Toner is a triple-action power toner that’ll smooth skin texture, minimize the appearance of pores and firm the look of skin. Formulated with a blend of 8% lactic acid and 3% glycolic acid, this powerhouse of AHAs delivers deep exfoliation and balanced skin. With the Kombucha Black Tea and Tree Bark ferments, they work as prebiotics to enhance the skin’s natural microbiome. This helps break down overproduction of natural oils to relieve congestions in the skin and allow for a radiant glow.

Key ingredients:

8% Lactic Acid and 3% Glycolic Acid to deliver exfoliation while still maintaining a healthy pH balance. The AHAs will revitalize dry and dull skin and help with cell turnover, smoothing skin texture and reduce the appearance of pores.

Kombucha Black Tea Ferment contains potent peptides that’ll work as prebiotics to enhance the skin’s natural microbiome.

Pichia Lysate Ferment (Tree Bark Ferment) to help restore the skin’s elasticity and help reverse any signs of oxidative damage.

Ginger Extract enhances the AHA’s ability to smooth skin texture. Ginger Extract is an effective anti-aging superfood!

Citrus Bioflavonoids with lemon water extract increase antioxidant activity. When paired with AHA’s, these flavonoids are delivered to the skin instantaneously and look for pollutants.

 View full ingredient list here.

Texture and scent: The Power Toner feels gentle on the skin. Once absorbed, it feels a little tacky but sinks in quickly. The scent is kombucha-y, subtle, obviously, but not overpowering. I personally don’t smell it when sweeping it across my face. I only smell something if I put my nose to the bottle. 

How to use: Youth To The People recommends using the toner at night after cleansing, 3-5x per week.

 View full recommended use details here.

My experience: Am I dreaming?

As I write this, I genuinely feel speechless looking back at how my skin looked after only two days of using the toner. I’m a sucker for a chemical exfoliant, and I always dreamed of the day that Youth To The People would launch one. After only a couple of uses, I can affirmatively say and see, clearly, that this is my new favourite acid in my routine.

As someone who’s used to acids, the toner didn’t tingle too much at first. On a scale of 0-10, 10 being a burn of a chemical peel, this tingle was a 4.5. I’m in love with the way it sweeps on my skin, smooth and not “glassy.” It actually leaves the skin very moisturized. YTTP claims that the skin will feel smoother and softer after one use… and well, guess what? My skin felt, looked and radiated smoother, softer and brighter after literally one use …And then I woke up in the morning, and was left speechless. My hyperpigmentation was lighter, and blemishes were diminished by 60% and by the next day, 80%. 

For my routines using this toner in my testing period, I tried and still am using their recommended Power Facial which is for a night routine. Acids are powerful, and for me personally, work most effectively in the evening to allow proper penetration without much disruption during sleep. Always remember to wear SPF in the morning, especially after acids touch your face.

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Youth To The People Power Facial

Prep: Cleanse skin with your usual nightly cleanser. Pat dry. 

 I use the Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser.

Exfoliate: Saturate a cotton round in Kombucha Power Toner and sweep over face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Do not rinse.

Activate: Mist face and neck generously with Adaptogen Soothe + Hydrate Activated Mist for an added boost of hydration.

 (Trust me, you’ll really love a cool down after exfoliating!)

Treat: Apply Superberry Dream Mask to the face and neck for ultimate brightening.

I like sweeping toners across my face and then patting them into the skin for optimal results. 

Hydrate: Apply nightly moisturizer to lock in hydration.

Usually, I’d stop at the Superberry Dream Mask since it’s really thick and buttery, but I really wanted to follow their suggested use routine, so I applied the Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream on top of a thin layer of the dream mask, allowing about 30 seconds between each step.

Don’t have those YTTP products above? Don’t worry! Follow these steps as a guide to help prep and hydrate the skin pre and post-exfoliation.

I’m so glad I followed their suggested routine because my skin looks and feels it’s best at the moment. I’m mostly speechless to see how quickly the blemishes diminished and how my pores near my cheek area look less visible, allowing for a smooth canvas. My face is radiating. I truly look forward to seeing how my skin reacts to this toner moving forward because so far, I’m head over heels for it. Here we are with another star five product review from my favourite Western skincare brand, Youth To The People.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Details: C$50.00 / USD $38.00 for 4 oz | Available on YTTP and Sephora.

Head over to my Instagram to see some extra fun Kombucha Toner content!

Disclaimer: Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toner was gifted by Youth To The People.