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Overnight serum · 30 ml / 1 fl oz
Youth Complex
A concentrated blend of five rare seed and fruit oils, plant-based bakuchiol and vitamin E, made to work while you sleep. No water, no fillers, no fragrance.
Start seeing improvement after the first overnight use. Minimize wrinkles, brighten and improve skin texture.
Full results at 2-3 months with regular use.
Manufactured in small batches in the US.
How to use
Apply 1/2 - 1 dropperful in the evening after cleansing. Leave on overnight and wash off in the morning.
Every drop is active
Seven potent ingredients. All active.
Turn over most serums and the first word is "aqua." Water needs thickeners and preservatives, so those come next.
Every ingredient in Our Youth Complex is there to fight the signs of aging from a different angle.
A typical serum
- 1 Water, often most of the bottle
- 2 Thickeners to give the water body
- 3 Preservatives to keep the water from spoiling
Youth Complex
No water. No thickeners. No preservatives.
Prickly pear, pomegranate, rosehip, castor and sea buckthorn oils, plus bakuchiol and vitamin E. One hundred percent oils and actives.
Reviews
In their words.
What's inside
See The Benefits of Each Ingredient.
Seven ingredients, each chosen for a specific job. No fragrance, no fillers, no "proprietary complex" hiding the details.
Prickly Pear Oil
Vitamin E, including gamma-tocopherol · Linoleic acid · Phytosterols
What it is
The rarest oil in the blend, and one of the most expensive botanical oils in the world. It's one of the richest plant sources of vitamin E, and high in linoleic acid, the fatty acid your skin barrier relies on to hold moisture in.
what it does
Helps skin look plumper and more hydrated, softens the look of fine lines around the eyes, and brightens a dull, tired-looking complexion. Light and fast to absorb.
Pomegranate Seed Oil
Punicic acid, a rare omega-5
What it is
An unusual oil. Most of it is punicic acid, a fatty acid found in very few plants, and one reason this oil has drawn attention in skin research for decades.
What it Does
Supports a firmer, more resilient-feeling surface, helps skin look less reactive and more even, and helps with crepey, thin-looking skin.
Rosehip Seed Oil
Linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids · Carotenoids
What it is
The long-standing favorite of estheticians for tone and texture. Cold-pressed, it carries essential fatty acids and naturally occurring carotenoids, the plant precursors of vitamin A.
What it does
Helps fade the look of sun spots, uneven tone and old marks over time, and smooths rough texture. The ingredient most responsible for that gradual "my skin looks more even" change.
Castor Seed Oil
Nearly 90% ricinoleic acid
What it is
A thick, cushioning oil that's very good at slowing water loss from skin. Grandmothers used it for a reason.
What it does
The anchor of the formula. It forms a soft, breathable layer that keeps the lighter oils and bakuchiol on your skin through the night, so less of it ends up on your pillow.
Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil
Palmitoleic acid, an omega-7 · Carotenoids · Vitamin E
What it is
The source of the serum's warm amber color. One of the few plant sources of palmitoleic acid, a fatty acid that's also part of your skin's own natural oils.
What it does
Helps replenish dry, depleted-feeling skin, adds a healthy, lit-from-within glow, and gives the blend a deep antioxidant backbone.
Bakuchiol
Plant-based alternative to retinol
What it is
A plant compound often called the gentle alternative to retinol. It's oil-soluble, so it dissolves fully into the blend and goes on evenly with every drop.
What it does
Smoother-looking texture, softer-looking lines and more even tone, without the peeling, redness and "retinol uglies" so many women over 45 have given up on.
Vitamin E
Tocopherol · Antioxidant
What it is
The quiet protector. A natural antioxidant that helps skin defend against everyday environmental stress.
What it does
Protects the delicate oils in the blend from oxidizing, keeping the serum fresh and effective to the last drop.
Why together
Each one covers something the others don't.
Any one of these oils is good on its own. Here is why they're in one bottle.
Fatty acids for firming and nourishing
Most single-oil serums give your skin mainly one type of fatty acid. This blend layers five. Mature skin produces less of its own oils every year, and a broad mix is closer to what it's actually missing than any single oil.
| Fatty acid | Comes from |
|---|---|
| Linoleic | Prickly pear, rosehip |
| Alpha-linolenic | Rosehip |
| Punicic, omega-5 | Pomegranate |
| Palmitoleic, omega-7 | Sea buckthorn |
| Ricinoleic | Castor |
Absorbing and protecting
Prickly pear and rosehip absorb quickly. Castor stays on the surface and seals the top, so nothing evaporates overnight and the serum is still working at 4 a.m.
Antioxidants for fine lines and dark spots
Vitamin E from prickly pear, sea buckthorn and added tocopherol works alongside the carotenoids in rosehip and sea buckthorn, and keeps the more delicate oils from oxidizing.
Bakuchiol for cell renewal
Bakuchiol is oil-soluble. Carried by a cushioning, barrier-supporting base, it stays comfortable to use every night, even on sensitive skin.
Improved skin texture
Bakuchiol and rosehip handle texture, tone and lines. Pomegranate, sea buckthorn and castor handle dryness and comfort. That balance makes it easy to use every night for months.
Why bakuchiol
A better retinol alternative
The peeling. The redness. The weeks of pretending it's "working." Bakuchiol, a plant-based compound, matched retinol on the look of wrinkles and uneven tone in a 12-week study, with less irritation. We put it in a base of five nourishing oils, so your skin stays comfortable the whole way.
| Measure | Bakuchiol | Retinol |
|---|---|---|
| Look of wrinkles | Improved | Improved, similarly |
| Look of uneven tone | Improved | Improved, similarly |
| Dryness and stinging | Reported less | Reported more |
Dhaliwal et al., British Journal of Dermatology, 2019. The study compared the two ingredients; it did not test Youth Complex itself.
Why overnight
Overnight for maximum rejuvenation.
At night, cell renewal is at its peak and skin also loses more water than during the day. The oils have hours to absorb without makeup, sunscreen or wind getting in the way.
-
Bedtime
1/2 to 1 Dropperful
Pressed into clean, slightly damp skin.
-
Through the night
Absorbing
Renewal peaks and skin loses the most water, the window this blend is made for.
-
4 a.m.
Sealing moisture
Castor oil keeps everything on your skin, not on your pillow.
-
Morning
Plump and glowing
Skin wakes up comfortable, and looks rested.
How to use
Four steps. The last one is sleep.
- Cleanse and pat skin mostly dry. A little dampness helps the oils spread.
- Warm a few drops between your fingertips.
- Gently press it over your face, neck and the backs of your hands.
- Go to sleep. That's it.
Within the first week
Plumper, more youthful looking, glowing skin.
Over 8 to 12 weeks
Fine lines and wrinkles soften. Smoother texture and more even tone.
Questions
FAQs
Will oil make my skin greasy or cause breakouts?
The blend leans on light, fast-absorbing oils like prickly pear and rosehip, which are high in linoleic acid and generally well tolerated. Castor adds a cushioned feel. Three or four drops is enough for your face and neck; if skin feels oily in the morning, use fewer.
Can I use it with my other products?
Can I use it with my other products? Yes. Apply it after any water-based serums and as your last step at night. If you already use retinol, use Youth Complex on alternate nights at first, or let it replace the retinol entirely.
Is bakuchiol okay for sensitive skin?
Is bakuchiol okay for sensitive skin? Bakuchiol is known for being gentler than retinol, and our oil base is designed to keep skin comfortable. As with anything new, patch test on your jawline for a few nights first.
Can I use it during the day?
You can! Mix a few drops with your favorite daytime moisturizer. It's made for nighttime. It's rich, and it does its best work over long, uninterrupted hours. Just watch your skin and see if it needs a break from oils.
Will the color stain my pillowcase?
Sea buckthorn gives the serum its natural amber color. Once it's absorbed, it shouldn't transfer. Give it a few minutes before your face meets the pillow.
When will I see results?
Most people feel softer, more comfortable skin within a week. Smoother texture and more even tone build over 8 to 12 weeks of nightly use. That's the honest timeline.
How long does a bottle last?
About 2-3 months depending on how often you use it. Recommended use is 3-4 nights per week. Store it away from heat and direct sunlight to keep the oils fresh.
