Youth Boosting Advanced Night Retinoid Serum

e.l.f. Cosmetics

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The e.l.f. Cosmetics Youth Boosting Advanced Night Retinoid Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 38 ingredients (32 low-risk) rates it Excellent (98/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to dry skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Serums, Essence, Ampoules
Ingredients
38
Low-risk
32
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United States
Data updated
Jun 2026

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 13/4
Good for dry skin
Glycereth-26 Diglycerin Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Methyl Gluceth-20 Sucrose Caprylyl Glycol Butylene Glycol Sodium Hyaluronate Glycerin Sea Water Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane PEG-8 Lecithin
Caution for dry skin
Maltodextrin Glycerin Coco-glucoside Lecithin
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin No data
Sensitive Skin 2/6
Good for sensitive skin
Sucrose Glycerin
Caution for sensitive skin
Butylene Glycol Glycerin Tromethamine Sodium Benzoate Potassium Sorbate Phenoxyethanol

Ingredients list

38 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (6)
All38 Skin Conditioning29 Humectant15 Solvent9 Fragrance9 Viscosity Controlling8 Hair Conditioning6 Emulsion Stabilising5 Film Forming5
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
3
A
PEG-8
(Humectant, Solvent)
3
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
(Humectant, Foam Boosting, Hydrotrope, Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Methyl Gluceth-20
(Humectant, Moisturising)
1
Glycereth-26
(Humectant, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
Diglycerin
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
1
Dimethyl Isosorbide
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
3
B
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
2
3
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient)
2
A
Tromethamine
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient)
Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
1
A
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant)
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
(Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
5
6
Retinal
(Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
2
A
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Sea Water
(Humectant, Solvent)
1
A
Maltodextrin
(Absorbent, Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Binding)
1
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Hydrolyzed Algin
(Hair Conditioning)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
1
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
(Hair Conditioning)
1
A
Sucrose
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
1
A
Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
B
Coco-glucoside
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant)
3
A
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking)
3
A
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative)
1
A
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
(Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
(Skin Conditioning)

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

Retinoid
Visibly reduces the signs of aging.
Peptides
Supports skin hydration and improves firmness.
Antioxidants
Shields skin from free radical damage.
Vitamin E
Protects skin and soothes irritation.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hydrates by attracting and holding water.

Benefits

HydratingBoosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Barrier RepairStrengthen and restore your skin's natural barrier.
Anti-AgingSoftens lines and helps skin look youthful.
Scar HealingImproves the look of marks and scars.
Redness ReducingSoothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Skin TextureSmooths rough patches and refines texture.
BrighteningRestores radiance to dull, tired skin.
Reduces IrritationEases discomfort and supports skin resilience.

Concerns

Contains paraben
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
May not suit sensitive skin

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Propanediol
Solvent, Viscosity decreasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 SolventViscosity decreasing agentViscosity controlling
PEG-8
Humectant, Solvent
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A HumectantSolvent
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
Humectant, Foam boosting
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 HumectantFoam boostingHydrotropeEmollientHair conditioningSkin conditioning
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant, Moisturising
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A HumectantMoisturising
Glycereth-26
Humectant, Viscosity decreasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 HumectantViscosity decreasing agentSolventViscosity controlling
Diglycerin
Humectant, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 HumectantSkin conditioningSolvent
Dimethyl Isosorbide
Solvent, Viscosity decreasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 SolventViscosity decreasing agentViscosity controlling
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Binding agent, Film forming
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B Binding agentFilm formingViscosity increasing agentBindingOpacifyingViscosity controlling
Lecithin
Skin conditioning, Emulsifying
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 2–3 Skin conditioningEmulsifyingSurfactantAntistatic agentEmollient
Tromethamine
Fragrance, Ph adjuster
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A FragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking
TOCOPHEROL
Antioxidant, Fragrance
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AntioxidantFragranceSkin conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragranceSkin conditioningSkin conditioning emollient
Bisabolol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragranceSkin conditioningSoothing
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion stabilising, Film forming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Emulsion stabilisingFilm formingViscosity controlling
+ 17 more — see the full ingredients list above
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin conditioning, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningHumectant Good for Dry Skin
Retinal
Skin conditioning
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 5–6 Skin conditioning
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Hydrolyzed Algin
Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Hair conditioning Bad for Sensitive SkinBad for Oily Skin

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Apply after toner and before moisturiser — thinnest to thickest.
  • 2 Evening: Use at night — start 2–3× a week and build up as your skin tolerates it.
  • 3 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Often avoided
Retinoids (Vitamin A) (Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Retinal)

Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.

This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

Retinoids (Vitamin A) 0.01–1%

Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.

Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Retinal

INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.

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