Youth Transformation Retinol Complex Serum 1%

M.A.D Skincare

Youth Transformation Retinol Complex Serum 1%

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About this product

The M.A.D Skincare Youth Transformation Retinol Complex Serum 1% is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 45 ingredients (33 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.

Vegan-friendly

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Serums, Essence, Ampoules
Ingredients
45
Low-risk
33
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United States

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 13/3
Good for dry skin
Glutamic Acid Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Betaine Sorbitol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Caprylyl Glycol Butylene Glycol Sodium PCA Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethicone Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone Cyclopentasiloxane Urea
Caution for dry skin
Alcohol Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone Achillea Millefolium Extract
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 2/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Alcohol Retinol
Sensitive Skin 7/15
Good for sensitive skin
Sodium Ascorbate Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Dimethicone Achillea Millefolium Extract Tocopheryl Acetate Allantoin Sodium Metabisulfite
Caution for sensitive skin
Glycine Glutamic Acid Lysine Serine Sorbitol Alanine Arginine Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Butylene Glycol Threonine Proline Alcohol Achillea Millefolium Extract Phenoxyethanol Retinol

Ingredients list

45 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (9)
All45 Skin Conditioning47 Fragrance16 Hair Conditioning14 Humectant14 Antistatic Agent10 Masking7 Solvent6 Soothing5
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
3
A
Cyclopentasiloxane
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent)
Silicone
Silicone
1
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
(Opacifying)
1
Polysilicone-11
(Film Forming)
3
A
Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone
(Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant)
PEG-18
(Humectant, Solvent)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
3
A
Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning)
Silicone
Silicone
1
Caprylyl Methicone
(Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
9
A
Retinol
(Skin Conditioning)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Sodium Ascorbate
(Antioxidant)
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
1
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
B
Sodium PCA
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
B
Betaine
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Sorbitol
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Humectant, Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Glycine
(Buffering Agent, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Alanine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking)
1
A
Proline
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Serine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking)
1
A
Threonine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Hair Waving Or Straightening)
1
A
Arginine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking)
1
A
Lysine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent)
1
A
Glutamic Acid
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent)
2
Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling)
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Foeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Soothing, Tonic)
Humulus Lupulus Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antiperspirant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting)
1
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
Viscum Album Leaf Extract
(Soothing)
CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA FLOWER EXTRACT
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
3
B
Achillea Millefolium Extract
(Antidandruff Agent, Cleansing, Masking, Refreshing, Skin Conditioning, Soothing, Tonic)
3
A
Urea
(Buffering Agent, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
3
A
PEG-10 Dimethicone
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
6
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter)
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
(Fragrance, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Tonic)
3
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning)
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
1
A
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
1
A
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant)
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
4
A
Sodium Metabisulfite
(Antioxidant, Preservative, Reducing)

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

Cyclopentasiloxane
Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone
Emollient, Skin Conditioning
PEG-18
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning, Humectant
Dimethicone
Skin Protecting, Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning

Benefits

Fungal-acne (Malassezia) safe
Good for dry skin
Good for oily/acne-prone skin

Concerns

Contains paraben
Contains silicone
Retinol — higher EWG
May not suit sensitive skin

EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Opacifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Opacifying
Polysilicone-11
Film forming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Film forming
Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone
Emollient, Emulsifying
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A EmollientEmulsifyingSkin conditioningSurfactant
PEG-18
Humectant, Solvent
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A HumectantSolvent
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Emollient, Masking
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmollientMaskingPerfumingSkin conditioningSolvent
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Antioxidant
TOCOPHEROL
Antioxidant, Fragrance
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AntioxidantFragranceSkin conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 AntioxidantSkin conditioning
Betaine
Hair conditioning, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Hair conditioningHumectantAntistatic agentSkin conditioningViscosity controlling
Sorbitol
Flavoring agent, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Flavoring agentFragranceHumectantPlasticizerSkin conditioning
Glycine
Buffering agent, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Buffering agentFragranceHair conditioningSkin-conditioning agent -miscellaneousAntistatic agentSkin conditioning
Alanine
Fragrance, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceHair conditioningSkin conditioningAntistatic agentMasking
Proline
Fragrance, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceHair conditioningSkin conditioning
+ 19 more — see the full ingredients list above
Cyclopentasiloxane
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningEmollientSolvent Silicone
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Dimethicone
Antifoaming agent, Skin protecting
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A Antifoaming agentSkin protectingEmollientSkin conditioning Silicone
Retinol
Skin conditioning
Potentially a skin irritantRead moreShow less
EWG 9 CIR A Skin conditioning Bad for Sensitive Skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin conditioning, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningHumectant Good for Dry Skin
Sodium PCA
Hair conditioning, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Hair conditioningHumectantAntistatic agentSkin conditioning Good for Dry Skin
Alcohol
Antifoaming agent, Antimicrobial
Causes moisture evaporation - prone to dry out skinRead moreShow less
EWG 2 Antifoaming agentAntimicrobialAstringentMaskingSolventViscosity controlling Bad for Dry SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Allantoin
Skin conditioning, Skin protecting
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningSkin protectingSoothing Good for Oily SkinGood for Sensitive Skin
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
Uv absorber, Uv filter
Potentially a skin irritantRead moreShow less
EWG 6 Uv absorberUv filter Bad for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant, Skin conditioning
Potentially comedogenic - can block poresRead moreShow less
EWG 3 AntioxidantSkin conditioning Bad for Oily Skin
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Apply after toner and before moisturiser — thinnest to thickest.
  • 2 Morning only: Apply as the last step of your AM routine, after moisturiser, and reapply every ~2 hours of sun exposure.
  • 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) (Retinol)

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.

Retinol

Vitamin C (ascorbic) 5–20%

L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.

Sodium Ascorbate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

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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