Youth Transformation Retinol Complex Serum 1%
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.
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.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Cyclopentasiloxane
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent) |
Silicone
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Polymethylsilsesquioxane
(Opacifying) |
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Polysilicone-11
(Film Forming) |
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Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone
(Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant) |
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PEG-18
(Humectant, Solvent) |
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
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Caprylyl Methicone
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Retinol
(Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
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Sodium Ascorbate
(Antioxidant) |
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TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
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Sodium PCA
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Betaine
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Sorbitol
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Humectant, Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning) |
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Glycine
(Buffering Agent, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Alanine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Proline
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Serine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Threonine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Hair Waving Or Straightening) |
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Arginine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Lysine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent) |
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Glutamic Acid
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent) |
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Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Foeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Soothing, Tonic) |
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Humulus Lupulus Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antiperspirant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting) |
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Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Viscum Album Leaf Extract
(Soothing) |
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CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA FLOWER EXTRACT
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Achillea Millefolium Extract
(Antidandruff Agent, Cleansing, Masking, Refreshing, Skin Conditioning, Soothing, Tonic) |
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Urea
(Buffering Agent, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
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PEG-10 Dimethicone
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
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Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
(Fragrance, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
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Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
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Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Sodium Metabisulfite
(Antioxidant, Preservative, Reducing) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
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 →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
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.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
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
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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