Let’s be real for a second. Most of us have that heavy glass bottle of the Superfood Cleanser sitting on our bathroom counters. It’s a classic. But when the Youth to the People papaya cleanser—officially known as the Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Cleanser—dropped, it felt like the brand was trying to solve a very specific problem that the kale version just couldn't touch.
Texture.
If your skin feels like a piece of sandpaper by Thursday, you probably don't need more moisture. You need to get the dead stuff off. But here is the kicker: most physical exfoliants are total garbage for your skin barrier. They use crushed walnut shells or jagged pits that create micro-tears. This stuff is different. It's weirdly dual-purpose. It’s a "cleanser" in name, but it acts more like a flash facial.
I’ve spent way too much time looking at the ingredient deck of this thing. Honestly, it’s a bit of a powerhouse, but it’s not for everyone. If you have active, cystic acne or super sensitive rosacea, you might want to back away slowly. For everyone else? It’s basically a morning espresso shot for your pores.
What's actually inside the Youth to the People papaya cleanser?
The "papaya" part of the name comes from papain. These are enzymes. Think of them like little Pac-Men that crawl across the surface of your skin and nibble away at the glue holding dead skin cells together. It's a chemical exfoliation process that happens while you're just standing there massaging your face.
But YTTP didn't stop at enzymes. They added bamboo and diatomaceous earth.
🔗 Read more: Pink White Nail Studio Secrets and Why Your Manicure Isn't Lasting
These are micro-exfoliants. They are incredibly fine. When you rub the Youth to the People papaya cleanser onto damp skin, you feel a slight grit, but it’s not "scrubby" in the 90s drugstore sense. It’s refined. Then you have the caffeine hit from the Yerba Mate and Guayusa. There’s a reason people use this in the morning. It literally increases microcirculation, which is just a fancy way of saying it brings blood to the surface so you don't look like a zombie before your first coffee.
The formula is rounded out with ginger. Ginger is great because it’s a natural anti-inflammatory. Since you're essentially sanding down your face, the ginger helps keep the redness from spiraling out of control. It’s a smart balance.
The two-minute rule you're probably ignoring
Most people use a cleanser for ten seconds and rinse. With the Youth to the People papaya cleanser, you’re wasting your money if you do that.
For the enzymes to actually work, they need contact time. You want to apply this to clean, wet skin. Massage it in. Then—and this is the part people miss—let it sit. Give it 60 to 90 seconds. You’ll feel a slight tingle. That’s the Yerba Mate and the papain doing the heavy lifting. If you rinse it off immediately, you’re only getting the mechanical exfoliation from the bamboo, and you're leaving the best benefits in the drain.
I’ve noticed that if I use this three days in a row, my skin starts to feel a little tight. That’s a sign to stop. This isn't a "twice a day, every day" product for most people. It's a treatment. Think of it as a bridge between your daily wash and a heavy-duty chemical peel.
💡 You might also like: Hairstyles for women over 50 with round faces: What your stylist isn't telling you
Does it live up to the "Clean Beauty" hype?
The term "clean" is basically marketing fluff at this point, but Youth to the People does stick to some solid manufacturing standards. This cleanser is vegan, cruelty-free, and comes in a glass bottle.
The glass is important.
Plastic can leach chemicals over time, especially when stored in a steamy bathroom. Plus, it just feels better in your hand. But be careful. If you drop this in the shower, it’s over. I’ve seen enough shattered YTTP bottles on Reddit to know that the aesthetic comes with a physical risk.
Some people complain about the scent. It’s very "earthy." It smells like a juice bar in Echo Park. If you want your skincare to smell like a French rose garden, you’re going to be disappointed. It’s medicinal and zesty. Personally, I find it refreshing, but fragrance is subjective. If you're sensitive to essential oils, check the label. It’s got a lot of botanical extracts that could potentially trigger a reaction if your skin is prone to dermatitis.
Why this isn't just another face scrub
We have to talk about the physical vs. chemical debate. For years, dermatologists told everyone to stop using scrubs. "Chemical exfoliants like AHA and BHA are the only way," they said. But lately, there’s been a shift.
📖 Related: How to Sign Someone Up for Scientology: What Actually Happens and What You Need to Know
Sometimes, you just have flaky skin that needs to be physically moved.
The Youth to the People papaya cleanser works because it combines both. The papain softens the "glue," and the bamboo sweeps the debris away. It’s a more efficient way to resurface. If you’ve ever used a chemical exfoliant and still felt "textured," this is why. Sometimes the dead skin is loosened but just sitting there. This wash takes care of the removal part in one go.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Using it on dry skin. Don't. It’s too abrasive. Your skin needs to be slippery.
- Mixing with Retinol. If you’re using a high-strength Tretinoin or Retinol at night, don't use this cleanser the next morning. Your barrier is already working overtime. You’ll end up with a chemical burn or at least some nasty peeling.
- Over-scrubbing. Let the particles do the work. You don't need to press hard. Light, circular motions are plenty.
- Ignoring the neck. Your neck shows age faster than your face. Use the leftovers on your neck and chest, but be even more gentle there since the skin is thinner.
The verdict on the price point
It’s not cheap. You’re looking at about $39 for a 2oz bottle. Compared to a $10 drugstore scrub, that feels steep. But here’s the thing: you use a pea-sized amount. Because it’s so concentrated and you aren't using it every single day, a single bottle can easily last four to six months.
When you break it down by use, it’s actually cheaper than getting a professional facial once a month. It gives you about 80% of the results of a professional microdermabrasion session for a fraction of the cost.
Actionable steps for your routine
If you’re going to pull the trigger on the Youth to the People papaya cleanser, here is exactly how to integrate it without wrecking your face:
- Start slow. Use it once a week. See how your skin reacts the next morning. If you aren't red or flaky, move to twice a week.
- The Morning Slot. Use it in the morning to take advantage of the caffeine-induced glow. It makes makeup sit way smoother.
- Dampen, don't soak. Keep your face moist, but if it's dripping wet, the product slides off too easily and you lose the "grip" of the bamboo.
- Follow with hydration. After you rinse this off, your skin is primed to absorb whatever comes next. This is the perfect time for a hyaluronic acid serum or a rich moisturizer. Avoid putting more acids on top immediately. Give your skin a break.
- Sunscreen is non-negotiable. Freshly exfoliated skin is baby-fresh and highly susceptible to UV damage. If you use this in the morning and skip SPF, you are essentially asking for sunspots.
If you’ve been struggling with dullness or that "congested" feeling where your serums just seem to sit on top of your skin, this is likely the missing link. It’s a high-performance tool. Use it like one.
Next Steps:
Check your current routine for other exfoliants. If you’re already using a daily AHA toner, swap it out on the days you use the papaya cleanser to prevent over-exfoliation. Monitor your skin's "bounce" factor—if it starts to feel tight or looks shiny (but not oily), dial back the usage to once a week.