iS Clinical Youth Intensive Creme Review
The Verdict
An intensive, jar-format anti-ageing moisturiser for mature or dry skin that wants a retinoid and a vitamin C ester in one step. The rich texture and citrus scent won't suit everyone, and the acid content means it's one to build up to rather than use nightly from the start.
iS Clinical Youth Intensive Creme | Anti-Ageing Treatment | 50g
£234.00
What is iS Clinical Youth Intensive Creme?
iS Clinical Youth Intensive Creme is a rich, 50g jar moisturiser built around Retinyl Palmitate and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, a stabilised vitamin C ester. It's formulated to help improve the appearance of fine lines, dehydration and uneven tone in mature or dry skin. The texture is dense and cushioning, with a natural citrus scent from Brazilian blood orange extract, and it's best introduced gradually rather than applied nightly from day one.
Key ingredients
The formula combines a retinoid, an antioxidant vitamin C ester, and supporting hydrators and peptides. Full INCI has not been independently verified for this page — see the data gap note below.
| Ingredient | What it's included for |
|---|---|
| Retinyl Palmitate | A gentler, ester form of vitamin A, included to help improve the appearance of fine lines and skin texture over time. |
| Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate | An oil-soluble, stabilised vitamin C derivative, included as an antioxidant and to help improve the appearance of uneven tone. |
| Hyaluronic Acid | A humectant included to support surface hydration and cushioning. |
| Copper Tripeptide complex | A peptide ingredient included as part of the product's anti-ageing positioning; independent efficacy data has not been reviewed for this page. |
| Superoxide Dismutase | An antioxidant enzyme included to support the product's environmental-defence claims. |
Texture, scent and how it feels
This is a genuinely rich, jar-format cream rather than a lightweight lotion — expect a cushioning, velvety finish that sits well under makeup once absorbed but leans heavier than a typical daytime moisturiser. It carries a noticeable natural citrus scent from Brazilian blood orange extract. If you're fragrance-avoidant or have reactive skin, this is worth knowing before you buy, as the scent is part of the formula rather than an optional add-on.
How to introduce it into your routine
Because the formula pairs a retinoid with mild fruit acids, it's worth introducing gradually rather than using nightly from the start. A sensible approach:
- Patch test on a small area first, particularly if you have reactive or compromised skin.
- Start with two to three evenings a week, building up as your skin adjusts.
- Apply to clean, dry skin and follow with SPF the next morning, as with any retinoid-containing product.
- Watch for tightness, flaking or sensitivity in the first few weeks, and step back frequency if this happens.
If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, please contact our team for advice before use.
Who it suits
iS Clinical positions this cream for mature, dry, dehydrated, normal and combination skin looking for an intensive anti-ageing moisturiser rather than a light daily lotion. Its acid content means it may be too active for very reactive or actively compromised skin without the gradual introduction above, and the citrus fragrance is a consideration for anyone avoiding scented skincare.
Layering it with the rest of your routine
As a rich, jar-format cream, Youth Intensive Creme works best as the last step of an evening routine, applied after any serums and before an occlusive balm if you use one. Because it already contains a retinoid and a vitamin C derivative, it's worth checking the rest of your routine for other strong actives — layering multiple retinoids, or combining it with a separate exfoliating acid on the same night, increases the chance of irritation. A simple pattern is: cleanse, treat with a serum if you use one, then apply Youth Intensive Creme as the final evening step, saving stronger exfoliants for a different night.
In the morning, follow with a broad-spectrum SPF, since retinoid-containing products can increase photosensitivity. The 50g jar size means a little goes a long way when used at the pea-to-almond-sized amount most jar creams call for, so factor that into how it compares on a cost-per-use basis against thinner, pump-dispensed moisturisers in the range.
Where it sits in the iS Clinical range
Youth Intensive Creme is one of several anti-ageing moisturisers in the iS Clinical line-up. For a lighter, more everyday hydrator, see Moisturizing Complex; for a more targeted anti-ageing formula, see Youth Complex; and for the neck and décolletage specifically, see Neckperfect Complex. For a wider view of how this cream compares within the brand's anti-ageing line-up, see our iS Clinical anti-ageing creams round-up, or browse the full iS Clinical brand review hub.