Clean beauty has a credibility problem. Plenty of brands promise “non-toxic” formulas, but very few can show clinical results, and fewer still submit their ingredient lists to independent verification. Shaklee YOUTH is one of the rare lines that does both: a clinical study showing measurable results on a defined Skin Age Index, and EWG VERIFIED status on select products. This review looks at what the line actually contains, what the clinical data says, and how the clean-ingredient claims hold up.
What the clinical study actually found
The headline claim behind YOUTH is unusually specific. In a clinical study of the YOUTH Advanced Anti-Aging Regimen, 100% of women were shown to have younger-looking skin, and two-thirds of participants shifted their skin age into a younger decade on the Skin Age Index.
That index is worth understanding, because it is what separates this claim from typical beauty marketing. Developed with skin experts, the Skin Age Index measures the appearance of eight concrete signs of aging: facial wrinkles, skin texture, pore size, hyperpigmentation, evenness of skin tone, radiance, firmness, and sagging. Instead of asking participants whether they felt their skin looked better, the study scored visible signs against that index. “Shift to a younger decade” means the measured appearance of a participant’s skin moved into a younger age bracket, which is a concrete, checkable outcome rather than a vibe.
The science inside the formulas
YOUTH is built around accelerating skin cell renewal toward a more youthful rate, with eight patents and patents pending across the line. A few of the key ingredient technologies:
Lotus japonicus youth complex. The patent-pending complex at the heart of the range uses Lotus japonicus extract to activate a key youth protein involved in regenerating cells that produce collagen and elastin, the two structural proteins that keep skin firm and springy.
20% vitamin C with vitamin E. The Radiance C+E serum delivers a 20% concentration of vitamin C alongside vitamin E and raspberry cell extract. Topical vitamin C is one of the best-studied ingredients in dermatology: the research literature supports its role in collagen synthesis, antioxidant protection, and brightening (Pullar et al., 2017). Shaklee delivers it in single-dose, plant-based, biodegradable capsules, which keeps the notoriously unstable vitamin C fresh without preservatives.
Marine algae and botanicals for overnight renewal. The Advanced Renewal Night Cream pairs marine algae with botanical extracts such as schisandra, muscadine grape, and licorice root, plus panthenol, vitamin E, and retinyl palmitate, to support collagen and elastin production during the skin’s overnight repair window.
The 2,500+ ingredient “free-of” list
Every YOUTH product is formulated against a “free-of” list of more than 2,500 harmful chemicals and questionable ingredients, a list longer than the banned-ingredient lists of many countries. The entire line is 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free, and products are ophthalmologist-tested, dermatologist-tested, and hypoallergenic.
This is the part of clean beauty that actually matters. “Natural” on a label tells you very little: nature also produces allergens and contaminants. A defined exclusion list, third-party testing, and published clinical results tell you much more, and that combination is exactly what YOUTH offers. It reflects the same testing culture behind the rest of Shaklee’s catalogue, which screens finished products against standards that surpass the US Pharmacopeia. You can read more about that testing philosophy on our page covering the science of Shaklee.
EWG VERIFIED: independent confirmation
Several Shaklee and YOUTH products carry the EWG VERIFIED mark from the Environmental Working Group, one of the most respected independent authorities on ingredient safety. EWG verification cannot be self-declared: a brand must submit complete formulation, manufacturing, and testing information, and the product must be free of EWG’s chemicals of concern and meet its strictest transparency standards. Verified Shaklee products include YOUTH serums such as the Radiance C+E and Superoxidant Boost C Serum, body and lip serums, and a clean zinc-based deodorant.
For a shopper, the practical meaning is simple: an outside scientific organization with no stake in the sale has reviewed what is in the bottle and how it is made, and put its own name on the result.
The 4-step Advanced Anti-Aging Regimen
The clinically studied routine is a four-step system, used morning and night: the Luminous Gel Oil Cleanser, the Perfecting Skin Toner, the YOUTH Activating Serum, and then a final step that splits by time of day, the Age Defense Mineral Moisturizer with SPF in the morning and the Advanced Renewal Night Cream in the evening. The regimen was formulated for all skin types and for both women and men, and the night cream comes in a Light and a Rich version depending on how much moisture your skin needs.
If you are new to active ingredients like retinol or a 20% vitamin C, the sensible approach applies here as with any clinical-strength skincare: introduce the most active steps gradually, alternating days at first, and let your skin adjust.
The bottom line
Most clean beauty asks you to trade results for purity. YOUTH’s case is that you should not have to: a clinical study with concrete, index-based outcomes, patented ingredient technology aimed at collagen and elastin production, a 2,500+ ingredient exclusion list, and independent EWG verification on key products. For anyone building a skincare routine around both safety and evidence, it is one of the strongest combinations on the market, and it comes with Shaklee’s 100% money-back guarantee, so trying it carries no real risk.
Explore the full Shaklee skin care range here.
Sources Cited:
1. Shaklee Corporation. YOUTH Advanced Anti-Aging Regimen: clinical study results and Skin Age Index. https://us.shaklee.com/en_US/new/Beauty/c/400.
2. Shaklee Corporation. YOUTH Radiance C+E product and EWG VERIFIED ingredient disclosure.
3. Shaklee Naturally Blog. “YOUTH Clean Skin Care: The Ultimate Free-From List for Healthier Skin.”
4. Environmental Working Group. EWG VERIFIED program standards and verified product database.
5. Pullar JM, Carr AC, Vissers MCM. “The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health.” Nutrients, 2017.