Your Youth Rx Ritual: How to add actives for maximum results

The Youth Rx range was created to be the foundation of your daily ritual,  restoring the barrier, balancing hydration, and supporting long-term skin health. But for those who love the clinical performance of actives such as vitamin C, exfoliating acids, or retinol, your ritual can easily evolve. 

Here’s how to layer active ingredients within your Youth Rx routine, the perfect synergy between performance and protection.

Morning Routine - Brighten and Protect

Goal:

Antioxidant protection, hydration and barrier strength.

• Ritual Melting Balm - Melt away overnight oils and impurities.
• Ritual Cleanse Gel - Refresh and rebalance with niacinamide, probiotics, and antioxidants.
• Hydrating Elixir - Hydrate and plump with multi-molecular hyaluronic acid and EGF, and prepares the skin for actives.

Add Your Active:

Vitamin C - Use a high-potency antioxidant such as SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, Aspect Dr Active C Serum, or Medik8 C-Tetra Luxe.

Vitamin C works best on clean, hydrated skin and helps neutralise free radicals while boosting collagen.

• Enriching Crème - Lock in hydration with niacinamide, vitamin E, and peptides to maintain suppleness.
• SPF 50+ - Always finish with broad-spectrum sunscreen,  the most important morning step.

Dr Kate Tip:

If you’re new to Vitamin C, start every second morning. Once skin adjusts, use daily for enhanced radiance and tone.

Evening Routine - Repair and Renew

Goal:

Cellular renewal and barrier recovery

• Ritual Melting Balm - First cleanse to remove makeup, sunscreen, and debris.
• Ritual Cleanse Gel - Second cleanse to purify and rebalance the microbiome.

Add Your Active:

Retinol - Apply your chosen retinol serum (e.g., Medik8 Crystal Retinal, Cosmedix Serum 16, or Aspect Dr Exfol A Plus) directly after cleansing.

Retinol increases cell turnover, smooths texture, and boosts collagen

• Hydrating Elixir - Apply after retinol if you prefer to buffer potential irritation, or before if your skin tolerates actives well.
• Renewal Oil Elixir - Layer over your retinol for nourishment and calm. The inclusion of bakuchiol and CoQ10 reinforces renewal while easing sensitivity.
• Enriching Crème - Seal in hydration overnight for optimal repair and comfort.

Dr Kate Tip:

Introduce retinol two nights a week, gradually increasing frequency. Alternate with barrier-only evenings using Hydrating Elixir + Enriching Crème.

Weekly Ritual -  Smooth and Reset

Goal:

Resurface, clarify, and boost glow.

Add an exfoliant once or twice weekly before your Hydrating Elixir, some options are:

• Medik8 Press & Glow (PHA toner)
• Cosmedix Define (AHA blend)
• Alpha-H Liquid Gold (glycolic acid)
• Skinceuticals Glycolic 10 overnight renew (glycolic acid)

Then follow with:

• Hydrating Elixir to restore moisture after exfoliation.
• Renewal Oil Elixir to calm and nourish newly revealed skin.
• Enriching Crème to lock everything in.

Dr Kate Tip: 

Exfoliation is best on retinol-free nights. Over-exfoliation can impair barrier health, so always pair with Youth Rx hydration and oil phases.

Why a combination routine works.

By combining actives from trusted clinical brands with the Youth Rx ritual range, you:

• Strengthen the barrier, ensuring long-term tolerance.
• Maximise absorption of actives through hydrated skin.
• Prevent irritation, dryness, or redness caused by aggressive actives.
• Sustain results meaning radiant, resilient, and balanced skin that glows.