REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask - Review

Yes, I am super obsessed with my acid based skin care.  If you're not invested yet, you really should be as it's much better at exfoliating and smoothing your skin than those products full of chunky and abrasive particles.

Today, I'm writing about the Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask from REN which exfoliates the skin and helps to improve overall skin tone.  It even claims to help with the appearance of fine lines although I can't really comment on this front as I'm only 26 and I'm only really seeing lines around the eyes; this being the one area where you shouldn't take this mask!

For those who are fairly new to skin care, exfoliating is a vital step in your weekly routine. The emphasis being on weekly here; if you exfoliate every day you could damage your skin.  Exfoliation helps to remove the dead skin cells on your face revealing brighter and more radiant skin which is hiding underneath.  In addition, if your skin is looking quite congested, exfoliation and the use of masks will help to combat this problem so it's worth investing a little.

The idea here is you pop the mask onto cleansed skin and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing off with the enclosed cloth (handy eh?).  If you're new to acid based skin care, you might not be able to leave this on the skin for 10 minutes initially, but your skin will eventually build up a tolerance and you can increase the time it spends on your skin a little each time.

So, what did I think?

Well first of all, one pump of the orange goo is more than enough to do the entire face. As you can see it has quite a thick consistency but I can assure you it's nice and easy to move around as I am demonstrating below. It actually goes onto the skin clear.

The smell is amazing!  You really get a whiff of the papaya and citrus fruits; it smells a little like a fruity cocktail. There was a slight tingle, but I do use other masks which contain varying amount of acids around once a week so I imagine my skin is kind of used to it by now.

After the allotted 10 minutes I removed the mask with warm water and the enclosed cloth. I then toned, applied an eye cream and moisturised as normal and my skin felt lovely and soft and seemed to have a bit of a glow.  My skin was a tiny bit red post removal, so I know it was working away.

Overall this was a pleasant mask to use, it didn't agitate my skin to much either so I wouldn't hesitate to use this mid-week either.

Have you used the Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask before?  How do you like to use it?

REN Micro Polish Cleanser - Review

A good skincare habit to get into is exfoliating your face at least once to twice a week: this is something I have done since I was about 12 and will no doubt continue to do for the foreseeable future.

I've used a little of everything over the last 14 years, my first ever experience being with the St. Ives Apricot Scrub.  Since my younger years, what I look for in an exfoliating scrub has certainly changed. Gone is the requirement for something abrasive which undoubtedly leaves my skin red and blotchy. Now I want something that will slough away dead skin, leave my skin looking brighter and if possible, leave my skin with that lovely freshly cleansed feeling.

On my search for something new, I visited Space NK for the first time, this in itself is pretty shameful, the store itself is a treasure trove of beauty goodies and the girls are incredibly helpful but that's another story.  

I'm currently going through a bit of an acid-based skincare phase. If you're not sure why, then check out my blog post about them HERE. As such, the ladies recommended the REN Micro Polish Cleanser which is formulated with Glycolic Acid which decongests the skin and helps to renew the skin's surface.  In addition it has Amber Microbeads to help gently remove dead skin cells.

Another perk is that REN do not put any parabens into their products and they're also free from any chemical nasties.

As I've said above, I purchased mine from Space NK (£20 for 30ml) which I found to be quite reasonable.  I did get a lot of good sized samples to take home and try as well; I'm new to REN skincare so the opportunity to delve a little more into the range was a cheeky bonus of buying from here.

So what did I think?

Well the cleanser itself smelt wonderful, you get a hit of papaya and a slight hint of pineapple as you're squeezing the product out of tube. The texture was creamy and you can feel the exfoliating beads going to work as you massage the product into your face. You get a slight tingle from the Glycolic Acid and as such, be sure to rinse this off within a couple of minutes of application, especially if you're not used to using products with active ingredients.

My skin was left feeling fresh, lovely and smooth and it did have a nice glow. I completed my routine as usual with one slight change; I toned, used a serum and then used a moisturiser with an SPF in. You can use your normal moisturiser if you like (especially if you're only floating around the house) but I like to make sure my skin is protected after using acid based products.

The only down side (if you can call it that) is that I did find it quite difficult to squeeze the product out of the tube, it was really quite an effort but I believe this is something which a lot of people have had an issue with. If you can see past this, then this could be quite a good introduction to the REN Skincare line, I'm certainly intrigued and hope to try out some more bits and pieces soon.

What exfoliating products do you use?

Why Some Acids Are Actually Good For Your Skin

I'm sure that if you're anything like me, when you first get into beauty products, the long list of ingredients on the back of skincare products appears a little confusing.

Sure the beauty experts tell you that these ingredients are great for your skin, giving it that youthful glow, helping to plump out any lines and even exfoliating any dead skin cells away but why do they work and what do they actually do?

I thought I could shed some light and introduce you to some of the key acids you'll no doubt find floating around your bathroom and some of my favourite products which feature them.  Whilst the term acid might induce a mild state of shock, these bad boys are often found in your body already or in foods which you consume on a daily basis.

Amino Acids

Everyone knows that collagen gives your skin it's elasticity. As you get older, your levels of collagen will deplete naturally, however products containing amino acids can help to give your skin back its plumpness. Amino Acids are made up of proteins which have the same PH as your skin and play an essential part in your skins structure.  Plus, Amino Acids also make up Keratin which keeps your hair healthy and happy.

My product of choice here is the Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy Conditioner which you can pick up for £6.99 from Boots.  Not only does it smell wonderful, but if you have fine hair which is prone to breakage like me, this will help strengthen your hair.

Glycolic Acid

This is a natural exfoliator which helps to remove any dead cells that are stubbornly sticking to your skin.  It also helps to de-clog your pores therefore keeping your skin nice and dewy.

Glycolic Acid can be used to even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of scarring left by blemishes.  At first the new skin may appear slightly red but this will fade quickly.  As this is an active ingredient, be sure to moisturise and apply an SPF after using any products which feature this in order to protect your skin.

My product of choice is the REN Micro Polish Cleanser (keep your eyes peeled for my post on this soon) which can be picked up for £20 from Marks & Spencer or SpaceNK.  The Glycolic Acid works with Papaya enzymes to dissolve dead skin cells and refines your skins texture.  I've used this a couple of times now and I've really noticed a difference.

Hyaluronic Acid

This seems to be the current buzz ingredient in the beauty world.  It is renowned for holding 1000 times it's own weight in water.  It is found naturally in your skin, however, as you get older this becomes harder to produce thus leaving your skin dehydrated (dry skin is something different entirely).

As such, products which feature Hyaluronic Acid will keep your skin hydrated and plump not to mention, if applied before your moisturiser, it'll help the water in your moisturiser to stay put.  Think of it as a pillow for your face.

My product of choice has to be the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Recovery Complex II which is £48 and can be picked up from any concession.  I've been using this for a few months now and it really does plump up your skin, as well as leaving it hydrated, glowing and refreshed.  This is one of my essentials!

 

Citric/Fruit Acids

I am sure this will require little explanation, it's often found in fruits high in vitamin C and helps to encourage skin turnover and collagen production as well as being an antioxidant.

I'm certain that you will know antioxidants are a good tool in the battle against free radicals which can contribute to the signs of ageing in your skin.  Much like Glycolic Acid they can be used to minimise the appearance of scars and is a natural exfoliant. 

My product of choice is the Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Toner which can be picked up for £25 from any concession.  I wouldn't use this as an everyday toner given the active ingredients, but is great for some extra exfoliation if you’re looking to help your skin regain its brightness.

 

Salicylic Acid

This helps to open clogged pores, remove excess oil and is even an exfoliator. This is normally used in blemish treatments as it helps to keep pores clear and neutralises bacteria without over drying the skin.

My product of choice is the Murad Time Release Blemish Cleanser which is available from the Murad website for £29. I've saved this product for last as you might notice that it contains Amino Acids, Hyaluronic Acid and Salicylic Acid so it has all of the benefits of the above with the added bonus of fighting any breakouts.  I use this 3/4 times a week and I love the fresh tingling feeling I get while using it, plus I'm safe in the knowledge that it's tackling my blemishes without leaving my skin dehydrated.

I hope you find this useful, let me know if you'd like to see more helpful guides!