Ren Clean Skincare Review : I love beauty products just as much as the next person, but I believe that it is vitally important to be aware of what we are putting on our skin and to pay attention to the ingredients, in the same way we pay attention to what we are eating.

Ren Clean Skincare Review (and 20% off worldwide discount code)

Ren clean skincare review

I have already reviewed some natural products, such as these Natura Siberica products and a range of products from Eco Natural Products, and so I was delighted to be given the opportunity to review a range of products from the REN Clean Skincare range (FR) / UK site.

REN were established in London in 2000 and they pride themselves on being a clean, smarter skincare brand. So, what does this actually mean?

As per their website, they use only 100% plant and mineral derived bio-actives for their products and avoid any synthetic ingredients that can be harsh (or toxic) to skin. They avoid using parabens, sulfates, mineral oils, synthetic fragrances, synthetic colours, silicones, pore-blocking petrochemicals, PEGS, TEA/DEA, petroleum and others. For the full list you can consult the REN site.

They do not test any of their products on animals and neither do their third party contacts.

As an added bonus, the bottles they use are almost entirely recyclable and can be returned to REN for recycling (currently only possible in the UK), so their products are also eco-friendly.

All this is great, but what about the actual products? I received a sample of the new “And Now to Sleep” pillow spray, the ‘Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial” and a few sample size products.

See below for my thoughts on the two full-size products.

“And Now to Sleep” Pillow Spray

Ren clean skincare review

I have always had an over-active (and anxious) mind and sleeping is a daily (or nightly!) battle for me. I’m starting to doze off in front of the television but the second my head hits the pillow, anxiety kicks in and I start to worry about all the things I forgot (or may have forgotten) to do. When I do finally fall asleep, I often wake up a couple of hours later thinking about a text I forgot to send, an e-mail I forgot to answer, an appointent I forgot to book, a blog post I need to write ………..

I received this pillow spray (FR)/ UK site  just before Christmas, which was perfect timing, as this period is always exhausting and can leave the most zen of us feeling tired and frazzled!

This product (which is suitable for vegans) contains frankincense, hops and lavender, which have been used since ancient times to relax, calm and reduce anxiety, to aid natural beauty sleep and a healthy sleeping pattern.

Frankincense helps to put your mind at rest, hops help to calm the mind and relax you and lavender helps to reduce anxiety, so the combination of these three essential oils helps to promote more restful sleep.

This is the last step of your night-time routine and you should spray it onto your pillow just before going to bed.

I found the fragrance very relaxing, and it definitely helped me to feel calmer and less wired!  However, it is also important to follow a good night-time routine for this (or any) product to be effective, and here are my top tips:

  • switch off the television, mobile phones, laptops etc. at least an hour before bed (the blue light from these devices tricks the mind into thinking it’s daytime, so your brain stays active instead of winding down to help you relax.)
  • take a warm, relaxing bath (you can use essential oils/ bath oils to further enhance the effect.) I once read a tip about letting the water drain away while you are in the bath and feeling all your worries drain away with it. Whilst, I’m sure this works for some people, I prefer to get out of a warm, full bath!
  • apply a relaxing face and body cream, ideally using massage techniques to alleviate stress
  • spritz some pillow spray over your pillow and bedding, close your eyes and relax

The first few times I tried it, I really loved the fragrance and I definitely felt calmer and more relaxed but I can’t say that I instantly fell into a deep sleep (it probably didn’t help that I didn’t follow my own advice and was checking text messages before bed!)

I’m continuing to use it, as well as trying to adapt a consistent night-time routine, and I am beginning to fall asleep easier and I definitely sleep more deeply than before. I’ve also found myself waking up before the alarm (which has never happened before, and even though I don’t spring out of bed and dance around the room, I am less groggy than I used to be!)

So, in conclusion, I think that the ‘And Now to Sleep’ pillow spray (FR) / UK is a great aid to help you get into the right frame of mind for a good night’s sleep, but clearly if you suffer from serious insomnia issues, it isn’t a magic wand!

  “Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial”

Ren clean skincare review

The second product I tried was the “Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial/ FR“/ UK site,  which I will admit that I have been wanting to try for ages.

This treatment, which is formulated with water-activated Vitamin C, claims to instantly revitalise and rejuvenate skin, reduce the appearance of lines, photo-ageing and imperfections and banish greyness, making skin glow with renewed health and radiance.

It should be used after cleansing, and you start by applying the blue/ mint green, grainy gel onto dry skin, gently massaging with circular movements over the face and neck, avoiding the eye area.  Then, you just dampen your fingers with water and massage gently to activate the Vitamin C content.

You really don’t need to scrub hard as the formula itself does all the work. The grainy formula transforms to a smooth, more oily texture and you may notice a slightly metallic scent, but it’s not overpowering.

After leaving the facial to work its magic for just one minute, you rinse your face.

This product definitely makes my skin more radiant, smoother and softer.  Also, I love the fact that it only takes 90 seconds (30 seconds to apply and 60 seconds to wait) every 3 days. It’s so easy to find this amount of time, so there’s really  no excuse for not applying it

I can honestly say that this is one of the best and quickest acting masks I have ever tested, and I will definitely be buying it again.

However, I would not recommend this for anyone with sensitive skin (REN says the same thing in their product description) because of the potency. They also specify that you should only use the product every 3 days.

Ren clean skincare review

I also received samples of the ‘neroli and grapefruit’ body wash and ‘body cream’., which I use in the morning as I love the invigorating smell and find it helps to wake me up.

If you would like to buy any products from REN, then you can use the code ‘VELVET20‘ to get 20% off everything (excluding bundles, gift sets, and the latest launch ‘Ready Steady Glow’.  This code is valid worldwide until 28/02/2018 at 11:59pm GMT, and may only be used once per customer.

I hope you enjoyed this feature about REN CLEAN SKINCARE, and have a look here for more of our beauty features.

*I was sent these products in exchange for a review, but all opinions are my own