Hello lovely ladies,
Switching gears and doing a skincare review today. This one is from the brand REN whose Wake Wonderful Night Time Facial and Rosa Centrifolia Purity Cleansing Balm, I have reviewed earlier. The former product pretty much heralded my advent in to the acid-based skincare. I love that product and based on its efficacy, I was comfortable trying other products from this line. Today’s review is on a Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask.
Product Description:
An instant complexion-perfecting mask that brightens and renews skintone and texture, minimizes pores, diminishes hyperpigmentation, and reduces the appearance of fine lines in as little as 10 minutes. A cocktail of four acids including glycolic acid from pinneapple, lactic acid from passion fruit, citric acid from lemon, and tartaric acid from grape create multiaction exfoliation. It lifts dead skin and resurfaces to dramatically improve skintone, texture, firmness, and radiance, while minimizing the appearance of pores and reducing sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and old acne scars. It is formulated without parabens, sulfates. This mask is particularly recommended for congested and mature skin; it works well on post-acne scarring, blemishes, blackheads, and sun-damaged skin. It is not suitable for sensitive skin types. This skin care essential product does not contain T.E.A., D.E.A., glycols, silicones, or PEGs.
Ingredients:
1.7 oz/ 50 mL
-Lactic, Citric, and Glycolic Acid: Help loosen dead skin cells.
-Papain: Gently exfoliates.
Price:
USD 75 / INR 5400 for 75 ml.
My Experience with REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask:
My standard skin type information: I have oily to combination skin which gets dull and dehydrated very easily. Reason is my horrible sleeping pattern and terrible eating habits! I am constantly on the look out for something to improve radiance and increase hydration. Also, being on the wrong side of 30, I need to address concerns like acne spots, sun damage, fine lines, etc.
So, since acid toners – Biologique Recherche P50 and Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 10% Toning Complex and the weekly/bi-weekly night treatment (REN Wake Wonderful Night Time Facial) were working so well for me, I thought of introducing an acid mask into my skincare regime. Till now, I had used only hydration masks or the occasional mud masks. I didn’t really know what to expect from it.
Packaging: I like the packaging of the product – it’s a air tight pump bottle wherein the product is suspended in a bag and you can see the level of the product moving upwards with each use – like an Olay 7-in-1 cream. So, there isn’t going to be a sudden surprise for you when it gets over. The label runs through the entire bottle – protecting the contents of the semi-opaque bottle from light. The pump spout has a cover – apart from he bottle cap – which is a nice feature. The bottle comes packaged in an orange cardboard box. Also included in the box is a single white muslin cloth.
Texture: The texture of the product is kind of thickish and sticky and has an orange colour and fragrance is citrusy too. You actually feel like you are slapping on some orange marmalade on your face. I don’t think the colour is because of any added colour- it’s probably an ingredient in the product imparting the colour. It’s easy to spread, but I won’t say that a little goes a long way. I think, this bottle of 75ml, would be good for about 8, maximum 10 uses. The product does not dry down on the skin – it stays sticky!
Fragrance: The product has a distinct fruity “orangey” fragrance. The box says 100% natural fragrance. I am not sure whether it means that there is added fragrance from natural sources or the fragrance is because of existing ingredients in the product. The product does have fruit extracts, grape seed oil, lemon fruit extract, pineapple fruit extract, mandarin orange peel oil, orange flower oil, tangerine peel oil, grapefruit seed oil, etc among other things. So, there is a high chance of these contributing to the fragrance naturally.
The ingredients include a hoard of fruit extracts and citrusy oils. There is a huge potential for any of these to cause skin reaction – especially for sensitive skin. Fortunately for me, my skin hasn’t acted up because of this – Touchwood! But, for anyone who has a sensitive skin or allergic reaction to fragrance, please do a patch test with a sample, before you buy the product. The product isn’t cheap that you can just toss it aside, if it doesn’t work for you.
Application: I apply this on my face post cleansing my face and patting it dry. The Company recommends to leave it on for 10 minutes. I stuck to the instructions the first time I tried it. Now that I have used it a few times and not seen an adverse effect, I have increased the span of contact. Post the recommended span, you are advised to remove the excess form your skin by wetting the muslin cloth provided with it. Post which, you can rinse your face with water. I prefer to wipe my face with a wet baby wipe. I actually wet the baby wipe with water – to ensure whatever chemicals are in it are nullified. And then use this for wiping my face. I find the baby wipes gentle on the skin and cleanse thoroughly. And i don’t need to bother with washing and drying! Yup, I’m lazy!
Experience and Efficacy: Considering the ingredients, this isn’t so much of a mask as it is a gentle exfoliating acid peel, which you can do from the comfort of your home. So, you have natural fruit extracts from Passion fruit, Lemon, Grape and Pineapple. Added to it is Papain from papaya to exfoliate the top layer of the skin. The overall effect is turnover of skin cells which further reduces fine lines.
When I apply this on my face, I feel a bit of tingling. Nothing too uncomfortable that would make you want to wash it off immediately, but it is distinctly there. If there is a cut or open acne wound, it is going to burn. So, either avoid that part or avoid the mask till your skin heals. Also, you feel an ever so slightest discomfort in the eyes. Please note, might be unique to me because I have extremely sensitive eyes – having gone through surgery in my last teens.
The first time I applied it, I stuck it to the fine lines and took it off in 10 minutes. Post removing it, I honestly did not feel the wow effect that I had expected. Don’t know if it was because I had high expectations from a REN product – considering my previous experience with REN or was it because this was touted as something like a DIY Chemical peel.
Anyway, so once I did take it off, I felt that my skin definitely felt cleaner and smoother but I didn’t see much radiance. I felt a bit meh and went about my merry way – did my nightly skincare and went off to sleep. When I woke up in the morning and washed my face – something caught my attention. My face felt brighter and more even toned. So my logical question was – what skincare did I use in the night? Yes, you can lose track when you have testing new stuff. To my surprise, I had not used anything new in my night skincare. And then it hit me, I had used this in the late evening! Nice! This was day 1.
I repeated the experiment after a week or so and was surprised with the results yet again. This time, when I used the product, I actually kept it on for about 20 minutes or so. I think my skin can tolerate a bit of acids now – thanks to the acid toners in my regime. So, I was comfortable to increase the span of contact. Would not advice you to do that with your first application, of course. Coming back to this, the second time that I had applied it, I left it on for longer plus I was wary of these acne bumps on my jaw line. Yes, even with excellent skincare, I still seemed to be getting acne which was worrisome at first. Till I realized that it was an overdoese of pistachios! ;( Every single time, I go overboard with nuts, my skin has to pay! Considering I know this for a fact, I should pay heed to it, right? But no! Anyway!!
This time, when I took off the mask – I was in for a surprise. My skin felt smoother and cleaner. But it also felt radiant and more even toned. This is what my expectations were from the product. And it has lived up to it from then on.
Why didn’t I feel this difference – the impact – on the first time. I don’t know for sure. Maybe my skin needed more contact time. Maybe my skin needed more exfoliation because I hadn’t been regular with my acid toners or acid treatments lately because I was trying other things. So, maybe the product had more to work on.
Also, the acne bumps on my jawline – it helped dry them up quicker and they subsided down by the morning.
Another thing about this product which catches your attention – when you think of a peel, you think of dry, sensitive skin at the end of it. Right? Something which will need a lot of moisturization and nourishment to heal, not with this product. With this one, it feels that the exfoliation and peeling go hand in hand with nourishment. So, post removing the mask/peel – you never feel the skin getting itchy / dry / stretchy. Nothing! It feels soft, smooth, supple and nourished.
I love using this product now and use it once every week. This could also work as a great pick me up for the skin before an event – especially if it’s an evening event. I suggest you use this mask and then follow with your skincare and makeup. The mask will give you a beautiful clean canvas to work on – which will allow anything else to shine! Why I would suggest this for a day event – especially if it’s outdoor because I would really suggest you to exfoliate or use acids on your skin when you are likely to be exposed to sun because it will accelerate skin damage. Which in effect also means – you must not forget sunscreen after this! Please ensure that you use sunscreen regularly – especially if you are sung acids on your face.
How often should one use this: I feel, once a week is great for this product. Do not go over board with Acids just coz they are working well for you. They do make your skin more sensitive as well.
Pros of REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask:
- Exfoliates, repairs and moisturises the skin deeply.
- Skin feels soft, supple, clearer, well rested and brighter.
- Works well in a short span of time.
- Results visible after a single use.
- Does not break me out.
- Non-comedogenic.
- Helps improve skin texture and radiance.
- Convenient fuss-free packaging.
- Works on new acne – helps dry them out.
- All REN products are free from parabens, sulpahtes, mineral oils, silicones, syn-thetic colours or fragrances.
Cons of REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask:
- Sticky, marmalade like texture – this could be off putting for some. Honestly, I’m just being picky.
- It did not seem to do much for my pores.
IMBB Rating:
4.8/5
This one is again an excellent product from REN. I’m excited to try more stuff from this line. I should be reviewing another one from REN soon. It works well as a weekly treatment for your skin – to perk it up, but it can as easily be used specifically before a big event that you need to attend. One word of caution – pls do a patch test before using this and always use sunscreen.
Do I Recommend REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask?
Yes.
Would I Repurchase REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask?
Yes, for sure!
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