Prepare for another raving review, people! Today I’m sharing my thoughts on REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask with you. I’ve been using this for more than two months, and I can confidently say it’s the best peel I’ve tried so far!
REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask is an exfoliating mask that promises to renew the complexion, improve skin tone and radiance, and reduce fine lines. It contains acid and fruit extracts. I follow the instructions to use it once every week on clean skin, leave it on for 10 minutes, and wipe off with the enclosed cloth before rinsing.
REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask is housed in a plastic bottle with an airless pump. The product sits in a plastic bag, so you can roughly see how much there is left. Besides the big cap, there is this little one that can be detached to give it even more protection. I’m pretty sure the big cap is enough, but I still use both.
The mask smells and feels like marmalade. It is a sticky gel that takes a little work to spread on the skin, and it gets stickier during the time it stays on the skin. I find one pump of product really generous for each use, but you could definitely do with a bit less. In the beginning I carefully left it on for 10 minutes, but since I’ve never had a bad reaction, I leave it on for 15-20 minutes nowadays.
The first couple of times I used it, I didn’t see any immediate radiance. My skin was hydrated and plumper, but that was about it. I also purged a little, but the spots weren’t the kind that I get when my skin is irritated. It’s rather surprising that I never reacted negatively to the mask, because my skin gets irritated very easily with products that contain acid (at least in the beginning). The next morning however, my skin would definitely look very smooth and radiant. The purging also stopped and healed fast.
(The cloth that comes with the mask. It’s pretty thin, but usable. Nowadays I use my own muslin cloth)
After the first couple of times however, the result was immediate. After I rinsed the mask off, I could see my skin is truly amazingly radiant, smooth, and plump. Some blackheads on my nose will also come to the surface, so it’s easy to remove them without squeezing the skin. I always follow up with dry oil (normally Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Treatment, and the next day my skin is practically red carpet-worthy!
Two months and a half later, I still am more than convinced by the product. I don’t use scrubs anymore, and I seldom need other products that contain acid. My skin is smoother in general, and definitely healthier-looking. Despite the fact that I have cut back on other chemical peel type of products, the blackheads on my nose have reduced, and my pores are smaller. This is something I have seen real and lasting improvement with, which is not something I can say about all the skincare products I have tried.
Here is the ingredient list if anyone wants to see it:
Bottom line: If you want to try a chemical peel, REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask is a great one to start with. It is much more gentle than many other acid skincare products, and it does deliver. If you want to reduce the size of your pores, get rid of blackheads/acne, or have smoother, more radiant, and plumper skin, give this one a try!
Have you tried this mask or anything else from REN? What else would you recommend? Do you use a scrub or chemical peel?
Sunny, your beauty culture translator xx
PS: REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask is available on Cult Beauty.
