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the best ren skincare products

What are the best REN skincare products? I get this question a lot. REN has built a reputation for clean, natural skincare that delivers results without irritating even the most sensitive of skin types.

It’s mostly hype.

There, I said it. I’m not a big fan of REN. For a brand that claims to be friendly to sensitive skin, they love to pack their serums and moisturisers with all kinds of citrus extracts and fragrances that can make sensitive skin scream in pain. Ouch! Fragrance, whether artificial or from plants, is NO good for sensitive skin, ladies!

But some products are better than other. If you want to give this brand a try and see what the hype is about, here are the best REN skincare products (read: low on fragrance) to check out:

About The Brand: REN

Did you know that Ren means “clean” in Swedish? Founded in 2000 by Rob Calcraft and Anthony Buck, this UK company is on a mission to create clean skincare products that don’t hurt your skin, the planet, or animals (the line is cruelty-free). It all started when Anthony’s pregnant wife couldn’t find safe skincare products that wouldn’t upset her skin. In an effort to help his wife, Anthony went into business with Rob to create a brand that was free of irritating synthetic ingredients.

So how does REN define clean? “By Clean we mean: modern, sophisticated, effective, pleasurable to use products that are free from the skin-unfriendly ingredients routinely used in the skincare industry today.” In other words, very uncommittal. A lot of words that sound good, but we don’t know anything more than we did before, right? Thankfully, there’s a list of ingredients REN avoids:

  • Synthetic fragrance – they use natural fragrance, but that’s irritating too (just saying)
  • Silicones
  • Sulfates
  • Parabens – since they’ve been phased out, skincare products last LESS (just saying)
  • Synthetic colours
  • Animal ingredients
  • Pore-blocking petrochemicals

The brand also uses sustainable packaging, such as bottles made with ocean plastic and tubes made from post-consumer-recycled plastic. 

What Are The Best REN Products?

REN Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel (£25.00)

This refreshing facial wash uses the gentlest cleansing agents to remove dirt and impurities without irritating skin. Alas, it can’t remove makeup, but that’s always the trade-off, isn’t it? The gentlest a cleanser is, the more it struggles with makeup removal. Still, if you barely wear any makeup or are looking for a gentle morning cleanser, this fits the bill. It’s also loaded with aloe vera to keep skin hydrated during the cleansing process and calm down irritation. The only con is the fragrance, but if that doesn’t bother your skin, there’s no reason to avoid this cleanser.

Available at: Boots and Selfridges.

Active Ingredients: Aloe vera and Coco Glucoside.

Benefits: Removes dirt and impurities without drying out skin.

Cons: Contains fragrance, which may irritate sensitive skin.

Skin types: All skin types.

Fragrance-free: No.

Related: How To Choose The Best Cleanser For Your Skin Type

REN Bio Retinoid Youth Serum (£64.00)

Don’t let the name fool you. This serum doesn’t contain a drop of retinoids (forms of Vitamin A, like retinol and retinaldehyde that boost collagen and fight wrinkles). Instead, it uses rose hip oil, a natural source of Vitamin A. It has anti-aging powers, but they’re milder than proper retinoids. Still, if you have sensitive skin and retinoids are too irritating for you, this is a good alternative. Plus, the serum uses niacinamide, a powerhouse that fights wrinkles, brightens the complexion, and soothe irritations. It also has plenty of moisturising oils to make skin softer, smoother, and plumper – an instant anti-aging trick. I could do without the fragrance, but hey, it does make the serum smell good.

Available at: Boots, Cult Beauty, Harrods, Look Fantastic, Selfridges, Sephora, and SpaceNK.

Active Ingredients: Rose hip oil and niacinamide.

Benefits: Fights wrinkles, moisturises skin, and soothes irritations.

Cons: Contains fragrance, which may irritate sensitive skin.

Skin types: Dry skin.

Fragrance-free: No.

REN Bio Retinoid Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate Oil ($69.00/£54.00)

Bio Retinoid is a made-up name for rose hip oil, a natural oil touted to be as powerful as retinol – but without the drying side effects. It’s not the entire true. Retinol is a form of Vitamin A, the only thing that can reduce wrinkles. Rose hip oil contains Vitamin A – but in a smaller quantity. You guessed it: rose hip seed oil has anti-aging properties, but calling it a bio retinol is a stretch. Either way, if you have very dry skin that can’t tolerate retinoids or are pregnant and can’t use them, this is a good alternative. The rest of the formula is mostly made up of moisturising oils that strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and make skin softer and smoother.

Available at: Boots, Look Fantastic, and SpaceNK

Active Ingredients: Rose hip oil and natural oils.

Benefits: Fights wrinkles and moisturises skin.

Cons: Contains fragrance, which may irritate sensitive skin.

Skin types: Dry skin.

Fragrance-free: No.

Related: The Complete Guide To Retinol: What It Is, What It Does, And How To Use It

REN Bio Retinoid™ Youth Cream (£54.00)

You’ve guessed it: I’m a fan of the REN Bio Retinoid range. Yes, even though it uses rose hip oil instead of retinoids. The name of this range is misleading, but it’s a solid range for pregnant women or sensitive skin that want to slow down premature aging but can’t use retinoids. Apart from the fragrance, there’s nothing else irritating here. Just a bunch of natural oils to deeply moisturise skin and plump up wrinkles, making them look smaller to the naked eye. Just a warning: if you have oily skin, the rich texture and moisturising oils could aggravate acne.

Available at: Boots, Liberty London, Selfridges, Sephora, and SpaceNK

Active Ingredients: Rose hip oil and natural oils.

Benefits: Fights wrinkles and moisturises skin.

Cons: Contains fragrance, which may irritate sensitive skin; can cause acne in oily skin.

Skin types: Dry skin.

Fragrance-free: No.

REN Clarimatte™ Invisible Pores Detox Mask (£42.00)

First things first: nothing can detox pores. Your liver and kidneys do that. You can clear pores by exfoliating them, but this mask doesn’t have exfoliating power. Are you tired of misleading names? Me too. But, this is a good clay mask to absorb excess oil, so that it doesn’t end up in the pores and form clogs that lead to acne and blackheads. It does contain fragrance, but oily skin can usually tolerate it. And this is a mask for oily skin. Other skin type don’t have excess oil to absorb, so why use it?

Available at: Brown Thomas, Liberty London, Selfridges, and Sephora

Active Ingredients: Kaolin clay.

Benefits: Absorbs excess oil and prevents acne.

Cons: Contains fragrance, which may irritate sensitive skin.

Skin types: Oily and acne-prone skin.

Fragrance-free: No.

Best For Soothing Skin: REN Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask ($48.00/£40.00)

REN Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask has a creamy, lightweight texture that instantly soothes dry and sensitive skin. Its high concentration of natural oils strengthens the skin’s protective barrier, helping to keep skin safe from harsh weather and any other irritant it comes in contact with. Plus, it has probiotics that calm down irritations. The only miss-step is the fragrance. It’s one of the most irritating ingredients in cosmetics, so I’m not sure why REN saw fit to add it to a mask for sensitive skin. But if that doesn’t bother your skin, no need to panic.

Available at: Boots, Cult Beauty, and SpaceNK

Active Ingredients: Shea butter, natural oils, and probiotics.

Benefits: Moisturises and soothes skin.

Cons: Contains fragrance, which may irritate sensitive skin.

Skin types: Dry skin.

Fragrance-free: No.

Related: Is Fragrance In Skincare As Bad As Paula Begoun Says?

What Are The Best REN Products For Wrinkles?

  • REN Bio Retinoid Youth Serum (£64.00): Rose hip seed oil is a natural source of Vitamin A, a compound that slows down aging by boosting collagen production. Niacinamide also fights wrinkles while reducing dark spots at the same time. Add plenty of hydrating and you’ve got a lovely anti-aging serum for sensitive skin and pregnant women who can’t use retinoids. Available at: Boots, Cult Beauty, Harrods, Look Fantastic, Selfridges, Sephora, and SpaceNK.

What Are The Best REN Products For Dark Spots?

  • REN Bio Retinoid Youth Serum (£64.00): Niacinamide is the jolly of the skincare world. In addition to hydrating skin, soothing irritations, and fighting wrinkles, it also fades away dark spots and reduces sallowness. Available at Boots, Cult Beauty, Harrods, Look Fantastic, Selfridges, Sephora, and SpaceNK.

What Are The Best REN Products For Acne?

  • REN Clarimatte™ Invisible Pores Detox Mask (£42.00): While none of REN products can fight acne once you have it, this clay mask absorb excess oil to prevent those nasty pimples and blackheads in the first place. Available at Brown Thomas, Liberty London, Selfridges, and Sephora.

What Are The Best REN Products For Sensitive Skin?

  • REN Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask ($48.00/£40.00): This lightweight mask packs a high concentration of natural oils to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and keep your skin safe from external irritants. The addition of probiotics also helps soothe skin. I could do without the fragrance, though. Available at Boots, Cult Beauty, and SpaceNK.

Is REN Cruelty-Free?

Yes, REN skincare products are cruelty-free. The brand doesn’t test on animals, neither themselves or through a third party. They don’t use animal-derived ingredients either.

The Pros Of REN Skincare

I like that REN Skincare has gentle anti-aging products sensitive skin and women can use without side effects. Plus, they really care about the environment and only use sustainable packaging for their products. If only more brands did the same!

The Cons Of REN Skincare

Fragrance! The brand may not use synthetic fragrances, but their products are loaded with citrusy and fragrant oils that are just as irritating for the skin. Fragrance is fragrance, ladies! It doesn’t matter if it comes from a lemon or a lab-made mocule, sensitive skin won’t like it, period.

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for cruelty-free, natural products that even pregnant women can use, REN skincare (or at least, the products on this list) is worth a try. But don’t buy the cool-aid that natural is better. This brand uses plenty of natural oils that are just as irritating (if not more!) for skin as many maligned synthetic ingredients!

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.