REN Glow Up Challenge!

 

These products were kindly sent to me, without obligation.

You've probably seen a lot of REN Clean Skincare* #Glowupchallenge posts floating around social media in recent weeks, and I was delighted when Cult Beauty* sent me the three products to join in. I know that the term 'clean' in skincare is quite divisive, but this brand is committed to being clean to the planet, with zero waste by the end of 2021, with recycled, recyclable and reusable packaging solutions, so even if the term clean skincare bothers you, surely a brand committed to zero waste is not something you can complain about! I was kindly sent three products to try from the radiance range, which is one I have tried some products from previously and loved: Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask and Wake Wonderful Night Time Facial. 

The three products I was sent to try are Ready Steady Glow AHA Tonic*,  Radiance Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream* and Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream*.

Usually, when a product says it's brightening, you automatically assume that it will contain Vitamin C, which can be a tricky ingredient for some (myself included), but what makes this range different is that the key ingredient is Elderberry Flower Extract. This ingredient contains antioxidants, which protects against free radicals that damage the skin. It also contains Glycogen and Glycerin, which nourish and firm the skin. The eye cream claims to give results within 7 days - quite the claim! It's quite thick/creamy in texture, yet it absorbs well. I use it all around my orbital bone and three weeks in, there's no sign of any milia, which rich eye creams sometimes cause. I have very sensitive eyes and some creams cause them to water, but not this one. It takes a minute or two to settle, but it leaves skin feeling plump and smooth. Within 7 days, I could definitely notice a brightening effect (especially on the inner corners), and it has continued as time has gone on (with less need for concealer, although it does apply smoothly over it). I love that it has a pump, to ensure the freshness of the product and a little goes a long way. This eye cream is now on my favourite discoveries of 2021 list!

The AHA Tonic is one that I have used previously and I really like it, because it is gentle enough to use daily, yet effective enough to make a difference to the skin, in terms of radiance. It combines lactic acid with azelaic acid, to gently exfoliate the skin and decongest pores. Skin is left brighter, and with consistent use, pores appear refined and skin is smooth. I love that this size has a pump dispenser..... it's the little things that make me happy! If you find that acid products usually make your skin tingle, or go red, then I would recommend giving this gentle product a try.

Finally, we have the Dark Spot Sleeping Cream. There are a number of reasons why you might have dark spots on your skin  (pregnancy, hormones, sun damage, acne scarring) - in my case, I have one stubborn area of hyperpigmentation due to taking medication, which does not react well with the sun, despite me wearing SPF 50, wearing a hat etc - taking all of the precautions, but this little area is stubborn. It is worse at certain times of year than others, but it does bother me. I also have a dark spot on one of my hands, which is from not wearing SPF daily from a young age, but that bothers me less than the one on my face. What makes this cream different from other products I've tried, is that it only targets the dark spots, rather than lightening the entire face, which still leaves the dark spot looking darker! It's too early yet to say whether it will eradicate my dark spot, but I can say that I wake to plump, soft skin, due to the glycerin, squalane, jojoba oil and other nourishing ingredients it contains. The texture is rich, so I like to warm it between my hands before applying, but it absorbs well and there is no pilling. I will keep you updated on the dark spot!

I'm enjoying using this trio, the eye cream, in particular, because, as you may know, I am still ill - I cannot get rid of my pneumonia, I have an inflamed artery in my brain, and just general post-Covid pain and fatigue, so this eye cream is a bit of a miracle worker!!

All available from Cult Beauty*.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this range. Have you tried any of the products? Are you tempted?

Thanks for reading!

Follow Beautylymin on Bloglovin, Twitter and Instagram for regular updates!

All products are bought by me, unless otherwise stated. Anything marked with a * has been kindly gifted, without obligation. I don't do sponsored posts. Opinion is always my own. Affiliate links may be used.