Face Mask Friday #64 – REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask

Face Mask Friday #64 – REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask

Well, it feels like a long time since I sat down to do a Face Mask Friday! I was really excited a few months ago when this mask arrived in a box full of treats from Marks and Spencers, however I’d heard through the grapevine that it had quite a short shelf life. I had in mind that I was trying to use up some masks and get some empty (I’ve tried, and thus far failed), and I patiently waited until I could wait no more to crack open the REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask.

The reason I was keen to crack this open was it’s two ingredients are ones which have traditionally agreed with my skin when I’ve used them, an acid complex of Glycolic and Lactic acid (amongst others) was something I was very curious to try.

Over the past three or so weeks I’ve used it three times a week and bar my overnight mask from Origins, it’s been the only mask that I’ve been reaching for. The packaging like all of REN’s products is simple, sleek and fuss free – they’re not the cheapest on the market and that can quite often come with unnecessary bulk on packaging, making the plastic heavier so it feels luxe to hold – whilst at times I can appreciate that, REN seem to have found the perfect balance of keeping themselves slick and modern. The styling reminds me very much of a Kiehl’s and has that modern apothecary like feel.

The plastic is lightweight and frosted, featuring a simple label, clear lid and pump. The pump contains a protective cap for the lid, clearly to protect it from reacting too much with the air due to it’s shelf life of 9 months. That protector is a little bit flimsy – it’s prone to flicking off. Inside the bottle the product is housed in a pressurised plastic bag that aids in squeezing out the product without leaving any residue left to the sides.

Interestingly REN describe this as a favourite for dry, mature and sun damaged skin – which if you’re a regular reader you’ll know is almost the oppostite skin type to me. So how did it pan out for me?

The texture of this is like a runny honey, it has a slight sticky feeling to it and is orange in colour – when applied onto the skin it becomes clear and other than a bit of shine, it’s pretty unnoticeable on the skin. The product has a citrus fruity fragrance which I think is mainly thanks to the papaya extract included. The bottle advises to use a generous layer of product, I’ve found 2 pumps to be a perfect amount to add a good enough layer without it starting to become too drippy.

So, the ingredients are made up primarily of Lactic Acid for treating brightening dull complexions, treating hyper-pigmentation and age spots. Glycolic Acid which is great for resurfacing and as a chemical exfoliator, whilst the citrus blends contained are great at brightening the complexion.

In addition to the ingredients, there is also the free-from list. There’s no parabens, sulphates, mineral oil, petroleum, synthetic fragrance or colours and silicones – there’s a much more extended list on their website, but they are very much keeping their skincare clean . Additionally – it’s also cruelty free.

On the skin this mask has a slight sensation – I find that it lightly tingles in patches around my face, it can move from my cheeks then the forehead. It doesn’t however happen every time I wear the mask. On open skin – e.g a spot that’s maybe a little cracked the feeling is more noticeable, but even then it’s not uncomfortable. I would say however if you have sensitive skin then to proceed with a some caution.

After the mask has been left on for 10-15 minutes I rinse off with warm water and a cloth. Instantly my skin feels smooth, soft and refreshed. I’ve been tending to use this in the evening but I think it could make a great pre-makeup mask for a great smooth application. The next morning however my skin is GLOW-ING. Seriously the radiance claims in this are probably the best that I’ve experienced with any mask. 

Finally, the mask does come with an added bonus – a muslin cloth to help remove the product. Personally I’ve found this cloth to be a little thick to hold it’s own against the slightly sticky residue that the mask has – I prefer something a little thicker like a microfibre flannel works a little better.

The mask comes in at £36 – which to start with felt a little on the pricey side but despite me using it so frequently in the last few weeks it has plenty of uses still left in it. The mask is available widely, but I’m a dedicated fan of the M&S Beauty department at this point – you can find it on their website here, they also do 20ml miniatures for £14 – so if you’re not sure if it will work for your skintype or whether you’d use it up in 9 months then this could be a good option too!

What are your favourite Radiance Boosting masks?

The REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask was kindly gifted in PR by M&S. Review is based on my thoughts and experience with the product and is 100% honest as always. Post contains affiliate links.

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15 Comments

  1. September 21, 2018 / 3:07 pm

    I really liked this mask – it worked well even though my skin is fairly sensitive.

      • September 21, 2018 / 8:33 pm

        I’ve had reactions to some acid peel type masks but this one was totally fine – but you can bet that I did two patch tests before putting it on my face!

  2. September 21, 2018 / 8:19 pm

    Oh wow this looks amazing… glowing skin is definitely something I lack and need during these more dull winter months! I love fruity scented products too, so I think I’d love this. Thanks for sharing! x

  3. September 22, 2018 / 6:26 am

    Ooh I’m so glad you liked this mask – I loved it! Hoping to pick it up in one of their festive gift sets later in the year! Xx

  4. September 23, 2018 / 3:05 pm

    I’ve looked at this brand before and always wondered if it was good! Thanks x

  5. September 27, 2018 / 12:38 am

    I had such high hopes for this mask since it was so hyped but I found it wasn’t that effective in exfoliating my skin. The mask that I did like was from Andalou Naturals – their Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask is comparable in the claims of this mask, and I found it worked quite well. It’s also only $15 USD.

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