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Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:29 pm  |
REN products have become a real buzz lately, so I decided to venture beyond my fixed regime of the past year and give this supposed all natural range a try.
Well, I am rather critical of skincare companies that attempt to 'green wash' their products - ie, claim proudly and loudly they don't use a multitude of 'nasty ingredients' (though that is somewhat subjective) but end up using refined and ultra processed botanical extracts and oils, and some dubious emulsifiers..
The REN website does not provide a complete ingredient listing, instead all the listings here are found on the SPACE.NK apothecary site (thanks).
So for the price and availability, I don't think I would purchase full size anytime soon. These products can be rather heavy and I would recommend it more for people with non-sensitive and dry skin types.
calendula & arctic blackcurrent seed cleansing milk wash - sensitive
aqua, cetearyl octanoate, cetearyl alcohol, caprylic / capric triglyceride, sesamum indicum, cetearyl glucoside, butyrospermum parkii, myristyl myristate, glycerin, ribes nigrum, helliathnus annuus, foeniculum vulgare, oryzanol, bisabolol, calendula officinalis, phenoxyethanol, tocopherol, hippophae rhamnoides, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, xanthan gum, citrus nobilis, pelargonium graveolens oil, cinnamomum linalloliferum oil, anthemis nobilis, citronellol, limonene, linalool.
This is a white light cream cleanser that comes in a pump dispenser. It is non foaming and imparts a very light fragrance. I used every day twice a day, in lieu of my Jurlique cleansing cream.
This is a thorough cleanser, if you use don't use makeup or heavy moisturisers. I found it to be very drying if I used a gel cleanser before. So this is not suitable as one of those 'conditioning' cleansers to rebalance the skin.
In terms of irritation and sensitivity, my skin is usually easily upset if I switch to a new cleanser that does not agree with it. But now, I have balanced my skin enough so that any irritation would take a few days to come through, nothing instant. This product, I felt, did not have any 'calming' properties to keep my skin from being irritated, but it did not cause any major irritation either.
calendula omega 3/7 hydra-calm moisturiser- sensitive
aqua, camellia oleifera, cetearyl octanoate, myristyl myristate, cetearyl alcohol, sesamum indicum, butyrospermum parkii, cetearyl glucoside, caprylic / capric triglyceride, glycerin, triheptanoin, ribes nigrum, moringa pterygopserma, foeniculum vulgare, helliahtnus annuus, oryzanol, bisabolol, calendula officinalis, carbomer, hippophae rhamnoides, tocopherol, citrus grandis, citrus nobillis, phenoxyethanol, pelargonium graveolens oil, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, anthemis nobilis, linalool, limonene, citronellol, geranoil.
This is a white light cream moisturiser, ditto for the dispenser as above. It has a very light sweet, almost candy like scent - oh the childhood memories... I could only use this on top of another moisturiser (an oil) because it is NOT balancing enough to be used on my oily skin. I sometimes get drier areas around my nose thanks to endless noseblowing, so I used extra around there to moisturise any flakies away.
Because I have a very strict preference for using only oils on my face as moisturisers, I don't think I could ever go back to using something that is a water/glycerol/oil emulsion, not even in summer. This really does not have enough 'actives' in it to do anything for redness or preventing irritation. But likewise, it does not cause any excessive irritation either. I think that long term use of this would cause me to have excessive blocked pores because I don't tolerate refined oils/plants esters very well (cetearyl alcohol, triglycerides)
omega 3 facial serum
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (source Coconut Oil), Triticum Vulgaris (Wheat Germ Oil), Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla Extract), Camelina Sativa (Gold of Pleasure Oil), Rosa Canina (Rosehip Seed Oil), Phaeodactylum Tricornotum (Plankton Extract), Bisobolol (source Chamomile), Parfum (100% Natural Fragrance), Tocopherol (Vitamin E).
This is a clear oil with a slightly thick texture. The scent is somewhat strange, at first smells faintly chemical and raw (wheat germ?) but opens into a very light sweet osmanth scent.. This serum is processed as HECK, because unrefined wheat germ and rosehip seed oil would at least make the serum a golden, yellow colour - so I am unsure about to what extent the nutrients and vitamins and essential fatty acids (the omega 3) have been lost through processing.
When I used this the first time, I put on wayy to much, and it felt very heavy on my skin. But after a few minutes it had soaked in very well, literally leaving me with a dewy and almost matte complexion. This is for night time use, but I would recommend letting this soak in for at least 20 minutes before going to bed. I did get a few blocked pores the next day, in places that I would usually never get them.. So I persevered and did not layer many products, but still continued to have blocked pores. I ended up using this only on my dry areas, crease of nose and mouth area.
Refined coconut oil, or the triglyceride, can be very drying if used in large quantities, so I would defintely opt for a pure plant oil next time.. |
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Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:44 am |
| miranets thanks for the review. I had been intrigued by the REN brand but I think that I will pass after reading your review. It really doesn't seem very natural and the pore clogging ingredients! I really wish that some companies would put as much effort into really making good quality, natural products as they put into marketing a product as natual when it isn't. Just think what great products we would have! |
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Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:50 pm |
| Excellent reviews Miranet - thanks. I ogled some of their products (they seem so nice when you read about them...), but it looks like i wouldn't like them... |
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Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:04 pm |
I really loved your review on REN.
I love Omega 3 oil applied onto my face. I agree that I do not see Omega 3 listed in the ingredients. 
I guess Sonya Dakar is the only one who actually uses Omega 3 oil and it does not clog your pores. Little did I know, a few years later, that my dermotologist even said that I should eat more food with Omega 3. It makes a huge difference on your skin. I couldn't agree more. 
Again, thank you so much for your review. Is it possable that you got pimples and was already formed underneith your skin and it just so happen that after you tried REN that your pimple appeared? |
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Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:47 pm |
| I have all 3 of the REN mask's. They are not bad... Haven't used them in a while, but I do remember quite enjoying them. |
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Tue Oct 03, 2006 11:15 pm |
Thanks for the feedback guys 
Lin - I was at a point where I almost ordered a few full sized products.. I am glad I didn't. The marketing and packaging is very very attractive
Skincare - the thought also crossed my mind, and usually I am extra observant when it comes to trying new products. I was not going through TTOM and I generally don't get blocked pores that are very large. The few blemishes I got were very strange, the first one, I got right near my ear, a place where I NEVER get pimples, and it was the type that had a loose sebum plug, not like an inflammed zit type. The other ones I got were around my front cheeks, under my eyes, which is normally from product build up rather than hormonal/internal issues. Then I got several around the side of my face, which I am prone to when I sleep on my side, but usually takes a few days to build up, and I got them far more quickly when I was using the Omega 3 serum. I did not do a mask during those days, so I don't know if it was purging from new products which I generally don't experience (especially from ones that don't have many botanical actives).
I agree with you about taking omega 3 internally, I take flax seed oil and it is great for balancing sebum production and making skin more firm. |
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Wed Oct 04, 2006 2:15 pm |
Thanks for the review AND ingredient list! I have both dry and sensitive skin...I think I'll stay away from this product.  |
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Wed Oct 04, 2006 2:23 pm |
| I have used many of the REN products and can not get on with them (sounds strange, I know, but they have been given to me). The cleansers don't do anything and the moisturisers are too heavy and just sits on the surface of the skin. I also noticed lots of little bumps on my skin from using the Omega serum. I think the marketing is great but the products do not live up to the hype. I am currently using their eye serum which is so-so. |
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Wed Oct 04, 2006 2:35 pm |
Well, it's a very good thing they were a gift and your not addicted to buying stuff that doesn't work. --I'd probably end up trying to use it up too. BUT, you do deserve more!!! Get yourself some GOOD stuff! LOL
--I'm still hunting, so unfortunately I can't give the greatest recommendations now.  |
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Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:04 pm |
| I will get some good stuff, I am looking for a pure, organic and nicely packaged range at the moment. I am considering Primavera and also Nature Purity for now... Decisions, decisions... |
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Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:09 pm |
| hee hee Good luck on your journey...I know I need it. This place is great tho! It's helping me with researching...and probably gonna help me spend even more money. lol |
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Wed Oct 04, 2006 7:44 pm |
| miranets wrote: |
Thanks for the feedback guys
Lin - I was at a point where I almost ordered a few full sized products.. I am glad I didn't. The marketing and packaging is very very attractive
Skincare - the thought also crossed my mind, and usually I am extra observant when it comes to trying new products. I was not going through TTOM and I generally don't get blocked pores that are very large. The few blemishes I got were very strange, the first one, I got right near my ear, a place where I NEVER get pimples, and it was the type that had a loose sebum plug, not like an inflammed zit type. The other ones I got were around my front cheeks, under my eyes, which is normally from product build up rather than hormonal/internal issues. Then I got several around the side of my face, which I am prone to when I sleep on my side, but usually takes a few days to build up, and I got them far more quickly when I was using the Omega 3 serum. I did not do a mask during those days, so I don't know if it was purging from new products which I generally don't experience (especially from ones that don't have many botanical actives).
I agree with you about taking omega 3 internally, I take flax seed oil and it is great for balancing sebum production and making skin more firm. |
Good luck with this line. I am rooting for you. Maybe you will stick with it for at least three months? |
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Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:21 pm |
Skincare, I just saw another Omega 3 product mentioned today by Mariav, the Serious Skin omega 3 treatment which seems to be made of First Pressed olive oil (again no ingredients listed). Seems to have great feedback on MUA and HSN.
Well with all the hype of Omega 3s, I think we would see more benefit from taking a good quality product and letting it work inside out.
Also, for those who like to make their own products, there are CO2 extractions of seabuckthorn and cranberry/blue berry which are supposed to be rich in Omega 3s.. and it would also seem good to mix with things like ceramides/seaweed extracts to help plump skin up. |
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Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:27 pm |
| Thank you, I have to admit that I dislike taking vitamin pills. I always choke on them and the vitamins are too big to swallow! |
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Thu Oct 05, 2006 1:49 am |
| Actually I'd much rather take everything in pill or capsule form. I am taking cold pressed flax seed oil at the moment, and it's the stuff you pour into a spoon and drink up. It is flavoured with rosemary and it is the most awful taste in the world.... but fresh is best |
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Thu Oct 05, 2006 4:49 pm |
I have two questions.
First, what is a CO2 extraction? I know what CO2 is but have no clue what a CO2 extraction is?
Second, this issue was raised a while back on another thread and never answered. Omega 3 oils are highly unsaturated and easily degraded by oxygen. The stuff that is sold for food has to be kept in particular conditions to remain effective because it is so unstable. What happens when you put omega 3 oil on your skin? Is it absorbed before it can be oxidized? Would exposure to sunlight cause the oil in your skin to go "bad"? It seems that there could be some problems with putting such an unstable oil on your skin but maybe I am missing something.
miranets, I broke down today and bought flax seed oil in capsules. I am concerned about all the lignans in the ground flax because they are estrogenic and could not bear the thought of swallowing another spoonful of the flax oil! I know fresh is best but I am hoping that the stuff in the capsules is better than not taking the stuff at all. |
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Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:04 pm |
Hi Theresa
http://www.naturesgift.com/CO2.htm
There is a very nice description of what CO2 extracts are and the benefits, but here is a summary
1. CO2, carbon dioxide is gas at room temperature, when in reduced temperatures turns into a liquid, this is the solvent medium that is used in lieu of petrochemicals to be used in the extraction process
2. This method of extraction is performed under low temperatures, thus you don't sacrifice damaging any delicate nutrients/chemical compounds that you would under normal room temperatures
3. CO2 will completely evaporate once returning to room temperature, thus leaving no trace chemicals behind
Steam distillation is a traditional method and is time consuming, which yields much lower oil ratios than pressure or solvent extraction.
And as for your second question, I tried to google some of this stuff, like Topical Omega 3 absorption, Omega 3 oxidation, etc, but did not find anything conclusive. I only found some peer reviewed studies of using something called ultra refined omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids at 10% on psoriasis patients being significantly beneficial for skin healing.
One risk of Omega 3 is, once it oxidises, it becomes a free-radical itself, lending to more oxidation. I always add large amounts of vitamin e to unstable oils, and only use them at night time.
Any budding chemists want to chime in?? |
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