The Philosophy
I've written about Ren before and truly believe they are the very few brands that stick to their 'clean' brand image in all aspects. They strive for excellence in their formulas by incorporating high-performance ingredients derived from botanicals. There are some synthetics but only when the natural derivative is rare/unobtainable/unsafe to be extracted. By 2025 they aim to be 100% recyclable and reusable, a claim that no other brand have announced. Being part of the beauty industry has a lot of repercussions on our environment. I can't wait to see what ripples Ren will form in achieving their goal.
The Product
This body serum is game changer. As part of their radiance range, this serum aims to brighten lacklustre complexions through exfoliation and vitamin Cs. They are gentle actives that will reveal healthier, glowing skin.
Proven to bring energy back to tired, polluted or city-living skin.
The AHA body serum was formulated to moisturise whilst exfoliating uneven skin to reveal a smoother, glowy complexion. With their incorporation of lactic acid, this was definitely I must try for me!
The Application
The consistency of the serum was surprisingly light. It had enough moisture that you didn't need a lot of product to work through the whole body. The smell is divine, a natural citrus oil to give the product some freshness. The serum absorbed slowly, which was good in my eyes as I have insanely dry legs and arms. It felt luxurious and plump upon application.
The Result
As a dry skin gal, I notice straight away if something is hydrating and plumping. This was a game changer in my eyes. The next day, I instantly noticed the suppleness of my skin and the smoothness of my legs. The real results were months after my first use. This may sound weird, but I actually had thinner leg hairs as a result. The random spots I used to get on my chest were gone, no more dry elbows or bumpy arms. Oh, and my leg scarring, not completely gone but very much faded from my first use. I also notice my skin when I don't use it, it's not as smooth and starts to get a bit flaky quicker without the AHA serum
The Rundown
Alright, time for the ingredients. I now look at the first 3-5 ingredients to determine what it is mostly made out of and whether the concentration of the ingredient is high enough for it to be effective.
Aqua (Water), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Xylitylglucoside, Xanthan Gum, Anhydroxylitol, Pullulan, Parfum* (Fragrance), Mannitol, Xylitol, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin) Peel Oil, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, Faex (Yeast) Extract, Glucose, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Glycogen, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citric Acid, Citral, Limonene, Linalool * 100% Natural Fragrance - Parfum 100% Naturel "
From <https://www.renskincare.com/collections/radiance/products/aha-smart-renewal-body-serum>
You have no idea how happy I am looking at this list. First ingredient water, then you've got the moisturising factor of shea butter (one of my old faves), then what they claim to have - lactic acid and probiotic extract (lactococcus ferment). Xylitol, which is highlighted on their website is a little further down on the list. Xylitol is a natural anti-microbial ingredient that has been proven to help with atopic dermatitis. At the concentration that Ren has, it probably won't relieve it overnight but will help to heal it over time. Lactic acid at that high concentration without any irritation is music to my ears. And the ferment is a great probiotic that will help to strengthen your skin's barrier. Our skin has a natural bacteria film, similar to our gut's microbiome, so healthy bacteria will help to ward off any nasties.
I can't rave about this product and brand enough. They are making a conscious effort to make effective products whilst remaining clean. The only other brand I can think of that have a great influence is Korres. I'm sure there are many more. This AHA body serum will definitely be in my top 5 next week because it is the perfect summertime essential.