Bust stress and fight body fatigue with the new REN Skincare Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium Anti-Fatigue range

I don’t think it’s a secret that I am always a little partial towards REN Skincare. I’d used much of their products since they first became available in Malaysia in 2009 till now. I do like their skincare, and I am just as partial towards their body care products. But there hasn’t been much that’s new to excite me in recent times. That is, until I caught news that there was a new range of body care in eye-catching bright turquoise and containing Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium as its key ingredients.

Hmm… hello! I’d been waiting for their availability here in Malaysia for months!

REN Skincare labels the Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium range as “Anti-fatigue” which puzzled me for a while. Apparently, this is down to the inclusion of Magnesium, a mineral that I don’t see used very much in cosmetics (unless of course, I’m just not paying much attention). Magnesium is a mineral that supports the natural functions of the body and boosts cell energy, combats fatigue and has anti-inflammatory properties. Apparently, it can be easily absorbed through skin, and helps ease your body of stress and fatigue. Some claim that using this range even helps them sleep better. Hmm… really? Let this insomniac try it and see! 😛

There are about 6 products in the range, of which I only have 2 to show you. I was eyeing the bath oil, but haven’t yet gotten round to buying it, as it’s only just become available in Malaysia for a couple of weeks! I did sample some of the Body Lotion during the press event, and it was lovely – not sticky and absorbs easily into the skin.

What I particularly love about the REN Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium range is the scent. It has a lovely, noticeably scent of Geranium, which I love, and which I find soothing. There is also Sage, Rosemary and Cypress included (a veritable herb garden!) but I don’t detect those, just the lovely warm scent of geranium that fills the shower every time I use the shower gel.

REN Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium Anti-Fatigue Body Wash – RM139 | £20 for 300ml

I love the body wash. The scent is soothing and calming, and it cleans skin without stripping. The scent quite literally fills the shower stall, and at the end of a long day, or when you’ve had to deal with a lot of stresses, it quite literally melts away the stress. You leave your hot shower feeling calm and relaxed and smelling clean.

I also like how they have updated the packaging so it is a sleek, clear bottle, with a pump that locks. Compared to the regular packaging, this looks crisp and sleek. I wonder if they’ll be updating the packaging for the rest. I took this with me on a weekend roadtrip, and it was lovely to step into the hot shower after 4 hours drive, and relax with this.

I was using it quite exclusively for a while (just 1 pump is enough for showering) and have barely made a dent in mine. However, I ran into a bit of a problem. I found that this was the culprit that was causing the skin on my hands to dry out and peel. This happens to me occasionally, but hadn’t for a while, so I didn’t think to look at this body wash. It wasn’t until a friend suggested it that I stopped using it altogether, and my hands healed. I used it for a few days straight, and the dryness came back.

For me therefore, I can only use this occasionally, if I don’t want to end up scaring the populace with my diseased looking skin.

Here is the ingredient list if it matters to you. I suspect the cocamidopropyl betaine, because I’ve noticed a similar sensitivity when I use other products that contain this ingredient. It is a known alternative to sodium lauryl sulfate, which has become very unpopular, and I believe, is a coconut oil derivative. Unfortunately however, it’s an ingredient that does not sit well with me.

REN Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium Salt Anti-Fatigue Exfoliating Body Scrub – RM119 | £18.00 for 150ml and RM199 | £26.00 for 330ml

I rarely use body scrubs (lazy! 😛 ) but I put this one to the test after I got it, to see if it’d give me baby soft skin. It comes in 2 sizes – 150ml and 330ml, with the latter being a better value, if you ask me. Mine is the 150ml tub, and if I’m to be honest, it’ll last just a few uses if you’re generous. In my first use alone, I’d hit the bottom of the tub.

The reason is because you are recommended to apply it directly onto dry skin. It has a fairly thick texture, so it doesn’t spread easily, and you do have to use more product if you want to use it all over. I find I have to use a generous handful for each limb, and more for my body. You will run through 150ml quite quickly.

While in the picture below, it looks like a fine salt scrub, on dry skin, it can feel a little abrasive.

It does however, seem to melt a little on contact with your skin, and it doesn’t hurt or scratch your skin. It just feels a little rough, but unlike many salt scrubs, it doesn’t drop all over the floor and mess up your shower stall. It almost feels like an oil, as you keep rubbing and massaging onto your skin.

When you add some warm water, it melts almost immediately. However, it does leave a layer of oil on your skin, so I can understand when the directions tell you that it is best used before stepping into a warm bath, to luxuriate in the oil left on your skin. That way, it doesn’t go to waste. If you use it in the shower, then I do use a little of the body wash after, just to feel a little more comfortable and clean.

Magnesium is the key ingredient in Epsom salts, and soaking tired limbs in an epsom salt bath is known to help combat fatigue. Consider this then, the high-class option LOL 😀 It smells wonderful, and when I use this, I can and do feel a little more relaxed. I did use this however, after a brutal FlyCycle spin class, that left me with sore legs for about 2 weeks! It didn’t help LOL! I suffered for 2 weeks till my muscles healed. Was it because I’m unfit or if I had injured myself? I can’t tell. But I’m never going for a spin class ever again. EVER! 😛

IN A NUTSHELL

The REN Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium Anti-Fatigue range of RENergy body care is a new range of body care products containing the key ingredients of sea kelp for moisture and magnesium to help skin cells repair, heal and combact tiredness. The scent, which is heavy on geranium is soothing and uplifting. Whether it is psychological or otherwise, I do find that I sleep a little better when I use the body scrub. Not so much the body wash, which extensive use can leave the skin on my hands very dry. I do like the range in general, as I’m partial to body products that smell like this one.

PROS: Soothing and uplifting scent, Seems to help me relax a little better in the evenings, Body Lotion is not oily or heavy, Only a little body wash is needed each use so the bottle will last a long while, The body scrub leaves skin feeling smooth and moisturised after use and can do double duty for use in the tub without rinsing off

CONS: A little pricey in local prices for some of the items e.g. body scrub, The body wash may be drying for those with very sensitive skin

WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who enjoys geranium scented products, Anyone who would like a body scrub that doesn’t mess up the shower with oil or bits of salt

PRICE: As above

WHERE TO BUY: Ken’s Apothecary stores, REN Skincare website, Cult Beauty, Asos, Space NK

Does this body care range grab your attention? Have you tried other REN Body care products?

I love the Moroccan Rose bath oil which is like heaven in a tub. For that reason, I know I’ll eventually get a bottle of the Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium bath oil. While I’m less enamoured with the Moroccan Rose body wash, I enjoy the Neroli and Grapefruit one. That said, while I know these tend to be on the pricey side, I’m always partial to a nice smelling, expensive body wash as a treat 😀 How about you?

Paris B