REN Skincare is one of my favourite skincare brands, and many of you know I’m into using acid toners. So, when REN released the REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic earlier this year, I was off like a shot to grab hold of it! My face needs me some acids!
I’ll tell you about acids another day, but you’d know by now that I am a big fan of the Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 and the Pixi Glow Tonic. These are 2 exfoliating lotions or also known as “acid toners” that I unhesitatingly recommend to most people who want to try it. They also happen to fall, quite serendipitiously, on both ends of the price scale.
The REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic comes somewhere in between the two.
I’ve had many people ask me now and again what I thought about the REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic, and I’ve often been a little uncertain. As much as I think it’s effective for what it does, this isn’t a product that works impressively well for me.
The REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic comes under the Radiance range, which offers to help your skin maintain or attain radiance, depending on how dull your skin is. Aside from the REN Wake Wonderful Night-time Facial, which I particularly enjoy using, I regret that I haven’t had much luck otherwise from this range.
What the REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic promises, is to gently exfoliate your skin, using lactic acid and willow bark extract. Lactic acid is one of the most gentle of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA). For those who may find glycolic acid too strong for their skin, lactic acid is usually a good place to start. Willow bark extract gives us salicylic acid (beta hydroxy acid – BHA) which can help unclog pores and dry up spots.
It also contains Azelaic Acid Precursor, which is supposed to prevent melanin production, that helps brighten your skin tone and address uneven skin tone and dark spots. So this really operates as an all in one “toner” lotion, to brighten skin tone and improve radiance and clarity of skin.
The REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic is also supposed to be gentle enough, that you can use it daily. And it comes in a generously sized 250ml bottle, at a pretty decent pricetag. On paper, I thought it was quite wonderful.
In practise however, I regret that I wasn’t quite impressed nor blown away by this acid toner. I did not find it particularly gentle, to begin with. I found that daily use would make my skin feel a little more stripped than I like. So, I eventually dialed down to use it on every alternate day instead. I now think that it might be due to the willow bark extract, for BHA can be more drying for my skin. However, if you have combination, oily or congested skin, then this would make a good all in one product, to address clogged pores while providing gentle exfoliation. By contrast, I feel that Pixi Glow Tonic, even if used daily, does not strip my skin as much. It might be to do with their ingredients, which contain some hydrating ingredients like aloe vera and glycerin, which balances it off better.
I also unfortunately did not experience the sort of skin clarity and radiance that I was promised. It should be noted that AHA lotions I regularly use in rotation are Lotion P50, Pixi Glow Tonic and the occasional overnight treat with Alpha-H Liquid Gold. All these give my skin a noticeable lift in texture, appearance and clarity. During the time that I was using the REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic, I did not notice as obvious an improvement. Might it be because it is a more gentle formula? I’m not sure.
What I do like however, is the packaging. It comes in a bottle, with a handy pump. You may recognise this from some nail-polish remover bottles. You flip off the cap, then use a piece of cotton pad, depress twice (twice is optimum for me. Once leaves your cotton pad too dry. Three times is far too wet) and then wipe it all over your face, neck and decolletage. After that, follow up with the rest of your skincare.
There is a citrus scent that I don’t favour. I generally do not favour citrus scents in my skincare (nor any scent for that matter) but it’s there, and most people find it refreshing. I have this, and I use it, and I will eventually finish it. But this is not one I love nor will repurchase.
That said however, I do think that this REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Lotion is a good one if you’ve never used an acid toner and are looking for one to start with, or if you have combination or oily or congested skin. I think these skin types will benefit most from using this lotion. But if you use Lotion P50 or even Pixi Glow Tonic, then I do feel like this is a step down.
IN A NUTSHELL
The REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic is a fairly gentle exfoliating toner. Its key AHA acid is Lactic Acid which is fairly gentle on skin. It also contains willow bark extract, that is a natural salicylic acid (BHA) that helps unclog pores and dry up spots. I feel that this is a good starter acid toner for someone who maybe new to using acid toners. I also think it may best suit someone with oily, combination or congested skin, or someone who cannot use glycolic acid. I personally find it a little more drying than I like, and it did not give me the results I desired. But mileage will vary as this is a product that comes very highly rated by most experts in the industry.
HOW TO USE: Cleanse -> REN Ready Steady Glow -> Mist/Hydrating Toner -> Serum -> Moisturiser
PROS: Fairly affordable, Good product packaging, Gentle on skin, Helps to gently exfoliate skin so skin looks brighter and more radiant, Can also help with congested skin or spots
CONS: A little drying if used everyday
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone with combination or oily or congested skin, Anyone who cannot tolerate glycolic acid, Anyone who is new to using an exfoliating toner
PRICE: RM130 | £25 | US$35 for 250ml
WHERE TO BUY: Ken’s Apothecary stores and online, Sephora, Cult Beauty, Space NK, Luisaviaroma, Look Fantastic
Here is the ingredient list for the REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic for those interested.
Personally, I feel it could do without the citrus extracts and scent. But as I always say, scent is very personal, and from what I can tell, that is one reason why people enjoy using this. It certainly does not smell as bad as Lotion P50 (for those of whom finds it smells bad. I don’t).
Have you tried this REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic? Thoughts?
I think it is a good one to kick off with, but I’d personally prefer Pixi Glow Tonic, if I had to step down from Lotion P50 😛 Do share your thoughts if you’ve tried this – I always appreciate the discussion! 🙂
Paris B
I was expecting a glowing review on this one – too bad it didn’t work out for you! The ingredients sound wonderful (I love willow bark) so I might give it a go when I get through my extensive acid collection, but the P50 toner is next on my purchase list.
To be fair Angela, I was expecting to love it too! Was quite bummed when I didn’t. But I do think it’s a pretty decent product, just maybe not for me. And if you can get your hands on Lotion P50, get it! It’ll be the only one you ever need… or want!
Paris, thanks for the detailed review. Very timely as I’m looking through the various exfoliating toners to start adding acid into my routine. However, how is this different from the Ren Clarimatte Clarifying Tonner that you have reviewed?
Hi, the Clarimatte Clarifying Toner is more of a BHA toner, based on the ingredients. So it can be a little more drying. This one has AHA in the form of lactic acid. It depends on what you’re looking for – if you have congested skin and a spot problem, then the Clarimatte might be the one to go for. If you don’t, and just want something exfoliating, then consider this one 🙂
Ahh… I see. I think I will give this a try. Thanks for the explanation.??
Hope it works for you!