With the recent sad news that popular beauty brand REN Clean Skincare will soon cease trading, here are the best products we recommend buying while you still can
Beauty fans were heartbroken when, a few weeks ago, much-loved skincare brand REN Clean Skincare announced that, after 25 years in business, it will soon cease trading, citing “internal factors” and “market challenges” as the reason why. This came as sad news to fans of the brand who loved its iconic products such as Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic, Redness Relief Serum and their luxurious bath oils.
The official word from Unilever, the company that owns REN, is that “there is no fixed date for final closure, but [they] expect to cease trading by the end of Q3 2025”. This means that you’ve potentially only got a few months before your skincare favourites from the brand are no longer available to buy, and if you’re dreading the thought of being without them, you might want to stock up. Here’s what we’ll be adding to our baskets now, while we still can…
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Best REN Clean Skincare products
REN Clean Skincare Radiance Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream
Was £49, now £37 from Lookfantastic
This is our beauty editor Laura Mulley’s all-time favourite eye cream – and she’s tried plenty over the years. “It’s incredibly creamy and nourishing, which my dry eyes need, but also doesn’t make my already-puffy eyes look even puffier and, although it won’t have a dramatic impact on dark circles, feels like it’s active enough to be actually doing something, and gives an instant illumination to the eye area. For me, it’s the perfect formula.”
For an alternative, try Origins GinZing Brightening Eye Cream with Caffeine and Ginseng, £24.
REN Clean Skincare Glow Daily AHA Tonic
Was £30, now £23.60 from Boots
Perhaps REN’s most famous product, this is the OG of liquid exfoliators, an effective yet gentle combination of lactic acid (one of the more hydrating ones) and salicylic acid (great for unclogging pores). Expect brighter, more even-toned skin, both instantly and over time, while we know someone who swears by this for keeping adult acne at buy (just remember that, despite its name, you might not need to use an acid exfoliator every day).
Once it’s gone for good, you might also like Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 6% Mandelic + 2% Lactic Acid AHA Liquid Exfoliant, currently from £10.40.
REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Overnight Balm
Was £46, now £36.80 from Boots
The whole Evercalm range is excellent for sensitive or compromised skin and this treatment balm, while too thick for most to use as a daily face cream, is a brilliant store cupboard essential for using on sore noses, chapped skin or after procedures such as laser. It instantly soothes and calms stressed skin.
We wouldn’t recommend putting this over your whole face, but CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment, currently £9.20, is a great standby for dry lips and small patches of skin.
REN Clean Skincare Bio Retinoid Youth Cream
Was £54, now £43.20 from Boots
If you can’t – or don’t want to – use retinol, this anti-ageing cream contains a plant-derived alternative, with testers reporting firmer and more supple skin after using this for 28 days. There’s also an excellent serum in the range and, for dry skin, an oil (Medik8’s Bakuchiol Peptides, £55, is similar).
