I usually don’t do reviews on toners just because I don’t feel like they do much for the skin and I use them just like and extra step to clean my face in the morning or in the evening. But this time is different, because this toner works like a skin treatment. REN is an UK brand that was founded in 2000. It’s a cruelty free brand and this product is also vegan. In addition, the packaging of REN products is made of recycled materials and is, in turn, recyclable.

Understanding AHAs

I think I should go in further detail on what AHA means. AHAs are hydroxy acids that have the purpose to exfoliate the skin. Both AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) can decrease inflammation (useful for acne and rosacea skin), they decrease the appearance of large pores and surface wrinkles, they even out the skin tone, they improve the overall skin texture, remove dead skin cells and unclog pores to prevent acne.

AHAs are hydroxy acids made from sugary fruits and are water soluble. These acids help peel away the surface of the skin to help the skin cells regenerate. After using them, the skin feels smoother to the touch. Usually, the concentration of AHAs in products is important, because they can be irritating for extremely dry and sensitive skin. On the other hand, AHAs are recommended for their anti-aging benefits, while BHAs are more suitable for acne issues.

One important aspect when using AHAs is that the skin can become more sensitive to sun, so wearing sunscreen is even more important. The most common AHAs are glycolic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, malic acid and mandelic acid.

Now that I think I explained in a few paragraphs what AHAs are, we can go back to our product.

Packaging:

The toner comes in a plastic bottle with a dropper cap. Nothing too fancy here, but the bottle has a cute, clean design.

Texture:

As you can imagine, this being a toner, it looks just like any liquid. It has a yellow color and it has a citrusy scent, but nothing too bothersome.

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Heptyl Glucoside, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Triethyl Citrate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Benzoic Acid, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Heptanol, Parfum* (Fragrance), Limonene

I don’t know how much fragrance is in this, but the scent is definitely reminiscent of oranges, tangerines and grapefruit.

On top of the list is lactic acid, which is usually made from lactose that can be found in milk. So, I don’t know what the source of this lactic acid is, given that they claim that this is a vegan product so this is unclear to me. Either way, lactic acid is known for its exfoliation and anti-aging effects.

The formula also contains a BHA, which is salicin obtained from willow bark, to help tighten the pores and make the skin smoother. In addition, it calms redness and inflammation and it has acne treating benefits.

However, they do recommend not to use this toner in combination with other exfoliants and people with very dry skin should dilute it with a little bit of water.

Price and accessibility:

REN products can be found at Sephora and in a couple of other online shops so it’s not a problem getting it. On the other hand, the price is a little bit high. I had only a travel size from my advent calendar but the full size contains 250 ml and it retails for 27 UK pounds, which is a little bit pricy. I found some other AHA toners that are cheaper like the COSRX one or from Revox, but they’re smaller (150 ml and 30 ml respectively), so I think this is also something that should be taken into consideration. Also, considering that you can use it only once a day (this is what I did), a big bottle can last for a long time. Considering the skin benefits, it’s a product that I would be willing to pay the higher price tag for.

My overall opinion:

I didn’t have much expectations when I started using this toner, but I definitely saw some improvements. I had some acne breakouts on the chin and on the forehead probably due to my diet or because of the stress, I don’t know, but this toner helped a great deal with the acne scaring and it helped the skin heal faster. The glow effect was also there because my skin looked more radiant while I used it. So, given that this is the first AHA toner that I used, I would say it got me hooked because now I want to get one again. I may purchase the REN one or try other alternatives, but I can see the benefits in using a product like this and making it part of my regular skin care routine.