If there’s one thing any great beauty lover knows, it's that your makeup is only as good as your skincare routine. No matter how expensive or amazing your products are, if your skin underneath isn’t looking or feeling its best, your makeup can only work so hard to mask it.
Stacey Solomon’s makeup artist Penelope Ryan knows this all too well, which is why she shared the full list of skincare products she used on Stacey for a photoshoot alongside the exact makeup products she was wearing. One product that caught our eye was the REN Clean Skincare Glow Daily AHA Tonic, which is known for leaving skin looking bright and radiant, and the 250ml bottle has now been reduced in the Boots sale from £30 to £24 here.
The glow tonic is a skin resurfacing product that has seven different benefits in one. If the term ‘skin resurfacing’ filled you with fear, don’t worry – it’s not as harsh as it sounds. The toner is gentle enough to be used every day, and simply helps exfoliate your complexion and break up dead skin cells thanks to its lactic acid content.
It also contains salicin from willow bark, which helps your pores appear tighter and your skin appear smoother. It also helps brighten and tighten, whilst hydrating and limiting damage that other harsher exfoliants can cause.
It’s recommended that you use the REN toner as part of your evening skincare routine, and apply it to freshly cleansed skin with a cotton pad, sweeping it across your face to help break down any dead skin, dirt and oils left over from the day. If you suffer with extra sensitive skin, you can also dilute it with water by dampening your cotton pad beforehand while your skin gets used to it.
Although you should be wearing SPF every day, it’s particularly important to be wearing it when using a product like this. That’s because it contains AHA and BHA acid ingredients, as your skin can become more susceptible to burning and sun damage.
A great moisturiser is also key to keeping your skin hydrated and nourished whilst using it, not to mention it helps make your skin look even more radiant and smooth. Shoppers who’ve used the REN toner have been praising it for how bright it leaves their skin, with one saying: “Lovely exfoliating toner, skin looks brighter and feels extra cleansed.”
Another review read: “Works almost immediately! Soft, kind and does the job! love it! It’s in my daily routine for the foreseeable can not see my skin without it now! Game changer on skin, application is easy and brilliant when paired with the cream! Skin recovery in a bottle.”
If you’re after a more budget-friendly alternative, Pixi’s Glow Tonic, £14.40 here (was £18), is not only worth £25, but it contains an impressive ingredient blend that leaves your skin clear, bright and hydrated. The 5% glycolic acid is an AHA that helps dissolve the bonds binding dulling dead cells to your skin's surface, revealing healthy new skin cells underneath.
It also contains aloe to soothe and hydrate your skin, ginseng to promote your skin’s vibrancy and health, and witch hazel to firm and tone your face. It finishes off with horse chestnut which boosts blood flow, leaving your skin looking fresh and dewy – not bad for under £15.
If you want to try out the REN toner at a lower price first to make sure your skin agrees with it, you can snap up the 100ml bottle at Marks and Spencer for £16 here. You’ll get all the same glowing benefits without having to commit to the higher price tag – perfect for giving it a trial run.
