FAQs
Can I use REN products whilst pregnant?
None of our products contain ingredients at levels which should cause concern during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant. However, certain products contain ingredients such as essential oils that some women choose to avoid entirely during pregnancy. If you have any concerns at all we advise you to consult your GP or pharmacist and show them the ingredient list before using the product. Our ingredients lists are available on our website. (Just select the product you are interested in and you'll see a tab to click on for the ingredient listing).
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Is there any SPF in your moisturisers?
Our moisturisers do not contain SPF ingredients and we would recommend the use of
additional sun protection if you are outside for long periods. Try our
Photoactive Sun Veil SPF15. A triple action micro-mineral sunscreen, it delivers broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, fights free radicals and harnesses beneficial light energy for a laser effect that gives the complexion a radiant, even toned appearance.
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Do you have any sunscreen products?
In spring 2012 REN launched the
Photoactive Sun Veil SPF15, a breakthrough in daily sun protection. A triple action micro-mineral sunscreen, it delivers broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, fights free radicals and harnesses beneficial light energy for a laser effect that gives the complexion a radiant, even toned appearance. You can view the product
here.
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The site will only let me order in pounds/dollars.
Our website 'reads' where you are located by using the IP address of you computer. If your computer e.g. is registered in the USA you will be directed there, this is often the case with work computers.
To be directed to the UK website visit www.renskincare.com/uk and for the USA visit www.renskincare.com/usa.
Please note that the USA website will ship orders to/from the USA and Canada only and the UK website looks after orders from the rest of the world.
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Why have the names of your products changed?
We have changed the names of a few of our products to show the product's benefits clearer than before. Some of our products also have a new and improved formula (please see product details for more information).
Products with name change:
- Calendula and Arctic Berry Ultracalm Cleansing Milk (sensitive skin) - New name: Hydra-Calm Cleansing Milk
- Moisture Protect Comfort-Plus Cleansing Milk (dry skin) - New name: Ultra Moisture Cleansing Milk
- Pore Minimising Detox Mask - New name: Invisible Pores Detox Mask
- F10 Enzymatic Smooth Radiance Facial Mask - New name: F10 Smooth and Renew Peel Mask
Products with name change and improved formula:
- Damask Rose Ramnose Biosaccharide Body Cream - New name: Moroccan Rose Otto Body Cream
- Grapeseed, Jojoba and Shea Butter Body Cream - New name: Neroli and Grapefruit Body Cream
- Rose Complex Moisturiser - New name: Vita-Mineral Radiant Day Cream
- Moisture Recharge Comfort-Plus Day Cream - New name: Ultra Moisture Day Cream
- Calendula Omega 3/7 Hydra-Calm Moisturiser - New name: Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream
- Matte Balancing Fluid - New name: T-Zone Balancing Day Fluid
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Have you discontinued the Jiaogulan Mask?
We have discontinued the Jiaogulan Mask and it is now completely out of stock.
For similar effects to the Jiaogulan mask we would recommend our F10 Smooth and Renew Mask- formulated to gently exfoliate and detoxify, this mask will boost cell renewal and leave the complexion smooth, toned and bright.
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Have you discontinued the Damask Rose Ramnose Biosaccharide Body Cream?
The Damask Rose Ramnose Biosaccharide Body Cream has changed name to Moroccan Rose Otto Body Cream. It also has a new and improved
formula.
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Have you discontinued the Grapeseed, Shea Butter And Jojoba Body Cream?
The Grapeseed, Shea Butter And Jojoba Body Cream has changed name to Neroli and Grapefruit Body Cream. It also has a new and improved formula.
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Have you discontinued any face moisturisers?
Our moisturisers have changed name and we have also improved their formulas:
- Rose Complex Moisturiser - New name: Vita-Mineral Radiant Day Cream
- Moisture Recharge Comfort-Plus Day Cream - New name: Ultra Moisture Day Cream
- Calendula Omega 3/7 Hydra-Calm Moisturiser - New name: Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream
- Matte Balancing Fluid - New name: T-Zone Balancing Day Fluid
We continually aim to improve our products by introducing the latest ingredients and this does mean that products will be occasionally updated and improved. In the case of the moisturisers the main change is that we have added our new Global Protection Complex. This is a synergistic blend of powerful anti-oxidants and free radical scavengers that help purify the skin and add further protection against chronic inflammation and premature ageing. The new moisturisers smell and feel quite similar to the old one and we hope you will quickly find that the change is for the better.
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Do you have an eye makeup remover?
The Conditioning Eye Make Up Remover has been discontinued. We have a new product, the No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm, which can be used to cleanse both the face and eye area.
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Can REN be used on children?
As a general rule we would recommend using just small amounts of as few products as possible on young children. Having said this, REN Clean Bio Active Skincare products are free from skin-unfriendly ingredients such as synthetic fragrance, pore-blocking petrochemicals, sulfate detergents, synthetic colours, animal ingredients, parabens or other potential irritants and so are particularly suitable for children. If your child has any particular allergies or skin conditions then you should first consult your GP or pharmacist.
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Can REN refill my products?
The question of packaging is something we are constantly wrestling with. Unfortunately there are lots of compromises that have to be made and it is difficult to know whether we always get the balance exactly right. Our products that have a pump are vacuum filled, this means that fingers and air never come in contact with the product (unlike a jar or a normal pump bottle). The bugs on fingers and in the air are the two main issues that preservatives have to deal with. Since neither are an issue with our bottles we are able to safely reduce the preservative level to an absolute minimum which makes the product better for the customer to use. It is not possible to offer refills on the packaging we use for our cleansers and shower washes as the pouch is not available separately from the hard outer bottle.
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Do REN test on animals?
We do not test any of our products on animals. Our products are not tested on our behalf by any third party. The only animal products we use are milk in our Hydra-Calm Youth Defence Serum and beeswax in our Mayday Mayday Rescue Balm.
Our vegan products are included in the Vegan Society Animal Free Shopper 6th Edition.
We are still investigating the exact situation but our understanding is that the below information summarises the state of animal testing relevant to all of our products. Just to stress that we have never had any of our finished products tested on animals. The only issue for REN is around animal testing of ingredients by ingredient suppliers. Our reading of the information below is that most animal testing was halted on 11 March 2009 and that any remaining exceptions will be halted on 11 March 2013.
The 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive
On 27 February 2003, Directive 2003/15/EC on the approximation of the laws of the EU Member States relating to cosmetics products was adopted as the 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive. It introduces new provisions related to non-animal testing of cosmetic finished products and ingredients. In particular, it establishes a prohibition to test finished cosmetic products and cosmetic ingredients on animals (testing ban), and a prohibition to market in the European Community, finished cosmetic products and ingredients included in cosmetic products which were tested on animals (marketing ban). The testing ban on finished cosmetic products will apply immediately on 11 September 2004, whereas the testing ban on ingredients or combination of ingredients will apply from 11 September 2004 as soon as alternative methods are validated by ECVAM and adopted in EU legislation, but with a maximum cut-off date of 6 years after entry into force of the Directive, i.e., 11 March 2009, irrespective of the availability of alternative non-animal tests. The marketing ban will apply from 11th September 2004 as soon as alternative methods are validated by ECVAM and adopted in EU legislation with due regard to the OECD validation process. This marketing ban will be introduced at the latest 6 years after entry into force of the Directive, i.e., 11 March 2009, for all human health effects with the exception of repeated-dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity and toxicokinetics. For these specific health effects, a deadline of 10 years after entry into force of the Directive is foreseen, i.e., 11 March 2013, irrespective of the availability of alternative non-animal tests, and which could be postponed in case of technical problems in meeting this deadline through Codecision procedure.
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Is REN's packaging recyclable?
The bottles we use are almost entirely recyclable and can be returned to us (at FREEPOST REN) for recycling.
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Is REN organic?
Organic is a term principally used in relation to food where it has a clear and well-understood definition - the growing and preparation of food products without the use of chemical fertilisers, GM ingredients and chemical additives such as preservatives, colourings etc.
Increasingly, however, organic is a term that is being applied to skincare products. Currently, its meaning in this context is rather vague.
On one hand the definition of organic when applied to essential oils and vegetable oils used in skincare products is clear since it is similar to food products.
However, it is impossible to make skincare products using just essential oils and vegetable oils. It is in the area of the other ingredients necessary in skincare such as emulsifiers, stabilisers, preservatives and so on that the term “organic” is harder to sensibly define.
At REN we are concerned that a focus on the word “organic” is being used to distract consumers away from the more serious issues about the ingredients contained in the skincare products they are buying. For example, an “organic” sulfate (ie derived from organic coconut oil) is still as harsh a detergent as one that is derived from ordinary coconut oil. The real challenge is to create foaming products that use more gentle alternatives to sulfates.
REN’s approach is to make Clean products. By Clean we mean: modern, sophisticated, effective, pleasurable to use products that are free from the skin-unfriendly ingredients routinely used in the skincare industry today. REN do not use synthetic fragrance or colours, pore-blocking petrochemicals, silicones, sulfates, PEGs, TEA/DEA, parabens, urea or animal ingredients in their products.
From a technical point of view it is hugely difficult to make excellent products without using these standard ingredients. However, the feedback we get from our customers clearly demonstrates the value of the time and effort we and our chemists put into finding new ways of formulating products.
As part of our aim to produce only Clean products we believe that sourcing organic essential oils and plant oils wherever possible is worthwhile. We are already using a significant number of organic plant extracts and oils and we are working to ensure that ultimately all the plant extracts and oils we use are organic.
In summary, using organic oils is only one (relatively small) part of producing skincare products that genuinely care for the skin.
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Do REN have any hair products?
We now sell online the Oat and Bay Shampoo and Pro-Vitamin Hair Conditioner in 100ml size. This is part of our exclusive hotel range and is not available in store.
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Do REN use preservatives?
We use vacuum packaging for our products. This packaging ensures that germs from the air and from your fingers cannot come into contact with the product in the bottle. This reduces the requirement for preservative to an absolute minimum.We are continually reviewing the preservatives that we use and have changed preservative system twice in the last 5 years to take advantage of new developments.
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I live in Ireland and have problems with the postcode.
Since there are no postcodes in Ireland please add any four digit number as a postcode during the registration process. This will ensure that the order goes through.
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Can I get an allergic reaction from REN products?
Although Allergic reactions to REN products are very rare indeed, if you think you have suffered an allergic reaction, please stop using the product. It is possible to be allergic to pretty much anything including essential oils and other natural ingredients. If you suspect you have a sensitivity we would strongly recommend that you test a small amount of any new product on the inside of your elbow. If you experience any redness or tingling you should return the product for a refund.
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Why do REN products come in cartons?
Cartons had to be introduced as international regulations require that we label our products in different languages. Our cartons are made from paper from managed forests and are printed with vegetable ink.
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The pump on my product is not working, what do I do?
Occasionally an air bubble gets into the pump and stops it working. Almost always the following method will clear the air from the pump. Hold the bottle upside down with the lid on and bang the bottle down against a hard surface two or three times. You would need to ensure not to do this on a surface that will mark. This will almost always clear the air bubble. If the problem persists please contact us at info@renskincare.com.
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Is REN natural?
It's very difficult to be entirely precise when it comes to words like “natural” and "chemical". Every ingredient in every cosmetic product is a chemical in the sense that it consists of molecules made up of atoms of chemical elements. In addition, many natural (ie not synthetically derived) compounds are poisons (eg arsenic) and so to use the term "natural" is also meaningless without further explanation.
Instead of natural vs chemical we tend to take the following approach: We aim to produce products that exploit the latest advances in cosmetic technology whilst avoiding skin-unfriendly ingredients. This is technically very difficult and is also very expensive in terms of time and money. A large part of being able to meet this challenge is to have the will and commitment in both time and money to do it. It is so easy to compromise in one area or the other that you have to be constantly vigilant. We are obsessive about our products meeting two clearly defined standards. Firstly, they must be free of any ingredients that have a history of causing skin sensitivity or are known to be "unkind" to the skin. Secondly, our products must deliver category leading performance in terms of effectiveness and pleasure to use. If we can't achieve both of these for a given product then we won't launch it. Most companies tend to focus on one of these criteria and inevitably tend to fail to some degree on the other. So you tend to find most products in the market are either "natural" but not terribly effective or they are effective but full of “nasties”.
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What does REN's Clean Stamp mean?
REN's Clean Stamp shows what ingredients we don’t use in our products.
The full list of ingredients we will not use is as follows:
REN products are free from synthetic fragrance, pore-blocking petrochemicals, sulfate detergents, silicones, synthetic colours, animal ingredients and parabens. In addition, REN products do not contain potential irritants including: glycols and diglycols (such as propylene glycol), PEG's, PPGs, urea, D.E.A, T.E.A, PABA and other synthetic sunscreens, aliphatic alcohols/hydrocarbons, phthalates, fumarates, amines, alkanolamines, synthetic AHAs/BHAs, polyacrylamide, metacrylate, elastomer, poloxamer, styrene, vinyl, polyquaternium, synthetic chelating agents, nylon, nitriles, nitrates, nitrosamine releasers, bromates, fluor, aluminum and alumina.
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Are REN products suitable for Vegans?
The only animal products we use are milk in our Hydra-Calm Youth Defence Serum and beeswax in our Mayday Mayday Rescue Balm.
All of our products other than the Hydra-Calm Youth Defence Serum and the Mayday Mayday Rescue Balm are suitable for vegans.
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