The glowing reviews
It’s all about you! As a part of our community, your opinion matters above anything else, and there’s no better testament to a product than real people, real skin and real reviews.
"My favourite toner yet, leaves my skin SO glowy it's insane." – 5* review, Tahima
The glowing celebrity following
Recently snapped sat on the dressing table of Gillian Anderson on the set of Sex Education, Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic has built up a cult celebrity following of beauty editors, influencers and insiders. And featured in Vogue, Refinery 29, Stylist and the Sunday Times, it’s won beauty awards across the board from Cosmopolitan to Women’s Health.
“Try REN Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic if you want a brightening boost.” - Refinery 29
The glowing ingredient
Before we go any further, let’s get to grips with the powerhouse ingredient that makes Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic truly iconic – it's in the name after all – AHA.
What is Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA)?
There are a variety of different acids commonly used in the skincare world. While all skincare acids share certain attributes, by no means are they created equal, and in the world of exfoliation AHAs reign supreme. Alpha Hydroxy Acids are a group of acid compounds, most often derived from natural sources such as fruits, sugar cane and even sour milk (if it’s good enough for Cleopatra, it’s good enough for us!) The most common AHAs used in skincare are Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid and Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic uses Lactic Acid extracted from Sugar Cane.
How does AHA work?
The main benefit of AHAs is their ability to gently, yet effectively exfoliate the skin. Lactic Acid works by loosening the bond that holds together the top layers of dead skin cells. By removing the excess build-up on the skin’s surface, AHAs allow newer, softer, healthier-looking skin to emerge. An additional benefit to clearing excess build-up is that moisturisers and treatments can penetrate better into the skin after using products containing AHA.
What are the benefits of AHA for skin
As skin cells die, they can often clump together and get stuck on top of the skin. AHAs dissolve the bonds that hold them together, helping them to gently slough them away. The result? Pretty much everything you want from a skincare ingredient, namely increased radiance, clearer pores, a more refined skin texture, and faded dark spots.
It boosts brightness: Luminosity may be somewhat immeasurable, but when your skin goes from drab to fab, the change in the mirror is noticeable, and you can thank AHA for that. Dull skin is often caused by congested pores and dead skin cells sitting on the surface doing nothing much at all for your complexion. When you get rid of these dulling culprits, voilá, your skin instantly becomes more radiant.
It visibly reduces sun damage: While we all wish we had a time machine to go back and tell our younger selves to apply more sunscreen or stay out of the sun, we can do everything we can now to prevent further sun damage. Frequent use of AHAs has been shown to visibly decrease roughness and pigmentation associated with sun damage. Using AHAs does, however, make your skin more vulnerable to the sun, so always use a sunscreen such as Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 to help shield your skin.
It hydrates and smooths skin texture: Lactic Acid is a humectant, meaning it attracts water to the skin, which makes it a top choice for those with dry skin. If you have dry skin, consistently using AHAs can help improve hydration levels and buff away patches of rough, flaky skin.
It clarifies and helps prevent blemishes: A big benefit of exfoliating, in general, is helping to clear clogged pores, which can lead to breakouts, especially if the skin is blemish-prone. Chemical exfoliants such as AHAs enhance this benefit by exfoliating the skin gently without causing tears in the skin or irritation that can often lead to more blemishes.
It visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles: Fine lines and wrinkles are some of the most stubborn skin concerns, but AHAs can help with those too! Seriously? Seriously. Lactic Acid helps to promote cell turnover, which can minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for a firmer-looking complexion.
Your glow-giving routine
We recommend using Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic in the evening so you’re not in contact with direct sunlight straight after. Simply soak a reusable cotton pad in the formula and sweep across your face avoiding the lips and eye contours. If you’re not sure about your own sensitivity, dilute the formula by splashing a little water on your cotton pad before use – then slowly work your way up to using it ‘neat.’
Always apply on freshly cleansed skin: A no-brainer, perhaps, but ensuring your skin is free of makeup, pollution or daily dirt helps your ingredients penetrate better. Use Perfect Canvas Clean Jelly Oil Cleanser to create the perfect base for skincare to follow.
Stay hydrated: Our glow-giving moisturisers and eye cream, Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream, Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream and Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream are non-acid brighteners, so are all formulated to limit irritation when used with Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic.
Always use SPF: Any exfoliation can increase sun sensitivity. Use Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 to help protect your skin from burning, premature ageing and dark spot formation.
