Is A Bio-Retinoid For You? #AD

My ideal skin care item is one that allows skin at any and every age to be its best self – the version you want it to be regardless of life experience, skin tone or decade. The truth is, though, unless you’ve been blessed with the most magical genes, great skin needs to be worked at. I love to see a bit of light bounce on skin – where light hits your bare face and you can see a natural glow because of it rather than simply a matte surface. Skin naturally has its own glow – a ‘real’ skin finish is one that is neither matte nor dewy by itself but has just a little bit of light reflection that comes from the upper layers being free of dead cells and adequately moisturised. That allows it to appear more translucent and therefore reflect more light.

REN Bio-Retinoid

REN’s newest concentrated serum is a Bio-Retinoid which means that it follows the same skin care pathways as vitamin A but is obtained entirely from plants. Extracted from the (sustainably sourced) humble Bidens Pilosa plant (from the daisy family), it’s proved to be an effective and more gentle retinol alternative – think different keys opening the same door. The word ‘bio’ means from a living source/plants while retinoid in the name is indicative that it is similar to retinol – you might say it as ‘plant that is retinoid-like’ if you wanted to be very cumbersome about it! It’s had clinical instrumental studies on 50 women aged 38 to 70 over a period of 28 days, therefore the claims that over 90% found it gentle and saw smoother, more even skin after that time are verified.

REN BioRetinoid

I’ve been using a lab sample of REN Bio-Retinoid Serum (in the pictures, along with the little pots I took on holiday with me) along with Bio-Retinoid Cream and Bio-Retinoid Oil to put it properly through its longer term paces for well over a month. It’s important to say that layering will give the best effects although each product can be used in isolation. I veered more toward the oil than the cream as my secondary Bio-Retinol source – my skin just loved it and drank it up, day or evening. The effects are cumulative – you need to give it at least four weeks before you self-assess although I feel confident that you will see changes in texture from around the end of week two. In addition to the Bio-Retinoid, the serum also contains Ceramides and Niacinamide.

REN BioRetinoid

For the first week or so, I saw nothing – nothing at all! And I’m impatient and started to have doubts especially well into the second week where I’d hoped for more, if only from the ceramides. BUT, at week three, I noticed that my skin was uniformly hydrated (my indicator patch is just between my brows which flakes at the easiest provocation) and had an enriched texture. There was definitely smoothness by this stage that hadn’t been apparent before and an increase in light bounce.

REN BioRetinoid

Week four hit at just the time I went away for a few days and while I packed a tinted moisturiser, I didn’t need to use it once. I really felt that no coverage was needed because my skin was alive, vibrant and awake on its own. I genuinely think my pores look better – I was expecting hydration and smoothness but wasn’t expecting my pores to seem less obvious so that was a happy discovery. You can’t shrink pores as such but one of the better known good effects of retinoids is that they can influence the appearance so they’re less obvious. It’s hard to fully quantify ‘healthy looking skin’ but I feel that’s exactly what I have right now.

REN BioRetinoid

Smoothing out skin creases is secondary for my personal wants (just give me the glow!) but even there I would say there are subtle adjustments that add to the overall texture improvements. REN Bio-Retinoid Serum is for you if you struggle with regular retinols, if you prefer the idea of a plant based derivative or if you are new to the concept of a regular retinol in your skin care routine. REN Bio-Retinoid Serum is £62 HERE (I still have at least two thirds of my bottle left so a little goes a long way).

 

 

 


Discover more from British Beauty Blogger

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.


Posted

in

by

Tags:

Have your say

9 responses to “Is A Bio-Retinoid For You? #AD”

  1. Anna Van Munster

    Thank you very much for such a thorough review! Isn’t it double satisfying – to bring good news both upon us readers and feel it yourself! 🙂 From plant-derived retinoids I only tried a couple of bakuchiol serums and was not very impressed – probably, too gentle to my not so sensitive skin already familiar with “real thing” (or I was too greedy to buy really pricey ones and budget ones are less good? pity if so)… But retinol (and the family of retinoids) in my opinion is one of the greatest working horses up there… I love The ordinary retinol in squalane – it’s a match made in heaven while squalane softens whatever harshness of retinol (and gives it richness of a complete night cream). Also playing with the idea of getting tretinoin, but all this nuisance of prescription…

    1. Jane Cunningham

      Yes it is! That’s such a good way to put it. I really took my time with this review because I wanted to see full results before posting and also I am not a regular user of retinols/retinoids so I think my skin is in the perfect place to see what it can really do. Squalane is a great oil – I like to see it in everything ideally! My Biossance lip balm a great example … it’s sitting next to me as I write!

      1. Mary

        Hi Jane

        Good post – do you know if this product or bio retinoids in general are pregnancy safe? Thanks!

        1. Jane Cunningham

          good question and I will check with REN.

        2. Jane Cunningham

          Hi Mary, I can confirm from the brand that it is safe for pregnancy and lactating women.

      2. Anna Van Munster

        It’s on my wish list since I’ve read your review on it 🙂 – I just have not enough lips to try it all (and trying to consume with measure… trying hard… trying…), so Biossance is scheduled for the next month… Meanwhile Lanolips wins it all hands down…

        1. Jane Cunningham

          Yes, Lanolips is just forever wonderful.

  2. Lynn

    Thanks Jane. This is very interesting. Your skin looks lovely, very alive. I couldn’t agree more about the light bounce and I know exactly what you mean. Thats my marker for great skin too. It projects healthy skin and glow, and it somehow makes skin look youthful at any age. I’m 61. I don’t mind my crows feet as long as I have my light bounce.

    1. Jane Cunningham

      exactly – I think if your skin looks happy and glowy, everything else is secondary…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Discover more from British Beauty Blogger

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading