Don’t be fooled by my last post for REN’s Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask and think that I do not like the brand REN, or that I am anti-gentle. I am not anti-gentle, I am anti noneffective on my skin. There are days where I want gentle AND effective. REN’s ClearCalm3 Anti Acne Treatment Mask fits the bill perfectly.
1. REN ClearCalm3 Anti Acne Treatment Mask, 1.7 oz for $45.00
I recently had a 15% salicylic acid peel done and I could not use retinoids, glycolic acids, or benzoyl peroxide on my skin for a couple of days. This is bad news during cooler weather, but in the summer? Forget about it. I have cancelled appointments because I could not risk not using my arsenal. But I decided I needed to get a professional peel done, so I sucked it up for a few days and did not use my retinoids, glycolics or benzoyl peroxide. What did I substitute in? REN ClearCalm3 Anti Acne Treatment Mask.
This mask is a wonderfully soft and creamy mask with a pleasant (to me) scent, probably from the lavendar, thyme, and camphor extracts. I used this mask after I cleansed with Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Acne Pore Scrub. This mask is even creamier and softer than the Derma e Cleansing Enzyme Mask I reviewed earlier. This does not dry out but actually stays moist on your skin and in the bottle. I actually like this for sulfur masks. I have tried two other sulfur masks before, one I can’t remember the brand name, but it was a small company, and the other was DDF Sulfur Therapeutic Mask, which is no longer available. I wasn’t impressed with either. The biggest problem I had was that the remaining product in the jar would turn rock hard from air exposure and become unusable. REN’s clever little bottle keeps the mask moist.
I did not feel any tingles, or other sensation from this mask, but I also didn’t break out with new acne, and my skin didn’t become a super oil slick either. When I washed off this mask my skin felt “treated,” clearer and less oily. Going to bed, I topped off my skin with La Roche Posay Effaclar K (I am actually not supposed to use salicylic acid products before a peel, but I cheat. My skin is not that sensitive without the use of retinoids and glycolics.), and then layered PCA Skin Clearskin, a gentle antibacterial treatment moisturizer with flowers of sulfur before I go to bed (although, I can use it for daytime, as well). I have to admit my skin has gotten better and the number of random breakouts around my jaw and mouth were reduced.
When I came in for my peel, my skin didn’t burn, or even sting. (Me thinks I have to upgrade immediately to the 20% or 30% salicylic acid peel.) But the point is, my skin did not become sensitized from the REN, PCA Skin, Yes to Tomatoes, and La Roche Posay products I used the last couple nights, days before the peel. I know this was a team effort, but I was duly impressed with REN’s ClearCalm3 Anti Acne Treatment Mask. This is a keeper and I plan on repurchasing.
A special shout out to Thalgo Thalgodermyl Purifying Extracts, which is what I used during the day time to combat oily pores and acne, underneath my PCA Skin Clearskin moisturizer and Shiseido sunscreens.
Ingredients: Glycerin, Aqua (Water), Kaolin, Zinc Oxide, Sulfur, Calcium Carbonate, Alcohol Denat., Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Polysorbate 20, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Zinc Gluconate, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Oil, Leptospermum Scoparium Oil, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Camphor, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Crataegus Oxyacantha Stem Extract, Glucose, Dehydroacetic Acid.
Fairytales and Coffee 