Become A Sleeping Beauty With New REN Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial

In New York City, we’re bracing for the “blockbuster blizzard” the media has predicted will be blanketing much of the Northeastern with quite a few inches of snow. Despite enjoying an inexplicably warm Christmas (70 degrees!), once winter decided to rear its frosty head, it made a theatrical appearance, abruptly immersing us in a deep freeze situation. This can not only prove jarring for our immune systems, but it can wreak havoc on our complexions. Within a matter of weeks, your visage might go from looking vibrant and youthful to seeming as overcast as the winter skies. So what’s a gal to do? Well, just like you might purchase a humidifier to keep your nasal passages and throat from drying out —which could, in turn, lead to nosebleeds, sore throats, coughing, and so forth — it’s incumbent upon you to offer your skin a greater dose of hydration. It’s also necessary to focus on exfoliation since any dead surface skin cells will only aggravate the situation, making the complexion appear dull and muted. A great way to accomplish these goals and fine-tune your winter skincare routine, without it involving too many steps or too much hassle, is to apply the REN Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial ($60 at RENskincare.com) 2-3 times per week, right before bed.

This nighttime facial is part of an expanding category of beauty products that work while we sleep. Yes, the “wake up beautiful” idea is an alluring selling point, but overnight treatments aren’t marketing gimmicks — there’s real science to back up the notion that this is a critical period for important skin processes (dermal cells regenerate about 8 times quicker while we sleep than during out waking hours). The REN Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial, then, is designed to capitulate on the inner clock by which our skin cells abide, its ingredients helping to kick the cellular regeneration process into high gear.

This lightweight treatment is designed to be applied onto dry skin, preferably after any essences and serums, but before any evening moisturizers. It has a lightweight creamy texture that’s not unctuous or viscous. When first applied, it can make the skin tingle a bit — well, a lot for the first 2 or 3 applications — but it’s not a burning sensation nor is it unbearable or irritating in any way. I have dry skin that’s often sensitive, and I’ve never had an adverse reaction to this product in the months I’ve spent testing it out.  In fact, the tingling sensation is milder than what I’ve experienced with many topical lip plumpers, such as the DuWop Lip Venom, which makes my pout feel like it’s on fire (I don’t even come within a mile of that product!).  And, as with most things, the more you use it, the more the skin becomes accustomed to it and the milder the tingling will be. The treatment seems to be readily absorbed so that, by the time you move on to the next step in your skincare regimen, massaging your nighttime moisturizer onto your face and neck, there will be no residue left sitting atop your skin. Oftentimes, when you apply a sleeping facial, it feels like you’re wearing a cream or gel mask, but with the REN Wake Wonderful, you won’t feel any added weight atop your skin. And, when you wake up in the morning, you’ll notice your complexion looks a bit perkier and more alive, as if you’d enjoyed a restful night’s sleep and were ready to take on the world. Also, and this is a biggie for me, because it’s so lightweight, you won’t wake up to find tiny fibers from your pillowcase, sheet, or blanket stuck to your face (and yes, that does often happen with other overnight masks). You do see results immediately (they’re subtle but noticeable) after a single use, but the cumulative effects are more extraordinary since, as you continue using this treatment, you’ll notice other improvements such as a reduction in the size and the tonal depth of any dark spots, a softer skin texture, and a decrease in wrinkle depth.

What makes REN’s Wake Wonderful effective? Well, the formula includes some power-packed ingredients, starting with glycolic acid derived from the extracts of such AHA-rich fruits as pineapple and passion fruit. Because glycolic acid has a low molecular weight, it’s capable of speedier and deeper dermal penetration, thereby triggering cellular renewal and facilitating chemical exfoliation so that dead surface skin cells are sloughed away, revealing the brighter layers of vibrant, untarnished skin beneath. Another key ingredient is lactic acid, which in this case is derived from fermented yeast. Lactic acid, another potent alpha hydroxy acid variety, also promotes exfoliation while also encouraging collagen growth. This, in turn, helps to diminish the appearance of dark spots, make the complexion appear more radiant, reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve the skin’s overall texture. Citric acids derived from grapefruit peel oil, bergamot extract, and lemon extract, meanwhile, help to tone the skin while their vitamin C content also tackles hyperpigmentation.

Other notable ingredients include minerals such as glycogen and magnesium, which increase cellular energy. Why is this important? Well, the fibroblast cells in aging skin (which are responsible for the production of collagen and elastin) often lack the energy necessary to perform their requisite functions. Magnesium and glycogen, then, rev up the engines of these fibroblast cells.

Last, but not least, the treatment includes: omega-3 rich arctic blackcurrant seed oil, which repairs and soothes the skin; cranberry seed oil, which features tocotrienols that reduce the UV damage that leads to premature aging signs; shea butter, which hydrates, softens, and soothes parched skin; sunflower seed oil, which is rich in linoleic acid and helps to fortify the skin’s protective barrier, sealing moisture therein; rosemary leaf extract, which has natural antiseptic properties and is believed to improve skin elasticity; sodium hyaluronate, which binds moisture to skin cells and locks it therein; and sodium lactate, which raises the skin’s pH level and attracts moisture so as to deeply hydrate the skin and make it appear plumper, decreasing the depth of fine lines and wrinkles.

When used in conjunction with weekly treatments involving the REN Glycol Radiance Renewal Mask, a powerful 10-minute rinse-off brightening treatment, the results will be even more striking. But, even by its lonesome, the REN Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial will help your skin fight the winter blues. It may be gray and dreary outside, but there’s no reason why your skin shouldn’t be one lovely ray of sunshine!