REN Clearcalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser – Review

I came across this a couple of months ago and thought it might be suitable for those days where my skin just doesn’t know what it wants to do with itself. I always find clay a great neutraliser.

It’s a little like restarting the computer for your skin.

I’ve started using it a few times a week as a second cleanse in the evenings and as a quick refresh cleanse in the mornings and am becoming addicted to it.

What’s in it?

Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Water, Kaolin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Oryzanol, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Leptospermum Scoparium Oil, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil, Linalool, Limonene, Zinc Gluconate, Bisabolol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Crataegus Oxyacantha Stem Extract, Glucose, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol

I have to say from the off that I’m not obsessive about ingredients. My priority is that it functions as it advertises.

REN is genius marketing – the brand is based around being ‘clean’ – i.e.

and they were doing it long before most. But I will only judge it by its merits. It’s all good and well being ‘clean’ – but it needs to work.

What’s good about it?
It works.
The clay content is very evident – which I love. It feels substantial in the palm and on the face. It’s more like a creamy clay mask than a milk cleanser.
Clay is the second ingredient – after camomile water. So its calming and substantial at the same time.
It contains sage and lactic acid – ingredients I love.
It kills off the surface bacteria, absorbs oil and tones pores. I love that it says ‘tones’ pores – rather than the usual BS of ‘closing’ pores – like they are doors.
Being REN, you can see when you are running out – always helpful.

It’s affordable – £18.00 – for 150ml. Massive in comparison to most of its competition. Amazing value for money.

What’s bad about it?
Honestly? I haven’t found anything yet. And you KNOW I try.

(As an aside, I think the range is getting a little too big. It’s like they’ve said ‘ooh we’re making money – let’s make tons more products!! Now!!’ Not necessary. No brand needs 8 cleansers. Get a grip.)
*back to the review*


Although it is aimed at blemish prone skin, I would happily recommend this to any skin type. It would make a really good weekly treatment for someone with really dry skin that was afraid of heavier clay exfoliation.

Love it. 5/5.

Available here.