Read the Label Online: REN ClearCalm 3 Anti-acne Treatment Mask

REN ClearCalm 3 Anti-acne Treatment Mask
REN ClearCalm 3 Anti-acne Treatment Mask

This product is an emulsion-based clay mask. The formula is supposedly designed to be an OTC acne product, although it does not appear to follow the US Food and Drug Administration's labeling guidelines for an OTC acne product. The anti-acne active ingredient is sulfur and should be the only ingredient referred to as an “active ingredient.”

As with most anti-acne products, this formulation also contains ingredients that are claimed to treat the many issues that arise from or cause acne including ingredients claiming to be antimicrobial, pore minimizing, anti-inflammatory and sebum control. Sulfur is frequently the acne drug active of choice for mask products, since it is a mineral and assists the other minerals in providing the astringency, cleansing and other benefits that masks deliver. In most mask formulations, kaolin is the mineral of choice because of the tightening effect one gets after it is applied and dries

Although this is not a review of the actual formulation, I suspect that this is a thick formula due to the combination of the minerals kaolin, sulfur, zinc oxide and calcium carbonate. The formula also does not appear to have a thickener. The emulsifying system is polysorbate 20 and sorbitan olivate, which is a nice variation on the traditional combination of “spans” and "tweens.”

Several of the essential oils that are used such as Salvia officinalis (sage) oil and Thymus vulgaris (thyme) oil) are also intended to help provide antimicrobial as well as astringent benefits. Notice that the label claims that it contains “natural salycilic acid,” and yet there is no salicylic acid listed on the Ingredient list. The product does however contain Salix nigra (willow) bark extract, which is a natural source of salicylic acid

It is not easy to figure out where the 1% level is in this product. Zinc gluconate would probably not be used over 1%, so everything after zinc gluconate is probably in the formula at 1% or less.

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