Major skincare brand set to close after 25 years - as it announces huge 30% off sale
The business was founded by Rob Calcraft and Antony Buck in 2000 in London and named after the Swedish word for clean.
The brand became synonymous with natural ingredients and gentle formulas ideal for sensitive skin.
The business ditched parabens, synthetic fragrances, sulfates and petrochemicals long before it was fashionable, with its Evercalm balm and Ready Steady Glow AHA Tonic proving particularly popular with shoppers.
Ren was snapped up by Unilever in 2015 and joined the consumer giant's Prestige Brands arm.
On 1 May, Unilever posted a statement stating it had taken the 'difficult decision' to start taking steps to close Ren.
It said: 'A combination of internal factors, compounded by market challenges in recent years has left the brand unable to sustain success in the long term.'
In May, Unilever said it had not set a date for the brand's closure, but expected the skincare brand to cease trading by the end of September 2025. July 2025 was not mentioned as a closure date.
In a post on its Instagram page last month, Ren said shoppers could continue to buy its products via its online shop until 31 July.
The Instagram post attracted more than 1,000 comments, with one shopper responding: 'As someone who works in the skincare industry, I always looked to you for inspiration and innovation. A beautiful British brand, with lovely values. Truly gutted when I heard the news.'
Another shopper posted on Instagram: 'I'm so gutted. Ren products have left my skin in better condition than any product I have ever used and they are a dream to use. Should [have] remained an independent business.'
One shopper added: 'You really cleared my skin so many times, I have the most sensitive skin ever!'
With its closure looming, Ren is currently offering shoppers 30 per cent off its entire range on its website. Some items are already out of stock.
While stocks last, the brand's skincare products are also still available in Boots stores and on its website, with prices ranging from £25 to £50. Again, some of the products are currently out of stock.
Ren products are also still available on websites like Cult Beauty and Look Fantastic.
Beauty is a notoriously cut-throat industry, with fierce competition and the need to keep customers buying, even when their pockets are feeling the strain amid stalling wages and higher living costs.
Many businesses with a portfolio of brands, like Unilever, are streaming their operations and cutting costs in a bid to focus on core brands and boost their bottom lines.
Employers are also facing higher wage bills and employer national insurance contributions.
In March, Unielver chief executive Fernando Fernandez said the firm would move at a 'faster pace' to offload under-performing brands.
The comments from Fernandez were his first since his recent appointment to the role after previous chief executive Hein Schumacher was ousted after less than two years.
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