It's not quite time to reveal my skincare secrets just yet... Check back in on October 22nd, when I'll unveil the AM and PM routines for Day 1 of the challenge!

It's not quite time to reveal my skincare secrets just yet... Check back in on October 22nd, when I'll unveil the AM and PM routines for Day 1 of the challenge!

AM: 

Step 1: Morning cleanser (*Mint Renewal Cleanser)
Step 2: Toner (*Energy Boosting Toner)
Step 3: Vitamin C serum (*Vitamin C & E Treatment)
Step 4: Eye cream (*Vitamin C Eye Brightener)
Step 5: Sunscreen (*Weightless Protection SPF 30)

PM: 

Step 1: Evening cleanser (*Better Than Balm + cleansing rounds)
Step 2: Exfoliating peel (*Triple Berry Smoothing Peel)
Step 3: Exfoliating scrub (*Triple Berry Smoothing Scrub)
Step 4: Toner (*Energy Boosting Toner)
Step 5: Serum (*Firm + Repair Overnight Serum)
Step 6: Ice Cube Toner
Step 7: Nu Face
Step 8: Hydrating mask (*Rapid Response Detox Masque)
Step 9: Moisturizer (*Skin Recovery Lotion)
Step 10: Eye cream (*Total Eye Repair Creme)

Check back in on October 25th, when I'll unveil the AM and PM routines for Day 4 of the challenge!

Between the sun, heat, chlorine, saltwater, and greasy sunscreen, summer takes a toll on our skin — leaving it dull, bumpy, and less than glowy. Sound about right?

If you…
- Neglected your skincare routine during the lazy days of summer.
- Got brown spots from the summer sun
- Got clogged pores and breakouts from sunscreen
- Experienced dryness from chlorine and saltwater
- Or just ready for a fresh start for fall

Then this challenge with Renée is exactly what your skin needs!

The strength of retinol, retinoid, tretinoin, or other types of vitamin A you should use depends on your individual skin type, as well as prior experience with this ingredient. If you’re new to retinol and unsure of how your skin will respond, seek more beginner-friendly products to minimize the uncertainty of possible dryness and irritation. However, if you’re familiar with retinol and looking for more of a transformative experience, then I encourage you to use the strongest retinol that you feel comfortable with. Remember, the more potent the retinol, the more noticeable the results!

Depending on the retinol/ vitamin A product that you choose to use, you may experience some side effects, such as sensitivity, dryness, and flaking. This is all considered normal because your skin’s barrier is being compromised for a short period of time during this challenge (particularly days 4-6, when the retinol is kicking in). If at any point these side effects become too much, modify the routine to your specific needs.

No, absolutely not. Every morning and night, I’ll be exclusively using skincare products from my own line (other than a prescription retinoid and some tools like NuFace, a gua sha etc.), but I realize not everyone will have the exact products I have. Use whichever products you have on hand that are the closest to what I am recommending.

Missing a few of these Renée Rouleau products from your skincare cabinet? No worries, here are a few alternatives I recommend…

Don’t have Better than Balm? Use a lotion-based or an oil-based cleanser for makeup removal. If you don’t wear makeup, then just use your regular cleanser.

Don’t have Purifying Face Wash? Use a gentle, sulfate-free cleanser.

Don’t have Moisture Protecting Cleanser? Use a gentle, sulfate-free cleanser.

Don’t have Moisture Infusion Toner? Use an alcohol-free and acid-free essence or toner.

Don’t have Energy Boosting Toner? Use an alcohol-free and acid-free essence or toner.

Don’t have Triple Berry Smoothing Scrub? Use a gentle facial scrub or baby washcloth instead.

Don’t have Triple Berry Smoothing Peel? Use an acid or enzyme-based exfoliant instead. This could be an acid-based serum or toner or an enzyme mask– something that works to chemically dissolve and digest dry skin cells.

Don’t have Rapid Response Detox Masque? Use an acid-free mask.

Don’t have Firm + Repair Overnight Serum? Use a hydrating serum.

Don’t have Advanced Resurfacing Serum or a prescription retinoid? Use the strongest retinol that you feel comfortable using.

Don’t have a prescription retinoid? Use a stronger, over-the-counter retinol.
Seek out a retinol with a concentration of around .1% if you’re looking for more noticeable results.

Don’t have Vitamin C&E Treatment? Use a vitamin C or antioxidant serum. Seek out a stable, no-sting form of vitamin C.

Don’t have Vitamin C Eye Brightener? Use an acid-free and retinol-free eye cream or gel.

Don’t have Total Eye Repair Creme? Use an acid-free and retinol-free eye cream or gel.

Don’t have Skin Recovery Lotion? Use an acid-free and retinol-free moisturizer.

Don’t have Phytolipid Comfort Creme? Use an acid-free and retinol-free moisturizer

Don’t have Pro Remedy Oil? Use a lipid-rich face oil.

Don’t have Weightless Protection SPF 30? Use a face sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.

This is because of a term called “product sandwiching.” For those new (or sensitive) to active ingredients like vitamin A, you may choose to layer a moisturizer above and below your application of vitamin A to create a buffer between it and the skin. This dilutes the strength of vitamin A, hence decreasing the strength of its side effects. However, if you want to receive the full effects of vitamin A and all of its potential peeling effects (which gives the full collagen boost), you may choose to opt out of using a moisturizer before or after using a retinol/ vitamin A product. This allows vitamin A to work deeper within the skin, potentially yielding more visible results.

Absolutely! I encourage you to repeat this 7-day challenge whenever you find your skin is in need of another boost of results.

Here’s a tip: To maximize the benefits and give your skin the time it needs to rest, I recommend waiting 2-3 weeks between each challenge. This will allow your skin to fully recover and ensure you get the most out of each experience.

Yes! This is appropriate for all of the nine skin types. If you want to give your skin a glow-up, this challenge is for you. Just make sure you’re using products appropriate for your skin type.

While it's ideal to follow each step for the best results, don't worry too much if you occasionally skip one. Try to stick with the routine as closely as you can, but remember that skipping a step here or there won't ruin your chances of achieving great results. Just do your best and enjoy the journey!

That's perfectly okay! However, it's worth noting that without retinol, you may not experience the same transformative results. Retinol, especially in prescription strength, can provide significant collagen-boosting and peeling effects. But if retinol isn't your thing or you can't use it for any reason, don't worry! You can still achieve skin-smoothing results that your skin will love.