Unilever bought REN Clean Skincare for prestige beauty boom — shuttered it 10 years later

REN Clean Skincare was founded in 2000 by Rob Calcraft, one of the first brands to build an identity around 'clean' skincare — no synthetic ingredients, sustainable packaging, and a minimalist aesthetic. It grew steadily in the UK and Europe, becoming a staple in department stores and specialist beauty retailers.

Unilever acquired REN in 2015 as part of a broader push into prestige beauty, buying high-end brands like Murad, Dermalogica, and Living Proof. At the time, the mass-market consumer giant saw clean prestige as a growth engine. REN was positioned alongside Unilever's other prestige brands and expanded internationally into Asia and North America.

By 2025, the clean beauty market had become saturated — dozens of brands competing on the same 'free-from' credentials, private-label entries flooding retail, and consumer enthusiasm cooling. Unilever said REN faced internal challenges and market difficulties that made the brand unable to sustain long-term success. The company announced REN would cease trading by the end of Q3 2025, thanking the team and supporting the closure process. Ten years after the acquisition, the clean beauty pioneer was shut down.