Renew + Me is a prescription skincare subscription for midlife skin: you complete an online consultation, upload photos, and a UK prescriber has a nightly retinoid cream made up for you, posted every month. The regular price is £29.99 a month for a tube that lasts 28 days, with no commitment. Our verdict in short: one of the most affordable ways in the UK to get a prescription retinoid such as tretinoin for fine lines and pigmentation, provided you are patient with the first few weeks.
Renew + Me at a glance
| What you want to know | The answer |
|---|---|
| What you get | A personalised nightly treatment cream, prescribed after an online consultation and photo review |
| Key ingredients | Depending on your skin: tretinoin, azelaic acid, niacinamide or metronidazole, in a hydrating base cream |
| Price | £29.99 a month at the regular price; the first month is usually discounted |
| How long a tube lasts | 28 days, one dose a night from the Daily Doser |
| Commitment | None: change frequency, delay or cancel from your account |
| Delivery | UK only (not the Channel Islands), 3 to 5 working days after dispatch |
| Who runs it | Skin + Me Ltd, the company behind Skin + Me |
What is Renew + Me?
Renew + Me is the midlife sister of Skin + Me, one of the best known prescription skincare services in the UK. Both are run by Skin + Me Ltd in London, which also operates Hair + Me and Menopause + Me and keeps one patient record across all four, so prescribers can check that your treatments are safe together.
Where Skin + Me is mainly known for acne, Renew + Me is pitched at the visible signs of ageing: fine lines, loss of firmness, dark spots and dullness. The formulas were designed with dermatologists, including consultant dermatologist Dr Malvina Cunningham, and prescriptions are written by pharmacist independent prescribers registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. Treatments are dispensed by a partner pharmacy in north west London.
What is inside your Renew + Me treatment?
There is no box of goodies here: each month you receive one personalised cream. The main product is the Nightly-Active-Treatment, a concentrated cream whose prescription ingredients are chosen from your answers and photos. Depending on your skin and how well it tolerates actives, it may contain:
- Tretinoin (0.005% to 0.1%): the prescription retinoid at the heart of the service, used to boost collagen and soften fine lines. Renew + Me says it works around 20 times harder than standard over the counter retinol.
- Azelaic acid (5% to 14%): for pigmentation and redness.
- Niacinamide (4%): for oiliness, breakouts and visible pores.
- Metronidazole (1%): for the spots and redness of rosacea.
Everything sits in a Rich Base Cream with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ectoin, ceramides and bisabolol, meant to keep skin comfortable while the actives work. The brand says its formulas are fragrance free, vegan friendly and cruelty free. Its help centre also describes a Serum-in-a-Cream, an all in one version that adds peptides, ceramides and hyaluronic acid to the prescription ingredients.
How much does Renew + Me cost?
The regular price is £29.99 a month, as reported by The Independent’s IndyBest reviews, and the first month is regularly offered at a much lower introductory price. Renew + Me does not publish a price list on its website: you see the figure at the end of the consultation, so check it before you pay.
The real cost
One tube lasts 28 days, so a full year of nightly use is around 13 tubes. At £29.99 each, that comes to roughly £390 a year, or about £1.07 a night. You will also need a daily SPF 30 or higher, because retinoids make skin more sensitive to the sun; budget for one if you do not already use it.
For a prescription ingredient, a dose set by a professional and unlimited follow-up, that is fair value: Klira, for comparison, starts at £59 a month. If your price is lower than the advertised one (a “loyalty price”), note that the terms say you lose it if you unsubscribe or break your subscription.
How does Renew + Me work?
- Online consultation: questions about your skin, goals, medical history and lifestyle.
- Photos: four make-up free photos of your face (front, both sides and neck).
- Prescriber review: a member of the dermatology team checks your answers and photos and, if you are eligible, writes your prescription.
- Delivery: your cream arrives within 3 to 5 working days of dispatch, then every month.
- Ongoing support: unlimited check-ins with your prescriber, who can adjust the strength or ingredients as your skin adapts.
Use it every night on clean, dry skin: twist the Daily Doser until it clicks, apply a thin layer avoiding the eyes, lips and neck, then moisturise. Expect more smoothness and glow after about a week, and the firmer, longer lasting changes after 12 weeks of consistent use. Some dryness, irritation or purging early on is normal with tretinoin; the team can lower the dose if needed.
Skipping, pausing and cancelling
There is no minimum term. From your account you can change how often you receive treatment, move your billing date or cancel, and you get an email confirming the cancellation. One catch: the products are made to order, so once an order has been billed it goes ahead, and any change applies from the next one. Prescription treatments cannot be returned under the usual 14 day cancellation right.
Who is Renew + Me for?
It suits women in midlife, or approaching it, who want a proven anti-ageing ingredient at the right strength without paying for a clinic. It is particularly good for anyone who has tried retinol, seen little change and wants to step up with professional guidance. You need to be over 16 and live in the UK.
It is not for you if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, since tretinoin and retinol should generally be avoided. Anyone with very reactive skin or a diagnosed skin condition should mention it in the consultation, and anyone who wants a single shelf product with no photos or questions would be happier with an over the counter retinol.
Alternatives to Renew + Me
- Skin + Me: the same company’s original service, better if acne or breakouts are your main concern.
- Klira: another UK prescription skincare subscription, overseen by dermatologists, at a higher monthly price.
- Dermatica: personalised prescription formulas for acne, pigmentation and ageing.
- Curology: the American pioneer of the personalised prescription cream.
Compare more in our beauty subscription boxes.
Our verdict on Renew + Me
Renew + Me takes the formula that made Skin + Me a success and points it at midlife skin, which is exactly where prescription retinoids earn their keep. The process is properly medical, with registered prescribers, photos and a dose that can change over time, yet the monthly price stays below what many people spend on premium serums. The Daily Doser is a clever touch for a strong active you should not overuse.
Pros: prescription tretinoin at an affordable monthly price; personalised and adjustable; unlimited prescriber support; no commitment; fragrance free and vegan friendly.
Cons: no published price list; results take around 12 weeks; early irritation is common; UK only; not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
If fine lines and pigmentation are bothering you and over the counter retinol has not done much, Renew + Me is one of the best value next steps in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Renew + Me: your questions answered
How much does Renew + Me cost?
The regular price is £29.99 a month for a personalised tube that lasts 28 days. The first month is usually offered at a reduced introductory price, and you see your price at the end of the consultation.
Is Renew + Me the same as Skin + Me?
They are run by the same company, Skin + Me Ltd, and work the same way. Renew + Me is designed for midlife skin and signs of ageing, while Skin + Me is best known for acne and breakouts.
Does Renew + Me contain tretinoin?
It can. If you are eligible, your prescriber may include tretinoin from 0.005% to 0.1%, alongside other ingredients such as azelaic acid or niacinamide. The exact formula depends on your consultation.
How do I cancel Renew + Me?
Log in to your account and cancel from the subscription settings. There is no minimum term, but an order that has already been billed will still be sent.
When will I see results?
Renew + Me says skin should look smoother and brighter after about a week of nightly use, with firmer skin, fewer visible lines and faded dark spots after 12 weeks.
Is Renew + Me worth it?
For midlife skin that has plateaued on retinol, yes. You get a prescription retinoid and professional supervision for about the price of a premium serum. If you only want gentle maintenance, an over the counter product may be enough.
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