Fresh Skincare: The Brand to Try

Fresh is a brand that has intrigued me for years. Much coveted among the US beauty community, Fresh is a brand that is renowned for effective products based on good quality natural ingredients that truly deliver. As with many of the cult US brands, Fresh is now much easier to get our hands on with their launch onto JohnLewis.com and gradual roll out to branches. If you aren't familiar with Fresh then the brand's philosophy is simple; it's about good quality ingredients and combining this with innovative science to give a unique skincare experience. The husband & wife duo founded Fresh in 1991 and built the company on these simple principles, pioneering the use of key ingredients such as Soy, Konbucha, Sake and Brown Sugar along the way, to create beautiful products that make you want to treat yourself and indulge. It is a brand that I have truly fallen for, and with so many products on offer there are a few that shouldn't be missed.

The Soy Cleanser

Their first foray into skincare, the Soy Cleanser is a gentle gel formula that breaks down makeup, removes any dirt from the day and leaves skin refreshed. The amino-acid rich soy helps to leave skin feeling healthy and radiant whilst rosewater and cucumber calm and rebalance the skin. I slip this into my routine twice a day, once in the morning to refresh my skin and leave it prepped for makeup, and then again in the evening as a second cleanse to remove any residual makeup and lift away the excess dirt and oil from the day. My skin tends to be on the normal/dry side but, despite this being a gel formula, it doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or stripped. Instead my skin feels fresh but soft and even when my skin has started to break out a little or has been a little dryer from recent travel this cleanser has been gentle enough to keep my skin clean without aggravating it. It can be used to remove makeup too so if you're travelling then this is the perfect two-in-one cleanser.

The Rose Hydration Mask

Incorporating face masks into your routine is a key principle for Fresh; cleanse, mask, moisturise. For me, the Rose Hydration Mask, is a go-to. The formula is exceptionally lightweight so, unlike many hydrating masks, it does not feel heavy or too intense on the skin. Instead it feels refreshing and is absorbed quickly into the skin. Rosewater calms and hydrates whilst the green tea helps to brighten the complexion. Whenever my skin is looking a little dull or feeling a little tight I slip on a thin layer of this and leave it until fully absorbed. My skin always feels much softer, looks brighter and feels like 'my skin' again. The effects are quick too, pop it on, leave for 10 minutes and if there is anything remaining on your skin you can easily wipe it off without any greasy residue on the skin. I like to incorporate this after cleansing and toning, applying a layer and leaving it all evening to soak into the skin before applying my serum and moisturiser in the evening. Alternatively, if my skin is feeling very dry (normally if I have been on a plane or out in the cold for long periods of time) I like to apply a layer after my serum in place of a moisturiser to give my skin a bit of a boost.

The Rose Deep Hydration Cream

A sister product to the aforementioned mask, the Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream is your skins best friend if you're prone to dry and lacklustre skin. Rosewater calms skin whilst rose flower oil and hyaluronic acid work together to provide lasting hydration to the skin. This leaves my dehydrated skin feeling nourished and soft but unlike a lot of nourishing face creams designed for dehydrated skin, the formula feels light on the skin and a little goes a long way. My skin always looks instantly brighter whenever I apply this and it has kept my skin feeling smooth on my recent trip abroad (usually a sure-fire way to dry my skin out). I slot this into my routine every evening as my moisturiser and by morning it is fully absorbed into the skin but still leaves my skin feeling hydrated. On days where I am going make up free or my skin is feeling particularly parched I will apply a thin layer in the morning, before makeup. I haven't had any problems applying this under makeup, it hasn't disrupted my base or made it more difficult to apply however day-to-day I do prefer something slightly lighter during the day. If, like me, you're prone to your skin drying out when you're on a plane this is worth taking with you to either apply in-flight or for the duration of your trip.

Along with these three key products, there are a few honourable mentions that I have also been enjoying. The Sugar Lip Balm has kept my lips hydrated like no other. I can apply this in the morning and trust my lips will feel hydrated for hours to come. The fresh zesty scent is beautiful, the formula is rich but not at all heavy, and it works as the perfect base underneath any lipstick or liner. Rarely do I think a body scrub is worth mentioning, but the Brown Sugar Body Polish leaves my skin feelings impossibly soft. It lifts away all dead skin, helps to prevent and cure ingrown hair whilst the oils nourish my skin and leave my body feeling so soft I don't need to moisturise afterwards. If you're looking for an indulgent treat for you or someone you know this is perfect, plus the use of sugar means it is generally more hydrating and gentle on the skin that it's salt-base counter parts. Finally, when my skin is generally looking a little dull, maybe I have some break outs or it just needs a bit of a lift, the Black Tea Instant Perfect Mask is my go-to. The texture is unlike any other mask I have used, inspired by clouds it doesn't dry or set on the skin, instead it is comfortable to wear and gets to work on brightening and perfecting the skin. My skin always feels more supple and refreshed after using this and it has it's radiance back.

Fresh is an enchanting brand that is easy to fall in love with. The products work, they're simple and the brand's philosophy is easy to get on board with. I'm yet to be disappointed by a product that I try (and hope I wont be). The Soy Cleanser is a great introduction to the brand whilst the Rose Hydration range is worth investigating if you do suffer with dry and dehydrated skin, particularly now that the weather is changing and we're going into Autumn.