I’d never heard of Fresh® until a month or so ago. It’s one of the latest brands to be available at Sephora outlets. The first time I googled to find out more about Fresh®, I discovered that they were famous for their Lip Polish and Lip Treatment.

Fresh® offers a whole lot more than just those 2 products. It all started in 1991 when Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg created a small set of opulent soaps that they hand-wrapped around their kitchen table. The soaps had an amazing fragrance, luxurious formula and ornate paper wrapping. Barneys New York picked them up and the products sold out in two days.

The now iconic Oval Soap Collection was the beginning of Lev and Alina’s passion for developing indulgent products and the brand has evolved into a full line of lifestyle products that now include fragrance (they have Sake EDP which doesn’t smell like sake!), skincare, bodycare, makeup, haircare and home.

Fresh® is credited with a number of industry firsts and pioneered the use of many natural ingredients including soy, milk and most notably sugar. The original all-natural Brown Sugar Body Polish was the first sugar exfoliant on the market and continues to be the unrivaled source of supremely soft skin.

Sugar Lip Treatment Collection

This is Fresh®’s best-selling line of lip care designed to nourish and protect lips. The collection calls upon sugar, a natural humectant, to seal in moisture for long-lasting hydration. It is further enriched with nourishing oils and conditioning waxes.

Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 4.3g/RM65

At first glance, I knew that this had to be the crème de la crème of lip balms. The packaging is heavy duty, no plasticky materials for this one. It is such a luxurious looking balm that feels even more luxurious on the lips.

To open it, I have to twist the base anti-clockwise instead of pulling off the cap. To close it shut again, I twist the base clockwise. This one has a wonderful honey scent and it conditions my lips instantly, keeping it hydrated and soft for hours.

These are the key ingredients:-

• Sugar, a natural humectant, prevents moisture loss.
• A superior blend of nourishing oils, including meadowfoam seed, black currant seed, avocado and jojoba, deeply moisturize dry areas.
• Beeswax, known for its anti-inflammtory properties, softens the skin and seals in moisture.
• Grapeseed polyphenols protect, smooth and soften.
• UV protection with SPF 15.

There are 4 Tinted Lip Treatments in this Collection which are also RM65 each:-

Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment SPF15

The look of a just-bitten pout

Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

A sensual plum hue

Sugar Honey Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

A warm nude tone

Sugar Passion Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

A vibrant rouge

Sugar Lip Polish 17g/RM65

This is an incredibly dense and compact lip exfoliant that massages away dull skin. The instructions call for the Lip Polish to be left on for 5 minutes but I always leave it on for far less time than that. Nevertheless, my lips are left indescribably soft after the fine brown sugar crystals have been washed off.

I haven’t seen a lip exfoliant with a “wow” factor until now. It scores on every level – scent, appearance and effectiveness. Beautiful to look at and use, I look forward to using this Lip Polish 2-3 times a week. Although I have used it multiple times now, I have barely scratched the surface of this little jar with the ubiquitous brown cap which is the signature of the Lip Treatment Collection.

These are the key ingredients:-

• Sugar, a natural humectant and skin-soother that helps prevent moisture loss, buffs away dry flakes.
• Meadowfoam seed, jojoba seed and grapeseed oils nourish, hydrate and protect. They absorb into the skin rapidly and restore suppleness to dry, rough and damaged skin while locking in moisture.
• Shea butter is an extremely effective moisturizer that acts as a protective shield to restore suppleness to dry and damaged skin.
• Vitamin E helps prevent the breakdown of collagen and elastin by defending against wrinkle-causing free radicals.

Rose Collection

This collection calls upon the soothing benefits of the rose. Fresh® refines the purity of the rose which yields an incredibly precious oil brimming with nutrients that hydrate, soothe, tone and restore the skin.

Rose Face Mask 100ml/RM189

This gel texture mask is the ideal mask for sensitive and easily irritated skins. I reach for this mask on especially humid days when my skin is aching for some relief. It provides an instant soothing sensation and keeps skin cool for the duration of its application.

I have never seen a mask as luxurious as this one, just the fact that it contains real rose petals makes it an incredible mask which I use sparingly. Actually, not much product is needed per application as it can be stretched given the fluidity of this mask.

There is a rose scent but it’s not that overwhelming. The rose petals adhere very well to my skin and I often have it on for a bit longer than 10 minutes as it feels so good. For the price, it is a rather big jar but you may not like the fact that it comes in a tub and a rather heavy one at that. You may want to use a spatula to avoid the possibility of contamination with frequent dipping of fingers.

Other than the real rose petals, the mask contains pure cucumber extract and aloe vera gel which is good for reducing inflammation and would explain the constant cooling effect on skin, precious rose oil, rose flower water, stimulating seawater and porphyridium cruentum, a micro-algae complex that helps skin retain moisture, soothing extracts of calendula and chamomile.

The jar is so heavy but that only adds to the impression that this is a luxury product. It’s contained within a box which is encased in a cardboard sleeve, the packaging reflects the high quality of the product.

Soy Face Cleanser 150ml/RM129

Soy Face Cleanser was inspired by the health benefits of a soy-based diet, the formula is infused with soy proteins and botanicals. It’s called a multi-functional cleanser as it’s formulated to purify, tone and remove makeup.

Although it states that it can effectively remove makeup from the face and eyes, I need a stronger makeup remover than this to remove all my eye makeup. Otherwise, it’s effective for removing foundation/powder/blush and it does leave my skin feeling thoroughly cleansed and soft.

However, the scent did take some getting used to. Initially, I wasn’t that fond of it but after using it for a week, I didn’t mind it although I won’t go so far as to say I love it. It’s bearable and the benefits of this cleanser outweigh the small issue I have with the scent. It doesn’t dry out my skin and does feel very gentle. There is no lather with this cleanser as it has a gel texture which I find somewhat soothing as I massage it into my skin.

These are the key ingredients:-

• Soy amino acids promote moisture retention, elasticity and firmness. Antioxidant-rich soy protects and balances skin.
• Rosewater calms and soothes the skin.
• Amino-acid rich cucumber extract soothes and hydrates. It possesses powerful anti-inflammatory properties and is ideal for inflamed or irritated skin. Additionally, it delivers an immediate cooling effect when applied topically.
• Aloe helps skin maintain its natural moisture levels, so it won’t feel stripped dry.

Black Tea Collection

This is Fresh®’s anti-ageing collection and called the Black Tea Age-Delay Collection, a powerhouse collection that calls upon the restorative powers of black tea. Packed with polyphenols, potent antioxidants that defend against the most aggressive free radicals, black tea protects the integrity of the cell membrane to prevent lines and wrinkles from forming. Its high melanin content also has a brightening effect on the skin for a radiant glow.

Fresh® Co-founder, Lev Glazman’s fascination with black tea began with his first sip of Kambucha, a fermented drink made with sweetened black tea. Often referred to as the “Immortal Health Elixir”, Kambucha’s recorded history traces back to 250 B.C., during which people believed it had great healing powers. After taking this “Immortal Health Elixir”, Lev noticed a boost in his energy levels and at once began researching black tea extract. Much in the same way that Kambucha reenergized his body, Lev found that black tea extract worked to reenergize the skin’s cells, reinforcing their structure and jump-starting collagen production. This realization was the beginning of the award-winning Black Tea Collection.

Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask 100ml/RM285

This mask is ultra-luxe as it has the consistency of whipped cream. When applied, it looks quite clear even though it looks and feels like a thick cream. This mask feels even cooler than the Rose Face Mask and there is a tingling sensation throughout the 10+ minutes I have it on and even when I have washed it off.

The tingling sensation is intensified if I have the fan blowing in my face. I wonder if the sensation means that my skin is being firmed up or maybe it’s just due to sake as one of its ingredients? Apparently, it has been proven to firm the complexion and improve elasticity, skin tone and texture but I’d have to get back to you on that as I haven’t been using this mask that long and have not even gone through half the contents.

The formula includes:-

• radiance-boosting black tea.
• restorative lychee seed extract.
• softening and purifying sake.
• smoothing hyaluronic spheres.

Just like the Rose Face Mask, the Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask also comes in a jar which is so heavy, contained within a box in a cardboard sleeve. While I normally apply the Black Tea Mask after the Rose Mask (double masks are so good!), I do think that the Rose Face Mask feels more hydrating than this one.

Black Tea Age-Delay Cream 30ml/RM315

According to the product description on the box, this moisturizer with collagen-boosting lychee has been proven to:-

• strengthen the skin’s structure and firm the complexion to restore youthful contours.
•  visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• promote cell regeneration, resulting in softer, smoother skin.

This is one thick moisturizer, seriously! I think it would be the perfect moisturizer for cold climates or countries which enjoy four seasons (and I don’t mean the four seasons served during wedding dinner either). I have only been using it at nights because I find it too heavy for day use.

As it’s so thick, I need just a small amount per application. It gives a very smooth and soft sensation but I have not seen any visible reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles just yet. Perhaps I need to apply it more than once a day.

Overall Comments

Phew! This post has taken me a good few hours, no thanks to some paragraphs disappearing every time I tried to save and having to re-type the same thing as many as thrice but I wanted this to be as comprehensive and detailed as possible because it’s such a new brand to Malaysia. I’m impressed with the look of the products and the ingredients that go into them. My favourite product would be the Rose Face Mask because it is such an indulgent product. Also, when I consider the amount in the jar, the price of the Rose Face Mask doesn’t seem that pricey after all.

Note : Fresh® products are available exclusively at Sephora and the products reviewed here were provided by PR.