Photo by: graffiti@klughaus.net
One thing you need to understand about the brand FRESH before I start this review: FRESH makes me happy.
Dear FRESH,
I was first introduced to the FRESH product line in the late 90's after hearing that Kevyn Aucoin (RIP) used their Hesperides body products and gave them as gifts to his friends. Kevyn was a huge inspiration, then and now and I figured if Kevyn likes it, it has to be the best!
FRESH was a very elusive brand back in the day, before the Internet put everything at our finger tips. I bought my Hesperides lotion at a little shop in Eugene's 5th Street Public Market, French Quarter.
The fragrance was, well, FRESH, but it was how it made me FEEL that truly separated it from its fragrant and fussy counterparts.
It wasn't until a couple years later, on a trip to Hollywood, that the love for FRESH was rekindled. My friend Blakeley worked at Sephora and her apartment bathroom was Xanadu to me. Clean and organized, every brand and every product displayed in a manner that made you want to try each one before the room. This was like a crack den, but for beauty addicts and sitting near the sink was my gateway drug: FRESH body lotion.
Upon my return home, I remember opening my huge duffle bag (you read that right) and gazing at my cache of newly purchased FRESH products: Sugar Lychee Lotion, Sugar Lychee Shower Gel and Brown Sugar Scrub (given to me by Blakeley). I vowed that I would never be without at least one FRESH product.
The way I felt after using their body products was better than any anti-depressant and more comforting than a bowl of tomato soup, served with a grilled cheese sandwich. Whenever I wear my Lychee lotion, I'm immediately transported to a sun splashed view of the Hollywood Hills and cruising Mullholland Drive, stealing a gaze of an electric city from the quiet of a dusty vacant lot.
FRESH makes me happy!
Love,
Marisa
Aka @missladymo (Twitter)
Aka @mariskara1976 (Instagram)
I once read that Ekaterina Gordeyva only wore Cherry Chapstick to get the perfect pink pout. Unfortunately with my lip color, Cherry Chapstick ain't gonna cut it. My apologies to Katy Perry too!So I suppose I should get to reviewing :) If you have read my previous blog posts, you would already know how I adore the FRESH line of Sugar Lip Treatments. I love how hydrating one light application is, making a beautiful base for lipstick or gloss, but also how perfectly portable it is. So after years of using the original Sugar Lip Treatment, I had to get it's Rosé tinted sister.
The Sugar Rosé is a very natural, your-lips-but-better look, with buildable color and coverage. This is for all lip types (is that a thing?), but if you are especially parched, chapped or have deeper lines, having buildable coverage is key: it fills in these areas and offers color without drawing attention to problem spots. I remember I had a client one time that insisted on wearing red lipstick over her badly chapped lips and under a thin handlebar and, yes, it was a woman. Wearing bright colors on problem areas is like a gigantic neon sign, that reads "Please remember to notice the chunks of dead skin as well as my fine, yet pro dominant facial hair!".
The ingredients are on point and hydrate without some of the nastier ingredients. I'm looking in your general area, "mineral oil"!
The real question is "does it actually work?" and indeed, it does. Let me count the ways!
1. It is a perfect pre-treatment to lips, prior to a gloss or lipstick. Because sugar is a natural humectant aka moisture magnet. It binds with grapeseed oil to provide a moisture barrier, so that you get constant hydration without pulling hydration from lipstick or gloss. Think of it as a serum and moisturizer used before foundation. Those that are prone to skin problems usually don't wear moisturizer and their skin absorbs the oils and other ingredients from their foundation. Skincare lecture over!
2. It gives a light, creamy texture without the goop or chalky texture that some other brands carry.
3. It's perfect to wear by itself if you are just popping into the grocery store or simply have to be seen in public. I often go out of the house without makeup and don't think twice. Sometimes a little spot of color and a light sheen can polish up a t-shirt and velour pants look beautifully
4. The color really is buildable, without looking thickly smeared or creasing.
5. It wears well for a long period of time. I was able to wear it by itself for a couple hours before feeling like it needed to be reapplied.
This lip treatment comes in a variety of colors, including a spot on dupe for Cliniques Holy Grail lip product: Black Honey. In fact, in a lip color game of rock/paper/scissors, FRESH is the rock and Clinique is scissors.
We all know I'm the Primeminister of Skincare. Well, in my own mind I am, but I would definitely propose laws against companies making crappy skincare and charging $24.50 for said crap. Hint: scissors.
I am pleasantly surprised by the FRESH Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream. I don't know why I'm surprised, I've never had a subpar product from them yet. Maybe that's why I am so surprised. Having worked for Estée Lauder, Prescriptives and Chanel, there's always that one stinker in the bunch that leaves you asking the heavens, "WTF???".
The Lotus cream does exactly what it claims to do*.
*From their website:
"Proven to provide 24-hour moisture
Proven to immediately enhance radiance
Proven to have long-term brightening and clarifying effects
Proven to improve elasticity and smooth the skin
97% felt their skin was immediately hydrated
94% reported visibly improved, nourished skin
91% noticed healthier-looking skin".
I've been using this for only one week and already see a major difference in my skin. I love how light it feels on my face, but that I'm getting the same hydration as I would from a very rich cream. It also makes my skin look brighter and more even toned. The glow I get is so nice that I've been just using a bit of concealer under the eyes and dusting a bit of powder in the T-zone. It's pretty simple logic: the better your skin looks, the less you have to cover!
This time of year is very tricky for me as I get dry, patchy cheeks when it gets colder. I have serums that I use before moisturizer, but sometimes it takes a great deal of trial and error to get the correct ratio of moisture without feeling greasy or without having to spot treat REALLY parched cheeks!
I would really like to try an entire skincare regimen from FRESH (cleanser, scrub, serum, eye cream and moisturizer). In the world of skincare, using the same product line for all of your skincare, will usually deliver the best results. I say "usually" because there are always exceptions (cough, cough, scissors, cough, cough). Normally, though, product lines from the same company are meant to work synergistically, giving your skin the most benefits, backing up their claims and statistics.
Curious about the "Super 7 Complex" ingredients?
From their website:
"Lotus flower extract, blue-green algae extract, hibiscus fruit extract, fig fruit extract, vitamins C and E, and vegetable glycerol".
I definitely recommend this product, even if you tend to get a bit oily in the T-zone. A lot of people confuse hydration with oiliness, this doesn't enhance oily skin, it actually keeps your skin from producing extra oil, which happens when you aren't getting the proper amount of moisture.
I'll take a break from my Skincare Soapbox speech....for now ;)
I am happy. Great skin without makeup and amazing lips without goop, how could I not be happy? What could be better? MORE PRODUCTS FROM FRESH!!!!
What are your favorite FRESH products? Subscribe and comment! Remember to check out my Fall Favorites too ;)
http://missladymo.blogspot.com/2013/10/fall-favorites-2013-edition.html
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