I just want to admit that I might have a problem.
Just open my wallet up, and you'll see piles upon piles of membership cards; glossy to matte or minimalist to colourful, and even digital versions of memberships stored away for me to sift through, retrieve at any beauty or skincare store I enter for discounts or samples or simply points to reimburse.
With all these memberships, sometimes comes an invitation to events or launches of new products or services. Most of which I attend to learn new make up tips, or to have first looks at new items before their launch to the public.
One of the recent launches I was invited to, was from Fresh.
An afternoon in the aptly-named Rose Room of Takashimaya amongst the company of other invitees, surrounded by the scent of rose petals, our skin was treated to some seriously luxurious sensations with a demonstration by the managing director of Fresh, between curated sweet treats to compliment their beauty products. We even had some sweet bites in between sampling the skin treats, which is a great way to keep everyone awake in any two-hour launch.
As we began the session, we were brought through some of the best and well-known products from Fresh. Most of which I'm familiar with, since my first purchase with Fresh back in Hong Kong way, way back in 2013 - a humble purchase of their Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment - which I still have (I know it's not hygienic but I cannot bring myself to chuck it).
We were walked through a complete face ritual, from cleansing to lip treatments, with both new or existing products.
I will go into further detail as well as discuss some of my favourites from the existing products in the Fresh collection later on this post, since I want to delve straight into the reason for the invite and launch; which is their brand new mask.
The Rose Deep Hydration Sleeping Mask
Oh, this mask. I'm obsessed with masking, which would not be surprising since I have started masking almost everyday for over a year now - so this invite was accepted with zero hesitance if it meant I got first looks.
Encapsulated in their trademark frosted pink glass jar, was their newest baby.
Opening the sizeable jar, you are faced with a lid marking out two numerical steps. These steps are also followed for its use - the first being the translucent gel mask, the second being the heavier, cream mask.
The key purpose of the Rose Deep Hydration Sleeping Mask is hydration.
Featuring two separate containers, each mask has a different purpose towards this goal.
The clear gel mask serves to immediately cool down the skin, preparing the skin for hydration by first soothing it. Damascus (Damask) rose extract from the freshest, dewiest roses plucked from the farms of Morocco, and a touch of hyaluronic acid follow up by providing the first base of moisture as well as enhance the texture of the skin, plumping while replenishing the skin barrier (think sallow, tired skin from pollution or those long, red-eye flights).
Once the gel mask has been adequately tapped (lightly) into the skin - it's followed up by the second mask; a silky cream with advanced, time-release liquid patches and evening primrose oils to completely lock in hydration to the skin.
As I tried this product, my first impression was of its scent. A delightful, intense wave of roses -- not an artificial, floral mimicry of roses, but a soft, pleasant scent that's undoubtedly of plush, ripe rose petals that doesn't overwhelm.
The moisturising benefits of this mask is certain. Each side of the two different masks compliment each other; a gel to soothe and create the first level of deep hydration, with a water cream to drive even more hydration whilst locking it all in without fuss or hours of waiting under a mask or a machine in a spa. I felt this personally, when I was walked through the steps of using this, and particularly enjoyed the cooling, soothing and immediate effects of plumping experienced during my quick sampling of it.
What I will say, is this mask requires a little more time to use since it has two different steps - the gel side required me to take some time to gently tap it into the skin for absorption, and the cream requires some time to really massage it into the skin to ensure maximum usage of both products. Of course, as all sleeping masks, it doesn't require any rinsing or washing so the benefits will continue to protect the skin through the night, since the efficacy of this replaces the need for a night cream after it use.
The water cream of this product reminds me of the Tatcha water cream's texture; mildly rich when it's first used, and after some time massaging it into the skin, the stickiness melts away and is all locked away into the skin.
With only a mere dab of it needed at a time (of course, more can be used with the level of dehydration), I can see this product being on many shelves.
As I mentioned before, the gel side of this mask was my favourite - and it reminded me of an existing product from Fresh. Another one of their best-selling products, the Fresh Rose Mask. This rosy blend of beautifully soothing cucumber, aloe vera and rose water, red algae (Porphyridium cruentum) and green tea, I have purchased before (repeatedly) and am a big fan of, so I have no problem seeing myself purchase its now duo-purpose sibling once my existing jar depletes.
This is a great starter if you have never tried a mask from Fresh.
The next of their bestsellers, and another one of my (and my mother's) personal favourites, is their Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner - an award winner in many aspects - it's an elevated toner for the skin with a triple kill blend of rose fruit extract, rosewater and rose oil, followed up with the essential hyaluronic acid and Angelica leaf extract - all these ingredients leave behind skin that's wiped clean of seen and unseen impurities, soothing, refreshing and nourishing it from first use.
If you find my claims incredulous, just ask for a sample of it. Or believe my mother, who loves this toner (and its accompanying face mist for travels).
Having spoken about my first forray into Fresh through their Sugar Lip Treatments, it would be a shame and a sham for me to not show you their two lovely lip products - the Sugar Wonder Drops and the Sugar Rose Lip Treatment.
The Sugar wonder drops are a type of lip primer and exfoliator, a blend of sugar and fruit extracts, with AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) and hibiscus flower extract to tingle and very mildly exfoliate the very thin skin of lips, bringing out a new, refined lip texture whilst smoothing and plumping it every so gently. I will say, that while these drops smell divine, I would not swallow them - I accidentally tasted some while I was massaging it into my lips and it was not great.
The Sugar Rose Lip Treatment doesn't need much introduction - again in a frosty pink tube, this mildly tinted lip balm provides immediate moisture (lasting up to six hours), protects your lips with a mild SPF and gives it a lovely, natural finish of a versatile rose red. I heavily recommend this if you ever struggle with chapped or constantly peeling lips from travelling or those many hours stifled in a room of office air-conditioning.
The session I had with Fresh, was not just for product testing. Their managing director, Cleo (Clio? Cleo?) also taught us a new method of combining two of their products for a deeper, more effective cleansing ritual.
For this - you need two items; namely their Soy Face Cleanser with the Umbrian Clay Pore Purifying Face Mask.
I have always been terrified of using clay masks because every time I do, my sensitive skin breaks out in white heads from the harshness or dryness from them. Never would I have thought to combine a clay mask - let alone one as gentle as the Umbrian Clay Mask with an even gentler skin cleanser to use as a face cleanser suitable even for daily use.
Testing the combination out gave my skin a brand new experience, as well as thoroughly cleansed it; in the end, my skin tone was evidently brighter and well-prepped for the rest of the skincare regime. I'm still a little iffy about using a clay mask on the regular, but combining both might just be a new solution to old problems.
If I walked away with anything from the event, its the words that good skin begins with fresh skin.
I want that for my skin - it's been a revised, more realistic goal for me since the beginning of my hormonal acne when I turned 28. Not glass skin, or flawlessly perfect; just fresh, clean skin. Try out a Fresh product, any one, it doesn't even need to be their new mask. Any of their products will serve your skin a purpose.
I'm however, partial to their rose products.
Life isn't a bed of roses, but there's no harm trying to rosy up the skin.
*I was invited to the launch, no products were sponsored and all opinions are my own.*
Fresh products can be found at:
or any of their outlets around Singapore.
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