BellaSugar

Fresh Makes Your Spa Dollars Go Farther

BellaSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:01:18 -0700

The rough economy means that spa-goers are spending less money on their pampering routines. So if you do decide to splurge on a facial, you might as well get your money's worth. That's quite easy to do if you get the hookup at Fresh, where you can sign up for a spa treatment and receive the cost of the service in store credit. So if you spend $125 on a 60-minute facial, you can scoop up $125 in whichever products you like - which makes your dollars go farther than they might at a traditional spa. That program is in place in two New York and London stores with dedicated spa areas offering face, body, and makeup treatments.

But wait, there's more - and it's free. Fresh shops in other cities (locations here) offer the ReFresh Spa Express, which offers complimentary minitreatments; they also occasionally have special days that feature free half-hour facials. And don't miss the Fresh spa days going on at Neiman Marcus this month - this events page has details on complimentary 30-minute facials happening at stores around the country. I've signed up for a facial at the San Francisco Fresh store's next event on Aug. 27, so follow my Twitter to find out how it goes.

Product Review: Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask

BellaSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:00:11 -0700

Would you ever consider spreading mashed potatoes on your face? That's exactly what the Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask ($85) from Fresh feels like. But, alas, starch it is not. It's actually made from cucumber, black tea, sake, lychee seed, jicama root juice, and hyaluronic acid, the big guns when it comes to cell hydration.

My favorite parts are twofold. The first is the light and fresh natural tea and cucumber aroma that is both calming and refreshing. The second part is that it never dries so you don't have to deal with that uncomfortable cracking and stiff sensation. It just sort of absorbs and looks shiny.

It's recommended to leave on for at least five-to-eight minutes, but after speaking with Lev Glazman (one of the co-creators of Fresh), he recommends leaving it on overnight two-to-three times a week for an enhanced effect.

When you wash it off, your face has a glowy and smooth look. My biggest beef with the product, besides the slightly funny feeling that occurs when you rub it in, is the price tag. But, if you've got the extra cash lying around, I recommend giving it a whirl.

See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!

Bellissima! Fresh Umbrian Clay Treatment Bar

BellaSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:00:48 -0700

I had no idea that a bar of clay could be a panacea to so many different skin ailments, but Fresh's Umbrian Clay Treatment Bar ($38) does the job. Umbria is a clay-rich region in Italy, and the treatment bar is made from pure clay. It has the appearance of soap, but once you feel it, you'll see that it's chalky, hard and much heavier and more fragile than soap.

It helps with breakouts, diaper rash, mosquito bites, razor-burn, ingrown hairs and eczema. It works by regulating the production of sebum in your skin, reducing inflammation, and balancing out your skin's natural acid level. I couldn't believe that after just one use the tiny bumps on the back of my arm (that I sometimes get in the hot summer months) dried up and flattened. After two uses, they almost completely went away.

To use, wet an area of the bar and apply it directly to your skin. It dries to a thin finish and is very gentle so it can be used on the most sensitive skin, even baby skin. You can use it as a mask (leave it on for five minutes and rinse) or as a spot treatment.

View 2 Photos ›

New Product Alert: Fresh Firebird Mascara

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:00:25 -0700

Last week Fresh introduced their second mascara to the world called Firebird ($26). This new lengthening mascara was inspired by a famous Russian fairy tale called The Firebird. The story is about a majestic bird with full, feathery magical wings that caused many deaths to the men who tried to seize it.

Firebird mascara won't kill you; it'll just make your lashes look lush. It has an extra-long brush that helps curl, elongate and add volume. Available only in black, it's formulated with seabuckthorn berry oil, red algae, and panthenol. The result is soft, bohemian, wing-like lashes as opposed to glamorous, thick and shiny lashes that you can get from their original SuperNova Mascara.

What I like best is that all you need is one stroke for great results. I can spend upwards of one minute on each eye applying my mascara, but this brush is so lush that it manages to hit just about every lash. (OK, fine, you many need one more stroke here and there to hit those stubborn little hairs closest to your eyes). Also, so far in my experience it doesn't clump or flake. Now that's magical!

Coming Soon: Strawberry Flowers Eau de Parfum

BellaSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:00:22 -0700

Brand-new from Fresh is a summertime eau de parfum called Strawberry Flowers ($38). It launched this past week in the UK and will be exclusive at Sephora come September.

This fruity, floral and sparkling scent is sure to please your sense of smell. It was created by Lev Glazman (co-founder of Fresh), and was inspired by the memories of a perfect Spring morning. It has a true citrus spirit and is made from mandarin, strawberries, freesia, osmanthus, orris, yuzu, white peach, musk, woods and orange blossom.

I tried it for the first time last night and fell instantly in love with the fresh, lush aroma. It is significantly sweeter than Cannabis Rose, but not quite as sugary as Sugar Lemon. Ahh finally, the perfect, happy medium that you can add to your mix of favorite strawberry beauty products.

View 2 Photos ›

Fragrance Review: Fresh Cannabis Rose

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:00:11 -0700

Confession time: I actually listened to Nancy Reagan back in the day, and I have never smoked pot. Whenever someone breaks out the weed, I dork out and worry about getting a contact high. A friend recently fired it up in my kitchen, and I spent the whole time airing out the apartment and trying to keep the cats away, lest they become red-eyed, Cheetos-devouring drug addicts. (Now who's paranoid?)

It's safe to say that weed isn't my thing, but oddly enough, I'm really into Fresh Cannabis Rose. It has an intriguing rich-hippie scent that, yes, smells a little like roses and pot - but in the most sophisticatedly dirty way possible. It's one of those scents that makes people think you simply smell good, and I think it would be disarmingly sexy on a guy.

The best way to experience this kind of reefer madness is with the gift set ($45), which includes a shower gel, body cream, and eau de parfum. And let me tell you, the body cream is intensely luxurious. It's also $85, so don't blame me if you develop a habit.

BellaSugar's Top Five Lip Balm Picks

BellaSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 07:00:07 -0700

I've written about my favorite lip balms before, but a year and a half has passed and I've got some newbies in the mix that I seriously can't live without. Lip balms are one of my all-time favorite products because they feel good and they provide instant relief all year round. Here are my top five picks (for now). What's your favorite?

This small, silver Molton Brown Vitamin Lip Saver ($18) is odorless and flavorless. It spreads easily, penetrates deeply and I often find it missing in my guy's dopp kit!
Some drugstore brands have got it right! This cool, roller-ball Blistex Cherry Splash ($2.89) is sweet, thin-textured and fast absorbing to correct dryness and chapping.
Bobbi Brown Extra ($55) is the most expensive salve of the bunch, but it works wonders on my cuticles, elbows hands and on my lips. I can't seem to stay away from the subtle geranium smell and thick shea butter formula.
Lancome's Baume Baiser ($25) came out as part of the Mystery Game collection. Although it's no longer in stock, you can still find a few of these indulgent padded soft rose-marshmallow scented lip balms online in the UK (and have it shipped).
A year and a half later, one of my faves is still the amazingly nourishing Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment ($22.50). It lasts long, it's thick, it smells amazing, and I'm the first to admit that I'm a sucker for the cool screw-top cover.

Succulent Strawberry Scrubs

BellaSugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:01:12 -0800

Having these grainy and sweet body scrubs in the bath and shower is just asking for trouble. After just one whiff, I'll never want to get out. For those of you who want to take a break from the doldrums of January and indulge in a summertime treat, here are three succulent scrubs that'll do the trick. And hey, if you have any Winter strawberries in your fridge that you can't bear to waste, try making this strawberry scrub at home.

Fresh Sugar Face Polish ($55) is one of those oldies but goodies that you can never say too many great things about. It's made with ground-up wild strawberries and brown sugar, so it's deep cleaning and exfoliating. One of my friends swears by this stuff, and considering the fact that her skin is always soft and clear, it's enough for me.

This Fresh Ripe Wild Strawberry Scrub from Peter Thomas Roth ($35) is more for the body than for the face. It's a sweet-smelling scrub that uses strawberry seeds as exfoliating grains. Not only does it deep clean, it also sloughs away rough, dead skin.

100% Pure Strawberry Butter Body Scrub ($22) is an all-natural, rich, and thick body scrub infused with coconut oil and shea butter to help condition while exfoliating. It also contains antioxidants to help brighten and protect skin. I can't think of a yummier way to scrub-a-dub in the tub.

A New Fresh Fragrance: Eau de Mangosteen

BellaSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 10:59:29 -0700

I am so happy that one of my favorite fragrance companies has come out with a new scent. I used to live above a Fresh boutique and the smell of Sugar Lychee, Pink Jasmine and Pomegranate Anise still reminds me of home. In fact, one of my favorite fragrances ever is Sugar Lemon by Fresh. So I am very happy about the release of the new Mangosteen collection, and most notably the new Mangosteeb Eau de Parfum.

This is also an equally sweet and fruity scent, but also has a touch of musk and florals which distinguish it from the famous Sugar collections. It is made from a blend of bergamot, Italian lemon, peach flower, freesia, mangosteen, sheer peony, rose, Brazilian rosewood and musk.

My girl YumSugar tells me that mangosteen is a superfruit that, despite its name, tastes nothing like mangoes. In its native Southeast Asia, it's often called the Queen of all Fruits. For the fragrance, Lev Glasman, Fresh Co-Founder and Director of R&D, chose to hone in on its juiciest part: the white pulp in the center, which has a high concentration of antioxidants. Huh, a perfume that's healthy for your skin, too: tell me, does it get any better than this?

Eau de Mangosteen is currently available in a 3.4 oz spray bottle ($75), and the collection also includes a bath and shower gel ($25), body lotion ($25) an oval soap ($14) and a gift set ($88).

Happy Birthday, Neiman Marcus!

BellaSugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 08:00:23 -0700

Whenever I need to feel like a luxurious lady, I take a stroll through Neiman Marcus. Joke all you like about the stratospheric prices at "Needless Markup," but you've got to admit, it's a great place to window-shop. (It also helps that the store doesn't take most credit cards, so I'm safely out of temptation's reach!)

The Dallas-based retailer is celebrating its centennial this year, and it's whipped up plenty of beauty exclusives for the occasion. And guess what, they're all being sold at 1907 prices! Just kidding. The most affordable item is this $36 Nars highlighting duo, which packages Albatross highlighter with Torrid blush. It's a pretty duo, but I had more fun browsing the over-the-top luxury items-all $5,449 worth!

To see the rest of Neiman's birthday bounty, read more

My dream item is this Bobbi Brown brush kit ($650). It features 10 handcrafted brushes with 24k gold accents, tucked in a sumptuous leather box. There's also a travel pouch, but honestly, these brushes are so pretty that I'd just want to admire them in the privacy of my home.

Want more? Browse this widget, and then let me know what your dream item would be. It's fun to imagine, right?