A man’s skincare routine is a balancing act between finding the right products for his skin type, finding the most effective combination of products, and finding the time to squeeze it all in before heading out the door or clocking out for bed in the evening.
Luckily, for most skin, the process is easy enough: cleanse, moisturize, and apply SPF. We’ve taken the hard work out of finding one of those elements: the cleanser. Natural skincare brand Fresh has the perfect solution: its Soy pH-Balanced Hydrating Face Wash. We tried the product out, so you don’t have to.
About the Company
In 1991, Fresh started a humble homemade soap company driven by immigrant founders Lev Glazman and Alina Roytber, with a dream of using only the best natural ingredients from all over the world. Lev and Alina opened one store and started with only one product. Their connection to their community helped them grow, and they’ve kept the brand as friendly and welcoming as possible over the years. Fresh is now available in countries worldwide, and the brand’s offering has expanded to include over 220 products.
About the Product
Size: Travel Size 50 ml / 1.6 fl oz, Full Size 150 ml / 5 fl oz, Jumbo Size 400 ml / 13.5 fl oz
Price: $16, $39, $74 (respectively)
Suitable for these skin types: All skin types
Texture: Gel wash
This gentle face wash removes daily impurities, dirt, and any traces of makeup (yes, I said makeup) from the skin. The wash is balanced, and people of any skin type can use it — even really sensitive skin types. The soy proteins deeply cleanse clogged pores, increase skin hydration, soften rough or uneven texture, minimize redness, and smooth out dry lines. This product acts as a cleanser and toner, so there’s no need to follow it with toning liquid.
The hero ingredients in this product are:
- Aloe vera to soothe and hydrate skin.
- Borage seed oil — rich in essential fatty acids — helps nourish and soften dry skin while maintaining a supple and healthy look.
- Cucumber to extract to calm, soothe, and provide a cooling effect.
- Soy proteins to improve elasticity and smooth skin to promote a healthy-looking complexion. A by-product of soy production in the food industry, this ingredient is upcycled (aka repurposed) to help with excess waste.
The product’s packaging is an important component, and it’s received a few updates. Firstly, there’s no more extraneous cardboard box wrapped around your product when it arrives. This might sound like a tiny detail, but over 24 months, that saves about 11 tonnes of cardboard waste for the company and the planet. The second improvement is that the tube itself is now made up of 21% post-consumer recycled products. Using a product created by a company that really cares about the environment is a plus — however you look at it.
The Reviewer’s Skin Type
Our reviewer has sensitive, dry skin, which is prone to irritation.
How To Use It
This gel wash is suitable for morning and evening cleansing, and our reviewer used it for both while trying the product out. Simply squeeze a small amount of products onto wet hands, lather them together, massage into the skin over your face, neck, and eye area, and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
The product comes out of the bottle clear and has a subtle, non irritating scent. The lightweight gel lathered easily on wet hands; our reviewer felt the texture was gentle and smooth — nothing sticky or unappealing. The lather of the product is more than sufficient and no skin tightness is left when all the suds are rinsed away. After use, their skin felt soothed and a lot smoother than before.
Continuous Use
Frankly, this product took us by storm. Sensitive skin is the hardest to please and even harder to balance and soothe — which this product does. Long-term use is the only way to test a product’s efficacy, so our reviewer used the wash morning and night for four weeks. His findings:
- Minimized redness after one week.
- Softer skin, even around the beard area after the first use.
- Fewer blackheads after two weeks.
What We Love About It
Skincare brands are often marketed with the female consumer in mind, but Fresh’s products and branding are unisex. They’ve begun working with male influencers to reach a larger male audience. Male doctors like dermatologist Dr Daniel Sugai are recommending the brand and this product in particular on social media now, too. Fresh is helping to transform the men’s skincare market, and we’re confident we’ll be trying out more of their products soon.
The product itself is a soothing wash that delivers what it promises. It’s a no-mess, no-fuss product that gets down to business and keeps skin happy and balanced. Clearly, this product has become a favorite for a reason, and our reviewer plans to keep using it.