MOST WANTED

We Asked The Team To Try Fresh Dream Lotus Serum Overnight

By Vanessa Zaree and Rebecca Herritty

Leave-on acid based exfoliants have become the preferred way of exfoliating for most of us. Applying a lightweight formula after cleansing before you jump into bed and then waking up with smoother, softer feeling skin feels much easier than using a gritty scrub several times a week. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are usually the main ingredients, but they’re often paired with hydrators like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to prevent dryness and irritation.

Take the new Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Resurfacing Dream Serum as an example. The formula is packed full of AHAs to slough away dry, dead skin on the surface, as well as polyglutamic acid to hydrate and super lotus to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. The multi-purpose serum promises to smooth your skin and boost radiance and is gentle enough to be used every night.

Will the Dream Lotus Serum join our list of the best Fresh products? We asked two Space NK team members to road test the serum for a month and give us the down low.

Rebecca’s Fresh Resurfacing Dream Serum Review

• Skin type: Dry/dehydrated and sometimes sensitive

• Skin tone: Fair

• The product: Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Resurfacing Dream Serum, £60.00

Fresh Lotus Dream Serum before and after | Space NK

Rebecca before and after using Fresh Resurfacing Dream Serum

Despite being a skincare buyer, I’m ashamed to say that this was the first time I’d tried any skincare from Fresh, except the bestselling Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment, £22.00 (Rose and Honey are my favourite shades). In my defence, we have a lot of skincare brands and I’m still working my way through them. Prior to using the Fresh Lotus Resurfacing Serum my skin was feeling a little dry and dull thanks to the cold weather and busy festive season.

As my skin can be sensitive, I opted to use the Fresh serum every other night and alternate between it and a hydrating formula. I used it after cleansing and toning and followed up with the Fresh Lotus Dream Cream. The sweet, clean scent and light, silky texture of the serum felt luxurious and pampering. It also absorbed quickly into my skin, which earned this product serious bonus points in my book.

The morning after I first used the Fresh Lotus Serum my skin felt refreshed and smooth. I also found my makeup applied well over my usual morning skincare. After a month of using the serum, my skin looked brighter, more radiant and felt super smooth despite the amount of chocolate and Prosecco I consumed over the festive period. Fresh’s serum definitely helped to keep dry, flaky skin at bay and left it feeling comfortable.

Vanessa’s Fresh Resurfacing Dream Serum Review

• Skin type: Oily

• Skin tone: Medium with neutral undertones

• The product: Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Resurfacing Dream Serum, £60.00

Vanessa before and after using Fresh Resurfacing Dream Serum

My main skincare concerns include texture, clogged pores and dehydration and dullness that can come with ageing skin. Having said this, my skin was in a relatively good state when I started reviewing the Fresh serum, although I feel like ‘winter dullness’ was kicking in, so I was glad this formula had exfoliating properties.

I fell in love with the lightweight texture immediately and I enjoyed the pear scent – prickly pear extract (which helps to buff and brighten skin) is one of the main ingredients. I don’t have an issue with fragranced products, but it is worth keeping in mind if you prefer fragrance-free skincare. My skin felt really soft after using it and I think it responded really well to the formula. Like Rebecca, I found the serum absorbed well and while there wasn’t a huge difference in my skin immediately after using you, I do think it gave a nice, subtle glow.

As Fresh designed the Lotus Serum as a nighttime product, I used it in my evening routine. At first, I used it on its own, along with my eye cream and lip products, to gage how my skin would react. There were absolutely no issues, so I eventually combined it with my retinol products, including Oskia Super R Retinoid Sleep Serum Capsules 0.5%, £76.00 and my skin didn’t complain!

After using the Fresh Lotus Serum for just over a month I would say my skin looked more radiant and healthier, and it felt quite soft too. It has become a firm fixture in my evening routine, and I suspect I’ll miss it once it’s used up!

The Verdict On Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Resurfacing Dream Serum

Depending on your skin type, the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Resurfacing Dream Serum, £60.00 is a great serum to add into your evening routine. Perfectly balanced with AHAs, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and prickly pear extract, Fresh’s serum exfoliates skin without causing dryness or irritation. While the brand recommends using it every night and most skin types should be able to tolerate this, we suggest easing it into your routine gently if you have sensitive skin, like Rebecca did.

“I think the Fresh Lotus Resurfacing Dream Serum would work well for anyone who counts dullness and uneven texture as skin concerns,” says Vanessa. “I’d be surprised if drier skin types would react to this serum as Fresh is great at wrapping up active ingredients in the softest textures and formulas.”

More From Fresh

While the nourishing lip balms capture a lot of the limelight, there is more to Fresh than just lip products. In fact, the French skincare brand has an impressive array of formulas to suit all skin types and concerns. The bestselling Fresh Soy Cleanser is the backbone of many skincare routines thanks to the gentle ease with which the formula washes away dirt, grime and makeup.

If dryness is a bug bear of yours, incorporating the Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner after cleansing will help to top up your hydration levels, as will the Sleeping Mask from the same range. We swear by the latter throughout the winter and before any special occasions if our skin needs a little pick-me-up.

Those who count fine lines and wrinkles, as well as firmness, as key skin concerns should explore the Black Tea lineup, which helps to support and boost your collagen production, helping to plump and firm your skin. Our list of recommendations is by no means extensive, so do check out the full Fresh skincare offering.