'Fresh' Is Officially The New 'Glow'

From ‘glazed donut skin’ to ‘glass skin’, the trend for a glowing complexion has dominated the past decade. Recently, however, we’re seeing a shift towards a more natural looking finish that combines radiants with skin health. Welcome to the era of 'fresh skin'. 

What Is The Fresh Skin Trend?

Fresh skin is not only clean and cared for, it also has an inner luminosity that can only be achieved with a comprehensive and dedicated skincare routine and a healthy lifestyle. Fresh skin is oxygenated, hydrated and invigorated with youthful energy thanks to a balanced diet, a good night’s sleep (most of the time, at least), a thorough cleansing routine and the correct combination of skincare actives. Glow-giving foundations and light-reflecting highlighters are just the cherry on top. 

How Do I Achieve Fresh Skin? 

Lifestyle Hacks To Try 

As well as the obvious lifestyle factors (eating a balanced diet, getting some exercise and drinking at least two litres of water per day) there are a few specific changes you can make that can give your skin a refresh. The first is cutting back on sugar, which causes systemic inflammation and can exacerbate skin issues such as acne, rosacea and eczema as well as contribute to puffiness and premature aging. 

Another easy change is to focus on boosting your gut microbiome. There is a strong symbiotic relationship between your gut and your skin, meaning a healthy microbiome helps to modulate hormone balance (and therefore sebum production) and mitigates inflammation, which results in improved skin health (think a smoother, more radiant complexion, reduced inflammation and fewer breakouts). 

There’s even talk about a correlation between gut health and collagen synthesis, suggesting that a harmonious gut environment may positively influence the skin's ability to maintain elasticity and resist signs of aging. Upping the amount of fiber in your diet, as well as fermented foods like yogurt, kefir and kimchi and adding a probiotic supplement like Supergut Great Skin Formula, which has billions of friendly bacteria specifically selected for being especially effective at supporting the skin. 

The Freshest Skincare

The right skincare routine is at the heart of the fresh skin trend. First, you’ll need to establish adequate cleansing, i.e. a routine that removes every trace of makeup, daily grime and excess oil but doesn’t disturb the essential skin barrier. If you wear makeup daily and live in a polluted area, it’s worth considering double cleansing. Start with an oil-based cleanser like Plantastic Apricot Butter Cleansing Balm and move on to a formula that’s designed to deep clean pores, like Acidenzyme Exfoliating Face & Body Cleanser or, if you have more sensitive skin, Super Healthy Skin Foamy Face Wash. 

Next, it’s essential to include the active ingredients that skin needs to thrive. These are Vitamin A (otherwise known as Retinoids or Retinol), Vitamin B (otherwise known as Niacinamide) and Vitamin C. These three ingredients, as well as a broad-spectrum sunscreen, form the foundation of any comprehensive skincare routine - which is why we created our ABC + SPF Challenge.

Fresh-Faced Makeup

Finally, choosing the right makeup formulas will complement the fresh faced look. Opt for sheer coverage with light-reflecting properties instead of heavy, matte formulas or glittery eyeshadows or highlighters. It’s all about creating an elevated lit-from-within radiance. 

For the perfect base, try Luminous MineralSkin Tint Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 Sunscreen for the smoothest, half-sunscreen-half-complexion-perfecting skin tint you'll ever try. Add a cream blush, lip oil, a slick of brow gel and either use a brown mascara or go bare-lashed for a super natural finish. 

Now you’re all set on your quest for ‘fresh’. Just remember you heard it here first!