Worth it: Fresh Crème Ancienne
Photo: Alex Perron
In the 2nd century, a medical scientist named Claudius Galenus whipped up the world’s first cream. The prominent Greek physician used the ultra-rich concoction to treat the wounds of Roman gladiators. In 2001, Fresh co-founder Lev Glazman was doing research in the LVMH chemist library when he came across the legend and set out to replicate the original formula with its perfect balance of oils and wax.
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Fresh looked to a hidden monastery in the Czech Republic to make the cream. They used a top-secret blend of fine oils and natural ingredients like meadowfoam seed oil, chamomile wax, and Echinacea extract to make what they believe is the perfect moisturizer. The ingredients are so delicate that each cream must be poured in a very specific sequence, by hand, at a very specific temperature. (Fun fact: if a formula wasn’t made by a monk in Galenus’s days, it was considered witchcraft!) The 12 monks pour the final product into the white jars you see in the store.
The original Crème Ancienne ($140) is dense and almost wax-like—great for ultra-chapped skin or even dry cuticles. It sold out within the first three months of launch. The newest product in the collection is Crème Ancienne Soft Cream ($140), a fluffy, whipped version that feels bouncy to the touch. It’s only faintly scented—like the subtlest version of peaches and cream—and a little bit goes a long way. I might not have any gladiator wounds, but it leaves my face looking hydrated and youthful—much like I imagine a hidden monk to look.
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