Skincare secrets from Fresh co-founder Lev Glazman

A Fresh Perspective

We were carefree once. Then we learned the cold, hard truth: being a natural beauty does not come naturally. So, when Fresh co-founder Lev Glazman flew in to headline Nordstrom's Beauty Trend Show this weekend, we jumped at the chance to interview him (Hawaii Five-0 actress Michelle Borth is a big fan of the line). Below, his inspirations and must-haves to keep skin on the bright track.

This is your first time to Hawaii. What's your impression so far?
"I love it! I live on the East coast, so coming to a place that's tropical is just so amazing. The water is like liquid silk. I went for a swim this morning and didn't want to get out!"

How do you constantly come up with new products and formulas?
"I'm fascinated with old beauty traditions and rituals that have existed for a long time, so that's the base of my development. Technology brings them to the forefront and makes them much more powerful. Crème Ancienne, for example, uses a formula that was created in the second century to heal gladiators' wounds, and while we've added modern ingredients, it's still made by hand in a monastery."

	Lev's pick: Rose Face Mask, $55, available at Nordstrom, Sephora, Neiman Marcus, and Fresh.com.

What skincare regimen would you recommend for Hawaii's humid climate?
"The most important step is to always cleanse your skin. Choose a soap-free formula that won't strip your skin of natural oils and throw it out of balance. Humidity is good because there's a lot of moisture in the air, but at the same time, it holds a lot of particles and pollutants. Using a mask is incredible, because it hydrates your skin, opens your pores, and draws impurities out like a magnet. I also recommend using a mask while traveling to help your skin readjust to new climates."

Any new products we should look forward to?
"In September, we're releasing Crème Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask, which is filled with honey from a bee cultivated in early 20th century Europe, echinacea for cell turnover, natural enzymes, and vitamins A and E. When you wash it off, your skin glows. We've also got a fragrance called Fresh Life, which is based on the ultimate Fresh moment: a swim in the lake on an early summer morning. The four different chords channel notes of earth, water, air, and sun. It's like a dream."

Beauty Trend Show photos by Tommy Shih for HONOLULUMagazine.com. View the full gallery here.