FRÉ Skincare Products Review

FRÉ Skincare Products Review

I don’t know why it has taken me so long to write a review for a set of products that I use every day.  You guys might know that last year I became an ambassador for the brand FRÉ Skincare.  FRÉ makes products to meet the needs of active women or women who sweat.  Let’s all put our hands up, shall we?

I’m getting sweaty on a daily basis; if not through exercise, than through the hot climate that I reside in.  We’re talking So Cal summers here!  So, I’ve really put these products to the test and can feel confident in saying these are top-notch.  I largely attribute the luxurious feel of the products to their Argania Active Complex derived from antioxidant-rich Argan oil.  It’s an integral aspect of their brand so the Argan used is high in quality and sourced carefully.  I won’t go into their full story here but you can read more about it on their website!   

What I will share with you here is my experience with the products!  Before we dive into the review, I want to be transparent and say that FRÉ did send the products to me but I am not obligated to write a review here on my blog.  Actually, nor was I obligated to use the products EVERY DAY for the past 6 months.  That’s all on me!  It just goes to show that when you find products that work, you stick with them.

Despite that, I will admit to having a few issues/concerns about the products and I will definitely be sharing that below.  They might not be a big deal for you but I want to clearly outline anything and everything that I can so that if you are considering shopping FRÉ, you’ll know what to expect.

Without further ado, here is my breakdown of how the FRÉ Skincare line of products have performed, what I like, and what I’m not that into.

FRÉ 123 Set

Protect Me- Defense Facial Moisturizer with SPF30

protect me fre skincare

Protect Me via FRÉ Skincare

Sunscreen is a love it or hate it type of products.  We all know we should be applying sunscreen anytime we may be exposed to the sun for any amount of time.  Yet, how many times have you tried to be a good citizen and applied your sunscreen, only to feel a THICK, sometimes WHITE, layer on your face and have it clog up your pores?? Ugh, nothing is worse. 

Enter Protect Me which is specifically designed with non-comedogenic Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Octocrylene as sunscreen ingredients.  These have been studied and tested to provide UVA and UVB protection together and do not leave that thick sunscreen layer on your face.  It is also worth mentioning that I’ve had zero breakouts and no issues with having a whitecast in photos because of the product.

Although, I wouldn’t be an honest blogger if I didn’t also admit that, while those above mentioned sunscreen ingredients serve to prevent clogged pores, they are also potential endocrine disruptors.  Yeah, there is some light research suggesting Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane can mimic estrogen in the body and it’s friend Octocrylene  causes cell die-off as the ingredient is exposed to UV rays.  A little fishy considering these are ingredients that will be absorbed into our skin.  Yet, if the alternative is not wearing sunscreen or wearing one that your skin hates, then I think this might not be a big deal.  I just wanted to point this out so you guys can make an informed decision.

Purify Me- Hydrating Facial Cleanser

purify me fre skincare

Purify Me via FRÉ Skincare

Maybe you’ve heard oil is the best thing to use to remove eye make-up because they work together?  If not, here I am to inform you that oil is the best to use for eye make-up removal.  Similarly, we need an ingredient that works with what we have on our facial skin to remove dirt and impurities.  That might be an oil-based moisturizer like Purify Me!  Most of my makeup is actually water-based so I have an easier time using a makeup-removing face wash or micellar water before Purify Me. 

On days when I just got sweaty sans makeup, Purify Me works well alone!  It is a creamy face cleanser with gentle microbeads (and not the synthetic kind that hurt the environment).  The cleanser is amazing to clean and lock in moisture at the same time.  I’ve mentioned how the products were designed for active/sweaty skin but I find the Argan oil ingredients are also extremely beneficial for dry skin!  My skin certainly feels supple and soft after using this cleanser.

Revive Me- Deep Replenishing Serum

revive me fre skincare

Revive Me via FRÉ Skincare

The serum is by far my favorite product right here!  I can’t tell you how many facial moisturizers I’ve tried and they’re often too thick or too thin or just don’t get the job done.  My skin looks and feels so much better since I started using Revive Me.

When I started using the serum, my skin broke out—not to blame the Revive Me but my skin was simply adjusting to a new and non-comedogenic product.  After about a week, I notice my skin was not dry, irritated, or nearly as red as it used to be.  My face was so sensitive but the serum really helped to eliminate irritation and promote my own skin’s cellular turnover.  I rarely get breakouts now!

If you can only get one product to try, I would say get this serum!

Glow Me

glow me fre skincare

Glow Me via FRÉ Skincare

This product is FRÉ Skincare’s answer to the beloved tinted moisturizer.  It does not have the coverage you can achieve with a foundation or concealer but that is not expected.  Similar to Protect Me, Glow Me won’t clog your pores and it is easy enough to layer with the other FRÉ products without experiencing layers and layers of heaviness.  On the other hand, the tinted moisturizer has a thicker feeling than any of the other products.  The tackiness goes away after a few minutes of air-drying or with a follow-up touch of powder.

Surprisingly, Glow Me does not utilize the same sunscreen ingredients as Protect Me.  Instead, it uses Cyclopentasiloxane and the well-studied titanium dioxide combined with Trimethoxycaprylylsilane.  I couldn’t find too much on the latter ingredient as far as testing or safety, at the moment. Cyclopentasiloxane, although it does not have the hormone disruptive effects as Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, can however become toxic to organs with continued use because of the bioaccumulative nature of the chemical.  Again, these are not necessarily reasons to deter anyone from trying the products but points I feel particularly inclined to research for sunscreen-containing products.  

Detox Me

detox me fre skincare

Detox Me via FRÉ Skincare

Face masks are notoriously drying or breakout-causing, for me.  Yet, Detox Me utilizes the same argan oil base as all of the other products which keeps it from being drying.  Of course, it serves its purpose as a mask to dislodge skin impurities and unclog pores with the help of kaolin clay and dead sea salt. 

I love the way the mask feels exfoliating as you rub it on but it feels like it balances my skin’s pH as I’m wearing it.  FRÉ recommends using it after working out, one to three times per week.  I personally enjoy using the mask after taking a shower twice a week, ideally.

There you have it, folks!  Those are the key things I would want you to know if you’re thinking of buying any of the FRÉ products.  I do believe the ingredients are very skin-friendly and seem to be agreeable with all skin types—oily, dry, and everything in between. 

The best way to get a feel for the products is to try them out!  I am particularly drawn to the Detox Set but you can also purchase the products individually.  If you are interested, be sure to use my code: MELANIEM or this link https://www.freskincare.com/MELANIEM so that you can snag a discount at checkout!

Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions about the products.  I’m happy to provide you with answers to help you decide if FRÉ is right for you.

Thank you for reading and being here.

Xoxo,

Melanie

 

Beauty Gifts for ANYONE in your life ~ Friday Five

Beauty Gifts for ANYONE in your life ~ Friday Five

If you walk into any store, the section for personal care items and beauty gifts are is probably through the roof.  There are just so many options nowadays but, if you’re like me, you want to give gifts that are actually useful.  Most people have a set skincare or beauty routine already so what can your gift provide to enhance that?  

If you’ve been around here before, you know how these Friday Fives work.  I’m keeping the list of beauty gifts simple and showing five items both women and men can benefit from!  There’s no shame in the beauty game! 

I recommend creating a gift set with 2-3 of the items. 😉 Or, you can grab several of whichever stands out to you and gift it as a stocking stuffer for your pals.  Whoever you’re gifting to this year, you can’t go wrong with any of these products!

jade roller beauty gifts friday five

Jade-Roller

Before getting into jade-rolling, I had begun a routine of self-facial massaging.  The roller is an excellent tool to help ease stiff jaw muscles and encourage blood flow.  After jade-rolling, my face feels the way my body does after I do a workout.  It feels refreshing and full of energy!  I’ve also seen improved skin texture, wrinkle reduction (I have a bothersome one between my brows), and reduced inflammation and under-eye discoloration.

beauty gifts friday five rosehip oil

Rosehip oil

Oils have become the new moisturizer.  That’s not to say you shouldn’t ever use a moisturizer but oils can help assist your skin with locking in moisture!  Rosehip oil is my ideal choice because it is very gentle, soothing, rich in vitamin E, and, in my experience, it has been non-comedogenic.  Perhaps you’ve heard of the coconut oil craze.  While I like using coconut oil in food, and occasionally as a hair mask, I wouldn’t put it on my face.  It’s extremely rich and might benefit mature skin better.  Otherwise, opt for gentler oils like rosehip!

beauty gifts friday five fre skincare

Detox Me Face Mask

If someone says they don’t like face masks they are either downplaying their love or they haven’t found the right face mask! The Detox Me mask if unique in that it provides the skin cleansing properties you want in a mask but it won’t make your skin feel stripped!  It provides moisturization thanks to the Argan oil base.  Another thing I love about it is the Dead Sea salt microparticles which gently help exfoliate your skin.  It truly is a multitasking product.  If you want to purchase it, use this link or include the code MELANIEM to score 15% off your order!

beauty gifts friday five essential oils

Lavender and Frankincense Essential Oils

Okay, so, essential oils might not scream beauty but they are amazing gifts that can be utilized for beauty purposes.  You can squeeze a bit of your moisturizer into the palm of your hand and then add a drop or two of essential oils.  I named both lavender and frankincense but really you could just use one or the other and still see benefits.  Whichever you choose, the essential oils should be pure grade, like the kind from Young Living, and not contain additives.  Oftentimes, I’ll even add a drop to my rosehip oil (mentioned above) and my skin loves it! The essential oil + moisturizer/oil trick can be done for your face or body!

beauty gifts friday five exfoliating gloves

Charcoal Exfoliating Gloves

I’ve saved the best for last!  Okay, all of the products I’ve named today are beyond clutch (is that word still trendy?) but these gloves are amazing.  The charcoal exfoliating gloves are a better alternative to those round plushy loofahs that you might have hanging in your shower.  I don’t know about you but I have a hard time feeling clean without scrubbing my skin.  I used to buy sugar scrubs left and right but now I mostly just use these gloves.  No need to worry about them being too rough, though—it’s all about the pressure you apply.  To use: you simply put on the gloves in the shower, add a drop of soap, and start scrubbing your body.  They last forever, too!  I pop mine into the washing machine once in a while to freshen them up and they’re good to go.

That brings us to a wrap with my five beauty gifts!  No pun intended.  Okay, semi-intended.  I hope you’ve gathered some ideas for stocking-stuffers or easy beauty add-ons to enhance other gifts you may be buying for friends and family.  Hey, and, if nothing else, I would recommend picking up these products for yourself because they are game-changing.

Xoxo

Melanie