Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg

Beauty Insider Get to know the Boston-based founders of Fresh Beauty Insider (BI): What was the inspiration behind Fresh? Lev Glazman (LG): When I was growing up, there were great products out there—but not many I emotionally connected with. I wanted products that were steeped in tradition, but also natural and herbal-based. We weren’t exposed to the rich traditions of beauty in America—it was missing from the industry. Alina Roytberg (AR): Our backgrounds [in Ukraine] had a lot to do with it, too; where we grew up there was not a lot on offer in terms of beauty products, so we just had beauty recipes and folk remedies from our families. BI: How did your latest launch, Crème Ancienne, come about? AR: We found a beauty recipe from the 2nd century—olive oil, beeswax and rosewater—and recreated it for the modern day. We knew it had to be made by hand and it took a year to find a monastery in the Czech Republic where we could produce it. BI: How does the new formula differ from the original recipe? LG: While still traditional and similar to the original, it is a little less rich. The texture is bouncy and firm— cushiony to the touch—and the skin mimics this texture once it’s applied. It is absorbed very quickly and is light and refreshing, yet still very moisturising and luxurious.