Several years ago, I developed an expensive habit. I got hooked on Tammy Fender’s Intensive Repair Balm; 1.7oz costs $130. I tried to quit several times. I would run out, and swear I wasn’t going to replace the jar. But then, two weeks later, my skin’s sallow, uneven texture would send me running to Neiman Marcus for more.
I tried every product in the sub-$100 range that promised to offer the same benefits. Nothing came close. My addiction was costly, it was strong, and it was lasting. Because when you have bad skin, you’ll pay whatever the medicine costs.
Three weeks ago, I picked up a sample of Fresh’s Black Tea Age Delay Cream ($90). Initially, I was put off by the smell–which can only be described as Eau de Dill Pickle. But the silky texture and rave online reviews convinced me to press on.
Fresh’s Black Tea line is made with Kombucha, a fermented tea that’s rich in antioxidants. Add lychee and blackberry root and you have a potent free radical-fighting product. The Age Delay Cream claimed benefits are firmer skin, reduced lines and wrinkles, and improved texture.
My skin has loved this moisturizer. It looks brighter and smoother with more even tone. It has never felt too dry or too oily. I have seen no uptick in blemishes or irritation. In fact, my acne seems less red and angry than before. And the lines in my forehead seem to have relaxed a bit.
While $90 is still a lot of money, it’s a sizable difference from $130. And unlike Tammy Fender, which is only available at a handful of stores and sometimes out of stock, the Fresh products are available at any Sephora.
I know that some of you will ask me if I’ve heard of anything similar in a lower price point. I did some digging and found two products. Murad’s Anti-Aging Moisturizer ($48) also contains Kombucha. And this $55 Juara black tea and hyaluronic acid moisturizer. Both seem to offer similar benefits to the Fresh product.
Hi Belle,
Your link to the Black Tea Age Delay Cream is for the Tammy Fender Balm.
Thanks, fixed now.
Thank you! I’m excited to try the Black Tea Cream!
I just picked up Philosophy’s Ultimate Miracle Worker Night, I think for about $90. It’s good – I look better when I put some Tony Moly Banana Sleeping Pack over it, but more than once/week, I break out.
Maybe next time I’ll try this. I’m willing to pay if it’s good, but $130 would make me pause.
Fresh black tea is my favorite. I first got it and a birch box as a sample.
This may not be helpful to many, but if anyone is subscribed to the FabFitFun box, the Juara black tea moisturizer is currently one of the Fall box add-ons for just $22.
Hi Belle,
Thank you for the great review! If cost wasn’t a factor + you could only choose one, would you go with the Tammy Fender or Fresh version?
Thanks again!
I don’t think so. I like the way my skin is looking right now. I also got sick of having to order the product and wait when it wasn’t in stock.
This is so timely! I searched your blog a few days ago to see if you were still using the Tammy Fender balm. I was considering purchasing it. Thank you for this recommendation. Their rose eye cream does wonders for my sleepy eyes.
A representative at Sephora recommended the Fresh value set — 3.3 ounce Rose Face Mask, 1 ounce Sugar Face Polish, and 1 ounce Black Tea Perfecting Mask for $80. So far, I’m loving all three products, and while I won’t bore you with the math, it was a good deal based on what I was considering purchasing separately.
I would love an in depth look at your skin routine…and maybe how it’s changed through the years? Your product reviews are the best and what have kept me reading for 6 years.
I absolutely loved the Ole Henricksen Invigorating Nigh Gel you recommended. My wallet does not. I’m wondering if another AHA might give me similar results?
I use the Drunk Elephant AHA but it’s $90. I used to use the Peter Thomas Roth one, which I liked, but it was more drying than my now older skin will allow.
I love Fresh’s Black Tea line! Discovered it about 5 years ago and don’t use anything else. I also use it on my neck to (hopefully!) prevent “turkey neck”. They revamped their black tea eye cream about 1 year ago – much lighter, and for me, more effective. I just wish they made their face cream with SPF.
I have been using L’Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector serum and it has made my skin look a lot more even and bright. I highly recommend it and it is only $25 in drugstores in NYC (probably less elsewhere).
I’ve used the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve eye cream for a while, but was also turned off by the scent of the Black Tea products (and the fact that the BT creams cost twice as much as the Lotus ones). But perhaps I’ll have to give it another try!
Yeah, the smell is definitely gross.
I love your reviews Belle, because I know they are real and not sponsored. Almost all the bloggers I love and regularly read seem to have mostly sponsored posts now. Boo! Anyway, I have recently tried Kiehls Midnight repair recovery serum and that stuff is pretty fantastic. I have noticed my skin is brighter and relaxed lines as well, and I’ve only been using it less than a week. I’ll have to look into this Fresh black tea cream. I have never found a moisturizer that does what you say this does!