New Year's Resolutions: What Kate Somerville Thinks You Should Change in Your Skin Care Routine

It's that time of year again! What can you change up to create and new (and hopefully, better) you in 2013? My resolution last year was to be much better about always washing my face before going to bed, and I think I was successful. This year I'm going to start extending my skin care routine to other parts of my body. Really, I'm going to pay more attention to my neck and chest and the backs of my hands. I'll be making more of an effort to apply treatment products and sunscreen to those areas.

If you're still thinking about this year's resolution, I got some great recommendations from Kate Somerville, a go-to for glowy and amazing skin in Hollywood!


If you don’t exfoliate … start! Getting rid of the dead layer of skin cells are crucial for a brighter complexion. My favorite exfoliant is Exfolikate, a product in my line that uses natural fruit enzymes, gentle acids and microbeads to do the job. (Note, this is one of my all time favorite products! Here's my Exfolikate review.)

Don’t go to sleep with your makeup on: If it’s a once-in-a-blue-moon occurrence, then that’s okay. But if this is a habit, your complexion will appear dull and less healthy. Buildup will develop and can clog pores, causing your skin to look lifeless.

Wear sunscreen! Even in the colder weather, be sure to wear sunscreen every day. You should regularly use sunscreen products that have a high SPF in them (just because you can’t see the sun doesn’t mean that its rays aren’t reaching your skin!).

Don’t forget about your lips – Keep lips from getting dry and chapped this winter. Use a lip balm that doesn’t contain peppermint essential oils or petroleum, as both can actually dry out lips. Be sure to moisturize your lips during your evening cleanse routine for a smoother, plumper pout in the morning.

Keep up with healthy habits in the New Year – late nights, smoking, excessive alcohol, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise will all take a huge toll on your skin!


Kate Somerville

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Special Occasion Glowy Skin: Kate Somerville's Recommendations!

Kate Somerville is a much sought after go-to in Hollywood. Really, she's the go-to person if you're in need of glowy red carpet worthy skin! While most of us won't be facing that insane gauntlet of photographers (there were more, I've cropped that picture), I swear it does sometimes feel like that office Christmas party or family wedding is a huge deal, doesn't it?

Somehow, I was able to get Kate's personal recommendations for how to prepare for upcoming special events, whether you have a week or just a few days to get that glow!



Regardless of upcoming holiday parties or New Year’s Eve bash, you should always keep up with your skincare regimen to maintain a healthy, radiant complexion. To get the healthiest, youngest-looking skin, you have to take care of it at every level. It is important to always follow these five basic principles.

• Protect: wear sunscreen and be careful of UV exposure which can cause photoaging and skin cancers.

• Hydrate: Drink water, take your omega-3 and moisturize!

• Feed your face! Topical vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and essential oils have been found to be incredibly efficient in feeding the skin. Also, your diet is an integral part of skin health.

• Stimulate: The stimulation of circulation – along with collagen and elastin and other processes that support a healthy cellular structure – becomes increasingly critical as we age. Stimulate your skin with topical ingredients such as Vitamin A and Peptides. Trace minerals such as zinc and magnesium, as well as omega-3 are very important for collagen synthesis.

• Detoxify the body internally and externally to rid toxins and impurities:
~~~Externally detoxifying means a few things: Daily cleansing, exfoliating and monthly facials, whether at home or at a skin-care salon.
~~~Internally: You can do a daily cleanse through certain drinks and foods such as pure cranberry juice, lemon juice in water and green tea. If you do a longer-term cleanse, always consult a doctor or nutritionist before starting.

However, if you want an immediate healthy sparkle right before an event, try my Somerville360 Body or Face Self-Tanning Pads. They are not only quick and easy to use, but they prevent uneven tone or streaking, won’t stain hands and create glowing skin in two to four hours!

Also try my new DermalQuench Liquid Lift. It is an at-home product inspired by the Clinic treatment that only takes seconds and is used twice a day to deliver deep hydration to improve the look of elasticity and tone, rejuvenate the skin and immediately reveal a gorgeous glow.


Kate Somerville

Image from dr_vaibhavahuja

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5 Years of Favorite Products: Exfolikate, Green Goo for the Win!

I seriously love this expensive green goo. When I first wrote my Exfolikate review, I called it a holy grail product, and it definitely is for me!

About twice a week, while my conditioner sits on my hair, I spread a thin layer of this green stuff on my skin. I rinse my hair, and the timing is perfect for rinsing the Exfolikate.

This makes me glowy and smooth. It takes virtually no time. The tube is expensive, though I've been using the same one twice a week for about 9 months and still have a lot left. Definitely worth it!

Kate Somerville

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ExoliKate Review: The Fastest Scrub/Peel Ever

ExfoliKate is my favorite facial scrub or peel, or scrub/peel or whatever you want to call this thing. It is fast, it works and is well worth the expensive price. I've called it a holy grail product in the past, and it definitely is worthy of that title!

I want to say right away that yes, this is a pretty expensive product. However, I use about the size of a large pea with each use for my t-zone and most of my cheeks and chin. So, that 2 ounce tube has a lot of uses in it!

This product is a green goo, with a herbal and somewhat minty scent. The texture is a bit like a regular face mask, though there are some big chunky bits like you'd find in a body scrub. Which yes, is usually something that I avoid in a facial product, but since I don't rub it in the grit doesn't bother me. You simply smear it on and then....

Why yes, it really does say to wait only 20-30 seconds. I confess I might lose track of time and wait a full 45-60 seconds before washing it off. But still... insanely fast, right? As in, this could definitely be included in pretty much any morning routine. My ideal time is in the shower. I apply, put conditioner in my hair, and then rinse off my face. Pretty much perfect timing.

It tingles slightly but doesn't sting at all. It rinses off very easily with just water, which I then follow up with face wash. I've had no problems with redness, irritation or flaking. Just smooth and glowing skin. In 20-30 seconds. Or 45-60 if you're lazy like me.


Kate Somerville

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Kate Somerville's Detox Daily Cleanser, A Little Hollywood in Your Day

Mention the name Kate Somerville, and those "in the know" will likely think of the amazing spa on Melrose that is a Hollywood favorite. I know I do! The spa (which I visited with other bloggers during the Total Beauty event back in May) is quite frankly absolutely beautiful, is staffed by both physicians and estheticians who work together using a variety of treatments to help you glow! They have lasers, peels, facials and even light treatments. It's pretty much a state of the art medi-spa, but with the threat of an Oscar Nominee walking in at any given moment.

So, I was pretty excited to bring home a few Kate Somerville products of my own. I was hoping that having a bit of the spa's aura in my own bathroom would bring a bit of glamour and glowing skin my way as well!


What makes it not a cleanser for everyone is the main surfactant, Sodium Laureth Sulfate which can be harsh for those with very sensitive skin or overly drying for those with dry skin. Notice that the formulation also includes hydroxy acids (Beta: Salicyclic Acid, Alpha: Citric, Glycolic and Lactic Acids) to help exfoliation and cell turn over.

While I wouldn't call this a cleanser gentle enough for everyone, I definitely liked this cleanser for my combination skin. It cleaned my skin easily and quickly with a light lather and a nice citrus scent. It rinses off easily, not irritating my skin or causing after wash tightness. I think it's a great choice for a daily cleanser if you have combination, oily or acne-prone skin!

Ingredients (refer to the Cleanser Post):
Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Salicyclic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Riboflavin Phosphate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Cyanocobalamin, Urea, Limonene

Kate Somerville's Detox Daily Cleanser

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