15 posts tagged "Kate Somerville"
A Serpentine Dream For Your Skin
BLACK SNAKEROOT / blak snayk-root / n / 1. Also known as Actaea racemosa, a tall woodland perennial with long plumes of white, fuzzy flowers that is native to eastern North America; / n / 2. Dried medicinal rhizomes historically used by Native Americans to treat gynecological disorders, sore throats, kidney problems, depression, and rattlesnake bites; / n / 3. A natural estrogen receptor used by early American settlers in the mid-nineteenth century to treat nervous disorders; / n / 4. An herb that helps to support the skin’s natural defense mechanisms when applied topically, resulting in a calming sensation after sun exposure, e.g., “Black snakeroot soothes your skin and calms your nerves.”
Try it: Somerville360 Tan Maximizer Tan Enhancing Moisturizer with black snakeroot extracts, $48, www.katesomerville.com.
The Oxygen Network
Oxygen facials peaked on spa menus a few years back, promising to make skin dewy and plump with mists of the refreshing, pure molecule. Despite hype and devotion from celebs (read: Madonna), dermatologists were skeptical of the lasting benefits. Now it seems oxygen is poised for a comeback—this time in the form of elixirs, creams, and even makeup infused with that atmospheric element. But the question remains: Do these O2 fixes improve your skin’s health in the long run? We tested out the latest offerings, asked the pros for their opinion, and discovered some surprising results.
The Product: Philosophy Oxygen Boost Daily Energizing Oxygen Elixir, $50, www.philosophy.com.
The Claim: A companion product to the brand’s popular Oxygen Peel (which is meant to mimic the results of an oxygen facial at home), this lightweight lotion contains a veil of oxygen that aims to clarify, detoxify, and energize the skin.
The Expert’s Take: “Overall, I think the Philosophy oxygen collection is good, but I’m still skeptical of oxygen as an ingredient that does anything beneficial for the skin,” says Washington, D.C.-based dermatologist Elizabeth. “I don’t think it’s harmful in any way, just useless.”
The Experience: We can’t say for certain if it was the O2 or the blend of botanicals in this formula, but the lotion went on with a perfect velvety texture and gave our skin an amazingly moist, morning-dew-on-petals effect. Hard science aside, we’re sold.
True Love With True Lash
Mascara wearers of the world can all agree on one thing: Successfully removing every trace of the thick black pigment from lashes—without simultaneously pulling out a few loose hairs in the process—is near impossible. We’ve been assured that losing said strays is perfectly normal and par for the course during a regular eyelash growth cycle. But we’ve always been on the hunt for something that could replenish, rather than damage, our lashes while successfully removing makeup from them. Apparently, Kate Somerville has had similar visions. Her new True Lash Lash-Enhancing Eye Makeup Remover is packed with hydrating sodium hyaluronate, green and white tea extracts to promote microcirculation and reduce puffiness, chamomile and aloe vera to smooth out fine lines, and rosehip and evening primrose extracts to add additional firmness. But the real selling point of the super-creamy formula is its patented SymLash226 Complex that actually promotes keratin production while cleansing individual hairs, so for every lash you lose, a thicker, fuller one grows in its place. Problem solved.
J. Lo Joins Jenna In Pedicure-Gate 2011; Kate Somerville’s Berry Best; And More…
As the brouhaha over J.Crew creative director Jenna Lyons’ affront to gender roles spirals out of control, some new developments have emerged suggesting that she may not be the only one “confusing” her child. Turns out J. Lo also paints her son Max’s toes—blue, not pink. And the plot thickens. [The Cut via People]
Speaking of Lopez, People magazine’s newly crowned Most Beautiful Woman in the World is offering up all kinds of beauty secrets, including the fact that she’s been dyeing her hair once every two weeks since she started going gray at age 23. [Elle U.K.]
As the weather gets warmer, you may want to switch up your fragrance arsenal as well as your wardrobe. Your best bet: Leave deeper, richer scents like patchouli and cedar wood behind in favor of lighter citrus notes and dewy green notes. Vanilla and coconut eaux are also totally within reason. [WSJ]
The onset of strawberry season means good things for your stomach—and your skin, according to aesthetician to the stars Kate Somerville: “Cut a large strawberry in half, lengthwise. Take a fork and poke at the flesh a little to awaken and release the juices. Swipe the strawberry across your face and massage the juice in a bit, using small circles. Leave it on for about two minutes, then rinse off. Strawberry juice contains natural skin lighteners that brighten spots over time.” [L.A. Times]
Kate Somerville Introduces A Portable Peel
Kate Somerville has a very loyal following. People—both A-listers and those of us who are unlisted—flock to her Skin Health Experts treatment center in West Hollywood and swear by staples from her eponymous skincare range. Her Exfolikate Intensive exfoliating treatment and luxuriously creamy Goat Milk moisturizers are personal favorites. Now, just in time for fashion month (we’re on a seven-day countdown over here), it’s a little easier to get her professional-grade clinic experience in the comfort of your own home. Somerville has put the power of her in-office lactic acid exfoliator in the palm of your hands with her new Clinic-To-Go pads. The professional-strength treatment peel has been loaded into individual-use mitts that fit over your fingers. Remove the protective paper layer, buff in a circular motion, leave on for two minutes, and rinse. The gentle resurfacing process relieves skin congestion and diminishes discoloration to leave you positively glowing in a month, if used twice a week. Seeing as how they’re TSA-friendly and totable, it’s a pretty easy commitment to make—from New York all the way through the Paris shows.