Tag: Kate Somerville

Summer Legs

Summer clothes are far from my favorite. Regular readers will know that I love layers and cozy fabrics of fall best. But one thing I do welcome is retiring my black tights and baring my legs when the summer arrives. But that also comes with the issue of dry and pasty skin. To remedy that, I am sharing ome of my favorite items that have been on rotation the last month or so here:

Kate Somerville Somerville360° Tanning Towelettes – Hands down, the best self-tanner out there. The cloths are so easy to use (and travel with). I just wipe on my legs quickly when the towelette is fresh and then buff on the color over a minute or so each leg to ensure everything is even. The color is natural and says put for a week. Plus, it doesn’t mess up sheets or clothes and has a relatively pleasant scent.

Miracle Skin Transformer Tinted Body Lotion – Sometimes a faux tan can only take you so far. If you want to up your game, try a tinted lotion like this one. The ingredients help firm skin, including caffeine that works against cellulite. And the shimmer is more subtle than “over-the-top”.

mark. Naked Love Body Butter – My tans tend to last longer when I moisturize my skin at night. Since I prefer something without a tint and slightly richer in the PM, I reach for body butters. The newest from mark smells like a summer dream: apricot nectar, white peaches, velvet freesia and skin musk. It is perfectly rich but still melts into skin.

Alba Botanica Hawaiian, Kukui Nut Body Oil – You can’t beat the shower as a great time to hydrate. I like using oils right at the end of the shower to “seal” in moisture. My recent oil smells like a Hawaiian vacation – and as close as I will get to a Hula for the foreseeable future. Vegetarian and cruelty-free.

note: Honorable mention for PrttyPeaushun Skin Tight Body Lotion in Medium which is vegan, natural and gluten-free. It has slightly more shimmer than the Miracle Skin and can be used on the face and hair.

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Kate Somerville Nourish HydraGel Mask

A lot of people talk about the Sunday blues, but I actually am starting to love these days at the end of the week. I like structure. I love my work. And weekends sometimes throw me off balance. I sound really boring right now, but hey…. I am being real. So today I am prepping for my best self tomorrow so I can hit Monday morning running.

In Oklahoma right now – as far as skin care is concerned – that means treating a big ole dose of dry skin. Leave it to Kate Sommerville to come up with the ultimate cure. The Nourish HydraGel Mask infuses skin with Hyaluronic Acid – the one ingredient that can drive deep hydration into skin. At the same time, skin is cooled and balanced. And antioxidants works against free radicals.

The gel is clear making this mask less messy than alternatives. The scent is marine and transports me to the tropics. After a short five minutes, I rinse the mask off and am left with glowing skin. Perfect to get me right back into Monday morning mode.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Self Care Step Two: Morning Makeup Routine

I’ll keep this fairly short and sweet seeing as I am a person who prefers more brief blog posts and articles: these are the steps I take when I ~~haul ass~~ get ready in the mornings before work (sometimes I will step out of the box with bolder shades on evenings out with the girls).

1. bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream – this new launch has been all over the internet recently, but the hype is warranted. My dry skin eats this up and I get a glow with fairly sheer coverage. I love the brush sold with it but it is no longer in my possession – my former makeup artist friend snagged it this weekend (if that’s a clue as to how good it really is!). I am able to wear both Suede and Vanilla interchangeably.

2. Kate Somerville IllumniKate Concealing Eye Cream – since I am going with a sheer face, I don’t want to cake on a concealer. This eye pen masks dark circles and works to improve the look of skin at the same time. So think long-term improvement towards a bright and wrinkle-free under eye!

3. MAC Brow Set – I alternate using this and a pencil but for now I like the way Brow Set subtly colors brow hairs and sets them at the same time. I currently use Girl-Boy but I think next time I will purchase the slightly darker Show-Off.

4. NARS Contour Blush – To simplify things, I use this duo instead of a powder. I use the darker shade under my cheek bones, temples and jaw line with a bronzer brush. Then using a smaller dome brush, I use the lighter shade under my eyes (to set the concealing eye cream), down my nose and on my chin. Powdered, bronzed and set all with one product. I use the shade Olympia (and Paloma in the summer).

5. Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette – this product is brand new and I had very high hopes for it. Thankfully, I am really happy with it. But it should be noted these powders are very creamy and soft – I just happen to really like that formulation. I wear the matte and lighter shades in the Infinity palette.

6. Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof – an old favorite that I have rescued from the depths of the Belle Belle Beauty closet. I find this liner doesn’t drift and works well on both the waterline and just above the lashes. And it at its best in the classic black shade.

7. bareMinerals Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara – also an old favorite, this mascara really does it all and does it well. I get volume, curl and and inky finish that doesn’t fall out – something that is quickly becoming my biggest pet peeve.

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Winter Makeup Routine

I know it doesn’t come as a shock that I am always changing things up when it comes to my routine. But this particular combo of goodies has seemed to garner quite the motherload of compliments… if I do say so myself. So here is my step-by-step face makeup routine of late – think glowy and natural but still medium coverage (now if I could just get my hair to look like the above).

1. On top of my unsual moisturizer, add a dose (three drops or so) of Kate Somerville Dilo Oil Restorative Treatment and allow to soak in.

2. Using my new favorite FLOWER Ultimate Liquid Foundation Makeup Brush, I apply two small drops of my long-time favorite, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (I wear shade 4.5).

3. Touch up with another old favorite, Cle De Peau Beaute Concealer in Beige – mostly under eye and on the chin. I like to work in using my fingers mostly because I am lazy but I also love this brush.

4. Longevity is all about layers. So I end with a sweep of bareMinerals Mineral Veil – translucent but adds a glow. And bareMinerals READY Bronzer in High Dive to add some warmth to my summer pallor (just a light touch needed!).

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I have a feeling that some of this routine will (happily) be supplanted when my new Glossier Phase 1 set arrives this week – I have heard rave reviews. I can’t wait to share my thoughts on this new line by my fellow beauty blogger.

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Kate Somerville ‘IllumiKate’ Concealing Eye Cream

Last year, Kate Somerville first dipped her toes into color cosmetics in the best way possible. Her CC Cream married skin care and makeup with outstanding results. And her next product, Kate Somerville ‘IllumiKate’ Concealing Eye Cream, is even better.

I am a huge fan of illuminating “wands”. I have tried so so many variations from the classic to offerings from more indie brands. But this one finally brings in a great eye cream, adding a skin care element in a way that only Kate can.

The click-pen dispenses a concealer/eye cream hybrid into a brush. For some reason, no matter what the brand, I always use my finger to apply and then use the attached brush to disperse. Lastly, I blend in again with my finger. But, I admit… to each their own. Applying with a brush might be more hygienic. I just perfect the final finish of a manual application.

The formula is lightweight and works to improve the look of wrinkles while brightening dark circles. The coverage isn’t terribly opaque but I like the more natural finish of a lighter-weight and illuminating effect. Bonus points for the two-in-one product – especially important with my rushed mornings that accompany my new job.

Not only will you look better immediately. Kate Somerville’s proven skin care ingredients work to improve collagen production, add firmness and smooth fine wrinkles. And my dry skin drinks up the added hydration. I use shade Medium for light to medium skin tones with a perfect match. Made in the USA.

Available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Sephora.

Kate Somerville ‘Age Arrest’ Hydrating Firming Mask

If someone forced me to pick one skin care line for the rest of my days, Kate Somerville would definitely be a contender. Having visited her spa, used her products over a period of years and been lucky enough to meet Kate in person, I consider myself a “super-fan”. Things have been a little quiet out there lately, but the last couple of months marked some really exciting launches in the “Age Arrest” collection.

The highlight for me has been the Kate Somerville ‘Age Arrest’ Hydrating Firming Mask. This mask both corrects signs of aging and protects against future damage, making it perfect for a wide range of ages and skin types. If you are a Kate Somerville fan, you’ve probably read about “telomeres”. This product (along with several others in her collection) utilizes Nobel Prize winning Telo-5 Technology to fight against signs of aging. Telo-5 protects the life span of telomeres which help keep our skin looking youthful.

But it isn’t just Telo-5 technology – white water lily and centella asitica extract can help firm sagging skin and improve elasticity. Peptides will boost collagen. And sea whip extract and algae soothe skin.

While this is technically a mask, I have been using it overnight. The formula delivers deep hydration that my dry skin loves. It also works against wrinkles and discoloration. If you prefer a mask treatment, just apply for five minutes and gently remove with a tissue and massage in any extra product. A little facial massage will also help with puffiness. It is recommended 1-3 times a week. I probably could happily use this every other night while those with less dry skin might want to keep it to a weekly treatment.

After using, I can tell my skin is super plump and hydrated in the morning. While I am not yet suffering from sagging skin, I can see more radiance (likely thanks to the hydration). I love taking the preventative step to minimize any potential aging down the road.

Made in the USA. Available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Sephora, KateSomerville.com and Bergdorf Goodman.