Kate Somerville

What’s One Thing That Drastically Made Your Skin Worse?

April 27th, 2018 by Karen 46 Comments

k goofing off — I say blergh to breakouts!

I’ll tell you one thing I’m never gonna do again… Although, you know what? In beauty, one should never say never, because you just never (haha, say it one more time, Karen!) know how you’ll feel in a few months or years, or what will be in vogue at any given moment, so I’ll tell you one thing I’m probably never gonna do again. I’m probably never gonna do another crazy extensive multi-step skin care regimen.

I tried one last December and January. I was using multiple serums, toners and treatments, both in the morning and at night, and I think it was just too aggressive for my face. I started breaking out in places I never break out, and my face was just HURTING, like all the time. Even applying lotion was painful. Plus, the regimen was too time consuming! I felt like I was always in the bathroom waiting for something to dry so I could layer something else on top.

In February, I quit that nonsense. Eight weeks had passed, which I figured was enough time to assess whether the routine was working (and it was wasn’t working, that’s for sure), so I scaled everything back and returned to using the products and lines I’ve had good luck with in the past.

Here’s what I’ve been using for the past two months…

Morning

Gentle cleanser — Avene Tolérance Extrême Cleansing Lotion, which I wipe off with a basic cotton washcloth

Benzoyl Peroxide cream — Kate Somerville Anti-Bac Clearing Lotion (I wait till my skin is completely dry, then apply four pumps all over my face)

Moisturizer/sunscreen all-in-one — Clarins Extra-Firming Day for All Skin Types, and/or Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte (I’m less fond of the Drunk Elephant one; I don’t think it’s as moisturizing as the Clarins)

Evening

Oil-based makeup remover — I’m currently using the one by Tatcha because I had it around and needed to finish it up. I had been using the Tata Harper one before that. Honestly, I don’t think you need to go fancy with this step at all.

Gentle cleanser — Avene Tolérance Extrême Cleansing Lotion and a basic cotton washcloth

Acid Toner — Biologique Recherche p50 1970 (the hype is real! I wait till my skin is completely dry before applying it with a cotton pad)

Moisturizer — Clarins Extra-Firming Night (the last thing I do before bed, after I use the toner)

So, yeah, a much less intense multi-step skin care routine for this girl now.

(You should have seen it before!)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF. 🙂

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

February 2nd, 2018 by Karen 38 Comments

senita athletics top — Cute cutouts for the win

1. Tops with back detailing

Cutouts and braids and peek-a-boo details, oh, my! I’m into tops with cute back action right now, because, let’s be honest…the only part of my body NOT covered in food at any given moment is my upper back. And if it’s the only part of me that’s going to be devoid of half-chewed Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies and organic string cheese, by golly, it’s going to be cute!

2. Kate Somerville Wrinkle Warrior Pink Plumping Mask

This moisturizing gel mask is pink and sparkly — although I can’t quite figure out how the shimmer works, because I don’t really see it on my skin when I look directly at it; it’s like sneaky side sparkle — and smells a like little like a triple berry smoothie.

It’s SUPER hydrating, too. I’ve been using it a few times a week in the morning when my skin feels even drier than usual.

kate somerville wrinkle warrior pink plumping mask — Sparkly!

When I apply a layer after cleansing and toning in the morning, eat breakfast and putter around for a bit, then wash it off, my skin looks and feels plump and moisturized. Kate S. says the moisture magic is from something called “HA3,” which stands for three types of hyaluronic acid, but really, every time I see “HA3” on the jar, I think “Ha-Ha-Ha!” instead. 🙂

All jokes aside, I love this as a makeup prep step in the a.m. because everything I put on top of my skin after it — foundation, concealer, powder, etc. — looks much smoother.

3. Classical Art Memes

These are totally a thing.

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Sephora Beauty Insider Collectible Pin Set

January 18th, 2018 by Karen 23 Comments

Throughout the entire history of “Karen going to Sephora,” which is a long history, I’ve never gotten as excited about a Sephora Beauty Insider points exchange as I got for this Collectible Pin Set.

How cute is this!? It’s sooo cute, right? I had to (“had to,” air quotes) go to Sephora last week… Was it last week? Yeah, it was just before I got sick.

Anywho… I had to pick up another bottle of Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion because I was down to the last drop, and without it my face totally breaks out. So, I ran to Sephora, grabbed it, grabbed an $8 lipstick too (we’ll talk about that in a second), and when I was at the front counter, I saw this cute little set of four enamel pins.

sephora beauty insider collectible pin set — I couldn’t say no.

When the sales associate asked me if I wanted to redeem any points, I didn’t use my standard answer, which is almost always “no” because I’m hardly ever really moved by any of the chintzy samples they give away for like 500 points, but I saw these pins and was like, “YES, GIRL. HOOK A CAT LADY UP.”

OK, there are four pins… There’s a peace sign with painted nails. That one’s very sassy.

sephora beauty insider collectible pins peace — Nail art lives!

There’s this unicorn, whom I’ve named “Treasure.”

sephora beauty insider collectible pins unicorn — Say hi to Treasure.

This trio of cute little hearts…

sephora beauty insider collectible pins hearts — Hearts are my thing, man.

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Kate Somerville Tight’N Cryogenic Tightening Gel Keeps It Cool

December 15th, 2017 by Karen 20 Comments

I’ve finally found something cooler than the other side of the pillow, and it’s Kate Somerville Tight’N Cryogenic Tightening Gel.

And it literally might be the coolest thing I’ve ever used, ever, because it’s like sticking your face into an industrial strength freezer… But it’s also $125, and I’m still deciding whether it’s a necessary step, or one of those skip-able skin care bells and whistles.

Like carrot cake, this new skin tightening foam is weird and wonderful at the same time. You’re supposed to use it as the last step in your skin care routine, both in the morning and at night.

When you push the pump, a white fluffy foam shoots out, which then starts crackling loudly, like crinkling paper or a bowl of Rice Crispies when you pour milk into it.

You apply it with your fingers to your face and neck, avoiding your eyes, nose and mouth.

That’s when the cooling begins, and you feel your skin getting colder and colder and colder…

It’s not painful or anything, but it feels *cold*, and numbing, like somebody’s rubbing ice cubes on your face after the dentist injected you with Novocaine.

And your skin stays like that — really, really cold — for a long time. Thirty minutes or so. It’s fascinating! And so, so, weird.

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Empties

September 14th, 2017 by Karen 10 Comments

I stepped into my bathroom to take a shower the other day — because, apparently, I shower three times a day now because I’m so freaking sweaty — and discovered that a bunch of products I used all summer long have all gone empty at the same time.

Thing is, I use things items practically every day, so you’d think I would have noticed sooner that my industrial-sized bottle of honey mango shower gel was running low, but nooOOOOooo. As if out of nowhere, it’s empty.

I’m curious — what are some of your recent empties/things you’ve run out of lately? I’m kind of a voyeur who loves hearing about things people have finished to the last drop.

Here are mine…

1. Alba Botanica Very Emollient Bath & Shower Gel in Honey Mango Replenishing Moisture for Extra Dry Skin ($12.99)

When I got this 32-oz. bottle for $12.99 at Target, it was for both me AND El Hub. So it wasn’t just for me! It doesn’t contain parabens or pthalates, and the light mango scent smells divine when I’m lathering up, but it doesn’t linger on the skin, which my husband likes (I guess he doesn’t want to smell like mangoes at work). I always feel squeaky clean after using it.

Now it’s empty.

2. Caudalie Nourishing Body Lotion ($30)

An old fave from years ago that I rediscovered earlier this summer. It’s so good that I seriously considered cutting open the bottle with a knife to extract the last drops, but I decided that that was probably a bad idea… I didn’t want to accidentally cut off my pinky.

3. Burt’s Bees Baby Shampoo and Wash ($14.59)

OK, this one isn’t technically one of my empties. It’s one of Connor’s.

It creates LOTS of bubbles, which she loves to play with in the bath, and it doesn’t sting her eyes.

P.S. She loves it when we use it as a shampoo, and I style her hair into a baby mohawk.

P.P.S. Someone needs to invent a baby emoji ? with a mohawk.

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Mostly Makeup-Related Friday Ramblings: The Urban Decay Basquiat Collection, New Makeup Setting Sprays, and Mom Brain (It’s a Legit Thing!)

April 28th, 2017 by Karen 21 Comments

urban decay basquiat collection final — I had some fun today with the Urban Decay Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection.

Hey, guys! Happy Friday. 🙂 I hope you’re having a good one so far. I hope it hasn’t been too hectic or stressful. Sometimes on Fridays I feel a mix of relief, because it’s the end of the week, and a little bit of…I dunno, anxiety? Just because I like to leave things in a good place for Monday. You know what I mean? I like to fix up my office a little and have a plan for what I’m going to do the next week, maybe take pictures if I need to or go to the arts and crafts store for props.

I also like to do a little housecleaning if I can get to it, just so that I don’t have to think about it over the weekend, and I can actually, maybe relax.

So even though I’m super excited that it’s Friday, it’s tinged with slight stress, LOL.

Anyway…

Today I started testing some new products from Urban Decay. They have a new collection out called UD Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Yup, inspired by the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. That’s his artwork on the packaging.

urban decay basquiat collection 1 — The Urban Decay UD Jean-Michel Basquait Collection

I saw the neutral Gold Griot Eyeshadow palette and thought, “Girl, I need to get that on my lids ASAP,” so I’m wearing it.

I’ve got a warm brownish red in the crease (I used reddish brown Anatomy Glide-On Eye Pencil as a base), a bronze lid and a soft navy cat eye flick. I’m also wearing the UD Gallery Blush Palette and two of the collection’s lipsticks, warmish brown Epigram and purplish pink Exhibition, mixed together.

I’m thinking about throwing on some glitter later to take it up a notch if we go out to dinner (we’re thinking pizza). 🙂

urban decay basquiat collection k1 — That’s the UD Gold Griot Eyeshadow Palette on my lids (also used Anatomy 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil as a base), the Gallery Blush Palette on my cheeks, and the lipsticks in Exhibition and Epigram mixed together on my lips.

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Face the Day the Kate Somerville Way With Epically Hydrating KateCeuticals Moisture Milk Cleanser

May 4th, 2012 by Karen 15 Comments

Things that cross my mind 30,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean…

If the zombie apocalypse went down and all air travel ceased, the only way I’d be able to visit Hawaii would be by boat … and that would pretty much suck.
Man, my skin is sooo dry.
Did I really just pay $7 for a fruit-and-cheese plate filled with tired apple slices, cracked crackers and sketchy cheese?
Man, my skin is sooo dry.
I have to “drop the kids off at school,” but the captain just said we’re in for some turbulence… I think I should wait.
Man, my skin is sooo dry.

The climate control on airplanes sucks! Literally. Whenever I’m on a plane, I can practically hear the moisture being vacuumed out of my face. Mfsuuuuuuuup! By the end of the five-hour flight back from Kauai, my combo dry/oily skin felt like an old leather wallet.

First thing I did when I got home — well, the second thing, after biscuits with Tabs, of course — was wash my face with Kate Somerville’s KateCeuticals Moisture Milk Cleanser ($58), and I swear I heard my cheeks sighing with relief.

“Ever wanted to meet a superstar? Well, you canâ€”with this superstar cleanser! This rich, creamy blend of antioxidants and fruit extracts is designed to clean, hydrate, and brighten the look of the complexion. KateCeuticalsâ„¢ Moisture Milk Cleanser delivers comfort to skin with a soothing blend of powerful Vitamins, Orange Blossom, and Orange Peel Extracts that leave skin feeling moisturized and fresh. This sulfate-free cleanser is so gentle that it can be rinsed or simply tissued off.”

— katesomerville.com

Designed to cleanse, quench, brighten and firm dry skin, Moisture Milk is loaded with kukui nut, macadamia and coconut oils to satiate even the thirstiest faces, and after rinsing, I can feel a moisturizing layer of product protecting my skin.

Now, a lot of cream cleansers will do that, but I think Kate’s goes above and beyond. The layer it leaves behind feels thicker and much more hydrating than other cream cleansers I’ve tried. It really seems to lock in moisture and keep the flakes at bay much longer than most.

kate somerville moisture milk cleanser

kate somerville moisture milk cleanser
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