REVIEW: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment

 

~AG~

This popular exfoliating product from Kate Somerville combines scrubbing microbeads as well fruit enzymes to help clarify the skin. It claims to give a "Hollywood 2 minutes Facial". This Exfoliating Treatment contains pineapple, papaya and pumpkin enzymes to naturally exfoliate the skin, without stripping the skin of its natural oils. It also contains lactic acid that also acts as an exfoliant. Other active ingredients include: 
--- Cinnamon and Rosewood that stimulate micro-circulation, 
--- Honey and Vitamin E to nourish the skin  
--- Aloe Vera to soothe the skin
--- Vitamin A that has antioxidant properties
--- Soy-Lipid to replenish skin's natural barrier function 

 Kate Somerville Exfoliating Treatment is a moss-green

Twice this amount for my whole face

THE GOOD:
Kate Somerville Exfoliating Treatment really polishes your skin, and makes your skin's surface smooth. After leaving it on for a minute, I can feel my pores tightened. Plus, it does not dry out my combination skin. My sensitive skin did not have any adverse reaction to Kate Somerville Exfoliating Treatment. Yay! The best part is that my skin feels brighter after use.

THE BAD:
This Exfoliating Treatment is VERY pricey at US$24 (S$32) for 15 ml of product. It is one of the most expensive facial scrub on the market. The microbeads may be too harsh for those with ultra sensitive skin. As an alternative, Kate Somerville offers a more gentle facial scrub, ExfoliKate Gentle Exfoliation Treatment. Another thing to take note is that Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Exfoliating Treatment may cause short-term skin redness after use. The redness will usually go away after about 30 minutes. There is also a slight tingling sensation during use. The scent is not particularly pleasant. The scent reminds me of a strong herbal tea. 

Kate Somerville Exfoliating Treatment is a great facial scrub as it physically polishes as well as chemically peels off the dead skin cells. However, it is a costly purchase. For those not willing to shell out that much $, there are several affordable alternatives available on the market such as my favorite Skinfood Black Sugar Mask or St. Ives Apricot Scrub. 

REVIEW: Kate Somerville Oil Free Moisturizer

~AG~

Received a mini size of this Kate Somerville Oil Free Moisturizer as part of the Kate Somerville Reward set from Sephora USA. I forgot to take a picture of the mini version, and have already tossed the packaging out. The image above is that of a full version. The 1.5 fl. oz full-size retails for USD$65. It is pricy for a moisturizer.
If not for the Sephora rewards redemption set, I would have never tried Kate Somerville moisturizer. Previously, the only product that I tried from Kate Somerville is their best-selling ExfoliKate.

Oil Free Moisturizer absorbs quickly to provide perfectly balanced hydration and moisturization, without any oils. Formulated without parabens or fragrances, this lightweight cream leaves nothing behind but smooth, supple skin. Essential Amino Acid Derivatives are designed to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles Red Marine Algae improves the look of firmness and elasticity Algae-Based Tighteners are formulated to tone and tighten Oil-Absorbing Spheres balance oily skin for a shine-free look.

After using this moisturizer for over three weeks, I can say that this moisturizer does not have any adverse reaction on my skin. No red bumps appear during the duration of use. This moisturizer blends well with my SunPlay Aqua sunscreen. It does not cause the sunscreen to flake, unlike Jurlique Gel Lotion. This moisturizer does not feel heavy for Singapore's humid weather. It is not sticky and does not leave a residue. During my trip to Italy last week, I felt that the moisturizer was not hydrating enough for the cool and dry Spring weather. So, this moisturizer will only work well for the summer.

With that being said, Kate Somerville Oil Free Moisturizer is just a mediocre product. I will NOT spend that much money for a moisturizer that just do an okay job. There are other more affordable moisturizers that can get the job done as well. There is nothing special about the moisturizer, and I feel that is overpriced.

NEW BUY: Kate Somerville Detox Daily Cleanser

~AG~

I on the last few drops of my Michael Todd Honey Oat Deep Pore Cleanser. Please click link for my review of the product.  Michael Todd Honey Oat Deep Pore Cleanser Review 

That means now I am on a quest for the next facial cleanser. While digging through my beauty stock, this Kate Somerville Detox Daily Cleanser was revealed. About a year ago, I had redeemed a Kate Somerville set from Sephora (USA) Rewards. The set includes the Detox Daily Cleanser, ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment and Oil Free Moisturiser. 

Kate Somerville products are known to be pricy. While in the States, I tried one of their bestsellers, the ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment. It was GOOD but it was also painful on my wallet. For example, the mini ExfoliKate which is 0.5 fl oz (~ 15ml) retails for US$22. The 4 fl oz (~118 ml) of Daily Detox Cleanser retails for US$34. That is EXPENSIVE for a facial cleanser!

A little about this cleanser. It is designed to remove impurities for acne-prone skin. It contains:

• Phytic Acid which is an exfoliator that brightens the skin tone and fade the appearance of imperfections
• Salicylic, Glycolic and Lactic Acid that remove dead skin cells and improve the overall skin texture
• Vitamin B complex which prevents the overdrying of skin
• Aloe Vera & Allantoin that calms the skin
• Tea Tree and Tangerine Peel Extracts to 

Sample size of Detox Daily Cleanser