We tried Kate Somerville’s new KateCeuticals anti-ageing range, here’s our thoughts
All the products in the range contain peptide which every skin type, regardless of age, benefits from
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Your support makes all the difference.It doesn’t get much more cult than the Hollywood aesthetician Kate Somerville’s eponymous skincare brand, so a new launch from the line is a capital-E event.
KateCeuticals, which launches in the UK today on katesomerville.co.uk (arriving at other retailers in March), is the brand’s latest in anti-ageing and we were very excited to get our hands on it.
It features three products: serum, eye cream and moisturiser – a complete post-cleanse routine for use morning and evening in matching, sleek silver packaging.
Read more: 10 best eye serums to treat dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles
The thread that runs through all the products is peptide complexes. Peptides are chains of amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins that naturally occur in the body, such as collagen and elastin, and are the foundations of skin texture and resilience.
Without them, skin loses its firmness and bounce, leading to thinning, wrinkles and changes in texture. Proteins such as collagen are too heavy in molecular weight to penetrate the skin when applied topically, but applying peptides encourages skin cells to produce such proteins themselves, repairing the skin’s natural protective barrier, restoring firmness and evening skin tone and texture.
Everyone’s skin benefits from the application of peptides, regardless of type or age, but you should think about starting to use products that include peptides from your late twenties or early thirties.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
KateCeuticals firming serum: £86, Katesomerville.co.uk
As well as peptides, the KateCeuticals firming serum contains hydrating glycerine and a low-weight hyaluronic acid, which is able to penetrate skin deeply. Pea extract is an interesting addition; it controls the production of melanin, reducing the appearance and incidence of dark spots and melasma, which naturally occur with age. The final star ingredient is nasturtium flower extract, which is an oxygenator that improves skin’s brightness and clarity.
The formula has a light, cream-like weight and spreads easily across the skin, absorbing quickly and leaving no tackiness behind, only a smooth silkiness. Skin instantly feels moisturised and less tight, reducing any irritation. After 10 days’ of consistent use, we saw an improvement in the appearance of lines around the mouth and our cheeks felt plumper and less papery, plus skin was overall brighter and smoother.
KateCeuticals lifting eye cream: £105, Katesomerville.co.uk
This eye cream is beautifully light, so it won’t cause congestion such as milia around the eye area. It’s slightly thicker in texture than the serum but absorbs into skin just as completely and swiftly without any stickiness. As well as the peptides, of course, it contains a highly moisturising quartet of hyaluronic acid, squalane, sunflower seed oil and cucumber seed oil, so the eye area is immediately hydrated and remains so throughout the day.
There’s also the brilliantly brightening and firming vitamin C, as well as brown and red algae that help reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. We found the latter particularly effective; our usual puffiness under the eyes was noticeably reduced after just a week of use, opening up the eyes and making us look healthier and more awake.
KateCeuticals total repair cream: £105, Katesomerville.co.uk
Completing the trio is the total repair cream, which features Kate’s classic airless packaging that protects the sensitive product from air, light and bacteria, (the brand was one of the first to use this). The jar has a pump top that dispenses just the right amount of cream to cover the face and neck, and means the product isn’t exposed to air (and the germs on your fingers) until the moment of application.
This keeps the ingredients fresh and potent, meaning fewer preservatives need to be used in the formula, and it is just more hygienic. The cream’s lightness on the skin belies its deeply hydrating effect; this has the long-lasting moisturisation and immediate relief of irritation and tightness that we’d associate with a far heavier product. It’s a real comprehensive moisturiser, tackling both ageing and hydration. Along with those peptides, it also includes hyaluronic acid, squalene and glycerin, plus macadamia nut, jojoba and babussu oils to soften and seal in water. The result is well hydrated, soft and plump skin, and a gradual improvement in overall skin condition with repeated use.
The verdict: KateCeuticals
We very rarely find ourselves using an entire routine from one brand, preferring to mix and match and try new products, but this really is a trio that works well together, and there’s appealing ease to having it all sorted for you. After 10 days’ consistent use, morning and night, our skin was softer, brighter, bouncier and smoother, and there was visible reduction in some fine lines and discolouration around the nose.
We particularly love the de-puffing effect of the eye cream, which goes a long way to making you look healthier and brighter. If you’re only going to buy one, though, the serum – hydrating, smoothing, firming and irritation-reducing – is definitely our star product, and bonus that it’s the cheapest of the three.
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