Lately it seems like I’ve been getting compliments on my skin looking so good.  I’m not bragging, as I know most of it is in the genes for which I can’t control, thanks mom!Â
But what I can control is how I take care of my skin, which I think is a number one priority in my daily routine.
There are a few products that I have been using on a regular basis that I have found to be wonderful for my skin, and I wanted to share with you what my “secret” is.
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If you’ve been reading Fabulous Over Forty for any period of time, you know that I am a skincare “fanatic” and that I have never (even as a teenager) gone to bed without washing my face.   About a year ago I was introduced to the Kate Somerville line of skincare at Henri Bendel.  I thought I’d start slowly, and try the Gentle Daily Face Wash first.  I was immediately hooked.  It makes a nice lather, isn’t drying in the least bit, very gentle and it also has a slight scent of lavender (not too overpowering). I’ve tried a few other cleansers within the last year, but always come back to this.
How could I take my skincare regimen to the next level?  Add the Clarisonic Skin Care Brush System, of course. I put this on my Christmas list and Santa complied! If you’ve ever used a Sonicare toothbrush it works basically in the same manner. Rotating brushes deep clean gently but effectively.  It says it makes your skin 2 x’s cleaner and I believe every word of it.  My skin is amazingly soft and clean feeling after using this every night – it’s addicting! It’s not cheap at $195, but it is definitely worth every penny.
If you go to the Kate Somerville website, you can fill out a form describing your skin care needs/wants.  They will email you back the recommendations or call you back.  I received a call back after filling out my form, wanting to again take things to the next level. Â
The consultant highly recommended I try the Micro Glycolic Polisher. 
This is professional strength peel that is very easy to use, and I use it every Sunday night. I don’t have time to be spending 20 minutes a night doing peels and scrubs, and this works perfectly.   I put about 5 pumps on a cotton square and rub it on my face.  Leave it on for about 3 minutes and my face feels as smooth as a baby’s bottom.  It contains 4% glycolic acid, which for me is a great amount because I have used stronger and they are just way too harsh on my sensitive skin. It also has a lactic acid that works with the glycolic acid to create a peel that gives amazing results without being harsh. It also has blue lotus extract to calm the skin as well as antioxidant benefits.
The other product they recommended was ExfoliKate, which I use on Wednesday nights. They suggested that I only use these products one time a week each and a few days apart.  Â
This is a fruit enzyme exfoliator that I call my “green goop”.   Gently rub this on your face – leave on for 30 seconds to about a minute and it removes dead skin cells, and leaves your face glowing.  The quickness in which these products work is nothing short of amazing. Â
I love the fact that I can get wonderful results in a very short period of time with all the Kate Somerville products.  I have never tried a product from the line that I didn’t love. The body lotion is incredible and I have spoken about it here.
I’ve also used Quench from the line as well as having listed the Gentle Daily Cleanser as one of my Fabulous Products of 2008 . The Kate Somerville clinic is a hot spot for Hollywood celebrities too. I only wish the Kate Somerville clinic was near me, as I definitely would be there having my skin pampered often!
Interesting skin regimen. I’ve been inspired by your title fabulous at forty. To have younger looking skin as you age is a miracle. I have also my beauty regimen and I think I can collaborate your beauty secrets too. Nice post, thanks for sharing.
What moisturizer do you use, night, day and what about your eyes, any special serums and eye creams? I’m going to try Kate Somerville, sounds wonderful.
There are so many products I have tired and am constantly trying, it’s hard to say any moisturizers that I am using on a really consistent basis. But there are a couple of products that I definitely use daily. One is Lancome’s High Resolution Eye Collaser 5x. It’s a serum that I put on under my eye cream. I’ve written about it as well.
The other serum I use consistently is Canyon Ranch Age Transformation Serum. It has helped remarkably in clearing up my broken capillaries around my nose, chin and between my brows.
I’ll keep you up to date on any products that I think are worth trying, or ones that really aren’t.
WHOW, You use the clarasonic everynight?? thats bad. It does give an instant gratification of softness. But what you are really doing is dammaging the good skin cells on your face. your skin cells have a natural cell turn over and you should really only do this once every two weeks TOPS. skin cells divide and if they are tampered with everyday like that they will start to divide in a less healthy fashion thus making the cells weak and the behavior of your skin will age a lot faster. You’ll see broken capillaries, age spots, more wrinkles, in your future. Skin care companies dont give a damn about you they are not regulated by the fda so they can tell you what ever they want. They want you to buy more product to keep filling their pockets. Dont believe ask an expert. over exfoliating is harmful and it’s kind of like trading in one problem for another. You may not see it now but you will. The clarasonic tears up the skin. You use to many exfolitating products at once, I hate to say it but diet is far more important then a skin cream fixer upper. DONT SMOKE, suntan with a sunsreen, drink water, alcohol will age you faster then a new york minute. If you love sugar that ages you too. I dont care how offended you become about the clarasonic its not good to use daily. sleeping is a good solution. but hey its your skin.
why would you use all the glycolic acids, facial scrubs, CLARASONIC, all at once in the same week after week? your skin is not protected anymore, and your facial skin’s natural bio rythem is terribly alterered. Your collagen will break down, vitamin C is good to use daily for many reasons. Can you tell I dont agree with what you use daily? We all under estimate the power of own bodies. But if we fill it with garbage and smoking habbits it only makes you UGLY!!!!!!!!. I stopped for sheer vanity and my skin has healed it self. Dark circles went away my facial expressions bounce back, rather then poppin’ a vitamin pill, i enjoy eating well and toned down the alcohol. I am 29 and hope to maintain for a long time. I use purpose cleansers, a daily moisturizer with spf in it , I use a vitimin c serum but a stabilized c serum, for an exfoliation treatment is a white luke warm wash cloth. cheap simple and good. I am sorrry but i think the big problem with wrinkles IS SMOKING, soda pop, bad food, and age. creams do help I am not against skincare, but i am against all you dont understand. take it like a woman and research it out for yourself. YES, with the exfoliation the proof shows soft clean skin, but in your future it wont look like that anymore. But maybe someone out there may agree with me. Blood cirrculation is key for a good body, oh but does’nt all this sound to funny?? Could i be giving the wrong advise? HAHAHAHAHA.
Hi Melanie,
Well, first of all, I’ve NEVER smoked and never will, and you can basically say I don’t drink becaue I could count the glasses of alcohol I drink in a year on one hand. I also have spoken with my dermatologist about my regimen and she said using the Clasionic daily is fine, so I guess I would take her recommendation, as Clarasonic hasn’t given me any recommendations. I agree that if we can get all our vitamin needs out of our foods that is great, but in my world and other some of us have a disease that does not allow our bodies to absorb our vitamins and iron like it needs to making taking a pill the only way to get it. I have been exfoliating FOR YEARS and I am 47 year old and I am told I have the skin of someone in my 30′s. So I guess I’m going to keep on doing what I’ve been doing.
i thought i would check back with you because i wrote a very strong blog today about skincare. I apologize for that, but i believe in that. But over exfolation is very bad and everyone on the planet sheds skin naturaly and to over stimulate the process leaves skin very volunerable and disrubted. My motto is if it aint broke dont fix it. WE CAN exfoliate but not daily and I dont think doubling or trippling up on exfoliants is good either or to stress this to the youthful girls and guys. it does not take very much to wipe away the dead cells after they are gone, what are we exfoliating? Because when we get older we shed about every 28 days or so, it takes a little bit longer but their must be a reason for that???? I am glad you look younger congrats. it’s what we all want, but some of the advise about smoking is the truth rather then hoping for that miracle cream to relieve us from the symptoms of aging. Smoking and drinking is for the young but thats only temporary. Plus in your article you use a couple of different exfoliants during the week every week. well thank you for the chit chat today. we only disagree no hard feelings good luck and take care.
I agree with Melanie. Over exofoliating can be very harsh for some skin types. I don’t believe most people need very high percentage, low pH gycolic peels. A well formulated 1-2 per week exfoliating mask can do the trick, particularly if it contains soothing and moisturizing ingredients such as aloe vera, and hyaluronic acid.