This Is One of the Most Loved Skincare Brands Around—Here Are My Honest Thoughts
I don’t like to admit this considering it’s my job to recommend skincare, but I’m feeling in an honest mood—so here goes. It is surprisingly difficult to find a skincare brand that delivers products that actually do what they promise. It’s not that skincare doesn’t work; it’s more that skincare brands have a tendency to massively over-egg the capabilities of their products. One brand that I can hand-on-heart say never does this, however, is Kate Somerville.
The aesthetician founded her namesake brand after her post-procedure facial services became A-lister favourites. Celebrities such as Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Olivia Wilde, Eva Mendes, Demi Moore, Lucy Hale and Paris Hilton are all touted as fans and have visited her LA-based clinic. Meghan Markle is even reported to be a fan. In fact, there is barely a celeb in LA that doesn’t have Somerville to thank for their glowing complexion.
Kate Hudson is a fan of Kate Somerville.
The story goes that way back in 2005, one unnamed celebrity asked Somerville if she could bottle her iconic, clinical super facial so that the client could take it with her whenever she was filming on location. As a result, Somerville created the Kate Somerville Exfolikate Intensive Treatment, and a cult skincare brand was born.
Since then, the Kate Somerville product offering has expanded massively, and each product is considered cult in its own right. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that Kate Somerville is probably one of the most adored skincare brands by beauty editors and skincare insiders. The products are the very definition of efficacious—from exfoliators to hydrating face creams, every single product works.
Having said that, the products are really quite pricey, and I’m all too aware of the immense letdown you feel when you spend your hard-earned cash on a product that isn’t right. So to help you decide what Kate Somerville products are worth the money for your skin’s needs, keep scrolling for my rundown of the 15 best. Trust me—I’ve spent years getting to grips with every single one.
The Best Kate Somerville Skincare, as Recommended by a Beauty Editor
- Best Kate Somerville cleanser: Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cleanser
- Best Kate Somerville moisturiser: Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream
- Best Kate Somerville serum: Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Serum
- Best Kate Somerville exfoliator: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment
- Best Kate Somerville body product: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Resurfacing Body Scrub
1. Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cleanser
Whatever your skin type, this creamy cleanser makes for the perfect morning cleanse. It's light enough to not leave a film on the skin but hardworking enough to get the job done. With nourishing manuka honey and rich oils, it offers a deep cleanse without stripping the skin of essential moisture. I have used this cleanser for many years and often find myself reaching for it when my skin is having a meltdown.
2. Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment
Speaking of products that are always on my shelf, ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment is possibly one of the most iconic skincare products of the 21st century. Sensitive skin types, beware. This stuff is powerful. Formulated with a concoction of alpha-hydroxy acids, fruit enzymes and fine silica granules, it offers a three-pronged approach to exfoliation. It's so effective, in fact, that you really don't want to be leaving it on your skin for any more than two minutes. What you're left with is a beyond-radiant glow that lasts for days.
3. Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Resurfacing Body Scrub
Yep, Kate Somerville took the powerful exfoliating properties of ExfoliKate and put them in a body scrub. As someone who takes great pride in her body routine, I can safely say this is one of the best body scrubs I have ever tried. Unlike most, it doesn't slip off the skin and wash away down the drain. Instead, it sloughs off dead skin cells to reveal noticeably smoother and softer limbs.
4. Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Cream
I can't name a single beauty editor who didn't fall head over heels for this face cream when it launched. If your skin is dry, tight, red, irritated or stressed in anyway, I challenge you to apply this cream and not see an instant improvement. Jam-packed with barrier-restoring ceramides, it helps to deliver the essential moisture that upset skin craves. It's rich, so I wouldn't recommend it for everyday use if you're prone to breakouts, but it's helped me get through a number of sunburn situations.
5. Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream
Along with the Goat Milk Cleanser, this cream has long been one of Kate Somerville's best sellers. Enriched with goat milk, which has been used for thousands of years (really) thanks to its skin-loving properties, it helps to deliver essential nourishment while also very, very gently exfoliating the skin to leave an enviable glow. It's the perfect face cream for those who struggle with congestion and sensitivity.
6. Kate Somerville EradiKate Blemish Spot Treatment
In all honesty, this product is very take-it-or-leave-it. However, I can't ignore the opinions of countless beauty editors and customers who swear by it. It contains sulphur, salicylic acid and zinc to dry up and take down the appearance of spots overnight. Just dip in a cotton bud and dab the product onto your spot. (Resist the urge to shake the bottle, it's supposed to be separated.) If your spot is juicy and ripe, this stuff will definitely help take things down. Does it work on deep, cystic spots? Certainly not. But then, I'm not sure it claims to.
7. Kate Somerville Kateceuticals Total Repair Cream
The thing I really love about this product is that it champions a youthful-glow approach to anti-ageing rather than promising total reversal of fine lines and wrinkles. With a peptide-infused ceramide complex containing hyaluronic acid, glycerin, jojoba seed oils, squalane and vitamin E, it really helps to nourish the skin and restore a youthful, plump, hydrated complexion. Plus, it delivers those all-important antioxidant benefits to help fend off skin-damaging and fine line–inducing free radicals. The thing I really don't love about this product? The £110 price tag.
8. Kate Somerville Liquid ExfoliKate Triple Acid Resurfacing Treatment
Physical exfoliants aren't for everyone, and this is something Kate Somerville herself knows. But just because you're not a fan of scrubs doesn't mean you can't reap the glow-boosting, exfoliating benefits of ExfoliKate. This stuff houses all of the benefits of the intensive treatment, just in the form of a leave-on liquid.
9. Kate Somerville Kateceuticals Resurfacing Overnight Peel
While we're on the topic of leave-on, overnight exfoliants, let's move on to this. With a game-changing blend of retinol, glycolic acid and niacinamide to approve skin ageing from every angle, you are guaranteed to wake up more glowing. Many experts say that mixing retinol and alpha-hydroxy acids like glycolic shouldn't be done, but this formula expertly demonstrates how to do it right. Over time, skin looks smoother, brighter, more even in tone and feels silky soft.
10. Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Serum
Not only is this my favourite Kate Somerville product, but it's also in my top three beauty products ever created. While plenty of people love the DeliKate cream, this serum is perfect for those whose skin might not always require a thick, rich moisturiser. It delivers those all-important skin-soothing ceramides, just in a lightweight serum formula. I have been through bottles of this stuff. Whenever my skin is freaking out, I apply it by the bucketload every morning and night to get things mellow, and it works every single time.
11. Kate Somerville DeliKate Soothing Cleanser
If your skin is feeling particularly sore, dry, tight or sensitive, you should really consider trying this cleanser. It takes the skin-nourishing effects of the aforementioned Goat Milk cleanser one step further. (It doesn't contain the exfoliating benefits of lactic acid, making it even better for sensitive skin.) Use it every morning and every night as your first cleanse to remove dirt and impurities but soothe and repair damaged skin at the same time.
12. Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash
On the other end of the cleansing spectrum is this. Jam-packed with hardworking exfoliants, including glycolic acid, lactic acid and papaya, pineapple and pumpkin enzymes, it's the ultimate glow-boosting cleanse. Due to its high acid content, I'd only recommend using this in the evenings and making sure you're extra vigilant with your SPF the next morning. While it says it's suitable for daily use, I'd recommend starting off by incorporating it into your routine once or twice a week.
13. Kate Somerville Kateceuticals Lifting Eye Cream
Everything about this eye cream is truly magnificent, except for the price. No eye cream can justify a £112 price tag. It's hydrating, fine-line plumping and brightening thanks to vitamin C, which really does make the results exceptional—but not exceptional enough for the eye-watering amount of money it costs.
14. Kate Somerville EradiKate Blemish Mark Fading Gel
This gel is quickly becoming one of my favourite skincare products to use. As someone who suffers quite badly from acne scarring, I have found this gel to be a lifesaver at reducing the chances of my active spots scarring. Formulated with salicylic acid to shorten a spot's lifespan and niacinamide to help tackle breakout-related discolouration, it does exactly what I need it to.
15. Kate Somerville KateCeuticals SuperCell Rejuvenation Serum
This is one of the brand's newest launches, and it does not disappoint. The clever roller makes application easy, fun and refreshing on the skin, and the potent serum is designed to mimic the effects of an in-salon treatment, working to hydrate, smooth and improve elasticity. The thing I really love about this product is that it can be used after more invasive skincare treatments such as microneedling.
This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.
Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous. Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics. While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best. When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.
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