Kate Somerville: “Making People Feel Confident and Happy is Rewarding”
As told to Amber Katz.
Skincare legend Kate Somerville. (Photo: Kate Somerville)
You’d never guess it by looking at her, but Kate Somerville brings more than 15 years of skin-care knowledge to the table (and, of course, her eponymous product line). A veritable skin sorcerer, the hallowed halls of her gorgeous clinic are frequented by Hollywood’s elite, from pretty, poreless princesses to legendary leading ladies. We caught up with Somerville and found our all her beauty must-haves when she was in her 20s, the hair product technology she could have used in the ‘80s, and what she’d tell her 20-something self about navigating life and work.
I had young confidence in my 20s — the “just go for it” kind. When you don’t have kids, you can risk a lot more. We’re so self-critical when you’re young. I never thought I was beautiful in my 20s. Eventually you get to an age when you start to accept yourself a little bit more. When you have children, you become much more selfless, focused on your family. You cherish time and relationships more.
My mentor at that time was my boyfriend’s mother, Barbara Wells. She took me in and gave unconditional love, but tough love. I had a tumultuous upbringing; my mom was an alcoholic. When I was 20, Barbara told me, “You have a choice of what you want your life to be. You can either dwell on your childhood and the past or you can make your life what you want it to be.” You don’t know that there are choices when you’re a kid and your life feels out of control. Barbara let me know it was up to me and changed my life from that moment on.
In my 20s, I took every seminar I could and never took no for an answer. I was led down a lot of paths and learned from every one — even the ones that were a dead end. I was in the “learning” phase of my career and am proud of what I did. Being an esthetician faced with raising money was challenging. There are so many sharks out there, it’s hard to know whom to trust. The passion for healing people came naturally to me. Transforming people’s skin and seeing how it changes who they are as a person – making them feel confident and happy is rewarding.
Beauty-wise, I wore lighter moisturizers and started doing peels in my 20s. AHAs and glycolic just came to the market, so I used those, which were harsh for my skin. Now, I love my ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment ($85), an enzyme-based gentler exfoliant. I use retinols and hydrate with hyaluronic acid. My current regimen is good exfoliation, hydration, and retinols at night. As for makeup, I have always used L'Oréal Paris mascara. Indian Earth was cool. Indian clay bronzer I loved. Now, I use almost all Jane Iredale makeup and, of course, L'Oréal Paris mascara. I regret cutting my hair short and having big, thick bangs in my 20s. Where was the Brazilian blowout when I was 20? I tried to feather my curly, frizzy hair. We had no tools. I wish we had the technology we do now!
In my 20s I always wanted to build a brand and be married and have kids. I was really driven to do something big. Now that I’ve achieved that, my goal is to have time. A lot of my time has been spent building the dream of my 20s. Now I want to spend my time in nature (where I think most creatively) and being a wife and a mother. My idea of success now is less about the “things” and more about the time.
Kate Somerville in her 20s. (Photo: Kate Somerville)
I’d advise my younger self to stop worrying! Although, I would tell myself that now, too. I’d say to have fun and enjoy freedom. I regret that I never traveled or experience the world. I was always so driven and worked so much. Twenty-somethings now, experience the world while you’re young and have the freedom and energy to do it.
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