As the much-lauded “Guru of Glow,” skincare expert Kate Somerville knows a thing or two about how to look after one’s face. She set up her Melrose Place clinic in Los Angeles over 15 years ago and has since become one of the city’s most respected specialists responsible for the flawless complexions of some of the most photographed women in the world (see Emily Blunt, Katherine Heigl and Jessica Alba as proof.) With the launch of her own line of products in 2006, (we at KOTUR swear by her DermalQuench), Somerville’s simple and straightforward philosophy became widely available to the rest of us, wherever we may be, from  New York’s Bergdorf Goodman to Lane Crawford in Hong Kong. Focused on a combination of cutting edge science and sensible advice, she espouses a beauty regimen that is fuss free, straightforward and effective. As we head into the summer months (not known for their kindness to our skin…) we thought we’d ask her advice on some simple, every days steps we could all do with the following. Here, in part one of our Summer Beauty Series, she shares her five top tips on how to look after your face.

 1. Cleanse Properly
The first step to beautiful skin is thorough, effective cleansing. At my Clinic we promote the double cleanse.  First, use a makeup wipe to remove impurities on the surface – use both the front and back of the wipe.  Then apply a cleanser (suited for your skin type) to penetrate deeper and fully cleanse skin.  You can also use the cleanser twice if you prefer.

2. Exfoliate!
Exfoliation should be a part of every skin care regimen (2-3 times a week).  Dry skin is dead skin. Look for exfoliating formulas with Fruit Enzymes, like Pumpkin, Pineapple or Papaya Enzymes, like my ExfoliKate. They gently dissolve dead skin. Stay away from products containing sharp nuts or seeds, because they can actually damage skin. Always exfoliate with steam (I recommend in the shower).  Steaming not only warms the skin, it also adds moisture and hydration to soften skin.

3. Hydrate & Moisturize Skin
Hydrate topically with products like serums containing Hyaluronic Acid, which holds 1000x its weight in water. Then seal in the hydration with a moisturizer to prevent water loss.

4. Protect Daily with SPF
SPF protection is the most important element for healthy skin. Sun degrades our collagen and elastin and affects our body’s ability to create healthy new cells. Many of my clients ask me to take away or reverse something they don’t like about their skin and usually what they don’t like could have been avoided by staying out of the sun. You should never leave the house without applying sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30.

5. Get Regular Facials
The frequency of facials is dependent upon skin type; but I generally recommend my clients come in every 4-8 weeks for maintenance.

You can find out more about Kate Somerville, or order products at www.katesomerville.com

Kate Somerville is available at Lane Crawford, IFC, Hong Kong and Bergdorf Goodman, NYC