KATE SomervilleKateCeuticals Firming Serum

I typically don't like highly scented skin care products but there is something about the citrusy scent this has. This is very light weight works well under my sunblock. This does have silicone in it therefore it really has that more silky feel. All that being said I can't say that I notice that huge of a difference after using this for months. Besides it being able to lock in moisture with the silicone barrier, I don't really notice a huge difference that my other serums with stronger active ingredients like retinol, and hydroxy acids do. However, since this doesn't have those ingredients, it works well as a day time serum so I use it to alternate and give my skin a day off from the more stronger serums in my skin care routine.

The skincare market is flooded with new products on the daily and I think companies feel pressure to provide instant gratification to impatient consumers eager to move on to the next big thing. These days, quite a few luxury creams and serums contain silicones because they create an immediate illusion of a refined texture and dewy glow. Silicones are frequently used in foundation primers to smooth the skin but they have no long term benefits. After water, dimethicone (the most common type of silicone used in cosmetics) is the second ingredient listed in this serum.As expected, this feels lovely going on. It's a thin gel-like liquid that absorbs well creating that "glass skin" appearance. It contains both essential oil compounds (citral, linalool and limonene), plus a host of botanical extracts (including orange peel, grapefruit, peppermint, ginger and bergamot) that combine to give it a refreshing, tart citrus scent. Active ingredients include glycerin, ceramides, sodium hyaluronate and peptides, so I'm sure there are benefits to long term use. Unfortunately for me, dimethicone causes milia on my skin so I opted not to continue using this.If you don't like using silicones or object to essential oils, this might not be for you.

This is the first Kate Somerville product I have ever tried, but it won't be the last. I really like this stuff! It is a firming serum, but it's so moisturizing that when I use it during the day, I sometimes don't even apply a moisturizer right away. It makes my skin feel soft and hydrated, and leaves no weird greasy, sticky, or tacky feeling behind. I can't say for sure whether or not the firmness of my skin has increased while I've been using it, but I definitely like how it feels. I think it makes my face look clearer and brighter, too. It's enjoyable to use and has a pleasant scent that hasn't irritated my sometimes sensitive skin. Please note: there IS silicone in this product, which will alienate some folks, but I think it's okay as long as you know it's there and realize that any smoothing effects are cosmetic and don't represent a deeper, longer lasting change in your skin. Sometimes it's just nice to see some improvement, no matter how short lived. And it makes a nice primer, too. My favorite thing about this serum, though, is that, like all Kate Somerville products, it is 100% cruelty-free! They don't test their products on innocent animals, and neither do any of their suppliers. I love a company whose values align with my own, so even though this is an expensive item, I think it's well worth its high price, if you can afford it. Five animal-lovin' stars!

Buyer beware don’t waste your money.

This Kateceuticals Firming Serum is a white, silky dimethicone based serum that absorbs well and has a light, pleasing orange scent. It agrees perfectly with my mature, sensitive and dry skin and hasn’t caused any irritation despite having peppermint oil that can irritate my skin at times. While I get quick plumping from a good hyaluronic acid serum, many serums take weeks or months to see a difference. This serum is supposed to give results in just two weeks and that’s accurate based on my experience. After one day, my skin felt noticeably softer and more hydrated. After 2 weeks, my skin feels amazing and looks more youthful.In particular, my skin feels velvety soft and looks noticeably smoother and firmer even in my worst problem areas. While I had some light feathering above my mouth in my 50’s, I’ve noticed the area is getting more wrinkly and my skin there doesn’t have the same elasticity it had not that long ago. Also, while I’ve had marionette lines forming at the sides of my mouth, they’ve been getting more pronounced and my skin is getting saggy. While this serum hasn’t magically erased my lines and tightened up all my skin, I see a real difference in those areas as my lines are less visible and my skin looks more taut. So I’m super happy with the results, even if just temporary. Love it. 5 stars.