I recently re-connected with a girl I went to High School with and in the process of talking it came out that her mother was the President of a very prominent skin care line, Somme Institute. I was lucky enough not only to get to try the line at-home, but have it applied professionally by a facialist!
 
Somme Institute’s line of products were over 7 years in the making! They entailed a slew of clinical trials, which were conducted to test a variety of ingredients to find out what can actually deliver results and what can’t. In the end the prominent team of researchers and dermatologists behind the trials developed a proprietary technology called Molecular Dispersion Technology 5 (MDT5). This breakthrough has been proven to allow for full vitamin absorption by the skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, repair sun damage, even out discoloration and brown spots, treat moderate to sever acne as well as rosacea, and improve skin, tone, and texture. Unsurprisingly the line has become a favorite in luxury spas around the world and it’s actually used by the Mandarin Oriental here in NYC. I went in for a facial a few weeks ago and my facialists told me she’s been swearing by Somme Institute’s line of products ever since it helped cure her niece’s acne. The before and after shots are incredibly compelling which is what motivated me to stick to all of the steps in their recommended 5-step regimen ($298).

The line’s advanced delivery system encourages the vitamins in the

product formulations to target specific skin conditions without clogging

pores, which is great for anyone looking to treat wrinkles, acne, etc.

If you’re like me however and not looking to treat a problem so much as

to maintain a healthy, bright complexion, you’ll be happy to find the

lightweight, fast-absorbing nature of these products. Sticking to the

5-steps is key for the best results (actually 6-steps since

you should use an eye cream as well). The packaging is sleek and simple with color-coding and fine print to tell the products apart. Somme has won a bunch of design awards and I imagine anyone who always has people snooping around their bathroom and doesn’t want to advertise using anti-wrinkle cream etc., will find the packaging especially great.

The one drawback you might find is the odor of some of the products, namely the eye cream and the serum which have a licorice-like

smell. Small price to pay for a proven effective, award-winning line (I often find myself having odor issues with highly effective products). Jump for more on the 6 steps!

Step 1: Nourishing Cleanser (non-foaming/non-irritating) – creamy and moisturizing, which will make this a winter must-have for me.
Step 2: Transport (gentle exfoliant)

- comes with 50 cotton pads to exfoliate dead cells and help prep your skin for the subsequent product applications. Its meant to be used twice a day, but if you have sensitive skin like myself you might want to opt for once a day or once every other day. Also a bit of a stinging sensation is normal (think of this as a microdermabrasion alternative).
Step 3: Serum (with Vitamin C)

- this was my AM favorite. It helps rid your face of that morning puffiness and helps target discoloration.
Step 4: A-Bomb (moisturizer with Vitamins A and E) – lightweight cream to target fine lines and wrinkles.
Step 5: Double Defense (SPF 30+) – waterproof SPF. 
Step 6: Eye – though the classic Somme Institute Regimen is a 5-step one, you can’t neglect your eyes, so don’t forget to add this very important final step.

Click here to read more about the amazing technology behind this award-winning line!