Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser Review

Judy Kim

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Kate Somerville Exfolikate Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash
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Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized into purchasing a cleanser with good reviews, for it to just turn out not so great. I surely have! But this product right here that I’m about to introduce is truly one of a kind that I believe will work for all skin types. Trust me, my household has all skin types from combination, oily, to dry, and we all love it. Keep reading to see if you’d love this cleanser as much as me too!

About Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser

I already raved about Kate Somerville and her reputable brand once when I reviewed the Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment, but here I go again because I love the brand so much. The brand was created over 18 years ago, with the one purpose of delivering noticeable results of beautiful skin to all skincare lovers. Kate Somerville said, “I believe everyone deserves to have beautiful skin,” and she really studied the field of paramedical esthetics to bring this purpose to life. She is one of the most well-known and trusted names in the skincare industry, in which she even has her own clinic in Los Angeles that has treated so many celebrities.

With the launching of the ExfoliKate line, Kate wanted to create cleansers and exfoliators that didn’t strip the skin away with harsh chemicals, but rather with a long-lasting, effective formula that was gentle for everyone. Who doesn’t want that?

This specific cleanser was inspired by the treatments at her oh-so-popular clinic, using AHAs and fruit enzymes to cleanse away built-up dirt, oil, and makeup on the surface of the skin. The great thing about this product is that it is free of sulfates SLS and SLES, and parabens, but most importantly, it’s cruelty-free!

Ingredients List

Aqua/Water/Eau, Stearic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, CetearylPhosphate, Xylitylglucoside, Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Bromelain, Papain, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Lauramide DIPA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Glucose, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citral, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Chlorphenesin, Linalool, Citronellol, Maltodextrin, Geraniol, CI 75810(Chlorophyllin-CopperComplex)

First Impression: My Thoughts and Opinions on Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser

When I first received the packaging, it was so cute because her ExfoliKate skincare lines all have a cute smiley face on the minty, orange-colored packaging. The cleanser has such a lovely scent, which I might describe as citrusy yet refreshing.

When I first squeezed out a bit of cleanser onto my palm, it felt really smooth and lathered well, nothing different from other cleansers I’ve used. But then, once I actually cleansed my face with this amazing cleanser, I actually noticed the difference in the quality of this formula. The cleanser did not strip away my natural oils, which is so important to me since I have combination skin, and most cleansers have too much chemical in it that strips away all oils possible, leaving my skin so dry and patchy.

This thing? Nope, it only cleanses away as much as necessary.

I noticed a difference in skin texture and overall appearance within a few weeks, and although it was minimal, I felt great about the cleanser, knowing it wasn’t working up my skin too fast to get fast results. For once, it felt nice knowing this cleanser was gentle enough for daily use and still keep my healthy natural oils throughout the day.

One thing to note though is that because it keeps your natural oils, your face feels “slippery,” as if no matter how many times you wash your face, it feels like you have to wash it until your face gets dry. Trust me, this isn’t the way to do it! This cleanser will leave natural oils that are necessary to keep your skin healthy and glowing, so trust the process, and you will notice the changes in a few weeks.

My Experience

I’ve been using the Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser for about three years now. My honest experience with this cleanser is that it’s the one cleanser that never gave me any breakouts or side effects since day one of using it. I tried many other cleansers here and there to just try out, but this one kept calling me back! My skin complexion definitely improved, with fewer signs of discoloration on the skin.

I pair this cleanser with my ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment that I also reviewed on, and it works wonders. The cleanser strips away all the built-up dirt and makeup from your skin, and then the exfoliating wash adds extra care to those stubborn impurities that should be exfoliated to prevent dirt build-up. Brands really do make it so that their products go hand in hand!

When I say this cleanser is meant for all skin types, normal, oily, or combination, I truly mean it. And I’m not just saying that because it works on my combination skin type, but because my family members have also used the product, and they have either dry or oily skin. We were all impressed with how it controls the amount of natural oils for each individual—not too much, not too little.

Fun fact, my guy friend used it once and said it made his skin feel so smooth!

What I Like & Dislike About Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser

Likes

  • Cute packaging
  • Lightweight and long-lasting formula
  • Doesn’t strip away natural oils to help keep the skin healthy
  • Great price point for the size

Dislikes

  • Has a slippery feeling due to keeping the natural oils in the skin
  • Claimed as a foaming cleanser but does not foam even with lather
  • The product builds up-on the cap opening area

Alternative Product

As an alternative product, I would recommend the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting Cleanser. I started trying out this cleanser for pore shrinking purposes and noticed that it works as well as my holy grail Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser! As an exfoliator, it also only lifts away from the dead skin cells while maintaining the natural oil on your skin. These two seem to be very comparable, even in price too!

Verdict

If a product is liked by individuals of all skin types, that’s your sign to snag one right now. The price is affordable, and the cleanser doesn’t strip away your natural oils but still gets all the dirt and impurities off your skin. If you prefer a highly lathering foaming wash, this may not be the one for you in terms of preference. But for performance purposes, I highly recommend if you’re looking for a long-lasting cleanser that will soon become your everyday essential.

Rating: 4/5

Where Can I Buy Kate Somerville Exfolikate Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash?

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Judy Kim

Trying out new skincare and beauty products has always been a hobby of mine. I had really bad acne growing up, and using skincare products really helped soothe and calm the skin over time without leaving scars. I’ve tried over 30 different types of skincare products! My skin type is combination, I am oily on my T zones but dry overall.

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