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Why I’m Cleansing Twice: ExfoliKate Cleanser Review

Exfolikate Cleanser Review

I’ve made no secret of my love of Kate Somerville. She’s the esthetician to the stars in LA, and she has an amazing skin care line. Her products are a bit of a splurge for me, but they’re well worth it.

One of my all time favorite products is her ExfoliKate, a green scrub that takes only a minute to work! It leaves my skin smooth and glowy, a tube of this stuff lives in my shower all time. I probably use it about once or twice a week, depending upon how my skin is doing. You can read my original ExfoliKate review, check out my 5 year blog anniversary ode to ExoliKate (which was 5 years ago now), or buy it from Sephora, Nordstrom or Kate Somerville. I don’t even know how many tubes of ExfoliKate I’ve purchased. One tube lasts me about 10-11 months, and I’ve used it continuously for about 7 or 8 years. I even take it with me when I travel!

So, when I heard about the new Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser, I was at once excited about it, but also didn’t really care. I love ExfoliKate! But, do I need both? Especially when I have already stocked up on Kate Somerville Detox Cleanser to the point that I will never need to purchase face wash again in my life? It’s kind of hard to justify buying more expensive face wash when you own more Kate Somerville than most spas.

But, recently I was buying a few “staples”, and needed another $25 to hit free shipping and a % off, so I went for the ExfoliKate Cleanser. I reasoned that it was free, so I wasn’t really “wasting” my money, right? I would get to try it out, but I knew deep down that because it was Kate that I would probably love it. And I was right! I have already bought a “backup” tube to keep around, so I’ll never run out!

ExfoliKate Cleanser isn’t really a typical cleanser. It is a bit drier, and has some very fine and evenly sized grit. There’s a very faint green tint, but it’s pretty much just white. It has a light lather and rinses off super easily. It does not make my face feel overly tight or dry, just clean. I’ve been washing my face first with the Detox Cleanser to remove my makeup. I then rinse and wash a second time, using about a pea sized amount of the ExfoliKate Cleanser. It’s just the right amount to wash my face, avoiding my eye area.

So, what’s the difference between the two cleansers? Detox has Salicylic, Glycolic, and Lactic Acids, all of which help to gently exfoliate the skin and clean out pores. There are also a lot of soothing ingredients, like Aloe Vera and Allantoin, so it has been great for my mild rosacea. ExfoliKate cleanser also has Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid, but they’ve added in Pineapple, Pumpkin and Papaya Enzymes, and they don’t have the added soothing ingredients. ExfoliKate Cleanser isn’t harsh, but it isn’t quite as gentle as Detox. I pay close attention to my skin, and if my skin is irritated I will skip a night of ExfoliKate Cleanser and my retinol cream.

Since I started using both cleansers instead of just the Detox alone, I’ve been pretty surprised in the improvement in my skin. It is smoother, my pores are smaller and I have had fewer blemishes. I saw improvement in my skin when I started using the Detox Cleanser alone, but I didn’t expect to see this much change in my skin with adding in the ExfoliKate Cleanser. It’s to the point that I have already purchased a second tube (I need a backup so I won’t run out), and I’m ordering a travel sized version too.

 

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Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser at Sephora, Kate Somerville, or Nordstrom
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate at Sephora, Nordstrom or Kate Somerville
Kate Somerville Detox Daily Cleanser at Nordstrom, Sephora, or Kate Somerville

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About Me

Iā€™m a doctor, a mommy and a bit of a beauty addict. If you let me, I can take 2 hours to get ready in the morning. Really. I'm on a quest for faster beauty that works!

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6 Comments

  1. 4.5.18
    Kathryn Price said:

    Thank you so much for your article! I have just started the Kate Sommerville line and would like to ask you a few questions.

    Please let me know if you would be willing to answer my questions šŸ™‚

    • 4.5.18
      15mins said:

      I’ll answer what I can! I love Kate Somerville!

  2. 12.3.18
    Tia McDonald said:

    Thanks for your article. Do you use the exfolikate daily cleanser and then apply the retinol cream? I just started using retinoid and I love the exfolikate cleanser but I know AHA and retinol should not be mixed. I am wondering if that is just when using a serum or exfoliator with AHA. Do you think I am okay with using a cleanser with AHA followed by retinoid?

    Thank you.

    • 12.3.18
      15mins said:

      You classically shouldn’t mix a retinoid and AHA in the same product, but dermatologists I’ve talked to say it’s fine to apply them in 2 treatment products at the same time even, as long as you’ve allowed the first to fully absorb before applying the 2nd. In this case the AHA is rinsed off completely, should be totally fine. šŸ™‚ I do the cleanser about 2-3x a week and same with the retinoid, but they’re not always on the same night.

  3. 6.22.23
    Lara Kim said:

    Do you know if Kate Somerville changed the formula to the Exfolikate cleanser? It no longer has the grit and is a thick cream. Nowhere near as good as I remember.

    • 6.22.23
      Christine said:

      I recently bought it again and mine was the same.