Kate Somerville ExfoliKate® Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash Review
BeautyBrief™
Brand
Kate Somerville
Product
ExfoliKate® Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash
Claims check
You get a foaming cleanser with AHA and enzyme ingredients, but the brand's small consumer study does not prove lasting pore reduction or leave-on treatment effects.
Shopper fit
- Normal
- Combination
- Oily
Formula flags
- Essential oils
- Exfoliating acids
- Silicones
- Added color
- Enzyme exfoliants: bromelain, papain and pumpkin ferment.
Shopper preferences
- Cruelty-Free
Key ingredients
| Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate | Provides foaming cleansing to help you remove oil and everyday buildup before rinsing. |
|---|---|
| Glycerin | Adds moisture-binding support to your short-contact cleansing step. |
| Lactic Acid | Adds an AHA for surface exfoliation during your brief wash, without a disclosed concentration. |
| Glycolic Acid | Adds a second AHA to your rinse-off cleanser, with benefits limited by contact time and formulation. |
| Bromelain | Adds a pineapple-derived enzyme to your exfoliation-oriented wash, not a proven leave-on treatment. |
Price tier
$$$ Premium
Value check
At the Premium tier, you pay for combined cleansing and exfoliation, with the strongest value when that format replaces an unnecessary extra step.
Where to buy
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Bottom line
If you want exfoliation built into a cleanser, ExfoliKate combines AHAs and enzymes in a foaming wash. Its aromatic oils and overlapping actives deserve attention if your skin is easily irritated, and short-term testing does not prove permanent pore change. At the Premium tier, choose it for the convenient combination rather than treatment-level results.
If you want exfoliation built into cleansing, Kate Somerville ExfoliKate® Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash combines a foaming surfactant base with lactic acid, glycolic acid and fruit-derived enzymes. The Premium-priced format makes more sense when you want that combination in one short wash step than when your routine already handles exfoliation elsewhere.
The key tradeoff is tolerance. You are adding acids and enzyme ingredients alongside aromatic botanical oils, so a simpler cleanser is a clearer choice if your skin is already irritated or you use several other exfoliants.
What it claims
Kate Somerville markets ExfoliKate® Cleanser as a daily foaming wash that removes dirt, oil and makeup while gently exfoliating for smoother-looking skin and cleaner-looking pores. The brand highlights glycolic and lactic acids, plus papaya, pineapple and pumpkin-derived enzymes, and describes the wash as suitable for morning or evening use.[1]
The brand reports results from an independent study involving 34 people: after one use, 94% said the wash thoroughly cleansed dirt, oil and makeup and left their skin soft and refreshed; after seven days, 94% said their pores felt clean. These are manufacturer-published reports of participants’ perceptions. Without publicly disclosed trial methods or a comparison group, you cannot treat them as proof of permanent pore shrinkage or superiority over another cleanser.[1]
Claims vs. formula
Sodium cocoyl glycinate and lauramidopropyl betaine supply the primary cleansing action. Glycerin, xylitylglucoside, anhydroxylitol, xylitol and aloe support the formula’s moisture-focused design, although a rinse-off wash cannot be equated with a leave-on moisturizer.
You also get lactic acid and glycolic acid plus bromelain, papain and pumpkin ferment. Their inclusion is consistent with the brand’s exfoliating approach, but the official page does not disclose finished-product acid concentrations, pH or measured exfoliation strength. With just a 30-second massage before rinsing, you should not assume the results of tested leave-on acids apply to this cleanser.[1]
Bergamot, orange peel and geranium oils, plus listed fragrance components such as limonene and linalool, shape the aromatic profile rather than the cleansing mechanism. Dimethicone PEG-8 meadowfoamate is a silicone-derived ingredient, and CI 75810 adds color. These are formula characteristics, not automatic evidence of poor performance.
Ingredients that matter
For you, the practical difference from a basic foaming cleanser is the combination of surfactants, humectants, acids and enzymes. The surfactants remove routine oil and residue, while the acid-and-enzyme blend adds an exfoliation-oriented design. How much smoothing you actually get depends on the finished formula and short contact time, not simply the number of named exfoliants.
Essential oils in the same wash matter for fragrance-reactive skin. You do not need aromatic oils to benefit from cleansing or surface exfoliation, and their presence does not demonstrate that the wash is unsafe for everyone.
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Sodium cocoyl glycinate is a cleansing surfactant used in rinse-off formulas. The full surfactant blend determines mildness.
Read the IngredientBrief
Glycerin
If your skin feels dry or tight, glycerin helps your skin hold moisture. You don't need a high percentage or a separate serum when your moisturizer already works well.
Read the IngredientBrief
Lactic Acid
If roughness or dullness bothers you, lactic acid is a proven exfoliant. Choose a formula with a pH and strength your skin tolerates; a higher percentage isn't automatically better.
Read the IngredientBrief
Glycolic Acid
If rough texture or dullness bothers you, glycolic acid has evidence for smoother-looking skin. Choose a formula your skin tolerates; concentration and pH matter more than a high percentage.
Read the IngredientBriefSafety and regulatory context
If your skin is already peeling, tight or irritated from retinoids, exfoliating acids or other active products, this cleanser adds another potential source of discomfort. The brand instructs you to gently massage wet skin for approximately 30 seconds and rinse rather than leaving the product on as a treatment.[1]
Fragrance allergy research identifies aromatic materials and essential oils as possible contact allergens. That evidence is general: it does not establish that this finished cleanser causes a reaction in everyone who uses it.[2]
If cruelty-free purchasing matters to you, Kate Somerville states on its official FAQ that the brand does not test on animals. This supports the brand-wide Cruelty-Free preference, not a claim about cleanser performance.[3]
What to expect in the short term
You get a foaming wash designed for cleansing with gentle exfoliation. Apply a small amount to wet face and neck, massage gently for 30 seconds, rinse and pat dry. The brand’s small study supports reported cleanliness and soft-feeling skin under its test conditions, not a guarantee that you will notice immediate pore-size changes.[1]
What to expect over time
If your skin tolerates the formula, you can use it as an exfoliation-oriented cleansing step. The brand’s seven-day figures describe how clean participants felt their pores were; they do not prove sustained improvement in acne, pigmentation or pore dimensions. Your need for additional exfoliation depends on what is already in your routine.
Who it fits
This is a practical choice if your skin is normal, combination or oily and you prefer a foaming cleanser that includes acids and enzymes. You are a less natural fit if your skin is highly reactive, fragrance-sensitive, currently peeling or already exposed to multiple exfoliating treatments.
If you want to prioritize simplicity or minimize aromatic ingredients, a non-exfoliating, fragrance-free cleanser offers fewer potential overlap concerns.
Compare before you buy
At the Premium tier, you are paying for a cleanser with combined foaming, chemical exfoliation and enzyme ingredients, plus brand-reported finished-product consumer results. Those features are most useful if they replace a step you would otherwise add; they do not establish that this wash outperforms a simpler cleanser and a separate well-chosen treatment.
Choose a basic daily cleanser when you already get suitable exfoliation from a retinoid, acid serum or treatment. If your main goal is stronger correction of persistent pigmentation or roughness, compare leave-on formats with product-specific supporting evidence rather than assuming a rinse-off cleanser works the same way.
Final Assessment
If you want your cleanser to include exfoliating acids and enzymes, Kate Somerville ExfoliKate combines them with everyday foaming ingredients in a short-contact wash. Aromatic oils and routine overlap limit its fit for easily irritated skin, while the 34-person brand-reported results do not prove lasting pore reduction. At the Premium tier, its value depends on whether you benefit from having exfoliation built into cleansing.
Where to buy
Choose a retailer to view current pricing and availability.
We may earn a commission through these links at no additional cost to you.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources
Kate Somerville. ExfoliKate® Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash. Exact U.S. product ingredient declaration, brand-reported 34-person test and use directions.
Sukakul T, Bruze M, Svedman C. Fragrance Contact Allergy: A Review Focusing on Patch Testing. Acta Dermato-Venereologica. 2024;104:adv40332. General dermatology evidence, not a trial of this cleanser.
Kate Somerville. Official FAQ: Cruelty-Free Policy. Brand-wide statement on animal testing.
