Exfolikate.

About this product

An exfoliating treatment combining lactic acid and fruit enzymes with physical scrubbing to remove dead skin and promote skin renewal.

Full ingredients

Water/Aqua/Eau, Lactic Acid, Silica, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Pectin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit, Ceteareth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Alcohol Denat., Sorbic Acid, Cinnamal, Honey/Mel/Miel, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Eugenol, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Linalool, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Beta-Carotene, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Bromelain, Papain, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Acetic Acid, Pogostemon Cablin Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil

Guru Score

71%

Mixed

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

3Gurus

2Approved

0Mixed

1Skip

What they liked

Visible results on first use
Combines chemical and physical exfoliation
Lactic acid formula

What they flagged

Intensity may be too strong for some
Risk of triggering melasma if overused

What the gurus are saying

This is an intense exfoliant that delivers visible results right away thanks to lactic acid and fruit enzymes combined with physical scrubbing. It's too strong for some now, while others love its potency and count it among the originals for lactic acid. Those with melasma or hyperpigmentation need to be careful with overuse, as irritation can worsen these conditions.

Synthesized from 3 expert reviews · most recent take March 2025

Key actives

Retinoid Salicylic acid (BHA)AHAVitamin E

Formula notes

Contains drying alcohol

Where to buy

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved takes Critical takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

AliceintheRabbitHole

59k subs

~Skip

"Way too strong for me now, that's another product that I did try in the past, that one is a lot more intense of an AHA treatment."

Mixed Makeup

1.46M subs

~Approved

"Kate Somerville ExfoliKate uses different fruit enzymes to exfoliate your skin but it mainly uses lactic acid as one of the main ingredients to exfoliate your skin and it really, I mean you see a difference in your skin the minute you use it. It also has a physical exfoliation as well. If you have melasma and hyperpigmentation just be very aware that you don't want to overdo it with your skin because if you're causing irritation you're then causing melasma and hyperpigmentation, it can trigger all of that. So just be very careful when you're using any of these exfoliating types of products. But this is one of the originals for me and one of the first products that I really started to love lactic acid in."

Dr. Shereene Idriss

1.72M subs

~Approved

"The Kate Somerville Exfolikate does smell a little bit like pumpkins, it has a very thick texture and consistency, and it is a little grainy. I am not nervous about the graininess of this particular product because it is extremely fine. It has lactic acid and salicylic acid, and it is good for people who are looking to brighten but who also have oily skin or active acne. If you have very sensitive skin you might want to be careful because it has a lot of essential oils in it."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Retinoids

Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.

Source: DermNet

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

Source: DermNet

Alpha hydroxy acids

Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is Kate Somerville Exfolikate?

An exfoliating treatment combining lactic acid and fruit enzymes with physical scrubbing to remove dead skin and promote skin renewal.

Is Kate Somerville Exfolikate worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 71%.

What is Kate Somerville Exfolikate's Guru Score?

Kate Somerville Exfolikate holds a Guru Score of 71%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 3 expert reviewers we have collected.