If you’ve already read through my last post, ‘Is the Clarisonic still a worthy investment in 2020?‘ you’ll already know the importance of exfoliating. If you haven’t read it yet, this is your summary – if you’re experiencing dryness, flaky skin, congestion, whiteheads, blackheads, and/or enlarged pores — it’s time to pull the exfoliating products out from the shadows and put them to good use.
Background on Kate Somerville:
The story of Kate Somerville, the esthetician is truly a humbling and magnificent one. Her story shows how hard work and opportunities can bring you from waiting tables at three different restaurants to becoming a founder of a multimillion dollar business — but that it also does not happen overnight.
Kate not only operates multiple medi-clinics throughout the United States, but also has her business of self-branded products contributing significantly to her wealth and expansion. Her brand philosophy is based off the following steps ‘exfoliate, hydrate and moisturize’.
Creation of Exfolikate:
Exfolikate like many other awesome creations such as the Lee Kum Kee’s oyster sauce could be considered a ‘mistaken creation’. Since Kate had a huge clientele, some of them would often have to travel for work and wouldn’t be able to visit the spa for their usual appointment — and so Kate threw in exfoliating particles into her enzyme mask before sending it along to her client; little did Kate know that this will become the best seller for her brand.
This beautiful product chock full of very yummy ingredients making it one of the best exfoliators on the market. It is loaded with acids, enzymes, essential oils, and just the perfect size of particles suitable for even the most sensitive of sensitive skins.
Kate’s products are cruelty-free, so how exactly does she get testing done on her products to show efficacy and if it’s suitable for sensitive skin types? She actually has her entire team try products before they get produced for the mass-market. This is absolutely ingenious because those that work on skin have the most experience and will be most encompassing on skin types as well as their respective reactions to products.
Exfolikate Cost & Sizes:
Exfolikate is marketed as a ‘dual action’ exfoliator that gives instant results of naturally glowy skin. It currently comes in three different sizes (2020), 0.5oz($24), 2oz($85), and 5oz($175).
Ingredients, Class & Purpose:
Trying this new format for ingredient listing, please let me know if you prefer this type of formatting over my usual listing. (In mobile version, please wipe for more details.)
| Class | Ingredient | Alternative Name | Purpose of Ingredient |
| Base | Aqua | Water | Water Based |
| Essential Oils | Soja | Soybean | Protein Enhancing |
| Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit | Bergamot | Brightening & Even Skintone | |
| Lavandula Angustifolia | Lavender | Calming & Soothing | |
| Pogostemon Cablin | Patchouli | Treats Skin Concerns (Acne, Dermatitis) | |
| Pelargonium Graveolens Flower | Geranium | Healing, Anti-septic, & Anti-inflammatory | |
| Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf | Cinnamon Leaf | Promotes Circulation & Anti-septic | |
| Aniba Rosaeodora | Rosewood | Balances Skin & Anti-septic | |
| Citrus Aurantium Dulcis | Orange Peel | Brightening & Even Skintone | |
| Conditioning Agents | Glyceryl Sterate | Emulsifying Agent | |
| PEG-100 Stearate | Emollient | ||
| Ceterayl Alcohol | Fatty Alcohol | Soothe & Heal Dry Skin | |
| Honey | Humectant & Anti-septic | ||
| Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder | Aloe Vera | Soothe, Hydrate and Anti-inflammatory | |
| Aniba Rosaeodora | Rosewood Extract | Skin-regenerator | |
| Fruit Extracts/Enzymes | Papaya Fruit | ||
| Bromelain | Pineapple Enzyme | Exfoliates & Anti-inflammatory | |
| Pumpkin Ferment Extract | Pumpkin Enzyme | Exfoliates | |
| Papain | Papaya Enzyme | Proteolytic Enzyme from Raw Papaya | |
| Antioxidants | Retinyl Palmitate | Active Acid | Loosens Up Dead Skin |
| Beta-Carotene | Coloring | Antioxidant Supplement | |
| Active Acids | Lactic Acid | Exfoliates Skin’s Surface | |
| Salicylic Acid | Exfoliates Pores & Sebum Build-up | ||
| Anti-Fungal | Acetic Acid | Destroys Bacteria Biofilms | |
| Sorbic Acid | Helps to kill bacteria | ||
| Honey | Anti-septic | ||
| Geranium | Anti-septic | ||
| Chlorophyllin-Copper | Heals Skin Faster & Anti-septic | ||
| Stabilizers | Pectin | ||
| Phenoxyethanol | |||
| Cetyl Alcohol | |||
| Dehydroxanthan Gum | |||
| Scent Enhancers | Cinnamal | ||
| Limonene | |||
| Linalool | |||
| Color Enhancers | Beta-Carotene | Orange Coloring (Natural) | |
| Chlorophyllin | Green Coloring (Natural) | ||
| Physical Exfoliator | Silica | Buffing Beads | Bio-degradeable & Non-Toxic, emulates Sand |
Product Packaging & Philosophy:
Kate Somerville uses really clean and sharp packaging for her Exfolikate line, everything has a bright/translucent white background with very endorphin inducing orange colored font and a little smiley face. The thought process behind this packaging is for the consumer to know that this line will bring glow and happiness to the skin.
Nervous About Strong Products?
The key to this product, like many other high-end exfoliating products is that you have to remember to let the product do it’s job. You paid so much for this product, so why are you working so hard to make it work?
Remember, how we have previously gone through all the ingredients in Exfolikate? Well let’s put that knowledge to use now — most lower-end exfoliators rely on either a buffing bead of sorts to actually do the exfoliation process. Products like Exfolikate have hearty ingredients in it that enables it to cleanse, exfoliate, peel, and mask all at the same time. This also means that it doesn’t rely entirely just on buffing beads to get rid of dead skin.
The use of lactic acid, fruit enzymes, and retinyl palmitate help to loosen up any dead skin and even melt away existing surface dry skin cells. While salicylic acid, acetic acid, and some of the anti-fungal ingredients help to get rid of what’s inside the pores whether it’s bacteria, blackheads or sebum. On top of working on the first layer of skin and inside the pores — cinnamon is also thrown into the mix to help with blood circulation. And like the cherry on top, there are very fine silica beads built into the product to help slough away the dead skin and sebum that is now loose and laying on top.
How To Use:
Step 1: Make sure your skin is damp.
This will enable the exfoliator to glide on nice and easy over the skin.
Step 2: Squeeze out a nickle-sized amount
A little bit of this product goes a really long way. So make sure you’re not overusing it — we tend to want to make up for loss time by using more product. Unfortunately just because you’re using twice as much does not mean that it will provide the same efficacy as consistency.
Step 3: Massage the product into face.
By gently massaging the product onto the skin, you’ll notice that between the heat of your hands as well as the silica gel beads, this movement will help to activate all the ingredients that are actively exfoliating as well. You’ll also notice a slight warmth to the skin due to the cinnamon and how it promotes blood circulation.
Step 4: Allow product to sit on skin for up to two minutes.
That is the recommended amount of time via the Kate Somerville instructions — but I would recommend for first timers to leave it on for roughly 30 seconds to a minute to acclimate the skin. Especially for those that have always used a physical exfoliating product and trying something of this strength for the first time, less time is more results. A lot of folks that use physically exfoliating products tend to use a lot more strength and may have unknown micro-tears in their skin.
Step 5: After the appropriate amount of time, just rinse.
Roughly after the 30 secs- 2 mins (or in my case 5 mins) once the tingly sensations are gone and the product has settled into the skin, it is time to take some warm water to gently once again buff the product off the skin. This will allow for any impurities to be washed away the right way. It’ll remove any dead skin that is barely hanging on as well as remove the sebum that has been loosened to the surface.
Exfolikate, worth $85?
Exfolikate is absolutely 100% worth it! Why?
This product is a four in one that can be used 1-3 times every week to enhance penetration of other skincare staples in your routine. Not only will the efficacy of your products work better, you’ll also have longer lasting effects of younger, brighter, smoother looking skin. Say goodbye to those rough ole days of strawberry noses and orange peel pores!
Do I consider $85 to be a hefty price tag?
Yes, for sure! However, I truly believe that this product is worth the price tag. As a consumer, you have to remember that this product functions at least as three products cost-wise. It is that treatment that exfoliate, peel, and mask — so imagine the cost of 3 products within that family, it can easily cost you more than $85.
To Purchase: Kate Somerville Exfolikate ($85)
Disclaimer: Please note that all images unmarked are my own and those marked are credited and not intended for any copyright infringement. If you would like to use my images please just ask for permission. All images and links are affiliated, meaning that with every purchase it will generate a tiny commission for the referral. This post is not sponsored and not paid for, all opinions are my own and always will be.