This foaming cleanser from Kate Somerville aims to deliver a clinic-like exfoliating experience at home. It uses a blend of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and fruit enzymes to slough away dead skin cells, revealing a brighter, smoother complexion.
Sephora price
$24.00 - $46.00
Price matters most when you are trying to learn whether this lane belongs in your routine without turning the test into a luxury gamble.
Sephora reviews
4.5 / 5
About 1,136 reviews on the current Sephora source, so there is real volume behind the reputation.
Shoppers keep mentioning
These are the shopper themes that keep showing up around this listing and shape why people open it in the first place.
Glass take
4.5 / 5 overall fit
This cleanser is a solid choice for anyone looking to add gentle exfoliation to their daily routine. It effectively tackles dullness and uneven texture without being overly harsh.
Sephora snapshot refreshed April 23, 2026
Price, rating, review count, and source status come from Sephora. Glass adds the routine fit, overlap risk, and what to compare next.
View SephoraWhat Sephora says
A daily, clinic-inspired exfoliating cleanser with AHAs and enzymes that helps boost radiance and refine pores.
AM and PM.
Use twice a day.
Apply a small amount to wet face and neck and massage gently for 30 seconds.
Rinse and gently pat dry.
Follow with ExfoliKate™ Glow Moisturizer with AHA.
What Glass adds
A good starting point for daily exfoliation. It’s effective for refining texture and pores, but if your skin is very sensitive or already using strong exfoliants, you might want to alternate this with a gentler cleanser.
Smoother, Brighter Skin
Many users report their skin feels noticeably smoother and looks brighter after incorporating this cleanser into their routine.
Pore Refinement
The exfoliating ingredients help to clear out pores, leading to a refined appearance.
Best for
Skip if
Routine Fit
Use this cleanser twice a day, morning and night. Massage a small amount onto wet skin for 30 seconds, then rinse thoroughly. It's designed to be the first step in your routine, preparing your skin for subsequent treatments like a moisturizer.
Why it works
The useful question is not whether this product is good in a vacuum. It is whether it makes your routine easier to run or just adds one more bottle with a familiar ingredient on it.
What it actually does well
Where it starts to feel redundant
Routine fit
Morning and Night
This cleanser is suitable for both morning and evening routines. Using it in the morning can help remove overnight buildup and prep skin for makeup, while using it at night ensures a thorough cleanse and begins the exfoliation process.
Glass rating
This cleanser is a solid choice for anyone looking to add gentle exfoliation to their daily routine. It effectively tackles dullness and uneven texture without being overly harsh.
Exfoliation
4.5 / 5
The combination of AHAs and fruit enzymes provides noticeable exfoliation, leaving skin smoother and brighter.
Gentleness
4.3 / 5
Despite its exfoliating properties, it's surprisingly gentle for daily use, suitable for most skin types.
Full ingredient breakdown
Solvent
Badness
0.0 / 10
The base of the formulation, dissolving other ingredients.
Usually helps with
Hydration
Watch for
None
Emulsifier
Badness
1.0 / 10
Helps to mix oil and water components, also acts as a surfactant.
Usually helps with
Cleansing
Watch for
Can be comedogenic for some
Surfactant
Badness
1.0 / 10
A mild amino acid-based surfactant that creates foam and cleanses the skin.
Usually helps with
Gentle cleansing
Watch for
None
Surfactant
Badness
1.0 / 10
A co-surfactant that helps create foam and improves cleansing performance.
Usually helps with
Foaming
Watch for
Can be irritating for very sensitive skin
Humectant
Badness
0.0 / 10
Attracts moisture to the skin, helping to keep it hydrated.
Usually helps with
Hydration
Watch for
None
Thickener
Badness
0.0 / 10
Used to adjust the viscosity of the product.
Usually helps with
Texture
Watch for
None
Emulsifier
Badness
0.0 / 10
Helps to stabilize the emulsion of oil and water ingredients.
Usually helps with
Formulation stability
Watch for
None
Humectant
Badness
0.0 / 10
A derivative of xylitol that helps improve skin's moisture barrier and hydration.
Usually helps with
Hydration
Watch for
None
Emollient
Badness
2.0 / 10
A silicone derivative that can provide a smooth feel and some emollience.
Usually helps with
Skin feel
Watch for
Silicones can be pore-clogging for some acne-prone individuals
Humectant
Badness
0.0 / 10
Works with xylitol and xylitylglucoside to enhance skin hydration.
Usually helps with
Hydration
Watch for
None
Humectant
Badness
0.0 / 10
A sugar alcohol that helps to increase skin hydration.
Usually helps with
Hydration
Watch for
None
Preservative
Badness
1.0 / 10
A natural preservative derived from fermented radish root.
Usually helps with
Preservation
Watch for
None
Enzyme
Badness
2.0 / 10
A proteolytic enzyme derived from pineapple, aids in exfoliation.
Usually helps with
Exfoliation
Watch for
Can cause mild irritation in sensitive individuals
Enzyme
Badness
2.0 / 10
A proteolytic enzyme derived from papaya, helps to break down dead skin cells.
Usually helps with
Exfoliation
Watch for
Can cause mild irritation in sensitive individuals
Enzyme
Badness
2.0 / 10
Fermented pumpkin enzymes that contribute to gentle exfoliation.
Usually helps with
Exfoliation
Watch for
Generally well-tolerated
Surfactant
Badness
2.0 / 10
A surfactant that helps create foam and cleanse the skin.
Usually helps with
Cleansing
Watch for
Can be a skin irritant for some
Soothing Agent
Badness
0.0 / 10
Known for its soothing and hydrating properties.
Usually helps with
Soothing, hydration
Watch for
None
AHA
Badness
3.0 / 10
An alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates the skin and helps with hydration.
Usually helps with
Exfoliation, hydration, texture
Watch for
Can increase sun sensitivity; potential for irritation
AHA
Badness
4.0 / 10
A potent AHA that exfoliates effectively, improving skin texture and tone.
Usually helps with
Exfoliation, texture, tone
Watch for
Can increase sun sensitivity; potential for irritation, especially at higher concentrations
Fragrance
Badness
5.0 / 10
Adds a citrus scent to the product.
Usually helps with
Scent
Watch for
Phototoxic; can cause skin reactions or increased sun sensitivity
Fragrance
Badness
3.0 / 10
Provides a floral, woody scent.
Usually helps with
Scent
Watch for
None
Fragrance
Badness
5.0 / 10
Adds a sweet orange scent.
Usually helps with
Scent
Watch for
Can increase sun sensitivity; potential for irritation
Humectant
Badness
0.0 / 10
A simple sugar that can help attract and retain moisture.
Usually helps with
Hydration
Watch for
None
Fragrance
Badness
3.0 / 10
A floral essential oil, often used for its scent.
Usually helps with
Scent
Watch for
None
Fragrance Component
Badness
4.0 / 10
A component of citrus oils, used for fragrance.
Usually helps with
Scent
Watch for
Potential allergen and irritant
Fragrance Component
Badness
4.0 / 10
A common fragrance ingredient.
Usually helps with
Scent
Watch for
Potential allergen and irritant
Preservative
Badness
3.0 / 10
Used as a preservative and solvent; can also contribute to fragrance.
Usually helps with
Preservation
Watch for
Can be a skin irritant and allergen
pH Adjuster
Badness
1.0 / 10
Used to adjust the pH of the product to ensure efficacy and stability.
Usually helps with
Formulation
Watch for
Can be irritating if pH is not properly adjusted
Fragrance Component
Badness
4.0 / 10
A component of citrus oils, used for fragrance.
Usually helps with
Scent
Watch for
Potential allergen and irritant
Preservative
Badness
3.0 / 10
A preservative that helps prevent microbial growth.
Usually helps with
Preservation
Watch for
Can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions
Fragrance Component
Badness
4.0 / 10
A naturally occurring compound found in many flowers and spices, used for fragrance.
Usually helps with
Scent
Watch for
Potential allergen and irritant
Fragrance Component
Badness
4.0 / 10
A component of rose and geranium oils, used for fragrance.
Usually helps with
Scent
Watch for
Potential allergen and irritant
Binder
Badness
0.0 / 10
A polysaccharide used as a binder or texturizer.
Usually helps with
Texture
Watch for
None
Fragrance Component
Badness
4.0 / 10
A component of rose oil, used for fragrance.
Usually helps with
Scent
Watch for
Potential allergen and irritant
Colorant
Badness
1.0 / 10
A natural green colorant derived from chlorophyll.
Usually helps with
Color
Watch for
None
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FAQ
Yes, this is formulated as a daily foaming wash. However, if you have very sensitive skin, you may want to alternate it with a gentler cleanser.
This cleanser contains Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) like Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid, as well as fruit enzymes from papaya, pineapple, and pumpkin.
Absolutely. The combination of AHAs and enzymes is designed to remove dead skin cells, revealing brighter skin and improving overall texture.
