Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Glow Moisturizer for dry skin
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Squalane
Bromelain
PapainAverage
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your dry skin due to lactic acid and glycolic acid, which promote skin renewal but may not fully address flakiness without more emollient ingredients like squalane.
- The presence of pumpkin, radish root, bromelain, and papain ferments offers general skincare benefits that support hydration and cleansing.
- The formula is safe for your dry skin, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and work your way up to daily use.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner and before your sunscreen in the morning. At night, use it as the final step after your serum.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing to keep your dry skin happy.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra hydration. This is great for soothing dry and flaky areas .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dull or uneven skin tone frequently praise this moisturizer for delivering an immediate glow and smoother texture through gentle chemical exfoliation. While highly effective for boosting radiance, those with very dry or sensitive skin sometimes find it insufficiently hydrating for winter months or slightly irritating due to the active ingredients.
Highlights
Instant glow Mostly Mentioned
- “gives such a great glow”
- “skin went from dull to glowing”
- “unrivaled radiance”
- “makeup looks glowy”
Smoother skin Often Mentioned
- “baby smooth skin”
- “improvement in texture”
- “sloughing away dead cells”
- “skin felt smoother after one week”
Gentle exfoliation Sometimes Noted
- “gentle AHAs”
- “doesn't irritate my skin”
- “perfect level of exfoliation”
- “great alternative to scrubs”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells fresh”
- “light citrusy scent”
- “smells like a spa”
- “scent gives a brightening feel”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “pretty pricey”
- “expensive for a moisturizer”
- “wouldn't pay full price”
- “wait for a sale”
Insufficient hydration Sometimes Noted
- “not quite enough for winter”
- “need to use another moisturizer”
- “too light for me”
- “dry skin needs more”
Sensitivity & tingling Rarely Noted
- “tingles a little bit”
- “caused redness”
- “burning sensation”
- “avoid if barrier is damaged”
Texture & absorption Rarely Noted
- “sticky/tacky finish”
- “takes a while to soak in”
- “weird green color”
- “feels like a film”
Sources: lovi.care, katesomerville.com, influenster.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, spacenk.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Glow Moisturizer work for dry skin?
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Glow Moisturizer is an average fit for dry skin because it provides moderate exfoliation that helps renew the skin, but it may not fully address flakiness. To work best for dry skin, a moisturizing treatment needs rich nourishing ingredients and emollients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to ensure optimal hydration and support the skin barrier.
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for dry skin?
This moisturizer fits your dry skin with lactic acid and glycolic acid for gentle renewal, alongside squalane, bromelain, and papain. Because other products fit dry skin better, a product of this type needs rich, moisture-retaining ingredients and emollients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to deeply hydrate and support the skin barrier.
What does Glycolic Acid do for dry skin?
Glycolic acid helps smooth and soften dry skin by speeding up the shedding of older surface cells. Because it can also cause the skin to lose more moisture, dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid alongside it to keep the skin comfortable.
What does Lactic Acid do for dry skin?
Lactic acid helps relieve dry skin by drawing in moisture and strengthening the skin's barrier so it stays soft and smooth. This ingredient gently sheds dead cells and supports natural moisturizing factors, making it very useful for improving rough or flaky areas.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2025Skin Research and Technology, 2013
Where does this moisturizer go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This moisturizer goes in the evening routine after cleansing, though a product for dry skin of this type needs richer hydrating and softening ingredients to fully soothe flakiness.
Can I use this moisturizer with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying your retinol product first and following it with this treatment moisturizer to help manage dryness. Because this cream contains exfoliating acids, using it alongside retinol may increase the likelihood of irritation, so you might want to alternate nights until your skin adjusts.
How often should I use this moisturizer?
You can use this moisturizer once a week to start, and if your skin feels comfortable and looks good, you may carefully use it more often. This product works for dry skin, though it needs extra rich oils and butters to fully tackle flakiness and keep dry skin soft and smooth.
Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin since it lacks heavy or pore-clogging ingredients. However, the exfoliating acids may cause mild tingling or light purging as they help with skin renewal.
Can I use this moisturizer around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizer on your body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin directly around your eyes since the acids may cause irritation. A product of this type needs richer, heavy softening ingredients to properly care for extremely delicate or very thin areas.
Is this moisturizer fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (citronellol, citral, limonene, linalool, and geraniol). Myristyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Oral bromelain slightly reduced pain compared to controls (mean difference -0.27) and topical bromelain reduced time to complete debridement by 6.89 days, with no major health risks reported.
Nutrition and Health, 2023An upcycled pineapple leaf fibre crosspolymer forms a physical barrier that protects against environmental aggressors while providing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipollution, UV protection, hydration, and hair benefits.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026A coaxial electrospun core-shell nanofiber scaffold delivering bromelain and salvianolic acid B demonstrated sustained drug release, in vitro endothelial cell migration, increased capillary formation in an in ovo assay, and in vivo efficacy for skin regeneration and wound healing.
Biomedical Materials, 2017Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Reflux extraction of Carica papaya leaves yielded higher antioxidant capacity and superior in vitro wound-healing activities including fibroblast proliferation, cell migration, and collagen synthesis in human skin fibroblasts compared to ultrasonic-assisted extraction and agitation.
Molecules, 2020
Why other moisturizers fit dry skin better
Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Nanoemulsions containing Macadamia integrifolia seed oil successfully enhanced skin hydration and reduced wrinkles in human volunteers, outperforming conventional emulsions in skin hydration enhancement.
Nanomaterials, 2024Topical oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions containing glyceryl glucoside, natural moisturizing factors, and ceramide significantly improved skin hydration and barrier function while reducing visible dryness and tactile roughness in subjects with very dry skin compared to untreated sites and vehicles.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Isostearyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Squalane, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Propanediol, Glycolic Acid, Myristyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactobacillus Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Bromelain, Papain, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Yeast Extract, Polysilicone-11, Bergamot Oil Fruit, Rosewood Extract Wood, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Geranium Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Myristyl Glucoside, Cyclohexasiloxane, Peg-40 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Maltodextrin, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, T-Butyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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