What is it?
Kate Somerville (KS) Eradikate is an anti-blemish/ acne spot treatment
What the brand says it’s for:
“Kate's bestselling EradiKate™ Acne Treatment is specifically formulated with the highest level of sulfur allowed to effectively fight blemishes, reduce acne, and help keep skin free of new breakouts. AHAs are designed to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores while zinc oxide, a natural mineral, provides oil control by absorbing excess sebum. The result is clearer skin that lasts.”
Formulation
Active Ingredient: Sulfur (10%)
Other: Isopropyl Alcohol, Water, Camphor, Magnesium Aluminium Silicate, Salicylic Acid, Iron Oxides, Zinc Oxide
So the main active ingredient that is in the product is Sulfur. Sulfur is an oldie but a goodie when it comes to acne treatment. Topically, it dries the skin and reduces oil and helps slough off dead skin cells. Antimicrobial properties are also a bonus when it comes to acne. The isopropyl alcohol in the treatment again gives KS Eradikate its drying properties. Camphor works as an anti-inflammatory and gives the lotion is cooling effect. Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid and has an exfoliating action is commonly used in acne skin care to help slough off dead skin cells.
So when looking at the ingredient list there is nothing in there that is alarming and are all ingredients that I would expect to find in a spot treatment.
Formulated without:
Parabens, Sulfates (yes suflur is different to sulfates) and Phthalates
Packaging
KS Eradikate comes packaged in a 30 mL (1 fluid oz.) solid glass bottle. They have also launched a KS Eradikate To Go whereby the treatment is available in individually wrapped and pre-dipped swabs (handy for travelling, but again it retails at $58 AUD for a measly 30 swabs).
How to use:
Cleanse the skin
Do not shake solution.
Dip a cotton swab into pink solution.
Dab on pimple and let dry.
Wash off solution in the morning
Effectiveness
I don’t have many breakouts, normally just a random one here or there. When I do bust out the KS Eradikate (usually at the first sign of a pimple – i.e. hard bump or soreness in one area) I generally see significant reduction in inflammation the next morning and it no more pain. Most of the time, if I get on it early enough, it doesn’t erupt into a full-blown mother f***** I like to call ‘Bob’. On days when I didn’t get on it quick enough and Bob is in full swing, applying KS Eradikate does reduce the inflammation, and the size overnight.
Value for money
Retailing at $36 AUD, it’s not exactly cheap (…far from cheap). However a bottle will last you a long time as you are only using it as a spot treatment. If you're tossing between the bottle version or the individual swabs, definitely go for the bottle. It's not that big and won’t really take up that much space when travelling.
Availability:
In Australia you can only purchase Kate Somerville products from Mecca Cosmetica or Mecca Maxima. Mecca is pretty much everywhere, at all major shopping centers as well as concession stands at Myer. I couldn’t really find any international website that stock KS that ships to Australia, so Mecca is your go to.
Alternative Options:
The only product that I would say is very similar to KS Eradikate readily available in Australia would be the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. Same kind of two-phase product that you do not shake up designed to treat the spot.
Mario Badescu Drying lotion is described as on their website as their award winging spot treatment for pimples.
“Renowned for its ability to help dry up whiteheads overnight, our iconic Drying Lotion continues to reign as a best-selling favourite amongst beauty editors, celebrities, and professionals worldwide. This fast-acting, effective spot treatment is specially formulated with Salicylic Acid, Sulfur, and Zinc Oxide to help draw impurities from the skin and target pesky pimples while you sleep.”
Ingredients wise it contains: Isopropyl Alcohol, Aqua, Calamine, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Sulfur, Camphor, Talc, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid.
I’ve highlighted the different ingredients in the MB Drying Lotion when compared to the KS Eradikate.
I find that MB Drying Lotion works well on small white heads, but full blown pimples its not quite as strong, and I find that KS Eradikate works better. I am unable to find the percentage of Sulphur in MB Drying lotion either. KS Eradikate line contains 10% sulfur, which is the highest I’ve come to in skin care products that don’t require a prescription. I first tried MB Drying Lotion and only recently switched to KS. My old bottle of MB Drying Lotion came in a lightweight plastic bottle, but now I believe it comes packaged in a glass bottle like the KS. MB Drying lotion comes in about $12 cheaper the KS Eradikate at $24 (also available at Mecca).
