Do you have problems with blemishes, acne or pigmentation? Then Vitamin C should be your best friend. Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution is a unique formula that comes in a transparent glass bottle and contains... 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid. Today I want to share with you my story on how Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution helped me with my skin problems in just a month.
This post was made in collaboration with Kiehl's Polska
About Kiehl's
Do you know that Kiehl's is not a new brand on the market? Kiehl's story started in 1851. The brand started as a pharmacy created by John Kiehl. The first store created by Kiehl's is located on 3rd Avenue and East 13th street in New York. This store is still open and you can visit it! According to Kiehl's first product was created by Irving Morse - the next owner of Kiehl's pharmacy and pharmacologist, his son continued working at Kiehl's. In 1962 Kiehl's started to sell Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner, Blue Astringent Lotion, Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1, and Ultra Facial Moisturiser. In 2005, Kiehl's released a new skincare line - Dermatologist Solutions™. Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution is one of the examples of the Dermatologist Solutions™ line. The brand is focused on creating good formulas for the skin and sustainability. It's also good to add that in the year 2000, L'oreal acquired Kiehl's.
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution - Packaging
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution comes in a paper box, inside you can see a glass container with a pipette. It's easy to apply the formula. Usually, products with Vitamin C need dark glass to prevent oxidation of Vitamin C. Kiehl's used 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a form of Vitamin C that is more stable.
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution - Texture & Scent
It's not a surprise that Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution has transparent colour. This liquid is lightweight, and it might feel slightly oily. It has a citrus scent.
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution - Ingredients
Aqua / Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, Peg/Ppg/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Phenoxyethanol, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil / Lavender Oil, Disodium Edta, Adenosine, Linalool, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Citrus Aurantium Tachibana Peel Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Water hides in a cosmetic products under names such as Aqua or Eau. It's a solvent, but it's not your regular drinking water. Water in skin care needs to fit some standards. It should be clean and free from minerals, microorganisms or other substances. Usually, water makes up the majority of the content of the product. You can love or hate Propylene Glycol. It's alcohol, but not every alcohol is bad. Organic skincare companies usually are against it, while in fact, Propylene Glycol helps with transferring active ingredients through the skin, it's also a good moisturizer and solvent. Glycerin or Glycerol is a humectant. Its origin can be natural or synthetic - depending on the product. It protects TEWL (transepidermal water loss) and naturally occurs in the skin. It's one of the NMFs - natural moisturizing factors. It's practical in hair care. Glycerin won't clog your skin or irritate it just the opposite - it protects your skin from irritation. Alcohol Denat is an immense topic in skincare. Alcohol can be good or bad for your skin, but sometimes the amount makes a poison. Alcohol, after all, is a prominent solvent. It makes active substances penetrate the skin deeper. This effect has its cost - the skin is getting a bit irritated. Some substances can be dissolved only in alcohol. This ingredient has antibacterial properties. It works as a preservative by preventing microorganisms from growing in the product. It has some awful sides too - it can dry your skin, mainly if we use it in large amounts. Sensitive skin is not a fan of this ingredient. PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin is related to glycerin. The name might look scary, but it's a hydrating emollient. Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol is an ingredient patented by L'oreal. If you see Pro-Xylane in a product, then you can be sure it's Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol. This ingredient is a biomimetic molecule derived from xylose. It boosts the production of collagen and elastin. It has firming and moisturizing properties.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid or Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is a form of Vitamin C. This form is very stable in both oil and water. It's an antioxidant and skin-brightening ingredient. It stimulates collagen (type I and III) and elastin production. 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid helps with PIE & PIH pigmentation - this form shows the best effects on pigmentation and post-UV-exposure skin discolouration. It's better to use Vitamin C during the morning routine because it boosts the efficiency of sunscreen. We consider 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is the most stable form of vitamin C in skin care, and this version is suitable for sensitive skin. It's good to mix it with niacinamide and vitamin E. This form has weak points - it's the most expensive form of vitamin C. Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30 is a surfactant. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that we shouldn't be afraid of. There are strict norms for this substance in our beauty products. Salicylic Acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA). It's an exfoliant with keratolytic properties. It normalizes the keratinization process. This acid doesn't only work on the surface of the skin like AHAs, but it goes deep into pores. It might have anti-inflammatory properties, but we know that acne-prone skin loves it. If you have problems with ingrowths or keratosis pilaris then salicylic acid is an ingredient for you. Xanthan Gum is a polysaccharide that works as a thickener. Hydroxyethylcellulose is a thickener. Potassium Hydroxide is a pH adjuster. Citric acid is an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) - a delicate exfoliant and a buffering ingredient. It adjusts the pH of the formula. Sodium Citrate neutralizes metal ions, but it also adjusts the pH. Tocopheryl Acetate is a form of Vitamin E, Tocopherol. It's an antioxidant that helps with skin & hair hydration and prevents TEWL (transepidermal water loss). This ester form of Tocopherol is more stable, but it's not as effective. Some people consider it a preservative, but Vitamin E should be used as a preservative. It's good to mix it with Vitamin C and Ferulic Acid.
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil is an essential oil which you might love or hate. It has some relaxing and antibacterial properties, but it can irritate your skin. Disodium EDTA neutralizes metal ions in the formula to keep products fresh. Adenosine naturally occurs in the skin. One of the adenosine's roles in our bodies is being a neurotransmitter. In skin care, we use adenosine for its anti-wrinkle properties. Adenosine is an anti-inflammatory ingredient. It can boost collagen production. At the same time, it speeds up the healing process. Adenosine can have positive effects on reducing redness. In hair care, adenosine can help with hair loss. Linalool gives a floral scent to products. It can irritate the skin. Butylene Glycol is a common ingredient in products. It's not only a solvent. We use butylene glycol because it helps with the penetration of active ingredients, protects products from drying and moisturizes skin and hair. This ingredient can prevent hair loss and make your hair stronger. Tocopherol is an antioxidant known as Vitamin E. It's an oil-soluble vitamin that fights free radicals and makes UVB protection and natural lipid barrier stronger. It's good to mix it with vitamin C for better effects. Oily skin might react with pore-clogging to vitamin E. It is not true that vitamin E works as a preservative or helps with scars. Paeonia Suffruticosa is a symbol of wealth and good luck. This plant is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as Mu Dan Pi and it can be used to cure nosebleeds. In skin care, companies use Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract as an anti-inflammation treatment.
How does Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution work?
Before we start, I always thought about Kiehl's as an expensive brand - they had a great idea for stores, and I remember seeing my friends using an avocado eye cream or calendula toner, but for me, this brand was very hard to get until we started to have one tiny Kiehl's point at Douglas store. I didn't buy this Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution, I got it as a part of Klub Kiehl's (translation: club Kiehl's). I was contacted by Kiehl's skincare expert and through an online visit, I had my entire routine selected especially for my skin. One of the products I got is Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution.
I started to use this product without checking the ingredients. Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution contains vitamin C form which I like - the one that isn't very affordable, but the effects are worth the price! But before we talk about money, let's talk about the product. I use Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution day & night. If you are with me for a bit longer then you might know how much I complain about Vitamin C serums being not suitable under makeup. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, but some forms are soluble in oils - and these forms are quite common in products. They don't work with my foundations even if it's a good idea to use vitamin C under sunscreen. One of Vitamin C's benefits is making UV protection stronger since it's an antioxidant, and it fights free radicals. So that's a miracle, Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution works under makeup, and I don't complain.
The true exam for Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution was after my "period" acne decided to strike - I was left with a huge red scar on my cheek. I knew that blemishes need time, even lots of time and Vitamin C is one of the ways to fight them. What you can do on blemishes - start working earlier and with good ingredients. It's been over a month since I fight that one spot on my cheek and the difference is huge. Under makeup, it's invisible, but without it - I believe I might see it more than others. Even the texture of the skin feels good after Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution.
A tiny information about effects - first photo was taken with front camera on IG app, the after photo is taken with back camera on camera app - both photos were taken with Samsung Z Fold 3, during that period of time Samsung released update to Z Fold series that made autoportraits possible (before that mode had no shutter button on the front screen).
Where to buy Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution, and how much does it cost?
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution isn't the cheapest serum costs $60/30ml, $85/50ml and $145/100ml. The prices in Europe are a bit different: 30 ml costs €59, £47 or 269PLN, 50ml costs €80, £63 or 379PLN and 100ml in countries like Poland are not available, but in some EU countries & UK it costs €132 or £105.
Overall, for me, Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution is not the cheapest, but it works fast. Because this product is based on 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid I was expecting it might work fast and I am not disappointed. I'm pretty sure I'll go back to Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution often.
Have you ever tried Kiehl's products? What's your favourite Vitamin C?
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