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Home » Skincare » Serum » The Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution is clearly a complete misnomer

The Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution is clearly a complete misnomer

July 25, 2013 Paris B 52 Comments

You know, I’d forgotten about this one. Remember when it was first launched last year? I remember lots of people loved it. I was gifted a bottle and I almost finished it up but for some reason, I didn’t review it. Ah bad me! In fact, I’d totally forgotten about this until Sam the Curious Bear pinged me on Twitter to ask me about it.

It turned out we both share the same view on it – it sucks at what it claims to do.

kiehl's clearly corrective dark spots solution

Yeah you read it right. It sucks.

Alright, lets be fair. No product that claims to eradicate dark spots topically work. If they did, I’d have porcelain, clear, freckle and pigmentation free skin. I would be the best example of someone on whom dark spot serums should work. None do. The only one that has come closest to lightening my dark spots is the Clinique Even Better Clinical serum. Even then, it lightens it to a degree and then plateaus. The only way you will actually see any results is if you go for laser treatment.

So, now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk about this very popular Kiehl’s product. I know many of you have given it a go. Do you like it? Did it work as promised for you or are you like Sam and I sitting here going “Huh? My dark spots are not diminished, dammit!”

However, I will be fair, this one isn’t a total whitewash.

I used up about 3/4 of the bottle and I liked the clear runny texture that absorbs very quickly into the skin and the light lavender scent. Use it with the Midnight Recovery Concentrate and it is sheer bliss to the senses.

kiehl's clearly corrective dark spots solution

The active ingredients are supposed to be activated vitamin C to correct and reduce the reoccurance of dark spots, white birch to hydrate skin and peony extract to reverse discolouration.

But you see, my beef is with the name of the product – Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution. The idea is that this product will target and correct dark spots. I have dark spots. Lots of them. Not a single one was corrected rapidly or otherwise.

However, I liked how my skintone was clarified and brightened with daily use of this product. This part of it is noticeable. My skintone looked more even and my skin looked better. If you have fresh acne or pimple scars, it actually helps fade it more quickly. Pair it with the MRC and you can wake up to lovely glowy skin in the morning. I did experience this.

But this isn’t called a Skin Tone Evener Solution is it? It’s called a Dark Spot Solution. And in this respect, I will say it did diddly squat.

kiehl's clearly corrective dark spot solution

So my take on this is that the name is a misnomer. This isn’t a Dark Spot Solution. It is a Clear Skin Solution or even a Clarified Skin Solution or maybe a Skintone Evener Solution or perhaps even a Acne Scar Fading Solution. Calling it a Dark Spot Solution just raises our hopes up and dashes them on the cold rocks of reality after you’ve gone through a bottle with no evident change to your dark spots.

Then again, perhaps I’m in the minority. I know this product is wildly popular. So many before/after photos online seem to tell the story of it being a Dark Spot Solution. So maybe its just me…. or maybe its Photoshop. Pbfft 😛

In a nutshell

The Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution is a clear serum that is targeted at reducing the appearance of dark spots on skin and to clarify the skin. I vouch for the latter. My skin does look clearer and more even toned and does look better overall. I decry the former claim. Dark Spots Solution? Pishposh! Did nothing for my dark spots except maybe make it look even more prominent sitting on my brighter, more clarified skintone. Bleh.

Pros: Smells nice, Skintone generally appears more even toned

Cons: Does nothing to reduce the appearance of my dark spots, Expensive since it does not do what it claims to do

Who will like this: Anyone who isn’t too taken in by the idea of this ever reducing dark spots

The ingredient list for anyone interested:

Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denatured, PEG/PPG/Polybutene Glycol-8/5/3/ Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, 3-O Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, PEG-6 Decyltetradeceth-30, Phenoxyethanol, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil/Lavender Oil, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Citrus Tachibana/Citrus Aurantium Tachibana Peel Extract, Paeonia Suffruitcosa Extract/Paeonia Suffruitcosa Root Extract

One more thing. This product is supposed to contain Vitamin C yet it comes in a clear solution in a clear bottle. It is a known fact that Vitamin C oxidises very easily so unless a clever chemist can tell me that the solution it is in makes it so stable that it does not oxidise in a clear bottle, then I’m guessing it’s pretty much rendered useless after a spell.

Have you used this serum? Did you have good results from it?

Naturally, you can tell I didn’t. All I had was a nice sensorial experience thanks to the lovely lavender scent and what appeared to be more even toned skin overall. But it definitely fails to live up to its name and label. Save your money and get something else.

Paris B

Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spots Solution Price: RM200/30ml Availability: Kiehl’s stores

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About Paris B

Paris B is a 40-something beauty and skincare enthusiast with a practical and very critical view of beauty products and the world of beauty. Her mission on My Women Stuff is to deliver clear, honest reviews and facilitate discussions about beauty trends and life, tempered with a healthy dose of humour. Let the buyer's remorse be ours not yours! When not testing the newest skincare creams and lotions, or playing with makeup, find her testing her culinary skills in the kitchen at Chez PB. Read more about us here or leave a comment below or connect with us on social media at Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

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52 comments ... Read or JOIN THE DISCUSSION

  1. Ceej says

    July 26, 2013 at 9:57 pm

    I’m almost done with my clearly corrective bottle. It did lighten my acne scars faster. There’s even one big acne mark that is hardly visible now. But for sun spots, blah, it didn’t improve anything. Would I repurchase? No. Acne marks slowly lighten on their own eventually. And I’d rather spend on a good sunblock to prevent sun spots. Off topic, I bought the Shiseido UV perfect sunblock and I’m loving it! Thanks to your recommendation, Paris 🙂

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      July 27, 2013 at 11:42 am

      Whee! Glad you too are loving the Shiseido sunblock! So pricey but its so lovely on skin right? 🙂 As for this Kiehl’s product I suppose as you have pointed out, it could potentially help someone who needs to lighten their acne scars more quickly but really, most of us would have been holding out for some sun spot lightening eh? Pity it just doesn’t cut it 🙁

      Reply
  2. phyllicia says

    July 27, 2013 at 3:56 am

    Hi Paris,
    Thanks for responding and the clarification. Love reading your blog. Keep up the good work. ^^

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      July 27, 2013 at 11:50 am

      My pleasure Phyllicia! See you around the comment box! 😀

      Reply
  3. Shasha says

    July 31, 2013 at 11:43 am

    Hi Paris,

    I’ve also used this product, about half a bottle now. And i use it at night together with EL Advanced Night Repair. I see no difference whatsoever. Dark spots still here, in fact i dont think it does anything to my skin at all..So i guess, i’m on the look out for a new dark spot corrector! 🙂

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      August 2, 2013 at 5:41 pm

      Looks like I’m not alone! Thanks for sharing, Shasha 😀

      Reply
  4. nadz says

    August 15, 2013 at 10:47 am

    hi dear…
    been using it for about 3 weeks now.
    x sure yet about the effect on my skin tone, but 1 thing for sure it breaks me out!
    i seldom break out. now its here n there, small ones though.
    i’m sure does that mean the product doesnt suits me?
    shud i return it? or shud i wait?
    i hv next week till the date expires.
    u r rite about the 30 days guarantee thing.
    it is stated at the bottom of the receipt.

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      August 15, 2013 at 5:56 pm

      If this is the only product you have changed in your routine then it does sound like it doesn’t suit your skin. If you can, maybe it’s better to return it. Good luck

      Reply
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My Women Stuff by Paris B

Welcome to My Women Stuff, a beauty blog based in Malaysia, written by veteran blogger, Paris B. What you can expect is honesty, critical views & a healthy dose of shared life lessons sprinkled amongst beauty product reviews. What you shouldn't expect is a page filled with unnecessary narcissistic photos. MWS is a blog for those who love to read, because we love to write! Read More about MWS and Paris B

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