Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution Review

Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution ($49.50) was an impulse buy. I picked it up on my trip to England in November, and it’s had a hand in clearing up my acne scars. I had such a great experience in the store in Nottingham, but I left skeptical of the effects it would have; this isn’t my first time at the acne scar rodeo, and I am really over trying all these serums that claim to lighten scars but don’t. This serum, I believe, did in fact work for me in concert with other products, and I plan on repurchasing it.

My skin type

I have oily skin. I also have scarring from acne, which seems inevitable, and large pores on my cheeks.

What it’s supposed to do

I purchased this serum to get rid of my scarring. I can comfortably say, that my scarring has diminished significantly from the time I started using this, to writing this post, and finally to present day.

Kiehl’s claims that the serum “visibly diminishes the number and intensity of dark spots and discolorations.”

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, Linalool, Citrus Tachibana/Citrus Aurantium Tachibana Peel Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract/Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract

How I use it

You can check out where I use this serum in my routine in this post. I was surprised at how thick the serum actually is and had to modify its use a bit in my routine. I initially started applying this to my entire face, but then started using it as a spot treatment. After all, I didn’t want to lighten my entire face, and I didn’t trust that it would only attack the hyperpigmentation (that’s never how that works, but I wish there was a product that did). I massage it into the spot for about 30 seconds before moving on to the next section. I primarily have scarring on my cheeks and chin and this is where I use it.

How long I used it

I started using this serum on vacation, actually, in November.

Results

For a really good look at how this serum performed, with before and after photos, I encourage you to skim this post. It details my skincare routine which includes this serum. I have been using many other products to fight my acne scarring and the Corrective Spot Solution played a part in that.

Joy Factor

On a scale of 1-10, I would give this serum a 6. I know I should be more elated than that because it actually works! But I’m not sure if it would work on its own, without other products in my routine also working to lighten my acne scars. I wasn’t crazy about the smell either and would prefer this to be scentless (it smells like some kind of aftershave to me). I got an accidental deal on the serum when I purchased it. I paid 36 pounds at the Kiehl’s store (roughly $44, plus I used a no fee credit card for rate exchange). I would repurchase this, but I would also try other things in its place.

Where to indulge

Bergdorf Goodman | Bloomingdales | Kiehl’s | Lord & Taylor | Neiman Marcus | Nordstrom

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