Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Kiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment versus Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution .
Published on February 13, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or silicones
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens and fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Face Cleanser
Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Price
Ingredient Info
Kiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment 34 ingredients
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution 24 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Kiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment 34 ingredients
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution 24 ingredients
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Kiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment 34 ingredients
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution 24 ingredients
Water • Coco-Glucoside • Propylene Glycol • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Glycerin • Coco-Betaine • Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate • Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate • Dipropylene Glycol • Sodium Chloride • Butylene Glycol • Phenoxyethanol • Hydrogenated Coconut Acid • Capryloyl Salicylic Acid • Coconut Acid • T-Butyl Alcohol • Sodium PCA • Camphor • Menthol • Boswellia Serrata Extract • Sodium Isethionate • Hamamelis Virginiana Water • Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract • Disodium EDTA • Alcohol • Zingiber Officinale Root Extract • Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract • Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract • Xanthan Gum • Laminaria Saccharina Extract • Zinc Sulfate • Pyridoxine Hcl • Sodium Hydroxide • Citric Acid
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 • Disodium EDTA • Adenosine • Linalool • Butylene Glycol • Tocopherol • Citrus Aurantium Tachibana Peel Extract • Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterKiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment contains this as ingredient number 1.
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution contains this as ingredient number 1.
Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may deliver a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolKiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment contains this as ingredient number 3.
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution contains this as ingredient number 2.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinKiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment contains this as ingredient number 5.
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution contains this as ingredient number 3.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
Kiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment contains this as ingredient number 11.
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution contains this as ingredient number 21.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Kiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment contains this as ingredient number 12.
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution contains this as ingredient number 9.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAKiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment contains this as ingredient number 24.
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution contains this as ingredient number 18.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumKiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment contains this as ingredient number 29.
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution contains this as ingredient number 11.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidKiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment contains this as ingredient number 34.
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution contains this as ingredient number 14.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Kiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment 34 ingredients
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution 24 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Kiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment 34 ingredients
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution 24 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Kiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment 34 ingredients
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution 24 ingredients
MSP
Works as said
I have dark skin and lots of PIH. It lightens them. You can see quicker results with new PIH spots. Holygrail in my routine
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