Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution Versus Clear Nose Dark Spot Bright Serum
Updated on December 11, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe . They have a total of 11 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin C
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution 24 ingredients
Clear Nose Dark Spot Bright Serum 50 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution 24 ingredients
Clear Nose Dark Spot Bright Serum 50 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Linalool
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Tachibana Peel Extract
HumectantPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingWater, 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
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Saccharide Isomerate
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPrunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingAlgae Extract
Emollient
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Oenothera Biennis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Leaf Extract
EmollientRehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Niacinamide, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, PEG-14m, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Prunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, 1,2-Hexanediol, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Algae Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Glucose, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Oenothera Biennis Seed Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Potassium Hyaluronate, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinYou might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidWe don't have a description for PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30 yet.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
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 GumPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
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 even out skin tone.
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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateDisodium 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 EDTAButylene 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.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution 24 ingredients
Clear Nose Dark Spot Bright Serum 50 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution 24 ingredients
Normally I avoid products with alcohol, but it’s not an issue with this one. It’s well formulated so that it’s balanced out with other more hydrating ingredients. It absorbed nearly immediately and doesn’t dry out the skin. The results aren’t massive. But I just love the apothecary aesthetic and it works about as well as any other dark spot corrector.
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
