Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution Versus Olay Niacinamide + Vitamin C Brightening Face Moisturiser

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution Versus Olay Niacinamide + Vitamin C Brightening Face Moisturiser Detailed comparison of Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution versus Olay Niacinamide + Vitamin C Brightening Face Moisturiser. This brighteni

This source-based comparison does not add ratings or recommend a winner.

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution Versus Olay Niacinamide + Vitamin C Brightening Face Moisturiser Detailed comparison of Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution versus Olay Niacinamide + Vitamin C Brightening Face Moisturiser. This brightening treatment is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Salicylic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Lactic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and refine skin texture. 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 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 Isohexadecane Niacinamide Dimethicone Lactic Acid Isopropyl Isostearate Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate Stearyl Alcohol Cetyl Alcohol Sodium Lactate Panthenol Behenyl Alcohol Dimethiconol PEG-100 Stearate Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Glucoside Parfum Palmitic Acid Sodium Benzoate Stearic Acid Trehalose Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 Water, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Lactic Acid, Isopropyl Isostearate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, Panthenol, Behenyl Alcohol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dimethiconol, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Parfum, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Stearic Acid, Trehalose, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 Be the first to review These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is one of the most popular "stable" vitamin C derivatives in skincare. Plain ascorbic acid is fantastic but notoriously fragile; it browns, oxidizes, and loses potency fast. So attaching an ethyl group to the third carbon of the molecule gives it some cool perks: In a formula, it does the 3 classic vitamin C jobs: it acts as an antioxidant, helps brighten skin tone by inhibiting tyrosinase, and supports collagen. The evidence is reasonably solid for a cosmetic ingredient; Liao and colleagues (2018) showed it's significantly more stable than ascorbic acid while still being effective. A 2021 study by Zerbinati and colleagues tested a serum with 30% 3-O-ethyl-l-ascorbic acid and 1% lactic acid significantly increased collagen production, reduced UVB-induced DNA damage, and decreased melanin on a reconstructed pigmented skin model. Typical real world usage sits around 0.5-5% (and 1-2% is common for daily serums). Amounts up to 30% have been shown to be non-irritating on human skin samples, but two isolated cases reported allergic contact dermatitis so a patch test is sensible if you have reactive skin. Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum. Topically, glycerin does several things at once: Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3. Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin. This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products. Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity. Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!