I Tested Clinique's Clinical Dark Spot Serum For A Month & It's Really That Good

You know what wasn’t on my adulthood bingo card? Acne. I thought I had left those days behind me, along with braces and band practice, but as I'm learning, nothing humbles you quite like your mid-20s. Honestly, the only thing worse than these age-inappropriate pimples, though, is the stubborn hyperpigmentation that follows. A recent breakout left me with a slew of fresh dark marks across my forehead. In the past, I’ve tried a little bit of everything to treat my discoloration. Yes, that includes tearing up my kitchen (and skin) with DIY turmeric scrubs and lemon juice masks. So this time around, I was more than ready to try Clinique's Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Clearing Serum. No measuring cups required? Sign me up.

Not Just Another Dark Spot Serum...

As a beauty reporter, what excited me most about this launch is that it’s said to be a powerful formula when it comes to hyperpigmentation like dark spots. In fact, their most powerful formula yet. Formulated with Clinique's proprietary molecule UP302, this dermatologist-developed, lightweight serum for hyperpigmentation gradually reduces the appearance of dark spots over time. Equipped with glucosamine, which helps weaken the bonds between dead skin cells, this serum gently exfoliates surface-level discoloration, revealing brighter, more even looking skin. Potent brightening actives like vitamin C and pure niacinamide are balanced with soothing ingredients like gyokuro and glycyrrhetinic acid, plus the serum is gentle enough for us sensitive skin baddies out there.

My Skin’s Back Story

A little of my skin lore: I’ve always had extremely dry skin patches on my face when I was in middle school (arguably the worst time to feel “different”). Clinique brought my skin back to equilibrium — yes, that’s how far back I go with the brand — and I owe my adolescent confidence recoup entirely to Clinique’s original 3-step system. So, to be trying out this product to address my incessant skin concerns 15 years later, albeit with a new layer of confidence that really only comes with age, feels like a return to center.

In terms of my current skin status, I’d describe my skin as normal to dry, with texture all throughout my T-zone, and I really only break out on my forehead. As someone with a darker skin tone, I find that I'm never as worried about the actual acne itself, but more so the hard-to-reverse dark marks that are left behind; it's like an epidermis aftershock that lingers far too long.

How I Used The Products

I used Clinique's Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Clearing Serum for four weeks in conjunction with their hard-hitting skin care lineup. For best results, I recommend doing the same.

Before using the serum, I cleansed with Clinique's All About Clean cleanser, followed by Clarifying Lotion 1. Next, it's time for the star of the show: the Even Better Clinical Dark Spot serum. I used two pumps all over my face, paying extra attention to my forehead, where my hyperpigmentation really gets beside itself. For hydration, I followed up with the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ and the Moisture Surge Broad Spectrum SPF 28 Sheer Hydrator during the day. Using sunscreen during this process was imperative since hyperpigmentation, like dark spots, can be exacerbated by sun exposure. Without some form of sun protection, all of this hard work would basically be for naught, and neither you nor I have time for that.

Then, I would repeat this same process at night, except I moisturized with the Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator.

The Results

To my fellow hyperpigmentation sufferers out there: We've got a winner.

In a matter of four weeks, I have already seen a considerable difference in the appearance of my dark marks. The discoloration has slowly begun to fade, and while I still have some dark areas, they are significantly less visible.

Something I really appreciated was how gentle this product was. I was initially worried that I would experience peeling or excessive dryness since I heard that could happen with some dark spot treatments. Thankfully, my skin never felt tight or dehydrated throughout the process. In fact, I noticed my natural glow actually improved.

And because its gentleness doesn't come at the expense of efficacy, I feel great using this product in the long term. Safe to say, it gets my beauty writer seal of approval, and I’ll be making it a regular part of my skin care routine to address and prevent the look of hyperpigmentation.