Activated C

Activated C is a form of Vitamin C that is fast-acting and that can help reduce the intensity and appearance of existing discolorations. It penetrates skin quickly to help visibly even skin tone and improve clarity. Learn more about this specialized skin brightener and how Kiehl’s uses it in our signature Clearly Corrective line for hyperpigmentation and dark spots.

What Is Activated C?

Vitamin C, one of nature’s more powerful antioxidants, comes in many different forms. From pure L-Ascorbic Acid to Ascorbyl Glucoside, each of these forms work differently to provide potent benefits to the skin. Activated C is a specialized derivative of Vitamin C that helps reduce the look of dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

Does Activated C Help Skin Discolorations?

Activated C helps visibly reduce dark spots and skin discolorations. This form of Vitamin C penetrates skin quickly to help visibly even skin tone and improve clarity.

What Causes Discolorations?

Melanin, the natural pigment that gives skin its color, is produced by cells called melanocytes. These can overproduce melanin when the skin encounters UV exposure, hormonal fluctuations, or just as an effect of aging. Those overproduced melanin particles will “cluster” together and are released from the melanocyte to other skin cells, eventually resulting in dark spots or discolorations on the skin’s surface.

How Does Activated C Work?

Activated C works by taking the clarifying power of Vitamin C and making it more targeted. Our chemists created a next-generation Vitamin C derivative that uses anti-cluster technology to "break up" the melanin particles that make up a dark spot, reducing the appearance of the discoloration and helping to prevent the formation of new ones.

Kiehl’s & Activated C

Within our formulas, this powerful form of Vitamin C penetrates skin’s surface and is known to help fade dark spots and skin discolorations. Activated C is a key ingredient in our Clearly Corrective Collection, which includes a dark spot corrector and a brightening moisturizer. When used as part of a daily brightening and discoloration-minimizing routine, the Activated C-powered serum concentrate and moisturizer have been clinically demonstrated to help correct the appearance of skin discolorations caused by dark spots, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and post-acne marks. Skin has visibly more evenness, clarity, and radiance with continued use.