I’m a pale skinned gal. There is no debating this point, it is just an absolute truth. And if you are practically transluscent like me, no matter how careful one is with sunscreen, it’s pretty likely that sun damage will crop up at some point. And it isn’t limited to us pale chicks either – Allure magazine has a several page article this month on various techniques to get rid of uneven skintone.

Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase Skin Tone Perfecting Serum XK

And if, like me, you are a long-term retinol user, it can be a double-edged sword: retinols lighten age spots, but they also increase photosensitivity. So, it’s possible to end up with some skin tone variance that you’d prefer to get rid of regardless of whether you use retinols or not.

There are several excellent products on the market right now to combat hyperpigmentation. I was thrilled to try out Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase Skin Tone Perfecting Serum XK, another great product in the Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase line. This is a reasonably priced serum that produced jaw-dropping results.

When I first starting testing Skin Tone Perfecting Serum out, I put it on and a few hours passed. When I went by a mirror, I noticed my skin was tighter and more dewy. On the third night, I noticed an ever so slight lightening of a dark spot on my cheekbone. I thought I was imaginging things – it just seemed far too soon to have any effect. But sure enough, over the course of the next two weeks, the spot continued to lighten (I’d estimate about 10% in the 14 days) and is progressively lightening still. I’m really excited to see over time how much change occurs. On the whole, my skin seems far more even, including in spots where I don’t have obvious hyperpigmentation issues – my skin looks a bit airbrushed before I even put a speck of makeup on!

Skin Tone Perfecting Serum has great ingredients: Kinetin, the staple of the Kinerase and Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase line, the oh so hydrating hyaluronic acid, Sepiwhite MSH, which is a pigmentation inhibitor, Sepivinol, a potent anti-oxidant, and SymWhite, an effective skin lightener that targets UV-induced skin pigmentation. That’s a great lineup for a great price.

Skin Tone Perfecting Serum XK has made it into my daily routine. I think I”ve found the perfect non-irritating hyperpigmentation sacking combon: I use Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum in the morning under makeup, Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase Skin Tone Perfecting Serum XK at night under moisturizer, and Retin-A a few nights a week (right now my skin gets irritated if I use Retin-A more than that), and my skin is getting all the more even day by day.

Find Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase Skin Tone Perfecting Serum XK at Walgreens.com.

I’ve been feeling a little Goldilocks-esque lately when it comes to facial cleansers. Some are really moisturizing, but take too much scrubbing to wash off. Others wash off easily, but don’t do a thorough job when it comes to taking off all my makeup and sunscreen.

Dr. Lewinn by Kinerase HydraBalance Foaming Cleanser

And then I found Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase HydraBalance Foaming Cleanser.

Based on past experiences, I generally shy away from foaming cleansers since the ones I’ve tried tend to be drying. However, I have used Kinerase products for years now, so I had hope that their mass market line in connection with Dr. LeWinn would live up to it’s claim of being not just non-drying, but hydrating. And it does. My skin is soft, hydrated, and bright after cleansing. And as far as taking off makeup? It is exceptional. No scrubbing needed, it just takes everything off on both face and delicate eye skin. I’ve been using a liquid liner lately that is fabulous, but it is pretty tough to take off at the end of the day. Hydrabalance Foaming Cleanser takes it off easily and with no tugging. Yay!

HydraBalance Foaming Cleanser is soap-free, which will make your dermatologist happy (mine was the one who turned me on to the Kinerase line in the first place years ago). But I can’t say enough how well it cleanses while it treats the skin with great ingredients like Kinetin (which is in the whole Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase line in the same amounts as the regular Kinerase line). I’ve tried products from both the Kinerase line and other lines that contain Kinetin, and they are always so soothing to the skin. It encourages cellular turnover without irritation – a great alternative to retinoids. It also contains SK-Influx to protect your skin’s moisture barrier, and Aquaxyl to hydrate the skin. All in all, a great way to start your skincare for the day and end it at night.

In an act of sisterly love, I let Lyn use the cleanser, and her comments were interesting – she said that she’s never used a foaming cleanser that felt soft. She hit the nail on the head – there is something that feels kind of rough about most foaming cleansers, but HydraBalance Foaming Cleanser isn’t that way. It is gentle, soft, and luxurious feeling. I’ve been using it with my Clarisonic – it feels like a spa cleansing!

I’m pretty thrilled with this cleanser. We’ll be reviewing other products from the Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase line in the upcoming weeks (spoiler alert: Skin Tone Perfecting Serum is so effective it’s kinda spooky), and I will purchase HydraBalance Foaming Cleanser in the future. And since my derm loves the regular KInerase line, I can’t wait to tell her about this very affordable and very effective new line!

Find Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase HydraBalance Foaming Cleanser at Walgreens for $10.49.

Tuesday night I was leaving the gym and the wind was bitter and brutal. As in, have to brace to not be knocked over, hair flies straight up into a Marge Simpson hair configuration kind of wind. Despite having slathered my face with moisturizer before I left the building in knowing that I was headed out into unpleasant conditions, this was a matter of damage control when it came to treating my raw skin when I got home.

Caudalie Premier Cru Cream