• Night serum and AM cream
  • Vegan bio-placenta peptides
  • 15 percent four-acid blend
  • Brightens and rebuilds

What it is

A two-step serum and cream set from Lion Pose, a clinical skincare brand developed with Harvard-trained dermatologists. The night serum targets dark spots; the cream rebuilds the barrier.

What it does

Unspotted 4X acid jelly serum visibly brightens and works on dark spots, age spots, and acne scars overnight. Pep Talk bio-peptide cream follows with deep hydration and barrier repair, calming the skin the acids just worked on.

Who it's for

Anyone treating dark spots whose skin gets cranky from acids. The barrier cream is the safety net.

How to use

How much: 1 to 2 pumps of serum; 1 pump of cream.

1. PM: apply the acid serum to a clean, dry face.
2. PM: let it absorb 30 seconds, then apply Pep Talk cream liberally.
3. AM: apply Pep Talk and always finish with SPF.

Where it fits: Serum then cream at night; cream under SPF in the morning.

Inside the formula

15% four-acid blend

Azelaic, glycolic, lactic, and tranexamic acids that resurface skin and fade the look of dark spots.

Vegan Bio-Placenta peptides

Lab-made peptides that mimic the skin-repair signals of human placenta, without any animal ingredients.

Triple Lipid Complex

Ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids that rebuild the skin barrier and lock in moisture.

Hyaluronic acid

Holds moisture in skin so the serum does not dry you out

Glutathione

An antioxidant tripeptide that helps defend against free-radical damage.

Centella

Also called tiger grass, a calming plant that supports skin repair.

Full ingredient list
UNSPOTTED 4X: Water/Eau/Aqua, Lactic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycolic Acid, Maranta Arundinacea Root Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Coconut Alkanes, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glutathione, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract, Orchis Mascula Flower Extract, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin. PEP TALK: Water/Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coco-Caprylate, C12-16 Alcohols, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenome, C15-23 Alkane, Decyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Allantoin, C13-14 Alkane, Lecithin, Propanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Xanthan Gum, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernal Flour, Acetyl Glutamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalane, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Carbomer, Bacilus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, SH-Oligopeptide-1, SH-Oligopeptide-2, SH-Polypeptide-1, SH-Polypeptide-11, SH-Polypeptide-9, Tocopherol, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Glutathione, Ceramide EO.

Why we stock it

We stock this because acids and barrier repair belong together. The serum does the resurfacing work at night while the cream makes sure skin stays calm through it.

The clinicals

Unspotted 4X: independent panel of 30 (Fitzpatrick 2-6), after 4 weeks 94% saw reduced dark spot size, 93% smoother texture, 86% more even tone. Pep Talk: third-party study of 31 women (Fitzpatrick I-VI), hydration up 133% immediately after use, 100% saw barrier improvement.

Unspotted 4X: independent testing panel, 30 participants ages 25-45, Fitzpatrick skin tone 2-6, measured after 4 weeks. Pep Talk: third-party clinical testing study, 31 women ages 25-55, Fitzpatrick I-VI.

The Nexus standard

Vetted before it lists

Every brand on our shelf is screened before it can sell here. Fewer than you'd think make it through.

Direct from the maker

We work directly with independent brands and skip the retail markup, so you pay less for the same products.

30-day returns

Changed your mind? Returns are easy within 30 days on unopened products. Secure checkout, always.

About the brand

Lion Pose

Clinical skincare tested on all tones

Lion Pose was founded by Madhu Punjabi and Nisha Phatak, two Harvard MBAs who came from the infant formula world, where every ingredient is studied, and were shocked that skincare requires no real clinical testing. It's the only brand developed with Harvard-trained dermatologists who specialize in skin of color, and every formula is tested on diverse skin tones. Their Unspotted 4X hyperpigmentation serum won an Allure Best of Beauty award and the brand is sold at Sephora.

We stock Lion Pose because hyperpigmentation products actually tested on darker skin tones are rare, and this one won an Allure award for a reason.

Shop all Lion Pose

Skincare questions, answered

Where does this go in my routine?

Thinnest to thickest: cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, then SPF in the morning. This product's How to use section above tells you its exact step.

When will I see results?

Give it 4 to 6 weeks of consistent use — that's one full skin cycle. Hydration shows up in days; tone and texture take weeks. If your skin reacts badly (stinging, new breakouts that don't settle within a week), stop using it.

I have sensitive skin. Will this irritate me?

Patch test first: a dab behind your ear or along your jawline, wait 24 hours. Fragrance-free formulas are the safest bet for reactive skin — check the highlights on this page.