ESK

The six ESK products in the Pigmentation Kit: Calming Cleanse, C Forte, Enlighten Gold, Zinc Shade, Gentle Glow and Ultimate A Gold

Six full sizes

ESK · Full routine kit

Pigmentation Kit

ESK Pigmentation Kit · Calming Cleanse, C Forte, Enlighten Gold, Zinc Shade, Gentle Glow and Ultimate A Gold

The complete ESK routine for dark marks, melasma-prone skin and uneven tone, in six full sizes: Calming Cleanse, C Forte, Enlighten Gold, Zinc Shade, Gentle Glow and Ultimate A Gold. It works on the look of marks from four directions at once: daily SPF, a tone-evening active, gentle exfoliation and a retinal. Our version swaps ESK's Smooth Serum for Gentle Glow, the PHA, because most of the people who buy this kit from us have deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI), where a gentler acid is the safer exfoliant. Not for use in pregnancy.

Zinc Shade SPF 15 every morning, because UV is what keeps a mark dark, plus C Forte's antioxidant support underneath.
Enlighten Gold, morning and night: niacinamide 5%, 4-n-butylresorcinol 0.3% and gluconolactone 3% for the look of dark marks.
Gentle Glow and Ultimate A Gold at night: gentle PHA exfoliation and retinal 0.1% for surface renewal and texture.
Not for very sensitive or rosacea-prone skin (C Forte is 16%), and not in pregnancy (retinal). Breakout-prone: ask us first.

£356.00 6 full sizes

✓ Cruelty free✓ Vegan✓ Saves £27

£356 for the kit: bought separately, £383

Calming Cleanse £35, C Forte £69, Enlighten Gold £77, Zinc Shade £50, Gentle Glow £69 and Ultimate A Gold £83 add up to £383. The kit is £27 less, and lasts 3 to 4 months, which is the minimum a pigmentation routine needs before you judge it.

Free UK delivery over £65 · Tracked £3.49 · Sent tracked, 2 to 4 working days

Clinic rating on Google: 5.0

Good to know: Contains retinal (Ultimate A Gold): not for use in pregnancy or when trying to conceive. Calming Cleanse contains essential oils. Introduce the night products one at a time.
Stockist: Melatone Skin Clinic is an authorised ESK stockist. Genuine product with full traceability.

If any step stings, or your skin goes red or flaky, stop that step, keep the cleanser, SPF and Enlighten Gold going, and message us. On deeper skin tones, irritation causes the marks you are trying to treat, so a slower routine is a better routine.

Not sure if this is right for your skin? Message us on WhatsApp or book a skin assessment and we will confirm the right routine first.

A pigmentation kit, honestly

Most people who reach for it have dark marks that have outlasted the spots or the irritation that caused them, or patches of uneven tone across the cheeks and forehead, and have tried single products that did not do enough. That is the right instinct: pigmentation responds to several things at once, not to one hero product. This kit is that combination, and 3 to 4 months of consistent use is what ESK asks for.

What it will not do is work without SPF, or work fast, or treat melasma on its own. Melasma is hormonal and recurs; dermal (deep) pigment does not respond to topicals at all; and a routine used on and off does nothing. If your marks are deep, widespread or have been there for years, an assessment first tells you whether a kit, a peel, laser or a prescription is the right starting point.

On deeper skin tones, the kit is built for exactly this: every product in it is suitable for Fitzpatrick V to VI, the exfoliant is the gentler PHA, and there is no hydroquinone. But the rule that matters most is the one no product supplies: do not irritate the skin you are treating. Introduce the night steps slowly and wear SPF every single day.

Quick facts

What it is: A six-product, full-size ESK routine for the look of dark marks and uneven tone.
Price: £356.00 (bought separately £383, saves £27). Around 3 to 4 months.
Contents: Calming Cleanse 150ml, C Forte 50ml, Enlighten Gold 50ml, Zinc Shade 50ml, Gentle Glow 50ml, Ultimate A Gold 50ml.
Best for: Dark marks after spots or irritation, uneven tone, sun-related marks and melasma-prone skin, alongside professional advice.
Skin types: Normal, combination, dry and mature skin, including deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI). Not very sensitive or rosacea-prone (C Forte).
Morning: Calming Cleanse, C Forte, Enlighten Gold, Zinc Shade.
Night: Calming Cleanse, Gentle Glow, Ultimate A Gold, then Enlighten Gold over the top. Introduce Gentle Glow and Ultimate A Gold one at a time.
Not for: Pregnancy or trying to conceive (retinal).
Free from: Hydroquinone, parabens and sulphates. Calming Cleanse contains essential oils.
Difference from ESK's kit: ESK's own kit includes Smooth Serum (AHA). Ours includes Gentle Glow (PHA), the gentler exfoliant for deeper skin tones.

The routine, step by step

Morning: Calming Cleanse, then C Forte (1 to 2 pumps, let it settle), then Enlighten Gold, then Zinc Shade as the last step, reapplied if you are outdoors.

Night, weeks 1 to 2: Calming Cleanse, Enlighten Gold, and Gentle Glow every second night. Weeks 3 to 4: add Ultimate A Gold every second night, under Enlighten Gold, on the nights you do not use Gentle Glow. From week 5: Gentle Glow, then Ultimate A Gold, then Enlighten Gold over the top, nightly if your skin is comfortable.

If your skin is sensitive: the Rosacea Kit is the gentler routine, and the Golden Pigmentation Duo (Enlighten Gold and Ultimate A Gold) is the two-step start. If marks are deep or widespread: book an assessment before buying.

The detail

Ingredients, and what each one does

Calming Cleanse: A non-foaming, soap-free cream cleanser at pH 4.5 to 5, so the cleansing step adds no irritation. Contains rose, geranium and lavender oils.
C Forte: L-ascorbic acid 16%, vitamin E 1% and ferulic acid 0.5%. Antioxidant support under SPF, studied for the look of uneven tone. Not for very sensitive or rosacea-prone skin.
Enlighten Gold: Niacinamide 5%, 4-n-butylresorcinol 0.3% and gluconolactone 3%, the tone-evening step, morning and night. No hydroquinone.
Zinc Shade: SPF 15 broad-spectrum day cream with zinc oxide 10%, octocrylene and avobenzone, plus niacinamide. The step that stops marks getting darker.
Gentle Glow: Gluconolactone 5% and lactobionic acid 5%, PHA exfoliation gentle enough for deeper skin tones, at night.
Ultimate A Gold: Retinal 0.1%, niacinamide 5%, lactobionic acid 5% and 4-n-butylresorcinol 0.1%, the night cream for renewal and the look of marks. Tatler Beauty Awards 2026 winner.

Percentages as printed on the ESK packs and published by ESK. Full ingredient lists are on each product's own page. Descriptions are about the look and feel of skin, not a medical outcome.

How to use it

Morning

Cleanse with Calming Cleanse and pat dry.
1 to 2 pumps of C Forte; let it settle for a minute.
Enlighten Gold over the face and neck.
Zinc Shade as the last step. Reapply if you are outdoors for long.

Night, building up

Weeks 1 to 2: Calming Cleanse, Enlighten Gold, Gentle Glow every second night. Weeks 3 to 4: add Ultimate A Gold every second night on the other nights, with Enlighten Gold over it. From week 5: Gentle Glow, then Ultimate A Gold, then Enlighten Gold over the top, nightly if your skin is comfortable.

Order at night

Serum first (Gentle Glow), then Ultimate A Gold, then Enlighten Gold over the top, following ESK's Enlighten Gold instructions. ESK's Ultimate A Gold page calls the retinal the final step; we have asked ESK to confirm. Either way, the retinal goes on before Enlighten Gold and after the serum.

How long

3 to 4 months of consistent use before you judge it, per ESK. Take a photo in the same light on day one.

What to expect, and when

First week: Skin feels comfortable and looks brighter in the morning from the vitamin C. A brief tingle from Gentle Glow or a little dryness from Ultimate A Gold is normal while building up.
4 to 6 weeks: Texture smoother, tone more even, the marks slightly softer at the edges.
8 to 12 weeks: The point to judge marks properly. Compare with your day-one photo, not your memory.
3 to 4 months: ESK's timeline for the routine. If marks have not changed, book an assessment: the pigment may be deeper than topicals reach.

Is it right for my skin

Dark marks after spots or irritation: Yes. This is the core use.
Uneven tone and sun-related marks: Yes.
Melasma-prone skin: Yes, as the daily routine alongside professional advice; melasma recurs and needs an assessment.
Deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI): Yes. Built with the PHA rather than the AHA for that reason.
Normal, combination, dry and mature skin: Yes.
Very sensitive or rosacea-prone skin: No: C Forte is 16%. The Rosacea Kit is the gentler routine.
Oily or breakout-prone skin: Ask us first. C Forte is not for acne-prone skin, and Ultimate A+ may suit better than Ultimate A Gold.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding or trying to conceive: No. Contains retinal.

Using it with what you already own

In-clinic pigmentation treatments: Yes. It is the home routine we suggest around peels and laser, paused for as long as your practitioner advises after each session.
Prescription pigmentation creams: Ask your prescriber. Prescription first, and usually pause Gentle Glow and Ultimate A Gold while using them.
Hydraboost: Yes, first in the morning or at night, if skin is dry.
Other acids or retinols: No. The kit already carries one exfoliant and one retinal.
Ageless or Spotless patches: Yes, on non-retinal nights or on individual spots.

Questions we actually get asked

What is in the ESK Pigmentation Kit?

Six full sizes: Calming Cleanse 150ml, C Forte 50ml, Enlighten Gold 50ml, Zinc Shade 50ml, Gentle Glow 50ml and Ultimate A Gold 50ml. Together they make a complete morning and night routine for the look of dark marks and uneven tone, lasting 3 to 4 months.

How is it different from ESK's own Pigmentation Kit?

ESK's kit includes Smooth Serum, a glycolic acid serum. Ours includes Gentle Glow, the PHA serum, because most of the people who buy this kit from us have deeper skin tones, where a gentler acid is the safer exfoliant. Everything else is the same.

What is the best routine for hyperpigmentation?

One that does four things at once: daily broad-spectrum SPF, a tone-evening active (here Enlighten Gold), gentle regular exfoliation (Gentle Glow) and a retinal for renewal (Ultimate A Gold), on a base of a cleanser that adds no irritation. That is what this kit is, and 3 to 4 months of consistency is the fifth ingredient.

How long does it take to see results?

ESK: give it 3 to 4 months of consistent use. Brighter skin comes in weeks; the marks themselves take months. Take a photo on day one in the same light and compare at 12 weeks.

Will it work on melasma?

It is the daily routine we suggest for melasma-prone skin, alongside professional advice: SPF, a tone-evening active and a retinal are the usual home steps. Melasma is hormonal and recurs, so an assessment first tells you what is realistic, and prescription options exist.

Does it contain hydroquinone?

No. The tone-evening actives are 4-n-butylresorcinol and niacinamide. Hydroquinone is prescription-only in the UK.

Is it suitable for deeper skin tones?

Yes. Every product in the kit is suitable for deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI), the exfoliant is the gentler PHA, and there is no hydroquinone. The rule that matters is not to irritate: build the night steps up slowly and wear SPF every day.

Is it suitable for sensitive skin?

Not very sensitive or rosacea-prone skin: C Forte is a 16% vitamin C and ESK does not recommend it for that skin. The Rosacea Kit is the gentler routine, and the Golden Pigmentation Duo is a two-step start with no vitamin C.

Is it suitable for oily or acne-prone skin?

Ask us first. C Forte is not recommended for acne-prone skin, and Ultimate A+ (with glycolic acid) usually suits oily skin better than Ultimate A Gold. We can put together the right combination.

Can I use it in pregnancy?

No. Ultimate A Gold contains retinal, which is not for use in pregnancy or when trying to conceive. Enlighten Gold, Calming Cleanse and Zinc Shade can be used on their own; ask your midwife or GP.

In what order do I use the products?

Morning: Calming Cleanse, C Forte, Enlighten Gold, Zinc Shade. Night: Calming Cleanse, Gentle Glow, Ultimate A Gold, then Enlighten Gold over the top. Build the night steps up one at a time over the first month.

Do I have to use everything from day one?

No, and you should not. Start with the cleanser, C Forte, Enlighten Gold and Zinc Shade. Add Gentle Glow every second night in the first fortnight, then Ultimate A Gold every second night, then build to nightly.

Do I still need SPF if I use the kit?

Zinc Shade is the SPF in the kit, and it is the most important product in it. UV is what keeps a mark dark. Every morning, reapplied if you are outdoors.

How long does the kit last?

Around 3 to 4 months. Zinc Shade and Calming Cleanse are used most and may run out first; both can be bought separately.

How much do I save?

£27. The six products bought separately cost £383; the kit is £356.

Can I use it with laser or a peel?

Yes. It is the home routine we suggest around in-clinic pigmentation treatments, paused after each session for as long as your practitioner advises.

What is the difference between the kit and the Golden Pigmentation Duo?

The Duo is Enlighten Gold and Ultimate A Gold, the two core actives, for £150. The kit adds the cleanser, vitamin C, SPF and PHA for a complete routine. Start with the Duo if you already have a cleanser and SPF you trust.

Is Melatone an authorised ESK stockist?

Yes. Melatone Skin Clinic is an authorised ESK stockist. Stock comes directly from ESK, so every item is genuine and traceable, and it is the same routine we use in clinic.

Can someone help me work out whether this is right for me?

Yes. Message us on WhatsApp with a photo and a description of your marks, or book a skin assessment at the clinic in Battersea.

What is the delivery and returns position?

Tracked UK delivery is £3.49, or free over £65, so the kit ships free. It usually arrives in 2 to 4 working days. Sealed, unopened items can be returned within 60 days for a refund.

Buying it from Melatone

Melatone Skin Clinic is an authorised ESK stockist. Stock is bought directly from ESK, so every item is genuine and traceable, and it is the same product we use in clinic in Battersea, London.

Pigmentation is the concern we see most, and a kit is a commitment. If you are not sure it is the right one, message us on WhatsApp with a photo or book a skin assessment, and we will tell you before you buy.

Delivery

Tracked UK delivery, £3.49 or free over £65. It usually arrives within 2 to 4 working days, with tracking by email. The price you see is the price you pay, with any delivery charge shown in full before checkout.

Returns

Sealed, unopened items may be returned within 60 days of receiving your order for a refund. For hygiene reasons we cannot accept returns of skincare once any seal has been opened, unless faulty. Your statutory 14-day right to cancel is unaffected.

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