Ah yes, you’ve heard the rumours, seen the price tag, decided that ‘no serum is worth that amount of my hard-earned cash. But the 5-star reviews and raving skincare nerds just keep pulling you back.
If everyone is raving about this product it must be special? But why? What is it and should I just sacrifice the second kidney and join the fan club?
What is Skinceuticals C E Ferulic?
Skinceuticals CE ferulic is an antioxidant serum that contains patented stabilised vitamin c as l ascorbic acid with vitamin e and ferulic acid. It claims visible anti-ageing benefits that even skin tone and is suitable for normal, combination, and dry skin.
It is a vitamin C serum, although some skinfluencers would say it is the Vitamin serum. It is the gold standard and it is on the top of most dermatologists Vitamin C serum list.
The manufacture of this serum holds many patents relating to Skinceuticals antioxidants and the way they have stabilized their vitamin C is what makes this product so impressive.
This is not surprising as this serum is a cult favourite and despite its off-putting smell, we’ll get to that in a moment and the bougie price tag.
Full disclaimer, I am firmly in the skincare camp of ‘Ingredients are where good skincare comes from, not slick marketing and pseudo science”.
But I freely admit to loving this product and I can’t find its equal. It annoys me that it is so good, because of its price tag and the oh so weird smell.
Let’s talk about the smell before we talk about why its so good.
Why Does SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Smell So Weird?
Here is the thing, it’s not like SC shy away from adding scents to their products.
A lot of their products contain essential oils such as lavender, rosemary leaf, peppermint and linalool. Essential oils can be very irritating to the skin and are mostly added for their fragrance and ‘experience’ enhancing qualities rather than adding actual skin benefits to a product.
I personally prefer unscented skincare because I find the perfumes in products can be irritating and they are an unnecessary addition to products.
There products such as Triple Lipid Restore contains Lavender, peppermint, rosemary and linalool. The Phyto Corrective Gel contains thyme leaf extract, eucalyptus leaf oil, linalool and citronella. yet others such as most of their clear serums contain no detectable smell at all. Curious, right.
I have a theory and its all down to the marketing and mystique of this product. Consumers such as you and I make associations with certain things. We associate medicine with a bad smell and bitter taste. We think ‘ohhh the smells terrible and tastes really awful it must be good for me’.
If you attach a hefty price tag into the mix we make even more associations “Ohh it smells terrible, its really expensive this stuff is supposed to smell bad because it is super special and I am in the ‘secret club'”. I suspect that is the only reason that SkinCeuticals let this product retain its ‘hot dog water smell’. It makes its users feel special and included. This is psychological marketing at its finest.
But, it is still a genuinely great serum with antioxidant benefits that does cause visable anti aging benefits. The smell is just a weird bonus/marketing gimmick in my opinion.
Ok, that is the smell covered now let’s dive into the ingredients to try and explain why this serum is such a rockstar.
Ingredients Are In Skicuetical CE Ferulic
This is a chart that tells you the ingredients in the serum and what is their purpose in the product.
| Ingredient Name | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Water | Solvent |
| Ethoxydiglycol | Humectant |
| L Ascorbic Acid – Stabilised Vitamin C (patented industry secret) | Antioxidant, skin brightening ingredient. Boosts collagen production, fades dark spots. When put under sunscreen it boosts the UV protection |
| Propylene Glycol | Moisturizing/humectant – keeps ingredients stable and helps them penetrate the skin. |
| Glycerin | Skin identical moisturizer – found naturally in our skin. Provides protection for UVB rays. |
| Laureth 23 | Emulsifying, surfactant/cleansing – mskes oil and water mix together |
| Alpha Tocopherol | Antioxidant – The primary fat-soluble antioxidant in our skin |
| Phenoxyethanol | Preservative, safe and gentle and paraben-free. Has been used in cosmetics since the 1950s. In nature, it occurs in green tea, but in cosmetics it’s synthetic. |
| Triethanolamine | Buffering Chemical used to set a product at a certain pH level. |
| Panthenol | Soothing, humectant AKA Pro-Vitamin B5. It is there to moisturise the skin and to stimulate lipid production. |
| Sodium Hyaluronate | Skin-identical, AKA as Hyaluronic Acid acts as a water-holding sponge to keep skin plump and elastic. |
| Ferulic Acid | Antioxidant, antimicrobial/antibacterial. Double the photoprotection of Vitamin C and helps to stabilise it. |
INGREDIENT LIST FOR SKINCEUTICALS CE FERULIC SERUM
When looking at this list there is nothing special here, this is the ‘ingredient formualtion’ of many vitamin C serums.
So what is it that makes this vitamin C serum from SkinCeuticals so much better than any other?
The answer? Its the way they have stabilised the pure vitamin C (L-ascrobic acid) and the ratio of 15% Vitamin C 1% vitmain E and 0.5% Ferulic Acid and the low pH at which this serum sits.
SkinCeuticals have patented the low pH level of between 2.0 and 3.5. This means that no other serum on the market can make a vitamin C serum with this level of pH and include vitamin E, and Ferulic Acid.
So there will be contenders who make have the same ingredients, but they ae not allowed to have th exact ratio, the stabilsed vitamin C or the p[recise blend og vitmain E and feruilc percentages – without risking being sued. SkinCeutical is a billion dollar company and will defend one of its best selling products with very expensive lawyers.
This is why there is nothing on the market, at the moment that can rival it.
Is SkinCeuticals CE ferulic worth it?
Though it pains me to say this, yes it is worth every eye watering penny. Until another company can come out with a product as good this really is the gold standard.
The research that went into stabilizing the vitamin C, (which is recognised as one of the hardest chemicals to work with by skincare formulators) took years and cost hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars.
Also they are slick marketers and have aimed their products in the luxury, high end of the market. They aslo have an air of authority about them.
This is one of the only skincare products that I spend a lot of money on. The other is La Roche Posay Anthelios sunscreen – which is only expensive because of the dose requirements (5ml 2x per day) and its a small bottle, it lasts me a week.
It is expensive no matter where you live this is a pricey product. But a little goes a long long way, you only need 3 – 4 drops per application. So on a cost per application, I worked out it costs me about $1.22 per day.
But hand on my heart this serum is great and if you can afford it, you will not regret adding this into your skincare regimen.
What is Skinceuticals?
The Skinceuticals saga began in 1992 when Dr. Sheldon Pinnell’s topical antioxidant research laid the foundation for a new category of scientifically-backed skincare.
As the years went on, Skinceuticals developed more products on cutting-edge skincare to improve your skin’s overall health. There are three main principles behind Skinceuticals’ research and products: prevent, protect, and correct.
Skinceuticals skincare works synergistically to prevent damage from environmental factors and aging, protect skin from further harm, and correct existing concerns.
What are the Key Benefits?
We live in a dirty world. Environmental factors that cause damage to the skin are abundant, unavoidable, and not limited only to those living in urban places.
Our skin is very delicate, sensitive and absorbs these harmful free radicals that can exacerbate the appearance of aging and other skin issues like photodamage and dehydration.
According to Duke University research, Skinceuticals C E Ferulic’s trailblazing antioxidant skin care formula offers a whopping eight times the level of protection against photoaging damage as untreated skin.
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum acts as a shield to protect your skin against these harsh elements while also improving the skin’s condition through daily wear.
How Do You Use Skinceuticals C E Ferulic?
Integrate Skinceuticals C E Ferulic is a daytime serum as part of your daily beauty and skincare regimen.
Each morning after washing, toning, and drying your face, add 4-5 drops of Skinceuticals C E Ferulic to your hands, rub your palms together, and distribute evenly. Press your palms against your face to set the serum and allow it to absorb into your skin.
Apply the serum to your face, neck, and chest before any other products, moisturizers, or sunscreens. But it’s not only a smart practice to apply sunscreen daily; when combined with Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum, you’re armed with unstoppable protection from damaging factors.
Who is Skinceuticals C E Ferulic For?
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum is suitable for all skin types, including dry, normal, combination, and sensitive.
Although if you have oily skin the Phloretin CF with Ferulic Acid might be a better choice, it is the same price and has all the patented ingredients it is just formulated for oily skin.
Both products are paraben-free and generally acceptable for use following laser procedures but always consult your doctor or dermatologist first.
The many anti-aging and damage-reversal benefits might make you think the skincare product is intended for more mature skin. These products meet Skinceuticals first philosophical pillar: prevention.
Don’t wait until the damage is done. The sooner you protect the skin you’re in for life, the better it will serve you. I wish I had prevented and corrected so many skincare issues sooner.
You will never regret taking care of your skin, no matter what age you start at.
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic: Final Thoughts
In terms of topical vitamin C serums, Skinceuticals C E Ferulic is in a class of its own. It protects your skin, prevents further damage from environmental factors, and even reverses and repairs previous damage done.
It’s ideal for all skin tones and can be used at any age. It works as a solid defense against pollution and free radicals for young faces and more mature skin.
The revolutionary serum that promises protection and renewal is fortified by science and research.
Always use a broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30.
SkinCeuticals sunscreen is a good sunscreen but it pricey and the La Roache Posay Athelios is better in my opinion.
