SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic Review (2024) Results, Side Effects

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Sure there are new apps and fancy filters created every day that you can use to smooth wrinkles, even skin tone, and make you look practically 15 years younger.

That’s great…if you intend to live your life only through the doctored selfies you post on social media. But that’s not much of a life, is it?

Well, lucky for you, there’s a more practical solution available to you than living your life from behind a screen. It’s called Vitamin C.

This one, naturally-occurring compound not only boosts the immune system, but also helps to strengthen your connective tissue and to boost your body’s production of collagen from the inside. However, when you apply it to the outside, it can act as a powerful exfoliant, and help fight skin-damaging free radicals.

So, adding a vitamin c serum to your skincare regimen is a no-brainer. But how do you choose which one to try?

One of the most popular and reputably-powerful products on the market today is SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic. But, with a price tag that’s higher than many, does it actually work? Let’s find out together.

Brand Overview

The product bottle SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic

SkinCeuticals was founded in 1994 by Alden Pinnell and Russell Moon. And based on the experience and research of Dr. Sheldon Pinnell, a pioneer in topical antioxidants. His breakthroughs showed that specific concentrations and combinations of antioxidants could protect skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays [1], free radicals, and air pollution.

Dr. Pinnell’s research was then developed into a topical cosmetic form. Alden Pinnell and Russell Moon were then able to grow the brand by partnering with doctors and dermatologists across the country to make the SkinCeuticals products available in their many offices.

In 2005, after rapidly growing acclaim and success, SkinCeuticals was purchased by L’Oreal.

By joining with such a cosmetic powerhouse, the brand was able to effectively multiply their marketing and reach. Making the products more readily available to the general public. While not compromising quality or effectiveness by continuing to rely upon work from top scientists in the fields of medicine, chemistry, cellular and molecular biology, and biophysics.

Products and Claims

There are over 60 products found on the SkinCeuticals website, but the CE Ferulic serum is definitely the stand-alone favorite. It has won over 22 different beauty awards since its creation in the late 1990s.

With such an impressive background, it’s easiest to let the manufacturer speak for themselves. The full description of this product, according to the company website is, as follows:

C E Ferulic features a synergistic antioxidant combination of 15% pure vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid), 1% vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), and 0.5% ferulic acid to strengthen skin’s natural protection from free radicals induced by environmental stressors such as UVA/UVB, infrared radiation (IRA), and pollution, which may lead to visible signs of accelerated skin aging. In addition to antioxidant protective benefits, C E Ferulic improves signs of aging and photodamage, the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and the loss of firmness, while brightening skin’s complexion.

• Provides advanced environmental protection by neutralizing damaging free radicals
• Visible anti-aging benefits, such as the improvement of lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness, and a brighter complexion
• Once absorbed, this vitamin C serum remains effective for at least of 72 hours
• Paraben-free and ideal for normal, dry, and sensitive skin types
• Tested suitable for use post-laser, always consult with a physician for individual post-procedure care

SkinCeuticals research shows that specific combinations of antioxidants, when effectively formulated, perform synergistically to provide superior results to any single antioxidant formulation.

Published in 6 peer-reviewed scientific journals, C E Ferulic is a vitamin C serum formulated under the Duke Antioxidant patent. The Duke Antioxidant patent ensures effective delivery of vitamin C to skin. In order for a vitamin C serum to be effective it must be formulated with pure l-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) at an acidic pH within the 2.0-3.5 pH range and have a concentration between 10-20%. SkinCeuticals is the only brand to formulate antioxidants according to these parameters.

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Ingredients and Application Recommendations

Skin Care Routine - How To Apply Antioxidant Serum & Sunscreen | SkinCeuticals

As you probably guessed, our favorite part of this product is its straightforward, natural ingredients list. Why absorb potentially harmful chemicals into your body when you don’t have to?

Don’t just take our word for it, though. Read through all of the ingredients for the CE Ferulic serum, as listed on the SkinCeuticals website:

15% L-ascorbic acid – Lauded for its superior antioxidant benefits, this highly potent form of pure vitamin C neutralizes damaging free radicals and protects against oxidative stress while providing visible anti-aging benefits.

1% alpha tocopherol – This form of vitamin E neutralizes free radicals and replenishes skin lipids.

0.5% ferulic acid – A plant-based antioxidant [2], ferulic acid neutralizes free radicals and enhances the antioxidant benefits of vitamins C and E.

Other ingredients include – water, ethoxydiglycol, ascorbic acid, glycerin, propylene glycol, laureth-23, phenoxyethanol, tocopherol, triethanolamine, ferulic acid, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate

On top of a great ingredients list, the directions for use are very easy. I don’t know about you, but I hate a product that adds a lot of time to my daily routine.

First, in the morning after cleansing and toning, apply 4-5 drops to a dry face, neck, and chest before other anti-aging skincare products. Then, complete your regimen as you normally would. Finally, end your routine with a SkinCeuticals sunscreen. That’s it! Then you’re ready to go about your day.

When used together, SkinCeuticals antioxidants and broad spectrum sunscreens provide the most complete protection against visible aging caused by environmental aggressors. Easy, natural, and effective. What else can you ask for?

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Reviews

Woman in orange bath

This is one excellent example in the lesson of buying from reputable sources. When purchased from a licensed dealer, website, doctor’s office, or the official SkinCeuticals website, consumer reviews were glowing across the board. All reported varying degrees in the diminishing of fine lines, a brightening of skin’s dullness, and even fading of dark spots.

However, on other sites (in particular, Amazon), we found quite a few reviews that complained that either the color was off, a “goopy” consistency, or an overly pungent smell.

The authentic SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic serum is clear, smooth, with only a mild “medicine” smell. So these consumers were definitely correct in returning their products, as they were most likely not the true serum.

If this happens to you and your product is not genuine, we recommend stopping use immediately. There’s no way to know what you’re putting into your body.

We understand that it may be tempting to try to save some pennies by buying SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic elsewhere online. But trust us, in the long run, you will only be wasting money on phonies.

While you throw away your time and money, you are giving the aging process some extra time to continue its march across your skin. No one wants to stall their efforts in keeping their appearance youthful and smooth.

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Overall Rating

We liked the fact that the SkinCeuticals website was informative, easy to navigate, and seemingly thorough.

Obviously, this is no “fly by night” operation. Even though the company has only been around since 1994 (a relative baby in the scheme of skincare heavy-hitters), their solid track record, consistent quality, and proven results all speak volumes.

We were also impressed at the amount of detail offered on each product. While It can sometimes be difficult to get specifics on a product from a website, SkinCeuticals not only displays the full list of ingredients for each product, but they also provide all the necessary information on the product’s function and recommendations for use/application.

And finally, it’s a tie for the most impressive aspect of the SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic serum. We can’t decide which we love more…the proven science or the documented results. Heck, why decide? We love both!

Woman giving thumbs up

Since the discovery and refinement of topical antioxidants, their effectiveness in fighting the signs of aging skin has been verified. However, some combinations and concentrations of antioxidants are better than others. And the results found with SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic serum are so consistent and so well documented that

On the negative side, the price point may be an issue for some consumers. It’s a given nowadays that most reputable skin care will come at a higher cost, the price is something to consider before buying. Some people might also experience sensitivity with the concentration of this formula. In which case we would recommend using a patch test for a few days before proceeding with an all-over application.

Bottom line, in our opinion, SkinCeuticals is absolutely worth the higher price tag. Could you see results with less expensive, less concentrated products? Sure. But if you are willing to commit to a regimen, and make a (pretty hefty) investment in improving your skin, we’re confident that the SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic serum will produce visible results.

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References:

[1] https://uihc.org/health-topics/what-difference-between-uva-and-uvb-rays
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5209612/

Avatar for Megan Foley

Megan has been a freelance writer and editor since 2016. In that time, she’s penned a diverse collection of articles for online publication, with a focus on skincare and beauty. From in-depth product reviews to concise marketing content, Megan is passionate about developing content that informs, entertains, and inspires.