Skinceuticals C E Ferulic – Worth The Hype?

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Before Deciem were popping serums in little glass bottles with droppers, L’Oréal owned Skinceuticals were rocking that vibe with their iconic serum C E Ferulic. Frequently touted by those in the know as the antioxidant serum of choice, it’s a tempting purchase to many of us who want to take care of our skin. Yet with a whopping £129 price tag, is it worth the investment?

So, first up, skincare basics. I believe the best combination in the morning is an antioxidant serum followed by an SPF. Vitamin C is the most potent antioxidant though it is highly unstable in skincare form, so it is usually found in a variety of different ways such as in this case; l-ascorbic acid. It is cracking for getting to grips with sun damage and pollution which usually oxidise skin causing complexion colouration; vitamin C combats that oxidisation, brightening skin and combatting pigmentation. Even half a percent can do wonders for your skin, but higher percentages like 10-25% can really shake things up.

The rule of thumb is to use 1-5% for your morning dose, and save the big hitters (10-20%) for overnight. CE Ferulic coming in at around 15% is an exception to the rule. It’s formulated (they say) to be able to use both in the morning and the evening. I’ll admit I use this in the morning since it soaks in fast, and use a stronger one in the evening (this version by The Ordinary, since you ask).

Normally vitamin C products are a bit gritty and oily and not the most pleasant to use. This is due to the instability of the delivery system to your skin. C E Ferulic is meant to be a fairly hard-core serum (with 15% l-ascorbic acid), but one of the reasons I like it (and maybe my skin is made of tarpaulin), is because it has no sting or grit whatsoever. More and more I want to be gentle to my skin and I’ve never had any sensitivity from the formula. Plus it applies like any other watery serum making it easy to use under make-up.

Skinceuticals also do Phloretin CF which is meant to be very similar in function to CE Ferulic, just more suitable for oily skin. Having trialled both (and having combination skin) I’m blasted if I can tell the difference between them. Neither are particularly mattifying or oil-inducing. However, while CE Ferulic often tops reviews and is lauded as a wonder product, Phloretin CF does not have the same abundance of enthusiastic reviews. It contains its namesake which comes from apples and some commentators have speculated that the high alcohol content would cancel out phloretin’s antioxidant powers. I did email the PR team about this claim so when I get a response I will pop it up here, however you’ll see why I’m going to stick to the Skinceuticals C E Ferulic.

It’s also got two more antioxidants to beef up the offering; vitamin E and ferulic acid. The product also has a low pH which is ideal for our l-ascorbic acid version of vitamin C. Many beauty commentators have stated the need for airtight packaging with vitamin c in particular given its instability, and I am concerned about getting through it quickly enough for it not to be compromised. However the glass is tinted to protect it from light that could make it oxidise, and it’s tricky to think how you could package such a watery serum in another way.

So, is Skinceuticals C E Ferulic worth the money? Well the application is easy, sinks in fast, no irritation – unusual with these ingredients. The results? I’ve trialled this for a couple of months and do have a more even tone. The problem with future protecting your skin is that you just have to trust you’re using the right thing. Skincare is fascinating because it’s constantly evolving, but this is three tried-and-tested antioxidants with clinical proof of success all packaged into one easy-to-use product. There are some cheaper options (and let’s face it, most options are cheaper) – I think Paula’s Choice, Sunday Riley, The Ordinary, Dennis Gross and Murad have put some options on the table – but it’s really about what products you find are right for your skin.

You can find Skinceuticals C E Ferulic to order online here