Beauzy

The Cult-Favorite SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum Explained
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum combines pure vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid.
The serum is used to brighten the skin's complexion and reduce signs of aging.
Dermatologists love the serum for its potent formula and visible results.
The first thing that sticks out about the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum ($166) might not be its legendary antioxidant properties or its dermatologist-touted ability to brighten skin — it's the smell. People have described its scent in various ways, but the best, in my opinion, is hot dog water. Still, beauty editors and dermatologists alike have religiously slathered four or five drops of C E Ferulic on their face every morning for years — and with good reason.

"The antioxidant combination within C E Ferulic is revolutionary," says board-certified dermatologist Michele Anzilotti, MD, who is also the coleader of the new SkinCeuticals Skin Lab in Manhattan's Upper East Side. "It is truly the industry gold standard for its abilities to reduce oxidative damage while protecting skin against photo aging. Simply put: it's a product that works and works well."

If you're still on the fence, keep reading for a breakdown of the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum and why I consider it well worth the hype (and price tag).

What Makes the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Formula Stand Out?
The serum's magic lies in the combination of ingredients, specifically the "synergistic antioxidant combination of 15 percent pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), one percent vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), and 0.5 percent ferulic acid," says Dr. Anzilotti.

It was actually Sheldon Pinnell, MD, SkinCeutical's founder, who first discovered (and patented) the benefits of this combination. He found that adding ferulic acid to L-ascorbic acid and vitamin E at these exact percentages doubled the individual benefits of vitamin C and vitamin E.

On its own, L-ascorbic acid isn't a stable compound, meaning it can oxidize rapidly and cause irritation to your skin. When ferulic acid is added to L-ascorbic acid, however, it effectively stabilizes the vitamin C, boosting the effects and prolonging the shelf life.

According to Dr. Anzilotti, it's this specific combination that makes the C E Ferulic serum so effective at enhancing protection against environmental damage caused by free radicals, which can contribute to atmospheric aging. To this day, SkinCeuticals is the only brand that formulates antioxidants according to these parameters.