SkinCeuticals’ C E Ferulic is the famed serum that dermatologists and beauty editors have sworn by for years, and even now it’s one of the latest skincare products to have gone viral all over Tik Tok. This isn’t your regular Vitamin C serum, it goes beyond its brightening and anti-ageing benefits, and it’s also enhanced with Vitamin E and ferulic acid.

To see for myself, I tested it daily for two weeks to see if it lives up to its highly acclaimed reviews.

A look behind this cult-favourite serum

The SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, $248 (30 ml) uses three main ingredients: a combination of 15 per cent pure vitamin C, an L-ascorbic acid that neutralises free radicals from UVA and UVB rays, and improves signs of visible ageing or photodamage; one per cent Vitamin E, which helps replenish the skin’s lipids; and 0.5 percent ferulic acid, which helps inhibit skin discolourations caused by UV damage. 

Most skincare products will use around five per cent of Vitamin C, and the higher percentage will likely yield better results (P.S. Efficacy plateaus around 20 per cent). 15 per cent is a high concentration, and many peer-reviewed scientific journals have shown that 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 to 3.5 pH range and have a concentration between 10 to 20 per cent. 

How to use it and how you can maximise its efficacy

You should use the C E Ferulic once in the morning after you’ve finished cleansing. Once your face has dried, just place four to five drops in your hands and use your fingertips to apply it onto your face, neck, and chest. 

Personally, I like to press the serum into the skin and once most of the product is on my face, I’ll work on my neck and chest. After the product is fully absorbed into the skin, I’ll follow up with a moisturiser and sunscreen (as you always should!). Wearing sunscreen after your daytime skincare routine should always be a practice, but even more so after Vitamin C. Sunscreen helps prevent your Vitamin C from oxidising and protect its efficacy, so it’s important not to let the serum go to waste.

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic: The review and results

My skin concerns:
I have combination skin that’s oily in the T-zone, dry in the cheeks, and sensitive all around, and if that weren’t enough, my skin is also prone to hyperpigmentation (especially post-pimples), and I’ve started noticing the beginnings of fine lines across my forehead. 

Application:
As someone with sensitive skin, (to the point where redness after a facial extraction or eyebrow wax will last me the whole day) I was preparing to feel a slight stinging sensation as I applied this serum. But it was nothing like that. There was no stinging, drying, or irritation when I used this serum. The SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic applies gently on the skin, it’s slightly sticky at first but fades immediately after it is fully absorbed. The scent takes some getting used to, but it fades within seconds after I pat it into my skin. 

Packaging:
Another detail to note is that the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum comes in a dark brown bottle (recommended for active ingredients like Vitamin C) to keep the product from oxidising and losing its potency. The dropper makes the application extremely easy as it perfectly extracts the right amount (four to five drops) onto your fingertips. 

The results:
It took about two days for me to start to see results on my skin — I noticed my skin looked more plump and glowy. At one week, I really began to notice the difference. For example, old pimple scars were much lighter in appearance. I’ve used Vitamin C serums before in hopes that its brightening and smoothening benefits would make a lasting change on my skin, and the difference in going from a five per cent vitamin C serum to a 15 per cent one is a lot more perceptible. 

During the second week of testing, I started to get some dreaded ‘mask-ne‘ around the chin and cheek. It usually takes one week for my pimples to start healing, now the process has now been shortened to three days. Since I haven’t been using anything new in my skincare routine apart from the C E Ferulic, I think I have the serum to thank for that. 

As for the fine lines on my forehead, I feel like it would be idealistic of me to assume a serum would work miracles within two weeks, but given how it’s managed to brighten my scars, I feel optimistic.

One thing I can say for sure is that my skin appears more radiant and plump after two weeks of testing this product. And if that kind of result only takes two weeks, then I’m looking forward to seeing how much more it changes in the long-term. 

Alternatives for different skin types

The SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum is best suited for normal, dry, and sensitive skin types. As someone with sensitive combination skin, it still worked on me, but if you’re looking for serums that are more targeted specifically for your skin types, here are two alternatives to consider:

For normal to oily skin:
Try the SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF with Ferulic Acid. Although it is less intensive in terms of concentration, this serum is still a potent addition to any skincare routine and is best suited if you want to prevent uneven tone and texture.

For sensitive skin:
Try the SkinCeuticals Serum 10. It only contains two essential actives: 10 per cent Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic acid) and 0.2 per cent ferulic acid, and so it’s a perfect beginner-friendly serum for those who are new to antioxidant serums.

Either way, Vitamin C is your friend and since it belongs in your routine, you might as well go for the one that will deliver visible results.

• TAGS:
• anti ageing
• skin brightening
• skincare reviews
• skinceuticals
• skinceuticals c e ferulic
• vitamin c
• vitamin c skincare products