Why Dermatologists—And Editors—Swear By This Serum
Here at T&C, we pride ourselves on our discerning eye for quality. With Tried & True, our editors will give you an inside look at the pieces they simply cannot live without.
Being a beauty editor is by its very nature unavoidably promiscuous. Receiving hundreds of products a week to test drive requires constantly rotating serums, creams, cleansers, and exfoliants in out and out of one’s medicine cabinet in order to ensure that all the promising contenders get their chance to shine. To prevent my skin from being in a state of perpetual confusion/freak-out, I find it necessary to regularly cycle back to a baseline regimen of products that I truly love and know to work. Chief among them: Skinceuticals CE Ferulic—which, I hasten to add, is one of the only products I have ever used where I notice a distinct difference in my skin when I take a break from using it. And readers, that difference is not good.
Skinceuticals CE Ferulic first launched in 2005 and quickly found its place as the gold standard antioxidant serum recommended by dermatologists—a status that has remained unchanged despite the bazillion copycats and smartly formulated rivals that have hit the market in the intervening years. The reason why is as straightforward as it gets: CE Ferulic is effective. And not only that, it is proven to be so, with extensive clinical research published in peer-reviewed medical publications demonstrating the serum’s ability to reduce oxidative damage from the sun and from environmental pollutants such as car exhaust.
Developed by dermatologist and Skinceuticals founding scientist Sheldon Pinnell, MD, who was a pioneer in formulating with Vitamin C—a wily, unstable ingredient—CE Ferulic’s stroke of genius comes from its patented combination of 15% pure Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), 1% Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), and 0.5% ferulic acid (an organic compound found in the cell walls of plants). This synergy between this trifecta of actives is what makes the magic happen, with each one enhancing the efficacy of the other.
So what does it do, and why is it different? In addition to protecting skin from the ravages of UVA/UVB and infrared light and gunk in the atmosphere, CE Ferulic also visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles and brightens the complexion overall (and this can be said for all skin types and tones). I love it specifically for the glow it bestows. Even after a using it for a couple of days, I notice a real boost in my skin’s radiance, which is the benefit I most miss when I stop using it for a while. I also find that it improves the texture of my skin, and definitely makes it feel bouncier and more elastic. Among its many impressive clinical credentials, a 2012 study showed that application of CE Ferulic immediately after a laser treatment can decrease downtime by up to two days, so I always slather it on after my thrice-yearly Clear & Brilliant sessions. It reduces redness, and significantly speeds up the transition from slightly rough post-treatment skin to smooth, lit-from-within skin—always a goal. On the skin, it has a watery, fast-absorbing texture that feels sticky for just a second but then vanishes, leaving a surface primed for the application of moisturizer, SPF, or whatever your preferred next step may be.
Finally, a word about the smell. It is most often described as being reminiscent of hot dog water, but to me, it smells like pennies. I honestly don’t know why I am so certain what pennies smell like, since I don’t exactly go around sticking my nose in change purses, but that’s precisely what I imagine: For a split second after application, my nose is assaulted by a metallic, coppery, tang. But as any devotee of CE Ferulic will tell you, sooner or later that weirdo scent will become something you love. And if you ever stop using it, you might end up missing the smell as much as you do the firming, brightening, smoothing benefits you see in your skin.
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