SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Vitamin C – Is it worth the hefty price tag?

Hey all, after seven years of beauty blogging, I’ve finally splurged on SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic – a Vitamin C Serum that I presumed is the market leader because of its patented formula (and hefty price tag).

Is this Vitamin C serum deserving of its premium pricing? Does it do better than other brands with seemingly similar formula, that costs just a fraction of the price?

After the long wait, I am eager to reveal the results. Let’s see if SkinCeuticals Vitamin serum works better in improving skin quality as compared to its cheaper counterparts.

Post Update: This post was first published in Feb 2022. After a few months of usage, I’ve updated it with latest opinion and upgraded review rating to 5/5. If you want radiant skin, read on.

 

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About SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic

I’ve shared in my first Vitamin C product review that I preferred my Vitamin C serum to contain Ascorbic Acid than other form of Vitamin C derivatives. That’s because this ingredient is known to be more potent and effective. 

I’m happy to share that SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic consists of 15% vitamin C (made up of L-ascorbic acid). On top of that, it also has 1% vitamin E and 0.5% ferulic acid to neutralize free radicals and enhance the antioxidant benefits of the formula. 

What does SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic promise to achieve? 

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Vitamin C serum is said to:

1. Improve fine lines and wrinkles,
2. Boost skin firmness
3. Brighten the skin tone

Can it achieve these three highly sought-after beauty promises? You’ll know in a bit. But prior to that, let’s see what skin type this serum is suited for.

According to its official website, SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic suits normal, dry or sensitive skin. 

Who might be interested? 

SkinCeuticals Vitamin C Serum may help those with the following skin conditions:

• Aging
• Dark Spots
• Dehydrated
• Rosacea
• Sensitized 

How much does SkinCeuticals Vitamin C serum cost? 

It is priced at about USD166 or S$258 for a 30ml bottle. I bought one during promo which comes bundled with a free 15ml bottle. After three months of usage, I’m half way through the small bottle. So we can deduce that a 30ml bottle would likely last me a year. 

For info, the photos shown here is the 15ml bottle. I’ll update this post with the 30ml image when I get to use it later. 

Updated in Jun 2022: I’ve depleted my 15ml and just started the 30ml bottle. The next two images show you how a 30ml bottle looks like. 

Which country is SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic made in?

Now, although the website said SkinCeuticals is made in USA, the product labelling of my 30ml bottle indicated that it was made in France. I’d gotten mine from an authorised stall (LazMall that guarantees authenticity) and its product label says that that it was imported by L’Oreal.

Hence, if you’ve gotten a bottle that’s made in France, don’t worry too much (but provided you got it from a legitimate source). 

For info, my other bottle – the smaller 15ml – is made in USA. :)

What colour is the liquid?

I’ve previously read that once Vitamin C serum turns yellow, it is no longer fresh or effective. But my freshly-delivered serum came in yellowish liquid. And I might as well share with you now that the serum does work. 

So is the story about yellowish Vitamin C serum being ineffective a myth?  

 

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Does SkinCeuticals Vitamin C Serum work?

I just spilled the bean in previous section to tell you that SkinCeuticals Vitamin C Serum worked for me. 

Within a week of usage, I noticed luminous and more radiant skin. I continue to see such effect now, three months post-usage. It is definitely priced at a premium for a good reason.

But does it irritate the skin? And is it easy to use? Will it lead to pimple breakout? Let me summarise the pros and cons of this serum in the next section.

 

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What I like about SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum

1. Ease of Application

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Vitamin C Serum comes in a dropper-style bottle, which makes dispensing an easy affair. The dropper does not drip and 4 drops was good enough to cover my face and neck. 

The liquid has the right consistency – not too thick or too diluted – making it easy for my fingers to ‘pick up’ the liquid from my palm for application. 

Usage Instructions: Use once in the morning after cleansing. Apply 4-5 drops to dry face, neck and chest. 

2. Texture of SkinCeuticals Vitamin C Serum

In terms of texture, this serum is not the watery type (think Timeless Vitamin C Serum). But neither is it thick and oily.

I would say it sits in the middle of the watery-oily spectrum, and I have nothing to complain about this as it felt comfortable on the face. It may leave a slightly sticky feel immediately upon application, but the stickiness won’t last long.

I could easily layer on with day cream, sunscreen and makeup without my skin feeling suffocated. 

3. Would it cause pimples? 

Good news to all! This expensive Vitamin C Serum from SkinCeuticals doesn’t give me pimple problems. So, if you are prone to pimples like I am, this serum may work for you.

4. It works!

I’ve shared earlier that this Vitamin C serum works. Just to reiterate that SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum seems to achieve all the promises it made in its marketing claims.

The most visible benefit is the luminosity and radiance of the skin. But I am fairly confident that it helped in firming the skin and improving lines and wrinkles (though it’s hard to measure using naked eyes). I just felt that my skin looks better overall, and the effect came rather quickly (within a few weeks). 

We’ve mentioned all the good things. What about the cons? Read on and check them out in the next section.

Update (Jun 2022): Now that I’ve used the Vitamin C serum for a while, I am very confident to say that it is the best Vitamin C serum I’ve used. The luminosity, fairness and radiance is sooo obvious, I felt like I have no dead skin even though I hardly exfoliate these days.

The benefits was prominently achieved even though I use SkinCeuticals only on alternate days due to my dry skin profile. 

 

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What’s bad about SkinCeuticals Vitamin C Serum?

1. Some may not like the smell

SkinCeuticals Vitamin C serum has a metallic or “laboratory” smell, which some have described it as smelling like hotdog. 

I don’t mind it at all. But if you are someone who prefer expensive skincare products to smell like heaven, then you may be in for a disappointment.

2. Is it irritable to the skin? 

Most vitamin C serum are drying to the skin, especially if it comes with the potent Ascorbic Acid. Sad to say, this expensive serum has the same effect – my skin felt dry and slightly flaky by the second week. 

Even after three months, my skin has yet to get used to the harshness of Vitamin C. Hence, I’ve had to put on moisture masks (such as Meeth Morerich Pack and LuLuLun Mask) to rescue the skin. I’ve also cut down to alternate-day usage at times.

> MUST-READ: LuLuLun Mask is so good it may convert me into a regular mask user

3. It’s expensive

Without a doubt, this is one of the priciest 30ml product I’ve purchased in a while. 

Would I purchase this $250 serum again? Since it works and a bottle is likely to last me a year (put in fridge to extend lifespan), I think the chance of me repurchasing is very high. The only concern is the drying effect it has on my mature skin.

I’m still trying to find the best combination of products for layering, so that I can continue to use this serum.  

 

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Recommendations: Should you buy SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic?

If budget is not an issue, and you want something that is likely to work – both in brightening the skin tone and potentially delaying the signs of aging, SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is definitely worth a try. I know I will definitely be repurchasing it because the benefits are just too obvious. 

But as we’ve shared, the product may be drying. Good for you if you have normal to oily skin. For me, I limit the usage to alternate days and also layer on with rich cream to restore the skin’s moisture balance. Rating: 5/5

View latest price here

 

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That’s all for today and thanks for reading as always. If you find today’s review useful, you can get more useful and honest reviews by subscribing through the button below. See you again! 

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(This post was first published in Feb 2022 and last updated to include latest opinion.)