You’re likely familiar with all of the many benefits of incorporating an antioxidant serum into your daily skincare routine. But just in case you’re not, allow us to refresh your memory.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which are unstable molecules that cause damage to the skin cells, protein, and DNA. This damage can lead to inflammation, signs of aging, and even skin cancer, explains Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
Since free radicals are formed by exposure to unavoidable things like UV rays and pollution, using an antioxidant serum daily gives your skin another layer of defense. There’s no shortage of antioxidants to choose from, but unlike vitamin C and green tea, ferulic acid flies somewhat under the radar.
Still, it’s a great option and a highly potent antioxidant. According to King, it pairs nicely with many other popular antioxidants, specifically vitamins C and E.
Regular use can leave your skin brighter, smoother, and more radiant. Ahead, get involved with any of these standout ferulic acid serums ASAP.
Best Overall: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic. There’s a good reason why both team Byrdie and dermatologists galore sing the praises of this cult classic time and time again.
The unique combo and concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid delivers potent protection against environmental free radicals, says King. It’s pricey, yes, but a little goes a long way, and the efficacy really can’t be beaten.
Runner-Up, Best Overall: DERMAdoctor Kakadu C 20% Vitamin C Serum with Ferulic Acid & Vitamin E. Broadly speaking, ferulic acid plays nice with a wide array of antioxidants.
King says it’s especially great when paired with vitamins C and E, helping to increase their efficacy while offering its own benefits. This formula also relies on that magic trio, though it rings in at a slightly more affordable price than the SkinCeuticals pick above.
One bottle is enough for about 150 uses.
Best Budget: The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3%. Antioxidant serums can put a dent in your wallet in a hurry, which is why we appreciate this insanely wallet-friendly formula.
You know you’re getting good bang for your buck since this contains just three ingredients, two of which are the namesake antioxidants. It’s another top choice for King, who lauds it for both the chosen antioxidants it contains and their high concentrations.
Runner-Up, Best Budget: Versed Auto-Save Skin Restoring Serum. Another option that won’t max out your skincare budget, this newbie is not only affordable, it’s also an amazing multi-tasker.
Apply it in the morning to reap the benefits of ferulic acid, which is combined with other antioxidants like phloretin and vitamin C. It also gives your skin an instant lift, thanks to a unique microalgae ingredient.
Just don’t forget to slather on the sunscreen afterward.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Typology Antioxidant Serum 3% Ferulic Acid + 3% Resveratrol. We like this pick for sensitive skin for several reasons.
Unlike many other ferulic acid serums that pair the ingredient with vitamin C, which can be irritating in higher concentrations, this combines it with resveratrol. This is a much more well-tolerated option.
On top of that, it’s fragrance-free and touts a very minimal ingredient list. The fewer the ingredients, the less likely there is to be one that’s irritating.
Best Exfoliating: Kiehl’s Ferulic Brew Facial Treatment Acid with Lactic Acid. As a general rule of thumb, it’s not a great idea to pair ferulic acid with exfoliating ingredients such as lactic acid, says King.
The latter can lower the pH, which can decrease ferulic acid’s efficacy, she cautions. But that’s not a concern here, because this has been specially formulated to ensure you get the benefits of both without the clash.
Best Anti-Aging: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution. Antioxidants, ferulic acid included, are most definitely an anti-aging ingredient.
That benefit really gets kicked up a notch when they’re paired with the king of all youth-boosting ingredients: retinol. Lightweight and fast-absorbing, there isn’t much this serum can’t do, combining the two namesake ingredients with other skin brighteners for an extra hit of spot fading.
It can be used morning and night, but with any retinol product, it’s always a good idea to start slow and gradually work your way up.
Best Clean: Acure Brightening Vitamin C & Ferulic Acid Oil-Free Serum. This choice combines ferulic acid with vitamin C, matcha green tea, and brightening pineapple extract.
Despite that powerful list of ingredients, it’s still gentle enough to use twice a day, even if you have sensitive skin.
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Skinceuticals Silymarin CF. The C E Ferulic may be the OG antioxidant serum from Skinceuticals, but this newbie is poised to give it a run for its money.
It has that same level of efficacy, thanks to a carefully formulated combo of ferulic acid and vitamin C, but throws a new antioxidant into the mix. Silymarin, which comes from the milk thistle plant, plays nice with these guys to provide antioxidant benefits and reduce oil oxidation that can lead to breakouts.
Speaking of, there’s also some zit-zapping salicylic acid in the formula.
Best Overnight: Alpha-H Liquid Gold Midnight Reboot Serum. Traditionally, antioxidants serums are a good option for daytime use, but they can also be used overnight as a way to help undo the day’s damage.
This contains potent antioxidants ferulic acid and coenzyme Q10 to help protect the skin from free radicals. It pairs them with a type of retinoid and glycolic acid to also help resurface the skin overnight, says King.
It’s a combo that helps improve dullness, fine lines, and pigmentation.
Best for Dark Spots: Peter Thomas Roth Potent C Targeted Spot Brightener. Ferulic acid can be great for brightening your complexion overall.
If you’re looking to really knock out super stubborn, targeted dark spots, you’ll want it in this formula. It touts a unique and super powerful form of vitamin C for spot-fading benefits, along with ferulic acid and vitamin E to help ensure it works even better at evening out skin tone.
Best for Easy Application: Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster. Don’t really feel like having to work another skincare product into your routine? This makes it easier than ever.
You can definitely use it on its own, but we like it because you can mix a drop or two into any serum or moisturizer you’re already using. Either way, you’re getting a powerful concentration of vitamin C, along with vitamin E and ferulic acid.
Final Verdict. Ferulic acid is a superstar antioxidant worth knowing.
It’s especially good when combined with vitamins C and E since it increases their efficacy and all three work synergistically. This is part of the reason why SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is such a fan favorite.
There are some more affordable picks that boast the same trio, such as DERMAdoctor Kakadu C 20% Vitamin C Serum and Versed Auto-Save Skin Restoring Serum. The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% comes in as the most wallet-friendly choice on this list.
What To Look For In a Ferulic Acid Serum.
The Packaging. Ideally, packaging that protects the product from exposure to light and air is best, says King. Both of these can decrease ferulic acid’s stability.
Look for dark, opaque bottles, preferably with a dropper or pump-top applicators.
Other Antioxidants. As mentioned, ferulic acid works well with so many other antioxidants, but vitamin C and vitamin E are really its best buddies.
Choosing a formula that combines these three is one way to make sure you’re getting even more efficacy from each of the ingredients on its own.
FAQ.
What does ferulic acid do? Ferulic acid is a potent antioxidant that helps to neutralize the skin-damaging and aging free radicals formed when skin is exposed to pollution and UV rays, says King.
What ingredients should you avoid combining with ferulic acid? According to King, unless the product has been specifically formulated to blend ferulic acid with exfoliating acids like glycolic, lactic, and salicylic, don’t mix the two.
They can lower ferulic acid’s pH and make it less effective, she says.
Is it safe to use ferulic acid during pregnancy? There is limited data on this, says King. Check with your doctor, but many ferulic acid products will specify that they shouldn’t be used during pregnancy.