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SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic smells a little funky, the bottle isn’t much to look at and the brown liquid is sensorially unsatisfying: think overflow from a rusty tap.
I’m not that great at delayed gratification when it comes to beauty products. I want to see results yesterday. And if I must wait for whatever miracle they promise, I at least need a nice smell or a cosseting texture to keep me invested. Yet I have used this vitamin C serum daily for more than a decade. Yes me, a beauty editor who is constantly inundated with new products.
Why such loyalty? Well, it’s because it is recommended by practically every independent dermatologist and skin expert I’ve spoken to. And it seems to have a place in every other beauty editor’s skincare arsenal. Plus it crops up as a favourite in interviews I’ve done with luminous-skinned A-listers.
Here’s what I look like up close now vs 25 years ago
And though it’s not a delight to use, the bonus is it’s easy to apply. I just put a few drops of the watery liquid in my hands and smooth it over my face after cleansing. It absorbs within seconds. Then I apply an SPF over the top. The serum doesn’t cause problems with make-up application or create issues in other unsavoury ways.
The science behind it is also credible. C E Ferulic is first and foremost a vitamin C serum and it has the wonder ingredient at a potent level and in a powerful form: 15 per cent l-ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is clinically proven to diminish dark spots, ease fine lines and brighten the skin. It is an antioxidant that fights off complexion-marring environmental damage – think sun, pollution and smoke.
But there are lots of vitamin C serums, so what makes this one special? Well, it also contains one per cent alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) to help retain moisture and promote radiance. Plus 0.5 per cent ferulic acid, which works to reduce inflammation (great for rosacea and acne-prone skin), even skin tone and stabilise the vitamin C. The synergy of these ingredients supercharges vitamin C’s antioxidant effect, delivering eight times more environmental protection than using the ingredient alone. Basically, it’s a triple threat to ageing.
Of course, I don’t know what I would look like if I hadn’t used it so religiously, but in my line of work I’ve subjected my face to many a computer-imaging analysis session and they always reveal my skin age is a good five years younger than my real age (50). I feel it’s brighter and less lined and pigmented than that of many of my peers. There are other serums that contain 15 per cent vitamin C (such as the Obagi and No7 products below), but this is the one I’m loyal to.
I know C E Ferulic is expensive, but readers always tell me they want the truth, so here it is. Rest assured zero money has changed hands; this is a hand-on-heart recommendation from someone who has been in the game longer than I care to admit.
Vitamin C serums for every budget
HAIR MASK HERO
Gisou Honey Gloss Ceramide Therapy Hair Mask, £39, sephora.co.uk
This standout product smells heavenly and achieves the impossible task of feeling light yet impactful. It transformed my wire-wool hair into a smooth, silky mane. Expensive, but a little goes a long way.
Rosie’s beauty clinic
Q I am 79, grey-haired with sparse, faded brows. What product will define them without looking harsh? Margaret Newman, South Shields
A As your hair gets greyer you need to switch to cooler-toned brow formulas to look natural. Jones Road has just added an excellent grey/brown shade to its The Brow Gel line-up (£26, jonesroadbeauty.com).
Send your queries to alice.robertson@mailonsunday.co.uk, using the subject line Ask Rosie
UNDER A TENNER
Boots DermaCare Ceramides Conditioning Eye Balm, £6, boots.com
This relieves dryness and freshens up the eye area. I use it on my lips, too.
