It’s impossible to overstate how iconic SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is. It’s arguably the best vitamin C serum of all time, beloved by dermatologists and the rest of us alike for its novel combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid. But as with all great things, imitators followed—and when the brand’s patent expired back in 2025, it led to an onslaught of dupes that offered the same ingredient pairing, if not the same technology or formulation.
That led SkinCeuticals to create a new (patent-pending) formula that takes the original C E Ferulic and ups its antioxidant power. I, as someone approaching middle age, have had no choice but to dump the updated face serum all over my face in the name of youth. Here’s what you need to know.
In This Story
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
- Why We Love It: Oft dubbed the gold standard of vitamin C formulas, SkinCeuticals’s bestseller is surely one of the most acclaimed cosmetic formulas of all time. This potent elixir is powered by L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and ferulic acid to protect against environmental stressors and combat fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration. As of July 2026, it’s been reformulated to feature endophytol and carnosine for amplified smoothing, evening, and brightening benefits.
- Key Ingredients: L-ascorbic acid 15%, alpha tocopherol 1%, ferulic acid 0.5%, endophytol 1%, carnosine 0.3%
- Best For: Wrinkles, fine lines, laxity
- Skin Type: All skin types, sensitive
How is the new SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic different from the original?
The new SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum hasn’t changed all that much. In addition to the headliner ingredients, the formula now includes carnosine and endophytol to up its anti-aging credibility. “If the original C E Ferulic was your skin’s daily insurance policy against environmental damage, these new ingredients are like adding even more comprehensive coverage,” says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Hamden, Connecticut, who’s unaffiliated with the brand. “Vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid remain the powerhouse foundation, while carnosine and endophytol help address additional pathways of skin aging linked to environmental stress.” It’s ultimately a more well-rounded approach to protecting your skin’s health over time.
How does the reformulated SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic work?
The new SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum retains the original combination of 15% vitamin C, 1% vitamin E, and 0.5% ferulic acid—a trio that set its first iteration apart from other face serums. Vitamins C and E themselves are a powerful pairing: These antioxidants have a synergistic effect, working even better together than they do separately. Ferulic acid, for its part, can help boost their stability and efficacy—which in sum made the formula more powerful than most antioxidant serums.
That combination is now joined by 0.3% carnosine (a peptide that’s naturally found in the body) and 1% endophytol, which is derived from dandelion root extract. “Carnosine has been studied for its ability to help protect proteins like collagen from glycation, a process that can contribute to skin looking less firm and resilient over time,” says Dr. Gohara. “Endophytol is a botanical ingredient designed to help skin better defend itself against environmental stressors.”
So the result of the new formula isn’t just amped-up protection against environmental aggressors like pollution and sun exposure. With carnosine defending your skin’s natural structure, it can also help minimize other signs of aging on skin.
My Experience With the New SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
For reference, I’m 36 and have acne-prone combination skin. One of my biggest pain points (besides hormonal breakouts) is hyperpigmentation, both in the form of post-acne marks and sun spots. I also have what one plastic surgeon called a “very expressive face,” which means I have a lot of frown and smile lines between my brows and around my eyes.
