A genuine C, E and ferulic serum for a fraction of the prestige price, doing the well-evidenced antioxidant job without frills. The amber dropper still browns over time like any L-ascorbic acid serum. For the money it is one of the easiest vitamin C picks to recommend.
- Evidence24 / 30
Strength of the research behind the key actives
- Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid): strong evidence
- Ferulic Acid: moderate evidence
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol): moderate evidence
- Score is the average of the key actives’ evidence grades.
- Potency21 / 25
Dosed at studied levels, not fairy-dusted
- Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) (15%): dosed at a studied level
- Ferulic Acid: dosed at a studied level
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol): dosed at a studied level
- Potency tracks how strongly the actives are dosed, led by the strongest, not how many there are.
- Delivery & stability12 / 20
Delivery tech + packaging that protects fragile actives
- Delivery: standard
- Packaging: tinted glass
- Air- or light-sensitive actives (Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid), Ferulic Acid, Vitamin E (Tocopherol)), so packaging is scored.
- Formulation7 / 10
Disclosure, active breadth, and ingredient generation
- 1 of 3 actives disclose a concentration
- 3 key actives (breadth credit caps at 3)
- Current-generation or synergistic: Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid), Ferulic Acid, Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
- Value14 / 15
What a month of use costs vs. the category
- About $10 per month to use
- $16 for 30 ml, used about twice a day (about 0.3 ml each time), so a bottle lasts about 1.7 months
- Band: $6/month or less earns full marks, $60/month or more hits the floor.
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What’s inside
| Active | Disclosed | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) | 15% | Studied |
| Ferulic Acid | n/a | Studied |
| Vitamin E (Tocopherol) | n/a | Studied |
A water-light 15% L-ascorbic acid serum with ferulic acid and vitamin E, in a dark amber glass dropper. It is a proper C, E and ferulic antioxidant trio at a budget price, with the same low pH and the same oxidation clock as pricier versions once opened. Store it cool and use it within a few months.
How it’s delivered
Air- and light-sensitive actives (vitamin C, copper peptides) lose potency fast in the wrong packaging, so delivery and the bottle are scored, not just what’s on the label.
The actives, explained
Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. The SerumProof score reflects our reading of publicly available research and formulation disclosures. See how scoring works.