Best Skinceuticals Products: What’s Worth The Splurge? [2023]

What are the best Skinceuticals products? And are they worth it? I get asked this all the time. If you’re going to spend that kind of money, you want something that makes you look younger and delivers what it says on the tin? Luckily, most Skinceuticals products can do that. I have a soft spot for the brand because they were the first to put a proper Vitamin C serum on the map and have a solid reputation for creating science-backed products that do what they say on the tin.

But not all their products are created equal. While they have some gems that are totally worth the splurge, others are just basic moisturisers with a hefty price tag. If you’re willing to invest in your skincare, you’d better be sure you’re investing in the right things, the little potions that are gonna make the biggest difference in your skin and give you the results you crave.

How do you find them? I’ve done the work for you. Here they are below, the best Skinceuticals skincare products (based on science, not hype or sponsorships):

About The Brand: Skinceuticals

Skinceuticals was founded in 1997 on the back of the antioxidant research performed by Dr Sheldon Pinnell. Thanks to this research, they were able to create the first CEF serum, i.e. a serum that contains 15% L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) + Vitamin E + Ferulic Acid, a powerful combination that prevents premature wrinkles, brightens the complexion, and boosts the effectiveness of sunscreen.  It’s one of my fave antioxidant combinations and one I recommend all my clients use (unless they have very sensitive skin that can’t tolerate it).

Skinceuticals is still committed to antioxidant research and is always coming out with new innovative combinations to help you look younger for longer. The only issue with all this research is that someone must pay for it – hence they high price tags. *sighs* They were also one of the first brands to sell to dermatologists and other doctors to gain that know, like, and trust factor faster. At this price point, you need to know the products do what they say on the tin, right?

What Are The Best Skinceuticals Products?

Best For Antiaging: SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic ($169.00)

Skinceuticals CE Ferulic is the original CEF serum. In the other words, it was the first serum to combine Vitamin C with its BFFs Vitamin E and Ferulic acid to supercharge its anti-aging powers. All together, these 3 antioxidants destroy more than 4 different types of free radicals, the nasty molecules that give you wrinkles and dark spots. Vitamin C goes the extra mile: it also boosts collagen production and fades away dark spots.

The catch? Ferulic acid stinks. Without a fragrance to cover it up (and thank goodness there isn’t one – fragrances are irritating), the serum doesn’t smell the best. Is it still worth getting when there are so many dupes around? Yes. This is still one of the most effective formulas on the market. If you can afford the splurge, you’ll see results. But use it immediately! Vitamin C serums go bad quickly. This isn’t something you can stock up in the sale and use 3 months later.

Available at: Dermstore, Look Fantastic and Skinceuticals

Related: What Are The Best Vitamin C Serums With Vitamin E And Ferulic Acid?

Best Anti-Aging Serum For Sensitive Skin: Skinceuticals Serum 10 AOX+ ($72.00)

Are you struggling to find a Vitamin C serum that doesn’t irritate sensitive skin? If 15% L-Ascorbic Acid is too harsh for you, meet Skinceuticals Serum 10 AOX+. It has “only” 10% L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), a concentration low enough not to irritate skin, yet high enough to still be effective at fighting wrinkles, boosting collagen, and brightening the skin tone. Skinceuticals also added ferulic acid for an extra antioxidant boost (but no Vitamin E this time 🙁 ). Plus, the serum’s hydrating, too. I only recommend it to sensitive skin that needs its Vitamin C fix without the irritation.

Available at: Dermstore and Skinceuticals

Related: Can You Use Vitamin C If You Have Sensitive Skin?

Best For Fading Dark Spots: Skinceuticals Discoloration Defense ($102.00)

Skinceuticals Discolouration Defense is a powerful cocktail made up of 3 powerful skin-lightener: 1% Kojic acid inhibits the production of melanin, 3% Tranexemic Acid helps fade stubborn dark spots (it works as well as Hydroquinone, but without the irritating side effects), and 5% Niacinamide reduces sallowness, brightens the complexion, and hydrates skin.

Will the serum fade away your dark spots? Hard to tell. There’s a reason why there are a dozen brightening agents out there (and more are being discovered every year). Just like most medications, what works for one person may not work for another. But the science here is solid and the formula gentle. I’d personally give it a try before opting for harsher, prescription-only treatments.

Available at: Skinceuticals, Dermstore, and Look Fantastic

Related: The Battle Of The Skin-Lighteners: What’s The Best Alternative To Hydroquinone?

Best For Sun Protection: Skinceuticals Sheer Physical UV Daily Defense SPF 50 ($36.00)

Skinceuticals Sheer Physical UV Daily Defense SPF 50 is an all mineral sunscreen that uses mineral filters titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to provide broad-spectrum protection without irritating even the most sensitive of skin types. Usually, high SPF mineral sunscreens have disgustingly greasy textures that are hard to spread, but this one is sheer enough to make it a pleasure to use… Unless you have dark skin. If that’s the case, it’ll leave a white cast behind. Still, if you have sensitive skin, that’s always better than an irritation, don’t you agree?

Available at: Skinceuticals and Dermstore

Reasons: 3 Reasons Why Mineral Sunscreen Is Better For Sensitive Skin

Best For Reducing Wrinkles: Skinceuticals Retinol 1.0 Night Cream ($92.00)

Skinceuticals Retinol 1.0 Night Cream isn’t for the faint of skin. It contains 1% retinol, a concentration that can seem smaller to skincare newbies (we’ve all been there). But retinol is so powerful, 1% packs a very powerful punch. So powerful, expect it to cause some serious peeling, redness and irritation when you first start using it. To reduce the side effects, get your skin used to retinol slowly. Start with a low concentration (thankfully Skinceuticals offers this cream at 0.3% and 0.5% concentrations too) and build your way up to this slowly. Why make the effort? Retinol is a form of Vitamin A, the only thing proven to reduce the wrinkles you already have. Is that a good enough reason for you? 😉 If you need more, retinol also prevents new wrinkles from forming, fades away dark spots, and treats acne. For best results, use it every other night.

Available at: Skinceuticals and Dermstore

Related: What Strength Of Retinol Is Right For You?

Best For Acne: Skinceuticals Blemish + Age Defense ($96.00)

If you’re dealing with acne, you need salicylic acid in your skincare routine. This powerful exfoliating acid removes dead cells from the surface of your skin, so they don’t end up in your pores, clogging them up. But its main superpower is its ability to get deeper into your pores and exfoliate them from within. It both removes and prevents blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. Plus, this exfoliant also contains glycolic acid, another exfoliating acid that fades away the dark marks that pimples sometimes leave behind. The best part? It doesn’t dry out skin.

Available at: Look Fantastic and Skinceuticals

Best For Dry Skin: Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 ($136.00)

Dry skin has a damaged protective barrier that lets moisture evaporate out, leaving it rough and parched. The best way to repair this barrier is to use the same ingredients that are naturally found in it. That’s just what this cream does. It contains 2% ceramides, 4% cholesterol, and 2% fatty acids (all natural components of your skin’s protective barrier) in the ideal ratio to repair your protective barrier and heal dry skin. It’s expensive for a cream that doesn’t contain antioxidants, but hey, it works wonders for dry skin. If you’ve tried everything without results, you may want to give this a go.

Available at: Dermstore and Skinceuticals

Best For Hydration: Skinceuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier ($106.00)

Hyaluronic acid is a hydrating powerhouse everyone should use. It attracts and binds to your skin up to 1000 times its weight in water. All that moisture plumps up fine lines and wrinkles, makes skin softer, and gives it a subtle glow. It gives dry skin the extra bout of moisture it needs and hydrates oily skin without adding more oil to it. What sets this hyaluronic acid serum apart from so many other (cheaper) versions on the market is Pro-Xylane, a new ingredient developed by L’Oreal, that can boost the skin’s natural production of hyaluronic acid, which in turn helps keep your skin firm. In other words, it’s a hyaluronic acid serum on steroids.

Available at: Dermstore, Look Fantastic, and Skinceuticals

Best To Brighten Skin: Skinceuticals Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight ($84.00)

Glycolic acid is a wonderful exfoliant for dry and sun-damaged skin. It removes dead cells from the surface of your skin, which alone is enough to smoothen out rough patches and make skin glow. Plus, it also hydrates the complexion and fades away dark spots. The catch? It can be irritating and drying when you use too much too often. For best results, use it every other night, alternating it with retinol. One more thing: this exfoliant contains a mix of natural oils and glycerin that hydrate skin to counteract some of the drying effects of exfoliation. The texture is runny, so it can be a bit messy when you use it.

Available at: Dermstore, Look Fantastic, and Skinceuticals.

What Are The Best Skinceuticals Products For Wrinkles?

• SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic ($169.00): The original Vitamin C serum with Vitamin E and ferulic acid, it brightens skin, fights free radicals, and helps you prevent premature aging. Available at Dermstore, Look Fantastic and Skinceuticals.
• Skinceuticals Serum 10 AOX+ ($72.00): The best Vitamin C serum for sensitive skin, it contains a smaller dose that brightens skin and prevents wrinkles without irritating skin. Available at Dermstore and Skinceuticals.
• Skinceuticals Retinol 1.0 Night Cream ($92.00): One of the most powerful retinol creams I’ve tried, it reduces the wrinkles you already have and prevent new ones from forming. But it’s irritating. Use it only if you’ve built tolerance to 1% retinol. Available at Skinceuticals and Dermstore.

What Are The Best Skinceuticals Products For Acne?

• Skinceuticals Retinol 1.0 Night Cream ($92.00): Retinol isn’t just a powerful wrinkle-fighter. It also helps reduce acne and fade away the dark mark pimples sometimes leave behind. The catch? 1% is irritating. Use it only if you’ve built tolerance to it. Available at Skinceuticals and Dermstore.
• Skinceuticals Blemish + Age Defense ($96.00): A powerful exfoliant with 1.5% salicylic acid to unclog pores and remove blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. Available at Look Fantastic and Skinceuticals.

What Are The Best Skinceuticals Products For Dark Spots?

• SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic ($169.00): 15% L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals, brightens the complexion, and fades away dark spots. Available at Dermstore, Look Fantastic and Skinceuticals.
• Skinceuticals Discoloration Defense ($102.00): Packed with 3 skin-lighteners, it helps to fade away dark spots. Plus, it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin. Available at Skinceuticals, Dermstore, and Look Fantastic.

What Are The Best Skinceuticals Products For Sensitive Skin?

• Skinceuticals Serum 10 AOX+ ($72.00): The best Vitamin C serum for sensitive skin, it contains a smaller dose of L-Ascorbic that fights wrinkles and brightens the complexion without irritating skin. Available at Dermstore and Skinceuticals.
• Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 ($136.00): Sensitive skin often has a compromised protective barrier. If that’s you, this cream patches it up, heals dryness, and moisturises your skin back to health. Available at Dermstore and Skinceuticals.

Is Skinceuticals Cruelty-Free?

No, unfortunately Skinceuticals is NOT cruelty-free. They’re owned by L’Oreal and sell in mainland China, where animal testing is required by law.

The Pros Of Skinceuticals Skincare

Skinceuticals invests a lot of money in skincare research to come up with breakthrough, science-backed formulations that can fight premature aging, fade away dark spots, and treat acne. Their products give you results – and yes that’s the bare minimum every brand should do, and yet most products out there don’t contain ingredients that can do what they say on the tin. Skinceuticals isn’t like that. You can count on their products to perform well and be formulated according to the latest skincare breakouts, not hyped up ingredients.

What Are The Cons Of Skinceuticals Skincare?

The price. All that research they’re doing on antioxidants and other actives to keep your skin looking its best at any age is super expensive. Someone must pay for it. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I’m happy to support skincare research and find innovative solutions to old skincare problems that work better than anything we have available so far. On the other hand, it makes the price of even simple hydrating moisturisers skyrocket, making you wonder, “Is this worth the price?” In the case of the products on this list, the answer is yet. But a lot of their other products are overpriced for what you get. Oh, and they’re not cruelty-free, which is a dealbreaker for a lot of people.

The Verdict

Skinceuticals is a skincare brand you can rely on. They invest heavily in skincare research to bring you scientifically-proven-to-work formulas that can treat dark spots, prevent premature aging, and reduce acne. But, they’re very expensive.

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.