Looking for a dupe for Skinceuticals CE Ferulic? There are many around. They cost 1/3 or a 1/2 of the price, but even that will set you back $50 or higher. What are you supposed to do if you’re on a strict budget? Get resigned to get wrinkles?! Fret not, my smart friend. I won’t let that happen to you. Let me introduce you to the cheapest dupe for Skinceuticals CE Ferulic – one that’ll set you back less than $25.00. And yes, it’s just as effective too. Meet Skin Actives Vitamin C Serum 15%, the underdog hero that will transform your skin (and save your wallet):
This review was updated on 10th March, 2024. The packaging has changed, but the formula inside is still the same and everything mentioned here still applies to the current version available to buy in shops.
- Key Ingredients In Skin Actives Vitamin C Serum 15%: What Makes It Work?
- The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
- Texture
- Fragrance
- How To Use It
- Packaging
- Performance & Personal Opinion
- What I Like About Skin Actives Vitamin C Serum 15%
- What I DON’T Like About Skin Actives Vitamin C Serum 15%
- Who Should Use This?
- Does Skin Actives Vitamin C Serum 15% Live Up To Its Claims?
- Price & Availability
- The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
- Dupes & Alternatives
Key Ingredients In Skin Actives Vitamin C Serum 15%: What Makes It Work?
ASCORBIC ACID TO BRIGHTEN SKIN AND PREVENT WRINKLES
L-Ascorbic Acid is the pure form of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that:
- Fights the free radicals that give you wrinkles
- Boosts the production of collagen, the protein that keeps skin firm
- Reduces transepidermal water loss, helping to keep skin hydrated
- Brightens skin and fades away hyperpigmentation
Awesome, right? There are side effects:
- Unstable: It goes bad quickly when exposed to light and air. Skin Actives gives it a 8 months’ shelf life. Buy it only when you’re ready to use it daily. If the serum has turned brown, it’s too late. It’s useless. Throw it away!
- Irritation: High concentrations of L-Ascorbic Acid – especially at the low pH (below 3) it needs to work its magic – can irritate skin, especially if it’s sensitive.
When you buy a bottle, use it quickly!
Related: The Complete Guide To Vitamin C In Skincare: What It Is, What It Does & How To Use It
VITAMIN E AND FERULIC ACID TO SUPERCHARGE VITAMIN C
Did you know Vitamin C works even better when paired with fellow antioxidants Vitamin E and Ferulic acid?
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that fights free radicals and hydrates skin. While most Vitamin C serums barely give you a drop, Skin Actives Vitamin C Serum 15% gives you three forms of Vitamin E (Alpha-D-Tocopherol, Tocotrienols, and Tocopherols).
Ferulic acid itself is an antioxidant on steroids. While most antioxidants only destroy one type of free radicals (that’s why I always say, the more the merrier), ferulic acid fights THREE different types on its own! How cool is that?
But it’s when paired with Vitamin C that Ferulic acid (and Vitamin E) really shines. Here’s what they do together:
- They boost one another’s effectiveness (they don’t become ineffective as quickly as they would on their own)
- They enhance your sunscreen’s protection, helping you fight sun damage and premature wrinkles
Related: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Ferulic Acid
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The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
- Water: The main solvent in the product, it helps other ingredients dissolve while hydrating skin.
- Propanediol: Another solvent that also helps active ingredients better penetrate skin.
- Ethoxydiglycol: A solvent that helps skincare ingredients better penetrate skin.
- PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil: An emollient and emulsifier that improves the texture and feel of skincare products.
- Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil: Loaded with fatty acids, this oil is deeply moisturises, reduces inflammation, and has antioxidant properties to boot.
- Astaxanthin: A powerful antioxidant found in flamingo and salmon, it helps to neutralise free radicals before they give you wrinkles.
- Lycopene: The main antioxidant in tomatoes, it fights free radicals and prevents premature wrinkles.
- Xanthophyll: Carotenoid pigments derived from plants, algae and fish, they have powerful antioxidant properties to prevent damage from environmental aggressors.
- R-Alpha Lipoic Acid: An enzyme with antioxidant and soothing properties.
- Beta-Carotene: A carotenoid and antioxidants that fights premature wrinkles.
- Arginine: An amino acid naturally present in the body, it has both antioxidant and hydrating properties.
- Phytic Acid: Found in the seeds and fibers of many types of plants, it has mild exfoliating and antioxidant properties.
- Calcium Disodium EDTA: A chelating agent that neutralises the metal ions found in water, so they don’t spoil the formula.
- Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria in skincare products, helping them to last and be safe for longer.
Texture
This serum has a lightweight, fast-absorbing that’s a pleasure to use. It doesn’t leave any greasy or tacky residue behind.
Fragrance
It’s fragrance-free. Me likes that. A citrusy scent would have made the serum smell divine (I’m a sucker for anything citrusy), but also been a potential hazard for sensitive skin. The lack of fragrance makes it friendlier to more skin types.
How To Use It
Like all Vitamin C serums, I recommend you use it in the morning, underneath sunscreen to boost its sun protection. I skip moisturiser in between serum and sunscreen, but if your skin is dry, apply that extra layer. You could use it at night instead, but you’d be missing out on the sunscreen-enhancing benefits.
Packaging
The packaging has changed once again since I wrote this review. It now comes in a white and orange bottle that keeps the antioxidants inside stable and effective for long. It also has a dropper applicator for ease of use.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Skin Actives Vitamin C Serum 15% has a lightweight consistency that sinks quickly into the skin without leaving a greasy or sticky residue behind. I have resistant skin that’s pretty used to 15% L-Ascorbic Acid by now, but the first time I used it, I still I felt a slightly tingling and warming sensation on my skin.
FYI, it never happened again. But it can happen. For most skin types, this isn’t a concern. But if yours is sensitive, don’t risk it. Use a serum with a lower concentration of L-Ascorbic Acid or one of its derivatives. In case you’re wondering, in this case the tingling means it’s working (unless it turns into stinging – that’s just irritation). Within a few days, I can already see my skin become brighter and smoother.
These are just the short-term results. The long term ones are trickier to see. Here’s the deal: antioxidants like Vitamin C prevent rather than treat premature aging. And you can’t tell if prevention works until years down the line. So how do you know it works?! You have to trust the science here.
Plenty of studies (I linked a few above) show that Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and ferulic acid can boost collagen, fight free radicals, and keep your skin healthy. Here, they’re formulated to work at the best of their abilities. That’s enough for me to give them the Beautiful With Brains’ seal of approval.
Related: Can You Use A Vitamin C Serum If You Have Sensitive Skin?
What I Like About Skin Actives Vitamin C Serum 15%
- Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture
- Fragrance-free
- Contains 3 forms of antioxidant Vitamin E (most Vitamin C serums only have one)
- Helps fight free radicals, brighten skin, and enhance sun protection
- It has a higher concentration and variety of antioxidants than most Vitamin C serums
- Affordable
- Practical packaging
What I DON’T Like About Skin Actives Vitamin C Serum 15%
- Makes your skin tingle for a few seconds
Who Should Use This?
- Anyone interested in preventing the signs of aging
- Dull skin that wants some glow
- Dark spots that are just starting to appear on your skin
- Anyone looking for a dupe for Skinceuticals CE Ferulic that won’t break the bank
Does Skin Actives Vitamin C Serum 15% Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Skin Actives Vitamin C Serum exfoliates, provides antioxidant support, and helps reduce dark spots for an even skin tone. | It doesn’t technically exfoliates, but it helps the skin’s natural exfoliating process. The rest is true. |
| Promotes elasticity and collagen synthesis, reduces free radicals formed by the sun and helps reduce the formation of dark spots. | Again, true. But it does this over years, so be consistent. |
Price & Availability
$22.99 at Skin Actives
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
If you’re looking for a cheaper dupe for Skinceuticals CE Ferulic or just want to prevent premature aging, this is definitely worth a try.
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Dupes & Alternatives
- MaeLove Glow Booster ($27.95): The cheapest Vitamin C serum in this list, it does everything the others do, but it contains a citrus extract that may be irritating for sensitive skin. Available at Maelove.
- Paula’s Choice C15 Booster ($46.75): It’s enriched with Hyaluronic Acid and glycerin to deeply hydrate skin. Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Net-A-Porter, Paula’s Choice, Sephora, and SpaceNK.
- Skinceuticals CE Ferulic ($169.00): The original Vitamin C serum, it costs an arm and a leg, but it works wonders and delivers what it promises. Available at Dermstore and Skinceuticals.
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Ascorbic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Alpha-D-Tocopherol, Ferulic Acid, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Tocotrienols, Tocopherols, Astaxanthin, Lycopene, Xanthophyll, R-Alpha Lipoic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Arginine, Phytic Acid, Calcium Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol.
Thanks, Gio — this is very helpful as I’ll be shopping for a new serum soon. Question: how do you think this one stacks up against the more expensive ones, like Skinceuticals CE Ferulic or the one from FutureDerm? Is it still worth paying a little more (well, alot more in the case of Skinceuticals!)?
Laurie, this serum contains the same active ingredients as the Skinceuticals one, so I would say it is an excellent and cheap dupe for it.
While these 2 serums use only L-Ascobic Acid, the Futurederm serum contains both that (but microencapsulated) and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. This means that the Vitamin C in the Futurederm serum is more stable.
However, the Futurederm serum contains less antioxidants than the Skin Actives one. Also, Futurederm uses a silicone base which creates a barrier on the skin that slows down water loss and gives skin a silky soft feeling, while the Skin Actives serum contains humectants like Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid that draw water from the environment into the skin, making it a better option for those with dry skin.
In the end, both Futurederm and Skin Actives are great options. It just comes down to what’s more important for you. Do you prefer a more stable form of Vitamin C or a less stable one with a higher variety of antioxidants? A silicone or humectant base?
Honestly, I’d never considered those questions, LOL! I suppose I want the one that will slow down the aging process the most. 😉 But from what I understand, a broad base of antioxidants is the best prevention. The rest I’d need to consider more. Thanks for your reply.
Laurie, oh yes, usually the more antioxidants you use the best. 🙂 Futurederm uses a more expensive form of vitamin c, which may be why it contains less antioxidants. It could be a way to keep the price down somewhat. Still, the few it uses are great for anti-aging.
Oo! I want to try this next. I have 1/3 of my PC serum left and was planning on purchasing a third but I’m alway so curious about the other products available out there.
Janessa, there are too many options aren’t there? Not that I’m complaining… This is a great serum, but the PC is pretty good too. 🙂
Great review, Gio.
I had bad experience with LAA in the past, but I want to try again. Skin Actives recently dropped the irritating and phototoxic citrus EOs after we exchanged e-mails, so I’m going to get this one. However, my skin is currently quite badly dehydrated after testing a slew of sunscreens, not realizing that my skin is quite allergic to avobenzone. It’s recovered now, but still not as good as it used to be. Do you think this serum feels drying? Or the glycerin, hyaluronic acid and pomegranate oils make quite a difference on retaining moisture?
Thanks!
Nisa, thanks. Sorry to hear avobenzone ruined your skin, but it is recovering fine.
This serum isn’t drying, but I wouldn’t call it moisturizing either. The high level of vitamin c can irritate skin, but if you use it every couple of days you shouldn’t experience any serious side effects. Hope this helps.
I have been using Skin Actives for about 3 yrs and love it. I prefer buying the “raw” products and making my own skin care line for my age group (^^). The products are pure and concentrated so they really do not cost as much as you might think. I cannot be without these ever again. My skin just drinks up the serums and leaves it soft and silky. I am just a regular person with no chemical or scientific background. If I can do it, anyone can.
Coni, I’m glad this is working so well for you. Skin Actives really is a wonderful brand. Are you using the kits they sell? I believe those have instructions to help you out. But mixing this or that on your own without scientific knowledge is risky. You may mix together two substances that deactivate each other or put too much of an ingredient in and cause an irritation. These products go on your skin, and you need to know what you;re doing to avoid any unwanted side effects.
What is the PH level of this product? I can’t seem to find it. Thank you!
Alfagetti, I’m afraid I don’t have this serum anymore so I can’t test the ph. Try contacting customer service. Hope it’ll help.