Ferulic acid: what it adds to your vitamin C serum

Every day, sun hits your skin, plus dust from the air. Ferulic acid can support your skin in protecting itself against this stress. And it helps vitamin C stay stable in the serum for longer.

The key points in brief

• Ferulic acid is a protective substance from plants and neutralises aggressive particles.
• In a joint formulation, it can keep vitamin C and vitamin E more stable.
• You apply it in the morning, under your sun protection.
• It does not replace sun protection, it complements it.

What does ferulic acid do in the skin?

Ferulic acid is an antioxidant. This means: it neutralises free radicals. Free radicals are small, aggressive particles. They form in the skin when sun hits it.

You know the principle from an apple. Once cut, it turns brown in the air. In a similar way, free radicals attack collagen and elastin in the skin. These are the fibres that keep your skin taut.

Ferulic acid is found in many plants. In skincare, it has two tasks: it supports your skin's protection. And it keeps vitamin C and vitamin E stable, so that both stay active in the serum for longer.

Who is it suitable for?

Ferulic acid suits you if your skin gets a lot of sun.

It also has its place in the city. In a study with fine dust, researchers observed protection for the fibres of the skin.

Are you looking for a serum with vitamin C? Then look for ferulic acid in the same bottle: a laboratory study only examined stability in a joint solution.

Who is it less suitable for?

If your skin gets irritated quickly, a serum with a lot of vitamin C can be too much. In case of irritation, the manufacturer of AOX Ferulic advises: use it less often or take a break.

If you are looking for a replacement for sunscreen, ferulic acid is not the right choice. It protects in a different way and only complements the sunscreen.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: please consult your doctor.

How to use it

1. Cleanse your face in the morning.
2. Put a few drops of serum into your hand.
3. Gently pat them onto your face and neck.
4. Let the serum absorb briefly.
5. Then follow with your cream, for example one with hyaluronic acid.
6. Finally, apply sun protection with sun protection factor 30 or higher.

A cream with ferulic acid you use in the morning, in the evening or both, depending on the product. The Night Cream belongs in the evening.

Good to combine, better not together

Good together:

• Vitamin C and vitamin E: together with ferulic acid in one formulation, as in AOX Ferulic.
• Sun protection: both protect in different ways and complement each other.
• Hyaluronic acid and peptides: the creams from mesoestetic already contain them.

Better not together:

• Retinol and exfoliating acids in the morning: they belong in the evening.
• Two serums with vitamin C: the manufacturer of AOX Ferulic advises against this, because it can irritate the skin.

What you can expect

You will not see the protection from ferulic acid in the mirror the next morning.

In a laboratory study on pig skin, vitamins C and E remained more stable in a solution with ferulic acid. The researchers measured the protection against artificial sunlight by redness and sunburn cells, which are cells damaged by the sun. With ferulic acid it was around 8-fold, without it 4-fold.

In a small study in humans, such a solution was applied to the skin for 4 days. Afterwards, the researchers observed less redness after UV light than at areas with a solution without active ingredients.

In a study with 15 women, the study team applied a serum with vitamins C, E and ferulic acid to the back every day for 4 days, after which fine dust was added each time. In skin samples, the researchers observed protection for collagen and elastin.

There are also small human studies on appearance. In one, 20 women from a large city used a serum with ferulic acid, vitamin C and a plant extract for 28 days. Afterwards, the researchers measured somewhat lighter dark spots than at the start.

In 16 volunteers, after 1 month, a cream with ferulic acid in shells of rice starch performed better on smoothness and wrinkles than one with free ferulic acid. For you, this means: each result applies to the formulation tested, not to every product with ferulic acid.

In our shop

You can find all products in our Ferulic acid collection. These four contain ferulic acid according to their ingredient list:

• AOX Ferulic from mesoestetic: the serum for the morning, with vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid in one bottle. We do not know the amounts, and the study values do not apply directly to this serum.
• Age Element Firming Cream from mesoestetic: cream with ferulic acid, peptides and four forms of hyaluronic acid, for a firmer skin feel with mature skin.
• Age Element Anti-Wrinkle Cream from mesoestetic: cream with ferulic acid, bakuchiol and peptides, developed for skin with first wrinkles.
• Age Element Night Cream from mesoestetic: rich cream for the evening, with ferulic acid, bakuchiol and peptides.

Frequently asked questions

What does ferulic acid do?

Ferulic acid is an antioxidant from plants. It can support your skin's protection against the sun.

Should you use a serum every day?

Yes, a serum with ferulic acid and vitamin C is intended for every morning. If your skin becomes irritated, use it less often or take a break.

Which is better for mature skin, vitamin C or hyaluronic acid?

Both have different tasks, so neither is better. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and supports your skin's protection. Hyaluronic acid binds water and gives moisture. You can use both: the serum in the morning, followed by a cream with hyaluronic acid.

Does vitamin C make the skin sensitive to light?

The manufacturer of AOX Ferulic writes: "This product contains vitamin C and can make the skin more sensitive to light." So always apply sun protection with sun protection factor 30 or higher during the day.

Sources

1. Lin FH, Lin JY, Gupta RD et al. (2005): Ferulic acid stabilizes a solution of vitamins C and E and doubles its photoprotection of skin. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 125(4):826-832. DOI 10.1111/j.0022-202X.2005.23768.x, PMID 16185284.
2. Murray JC, Burch JA, Streilein RD et al. (2008): A topical antioxidant solution containing vitamins C and E stabilized by ferulic acid provides protection for human skin against damage caused by ultraviolet irradiation. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 59(3):418-425. DOI 10.1016/j.jaad.2008.05.004, PMID 18603326.
3. Ivarsson J, Yan X, Guiotto A et al. (2025): Application of Antioxidant Mixture Prevents Cutaneous "Oxinflammaging" in Subjects Exposed to Particulate Matter. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 24(7):e70306. DOI 10.1111/jocd.70306, PMID 40642809.
4. Zduńska K, Dana A, Kolodziejczak A, Rotsztejn H (2018): Antioxidant Properties of Ferulic Acid and Its Possible Application. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology 31(6):332-336. DOI 10.1159/000491755, PMID 30235459.
5. Milani M, Hashtroody B, Piacentini M, Celleno L (2019): Skin protective effects of an antipollution, antioxidant serum containing Deschampsia antartica extract, ferulic acid and vitamin C: a controlled single-blind, prospective trial in women living in urbanized, high air pollution area. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology 12:393-399. DOI 10.2147/CCID.S204905, PMID 31213870.
6. Pueknang J, Saewan N (2022): Stability and Anti-Aging of Encapsulated Ferulic Acid in Phosphorylated Rice Starch. Molecules 27(11):3463. DOI 10.3390/molecules27113463, PMID 35684401.