C E Ferulic
Reviewed by SerumTruth Editorial · Price and formula checked July 2026
The strong-evidence anchor of the whole category, the antioxidant combination with the deepest published record for the appearance of brightness and environmental defence. It also costs like a flagship, and the tinted-glass dropper means the clock starts ticking the day you open it. You are paying for the original and for genuinely strong evidence. The dupes exist for a reason.
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol) dosed at a clinical, high-end level
- Every active discloses its concentration
- Costly to use, about $111 a month
- Evidence24 / 30
Strength of the research behind the key actives
- Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid): strong evidence
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol): moderate evidence
- Ferulic Acid: moderate evidence
The average of the key actives’ evidence grades.
- Potency24 / 25
Dosed at studied levels, not fairy-dusted
- Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) (15%): dosed at a studied level
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol) (1%): dosed at a clinical, high-end level for its category
- Ferulic Acid (0.5%): dosed at a studied level
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), Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Ferulic Acid), so packaging is scored.
Delivery tech plus packaging, and packaging only counts when actives are fragile.
- Formulation10 / 10
Disclosure, active breadth, and ingredient generation
- 3 of 3 actives disclose a concentration
- 3 key actives (breadth credit caps at 3)
- Current-generation or synergistic: Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Ferulic Acid
Disclosure, active breadth, and current-generation or synergistic actives.
- Value3 / 15
What a month of use costs vs. the category
- About $111 per month to use
- $185 for 30 ml, used about twice a day (about 0.3 ml each time), so a bottle lasts about 1.7 months
What a month of use costs: full marks at $6 a month or less, the floor at $60 a month or more.
Tap any row to see how its score was built.
Ranks #12 of 27 vitamin c & antioxidants serums we have scored.
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What’s inside
| Active | Disclosed | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) | 15% | Studied |
| Vitamin E (Tocopherol) | 1% | Clinical |
| Ferulic Acid | 0.5% | Studied |
The reference antioxidant serum: 15% pure L-ascorbic acid with 1% vitamin E and 0.5% ferulic acid, at the low pH the science requires. This is the trio the original Duke patent built and that every "CE" serum since has chased. Ferulic sits below the 1% line by design, to stabilise the vitamin C, not to pad the label. The amber tinted-glass dropper is the compromise: better than clear, though this formula browns once it is opened and air gets in.
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
What the research says
A 6-month double-blind trial found topical vitamin C linked to a better looking global appearance of photoaged skin versus placebo.
Topical ascorbic acid on photoaged skin. Clinical, topographical and ultrastructural evaluation: double-blind study vs. placebo. Experimental Dermatology, 2003. PubMed ↗
A dermatology review describes topical vitamin E as an antioxidant linked to smoother, better moisturized looking skin in limited human studies.
Vitamin E in dermatology. Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 2016. PubMed ↗
A study of the active, not this exact product. What matters for the score is whether this serum uses it at a comparable dose.
Higher-scoring alternatives
Same category, better SerumProof score. Worth a look before you buy.
Revision history
- July 11, 2026Price and formula rechecked
- July 10, 2026Review published
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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.