If you haven’t heard about ferulic acid for skin, it’s a real little superhero of an ingredient, especially when it comes to prevention. As you’ll find as you keep reading, that’s one of ferulic acid’s main jobs: protecting the skin from elements that try to harm it.
In this article, we’ll discuss what ferulic acid is, what ferulic acid does, 10 benefits of ferulic acid, how to use ferulic acid, what kinds of skin types should use ferulic acid, and answer your frequently asked questions about ferulic acid.
IN A NUTSHELL
Ingredient Category: Antioxidant
Main Benefit: Because of its antioxidant properties, ferulic acid helps to protect your skin from environmental stressors, which in turn helps prevent common signs of aging.
What is Ferulic Acid?
Part of the hydroxycinnamic acid group, ferulic acid is an antioxidant found in fruits, grains, vegetables, and even certain grasses. Ferulic acid can be found in everything from bananas to bamboo shoots to broccoli. It’s even in boiled spaghetti! Luckily, it’s also found in skin care--so you don’t have to resort to using spaghetti on your skin, boiled or otherwise.
Ferulic Acid as Protector
As an antioxidant, ferulic acid for skin basically prevents environmental stressors from harming the skin, which is what makes it such a great anti-aging ingredient.
Ferulic Acid as Booster
It is also known for its ability to stabilize vitamins C and E to help them perform better by boosting the ability of both vitamins to fight against the harmful effects of environmental stressors, such as free radicals and pollutants.
Ferulic Acid for Skin: 8 Benefits
As both a protector and booster, ferulic acid has many benefits for skin:
- Ferulic acid calms the skin. As an antioxidant, ferulic acid has a gentle effect on the skin, allowing it to stay at its most stable.
- Ferulic acid visibly plumps the look of beautiful skin. Ferulic acid will help firm and tighten your look.
- Ferulic acid helps skin tone stay even. Ferulic acid can help minimize the appearance of dark spots and temporary redness to promote healthy looking skin.
- Ferulic acid can help boost vitamin C and E. Ferulic acid is known for its ability to enhance the effects of vitamins found in skincare like vitamin C and E, helping to stabilize them so they leave skin appearing luminous.
- Ferulic acid helps protect skin. Infusing your skin with protective botanicals, ferulic acid provides powerful antioxidant activity to help promote beautiful skin.
- Ferulic acid visibly plumps fine lines temporarily. By protecting the skin from environmental stressors, ferulic acid keeps skin looking its youngest.
- Ferulic acid helps stop environmental stressors that clog pores. By stopping environmental stressors from reaching the skin to begin with, ferulic acid helps keep pores from getting clogged.
- Ferulic acid fights aging. Because ferulic acid acts as something of a barrier between your skin and the world, it helps reduce the visibility of aging.
How to Use Ferulic Acid for Skin
The easiest way to incorporate ferulic acid in your skincare routine is to find a serum or moisturizer that includes it in the ingredients list. Many vitamin C serums and moisturizers contain ferulic acid to help boost the effectiveness of vitamin C in the product.
When using a serum or moisturizer with ferulic acid, here is a good order for your daily skincare routine:
1. Cleanser with a gentle facial cleanser, such as So Clean!
2. Refresh and re-hydrate with a soothing toner, like Rose and Shine.
3. Apply a serum with ferulic acid.
4. Treat the delicate skin around your eyes with a dedicated eye cream. We recommend our best-selling Eyes Eyes Baby.
5. Finish with a rich hydrating moisturizer like H2 Oh Yeah, or one that includes ferulic acid.
What Types of Skin Should Use Ferulic Acid
Ferulic Acid for Aging Skin
By protecting aging skin from environmental stressors, ferulic acid helps prolong a more youthful appearance.
Ferulic Acid for Skin in Its 20s and 30s
Because preventative skincare is key during these decades, ferulic acid is beneficial to those in their 20s and 30s.
Ferulic Acid for Skin Often Exposed to the Elements
As a booster to vitamins C and E, ferulic acid helps strengthen their ability to protect the skin from outside elements, making it an essential part of skincare for skin that’s often exposed to the elements, especially the sun.
Ferulic Acid for Skin That’s Uneven
Because it helps boost the effectiveness of vitamin C products, ferulic acid helps to create the appearance of a more even skin tone when combined with vitamin C.
Ferulic Acid for Dull Skin
Its antioxidant properties help to prevent damage to your skin that can cause dullness.
Ferulic Acid for People Who Want To Use Natural Skincare
As it’s derived from plants, ferulic acid is a great alternative to chemical- and artificial fragrance-filled skincare products.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ferulic Acid
Is ferulic acid safe to use on my skin?
As with any product, we always recommend testing in a small area first; however, generally speaking– ferulic acid is not only safe for your skin, but good for it.
What is ferulic acid?
Part of the hydroxycinnamic acid group, ferulic acid is an antioxidant. Found in fruits, grains, vegetables, and certain grasses, this plant-based, natural acid helps prevent environmental stressors from harming the skin.
What is the relationship between ferulic acid and vitamin C?
Ferulic acid acts as a booster to both vitamin C and E, stabilizing it so it’s even more effective in fighting skin damage. In addition to maximizing its effectiveness, ferulic acid also contains vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
Ferulic acid and pregnancy
Many women find that all the hormonal changes of pregnancy cause their skin to go absolutely bonkers (not an official term). Thankfully, ferulic acid is a safe, natural ingredient that can be used by pregnant women. While it can’t change the effect hormones have on the skin, as an antioxidant, it will help deflect many of the environmental stressors that wreak havoc on the skin.
However, we always recommend consulting with your doctor on issues of skincare and pregnancy.
Can ferulic acid repair damaged skin?
Ferulic acid is more of a preventive ingredient than an ingredient meant to repair damage, but it can help boost the effectiveness of vitamin C and E, which are known to help damaged skin.
If you’re concerned about preventing damage to your skin, we highly recommend incorporating ferulic acid into your skin care routine.
