Does Ferulic Acid Serum Do for Skin?

Modern facial skincare serums contain plenty of potent ingredients, ranging from vitamin C to retinol and more. You may have also seen another ingredient on the back of a new skincare serum: ferulic acid.

Not sure what ferulic acid is or what ferulic acid serum can do for your skin? Good news. We'll break down the answer to this question and more below. Let's get started!

What Is Ferulic Acid?

Ferulic acid is an antioxidant found in a variety of plants. In fact, you’ve probably consumed ferulic acid before in foods including eggplant, apple seeds, bran, rice, oats, and citrus fruits.

Today, ferulic acid is primarily interesting because it’s used as an antioxidant in skincare.

Antioxidants are special compounds that can counteract free radical molecules. Free radical molecules are named as such because they are unstable and can damage cells or tissues if left unchecked.

Your body gradually accumulates free radicals from daily activities, environmental pollution, and other sources. When it encounters a free radical, an antioxidant will donate an electron, stabilizing the free radical and preventing it from causing further damage.

Free radicals are behind many sources of inflammation and other chronic issues, so antioxidants are so valuable as skincare solution ingredients and for other purposes.

Generally, ferulic acid is used in skincare serums and topical or oral supplements.

Depending on where you find your supplement, you may find ferulic acid in different concentrations. Ferulic acid is also sometimes used to preserve food and as a core component in pharmaceutical medications (partly because of how it interacts with other vitamins).

Ferulic Acid Serum Skin Benefits

If you plan on using a skincare serum with ferulic acid, it’ll help to know what benefits you can expect from regular application.

Reduced Irritation

For starters, ferulic acid may result in reduced skin irritation, such as relief from rashes, itchiness, or general redness. That’s because, as stated, ferulic acid is a key antioxidant, so it may neutralize free radicals that wreak havoc on your tissues.

In other words, ferulic acid can be understood as a soothing compound and a key component in any topical skincare serum. When used with other antioxidants, you may see even more intense benefits or effects.

Reduced Signs of Skin Sagging

Our skin cells gradually lose their luster and ability to retain their shape and elasticity as they age. Our skin cells also produce less collagen as we get older, leading to skin sagging, wrinkle formation, and other aging side effects.

Ferulic acid, especially when combined with other vitamins and antioxidants, may support your skin brightness and firmness as you age. Ferulic acid can keep any skin cells healthy and stable by counteracting free radicals.

Free radicals and irritations can accelerate wrinkling or skin sagging, meaning your skin may look older faster regardless of your biological age. So while ferulic acid can’t really turn the biological clock back, it could help delay the onset of the appearance of aging.

Reduce the Appearance of Wrinkles

At the same token, ferulic acid may help reduce the appearance of wrinkles as we age. If you already have wrinkles, a ferulic acid skin serum could help to reduce the chances of wrinkles becoming more severe or deep over time.

As a reminder, ferulic acid can’t prevent your skin from aging wholesale. But when used regularly and alongside other ingredients and moisturizers – and when used with a solid sleep routine + melatonin supplement + diet – ferulic acid may help your skin age more gracefully.

Even Out Skin Tone/Appearance

Even folks with healthy skin might occasionally encounter skin splotches. If your skin has pigmentation issues, or if red or dark spots appear from time to time, ferulic acid could help.

Once more, ferulic acid can interfere with free radicals that can damage the pigmentation effects of your skin cells. It may also prevent free radicals or other issues from changing how much melanin your skin produces over time.

When used in conjunction with other skincare serums and ingredients, ferulic acid may help to even out your skin tone and create a more uniform appearance. This could even reduce the appearance of dark spots, which may crop up as your skin cells change or degrade with age.

Hope Health’s Nourish skin serum contains ferulic acid as well as vitamins C, B, and E to redue the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles will also improving skin tone and texture.

Bolster Other Antioxidants

Lastly, ferulic acid is beneficial because of how it interacts with other antioxidants, specifically vitamins C and E.

Vitamin C is one of the most common antiaging skincare product ingredients, but it's not particularly stable by itself. In fact, vitamin C can degrade very quickly, particularly when it is exposed to intense sunlight.

Ferulic acid can stabilize vitamin C due to its antioxidant nature. Even better, there’s some evidence suggesting that ferulic acid can offer increased photoprotection (defense against sun damage) when combined with vitamins C and E.

As a result, you’ll often find ferulic acid combined with other antioxidants in skincare serums and other topical solutions.

Ferulic Acid Side Effects

While ferulic acid has many positive effects, it’s also smart to be aware of potential side effects. Ferulic acid is generally safe to use regardless of skin type. But if you have sensitive skin, it may also be wise to use any new ferulic acid skin serum in a small amount before spreading it all around your face or hands. That’s a good rule of thumb for using any new skincare product if you have sensitive skin!

Some individuals have mild allergic reactions to ferulic acid due to its plant-based origins. For example, if you have a bran allergy, you may also be allergic to ferulic acid. Stop using any ferulic acid products if you develop hives, redness, itchiness, or skin peeling.

How To Use Ferulic Acid

Ferulic acid is most commonly found in skincare serums. Therefore, you should use ferulic acid whenever you use a skincare serum in a normal skincare routine. Here’s an example:

  • First, start with a facial cleanser, which can get rid of dead skin cells and debris, as well as clear out your skin’s pores.
  • Next, use an exfoliating product if it is time to do so. Exfoliating products will scrape away even more dead skin cells.
  • Then use a facial skin serum, which can penetrate deep into your skin’s pores. This is when you should use any ferulic acid products. Your skin will absorb the vital compounds and nutrients contained within.
  • Then finish everything off with a great moisturizer, which can seal in water and prevent your skin from drying out.

Summary

All in all, ferulic acid serum can do many great things for your skin, especially when used consistently and with other helpful ingredients. But it’s important to choose your facial skincare serum wisely, so you give your skin exactly what it needs to thrive and age gracefully.

Hope Health’s skincare products contain beneficial ingredients like ferulic acid, hyaluronic acid, and peptides for younger-looking skin.

It’s also critical to choose the right supplements for all your other wellness needs.

Take Hope Health’s Hair, Skin, and Nails Gummies, for example. This 100 percent organic wellness supplement has no GMOs and is designed to boost your skin, hair, and nail health across the board. It includes many antioxidants that ferulic acid is known to boost, like vitamin C and vitamin E!

Ultimately, ferulic acid is best used alongside supplements like those you can find at our online store. See what else we offer today!

Sources:

Ferulic Acid Stabilizes a Solution of Vitamins C and E | Journal of Investigative Dermatology

Antioxidant Properties of Ferulic Acid and Its Possible Application | NCBI

Ferulic Acid: Therapeutic Potential Through Its Antioxidant Property | NCBI

Ferulic acid stabilizes a solution of vitamins C and E and doubles its photoprotection of skin | NCBI