Acids sometimes get a bad wrap because it sounds serious, but friendly ferulic acid has your back and is safe to use daily for most people. From anti-aging results to antioxidant properties, ferulic acid is a friend with benefits. We got insight from experts on what the antioxidant is good for, why it's often paired with vitamin C and how to start incorporating it into your skin-care routine, as well as some products to try.
Featured experts
- Dr. Matthew Elias is a board-certified dermatologist in Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Elaine Kung, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in New York
- Dr. Janet Allenby is a board-certified dermatologist in Delray Beach, FL
- Sarah Boyce Sawyer, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, AL
- Victoria Fu and Gloria Lu are cosmetic chemists
- Ginger King is a cosmetic chemist
What is ferulic acid?
Ferulic acid, formally known as hydroxycinnamic acid, is a potent plant-based antioxidant. Its most notable benefit is its ability to protect against free radical damage, but it’s also well-known for anti-aging skin benefits, says SkinCeuticals partner physician and Birmingham, AL dermatologist Sarah Boyce Sawyer, MD. It’s naturally found in plants including oats, citrus and apple seeds. Cosmetic chemists Victoria Fu and Gloria Lu note that it's commonly found in a lot of the fruits and vegetables we eat such as broccoli, spinach, carrots, etc.
How does ferulic acid differ from vitamin C?
“Ferulic acid and vitamin C are similar in that they both have antioxidant effects, however, ferulic acid has its most profound effect on preventing future oxidative damage while vitamin C may have more of an effect on existing oxidative damage,” explains Fort Lauderdale, FL dermatologist Dr. Matthew Elias. Vitamin C is often praised for its brightening and collagen-boosting benefits, which ferulic acid does not possess, says cosmetic chemist Ginger King. You’ll often see these ingredients in tandem in formulas, and that’s no accident.
“Ferulic acid's claim to fame is its ability to stabilize vitamin C,” says New York dermatologist Elaine Kung, MD. It “plays the role of a sidekick to vitamin C like Robin to Batman.” Fu and Lu note that "Most of the data on ferulic acid is tested in combination with vitamin C."
Is ferulic acid better than retinol for treating aging?
Ferulic acid and retinol both have their advantages, but experts feel retinol is still the gold standard for anti-aging. Although it’s a bit like comparing apples to oranges, as King notes they’re quite different ingredients.
Retinol boasts “numerous studies that support its effectiveness in stimulating collagen production, reducing wrinkles and improving skin texture,” says Dr. Kung. “Ferulic acid, while offering some anti-aging benefits through its antioxidant properties, isn't as potent as retinol.”
Does ferulic acid lighten skin?
The short answer from our experts is no. “It can protect skin from light exposure but will not lighten skin,” says King. However, if paired with vitamin C, it can boost its brightening effects. When it’s used in combination, ferulic acid helps to stabilize vitamin C, the key driver for skin brightening, so it can work better, she explains.
Tranexamic Acid for Melasma: A Dermatologist’s Secret Weapon"There are a couple of studies that have tested ferulic acid at much higher concentrations (12-14 percent) as a peel and found that it can help as a skin brightener," Fu and Lu note. "Unfortunately, in skin care, it’s used at much lower levels (typically found at 0.5 percent) and we would say there are better-suited active ingredients for brightening skin and tackling hyperpigmentation (ie. retinol, glycolic acid, tranexamic acid, etc.)."
The benefits of ferulic acid
It boosts other antioxidants
Ferulic acid is often found in the mix with fellow antioxidants because it can boost the effects of these other beneficial ingredients, including vitamins A, C and E, says Dr. Sawyer. Ferulic acid "supports the antioxidant cascade, as one antioxidant captures a free radical, a little bit of free radical is present, so another antioxidant can capture the smaller one," explains Delray Beach, FL dermatologist Dr. Janet Allenby.
It can fight off free radicals
Free radicals, such as pollution, ultraviolet lights or cigarette smoke, can cause signs of aging to develop or worsen, which is why it’s important to protect your skin against them. “Ferulic acid is mainly used to fight off free radicals known for causing age-related skin concerns such as dark spots and wrinkles,” says Dr. Sawyer. In simpler terms, Dr. Allenby explains that antioxidants like ferulic acid help combat environmental damage that causes the skin to look weathered.
It helps with anti-aging
While ferulic acid can help preventatively with signs of aging by fighting against free radicals, it can also be beneficial going forward. “When added into skin-care products, it can provide visible anti-aging benefits,” says Dr. Sawyer. Some of these benefits include “reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness and dull skin.”
This all sounds great, so how can you add it to your routine?
Experts advise using ferulic acid in the morning. Dr. Allenby says she routinely uses it as part of her morning daily skin-care regimen. Dr. Sawyer says it should be one of the first steps in your skin-care routine. “This allows your skin to soak up all of the product after cleansing,” explains Sawyer. She suggests starting out with using it just two to three times per week, gradually working your way to daily use depending on your skin.
Products with ferulic acid
