Ferulic acid is a supporting player, and understanding that is the key to shopping for it well. It's rarely worth buying on its own – but its presence in a formula tells you something useful about that formula.
What it is
Ferulic acid is an antioxidant found naturally in the cell walls of plants — rice bran, oats, apple seeds and various grains among them. Despite the name it's not an exfoliating acid; it won't peel or sensitise skin.
What it's used for
Two things, and the second matters more than the first.
As an antioxidant in its own right, ferulic acid is used in formulas aimed at protecting the look of skin from the visible effects of daily environmental exposure.
More importantly, it stabilises other antioxidants. Vitamin C in its pure L-ascorbic acid form degrades quickly on contact with light and air. Adding ferulic acid slows that process considerably and improves how well the formula holds up over its life. It's why the vitamin C + vitamin E + ferulic acid combination has become a reference formulation in skincare.
How to shop for it
Rather than looking for a standalone ferulic acid product, look for it on the ingredients list of a vitamin C serum. Its presence suggests a brand that has thought about stability — which, with vitamin C, is most of the battle.
The same signals apply as for any vitamin C purchase: opaque or airless packaging, a sensible bottle size, and a formula that hasn't turned brown on the shelf.
How to use it
Almost always in the morning, as part of a vitamin C serum, applied after cleansing and before moisturiser and sunscreen. Antioxidants and SPF are complementary: sunscreen blocks, antioxidants support.
It's well tolerated and doesn't conflict with other ingredients. If a vitamin C formula suits your skin, the ferulic acid in it will too.
Explore our ferulic acid skincare, or see all active skincare.