There’s nothing PureWow readers love more than a vitamin C serum and there are a few noteworthy options they can’t seem to get enough of. The first one is SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum ($182) that reigns supreme, but coming in a close second is the TruSkin Vitamin C Serum ($30; $21). As a beauty editor who spends a lot of time scoping out the buzziest products, I needed to find out what all the fuss was about, so I tested both vitamin C serums for a few weeks to see which one is better. Here’s what I discovered.
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum Review
WHAT WE LIKE
- moisturizing
- great dropper
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- pricey
- strong scent
- Value: 18/20
- Functionality: 20/20
- Quality: 19/20
- Aesthetics: 19/20
- Results: 18/20
- Overall: 94/100
Off the bat, I’ll note that this serum has a very distinct fragrance—sort of like a mixture of fish and old tires. I’ve heard others describe it as smelling like hot dog water. I’ll be honest, it took a couple of days to get used to it at first, but I eventually grew accustomed to it. So, the scent doesn’t last for too long once it’s on your skin.
This serum also has a generous dropper top. It has a wider opening than your typical dropper, so it dispenses a nice amount of product at once. The brand recommends 4 to 5 drops per application, but I found that was way too much product for my skin, so I stuck to three drops. Unlike TruSkin, the product took some time to absorb but it didn’t dry out my skin. It was a bit tacky at first, so I waited a few minutes to put on my moisturizer. I also found that this serum/moisturizer combo required more blending that the TruSkin.
According to the brand, the serum can remain effective for 72 hours once absorbed and I found my skin acclimated to the vitamin C without any irritation or dryness. The formula has 15 percent vitamin C and ferulic acid, which work together to protect skin against environmental aggressors, improve the appearance of fine lines and brighten up your complexion. You’ll also find 1 percent vitamin E to replenish the skin.
TruSkin Vitamin C Serum Review
WHAT WE LIKE
- fragrance-free
- lightweight
- gentle formula
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- can be dried on its own
Value: 19/20
Functionality: 20/20
Quality: 19/20
Aesthetics: 19/20
Results: 18/20
Overall: 95/100
The first thing I noticed about the TruSkin Vitamin C serum was that it had a nice dropper top, so I was able to get the recommended 3 to 5 drops at a time without wasting product. Once I applied the serum on my face, the product absorbed quickly. There wasn’t any weird tackiness to it either, which I’ve experienced with other vitamin C serums. That said, my skin did feel a bit dry in some areas like my cheeks. I discovered the formula has witch hazel in it, which works to tighten pores so that probably contributed to the tightness I felt. A helpful tip? Add a few drops of the serum into your moisturizer, or just apply moisturizer on top. Once I did this, my face felt smoother and more hydrated.
The serum is formulated with 20 percent vitamin C, which promises to even out skin tone and boost collagen to help reduce dark spots and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I have a few dark spots on my cheeks and I’ve noticed a subtle lightening in the discoloration. I wouldn’t say they completely disappeared, but I’m willing to continue using the serum to see how they might fade more overtime.
The serum also has hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, aloe vera and jojoba oil, which balances the more astringent ingredients in the gentle formula. Yes, I felt some dryness at first, but there was also no grease along my T-zone by the end of the day. TruSkin claims their serum doesn’t sting like some other vitamin C serums do and I found that was true. Overall, it was lightweight and non-irritating on my sensitive skin. It’s also fragrance-free, which helps.
What’s the Difference Between SkinCeuticals vs. TruSkin?
Let’s address the elephant in the room: price. A bottle of SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic costs $182, while the TruSkin is $21. That’s a $161 difference people! And although they both feature vitamin C, they use different forms of it. SkinCeuticals has 15 percent l-ascorbic acid, which is a pure form of vitamin C. Meanwhile, TruSkin uses 20 percent sodium ascorbyl phosphate, a derivative of vitamin C that is said to be more stable than ascorbic acid and gentler on the skin.
They also have other ingredients that make their formulas different. The SkinCeuticals has 0.5 percent ferulic acid, which works to neutralize free radicals and enhance the other ingredients. TruSkin has hyaluronic acid to add a boost of hydration to the skin. These additional ingredients play a big role in how the formulations sit on your skin.
SkinCeuticals vs. TruSkin: Which One Should You Buy?
If you’re looking to visibly improve dark spots and brighten your complexion, both do a pretty solid job. It really boils down to finish, scent and budget. Although TruSkin absorbs quickly, it might feel drying for some skin types. Overall, I found that it was a better fit for my combination skin. The SkinCeuticals serum, on the other hand, is moisturizing and soothing, but I did experience some grease on my T-zone by the end of the day.
So, if you can’t handle a strong scent, then you might want to try TruSkin’s serum, which doesn’t really smell like anything. The price difference also plays a huge factor. SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic is a great luxury serum—especially if you have dry or mature skin and there’s tons of research that’s gone into its formulation. I liked both serums, but if I had to choose one, I’m leaning a bit more towards the TruSkin serum because it’s more affordable, has a less pungent scent to it and is a better overall fit for my combination skin.
