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Ferulic Acid

Well toleratedAntioxidantantioxidantstabiliser

No meaningful concern for most people; irritation is possible but rare.

What it is

Ferulic acid is a phenolic antioxidant found in the cell walls of rice bran, oats, wheat and coffee, where it protects the plant from UV damage. In cosmetics it does two jobs: it scavenges free radicals itself, and it slows the oxidation of vitamins C and E in the same formula. That second role is why it is nearly always seen alongside them rather than on its own.

What it does well

  • Roughly doubles the photoprotection of a vitamin C and E serum

    The original laboratory and human work showed that adding ferulic acid both stabilised a vitamin C and E solution and increased its measured protection against UV-induced damage.

    Moderate evidence

Worth knowing

  • Can discolour over time

    Ferulic acid formulas often turn amber or brown with age. This is cosmetically unappealing and signals oxidation, but is not a safety issue.

    Matters most toAnyone storing an antioxidant serum for a long time or in a clear bottle.

Where the EU stands

No specific restriction

Not listed in any restriction or prohibition annex of the EU Cosmetics Regulation; permitted at the formulator's discretion under the general safety requirement.

Sources (2)

Every link goes to the original: a journal, a PubMed record or an EU document.

  1. [1]
    Ferulic acid stabilizes a solution of vitamins C and E and doubles its photoprotection of skin

    Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2005 · doi:10.1111/j.0022-202X.2005.23768.x

    Adding 0.5% ferulic acid improved the chemical stability of a 15% vitamin C and 1% vitamin E solution and roughly doubled its photoprotective effect on human skin.

  2. [2]
    A topical antioxidant solution containing vitamins C and E stabilized by ferulic acid provides protection for human skin against damage caused by ultraviolet irradiation

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2008 · doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2008.05.004

    In human volunteers, the ferulic-acid-stabilised vitamin C and E solution reduced UV-induced skin damage markers, confirming the effect in vivo.

Masks that contain Ferulic Acid