Bad hair day? No! Bad skin day? Oh yes!
Life’s too short for bad hair & skin days so to help you out with the bad skin day, have you ever heard of Ferulic acid?
Ferulic acid is an antioxidant naturally found in the cell wall of plants including bran, rice, oats and in the seeds of certain fruit such as apples and oranges. Its job is to help protect and preserve and that is exactly what it also does in the world of skin care. Applied topically, Ferulic acid can decrease the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, brown spots and further protect against free radicals and help with skin rejuvenation.
Ferulic acid works well when combined with other antioxidants like vitamins C and E to stabilize and promote the vitamins strengthening qualities.
“Ferulic acid alone (and vitamins C and E) provides partial protection but vitamins C, E and Ferulic acid [altogether] provide virtually complete protection.”
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
Ferulic acid as an ingredient can be found in many skin care products, particularly serums and creams. It’s often combined with vitamins C and E and sometimes it can also be found together with vitamin B and Niacinamide (also known as vitamin B3) to help keep skin looking smooth.
“When something tries to damage your skin, it creates a certain molecule that in its active state will continue to damage and traumatize the skin around it. This will come in and basically shut it off. It neutralizes the molecules that are formed that if left alone will continue to damage tissue.”
Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD, founder of Entière Dermatology
Ferulic acid can be your morning routine as it will give your skin the antioxidants needed to battle the environmental factors during the day but you can also use it in the evening. Doing so will help kick-start your morning routine. Whichever option you choose you need to remember to use your SPF at all times.
Benefits of Ferulic Acid for Skin
Ferulic acid works to stop all the damage that comes from extrinsic aging. It also does the following:
Reduces the formation of fine lines and wrinkles: Ferulic acid protects the skin from pollution and radiation, which can lead to wrinkles.
Reduces the potential for sagging skin: Free radicals can also cause a loss of firmness in the skin, and Ferulic acid acts as a shield to protect the skin from that damage.
Reduces inflammation: Oxidative damage can cause inflammation in the skin, which blocks pores and can lead to breakouts. Antioxidants like Ferulic acid have anti-inflammatory properties.
Reduces the formation of brown spots: Pollution and radiation cause an increase in pigment alteration—like sunspots—and Ferulic acid works to shield the skin from that effect.
Decreases uneven skin tone by redness: Pollution and radiation cause an increase in blood vessel formation in the skin (which leads to redness) and Ferulic acid works to shield the skin.
Minimize the dark spots from pimples: If you’re using an antioxidant consistently, the anti-inflammatory properties can minimize the damage or aftereffects from a pimple, such as lingering dark spots.
Reduce pigmentation related to melasma: Melasma is a complex chronic pigment condition where your melanocytes are reactive to sunlight and infrared radiation (heat). We currently only have antioxidants to protect against infrared radiation such as Ferulic acid.
Boost the effects of vitamin C and vitamin E: When used in conjunction with other antioxidants, Ferulic acid has the ability to potentiate them and make them more stable.
Source: Byrdie
Current favourite skin care products with Ferulic acid
C E FERULIC® WITH 15% L-ASCORBIC ACID by SkinCeuticals
“C E Ferulic features a synergistic antioxidant combination of 15% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), 1% vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), and 0.5% Ferulic acid to enhance protection against environmental damage caused by free radicals that can contribute to atmospheric aging”.
ADVANCED GÉNIFIQUE SENSITIVE by Lancôme
“It’s time to say bye-bye to bad skin days as we introduce the Advanced Génifique Sensitive Dual Concentrate, our night skin saviour. A freshly Activated Dual Concentrate serum that will help soothe your skin whenever you feel it needs it. The face serum is enriched with the same ingredient as our iconic Advanced Génifique Serum – ferment extract, bifidobacterius extract as well as a lactobacillum ferment extract. In addition to these ingredients it contains an additional concentrate enriched with Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid”.
Till next week…
