Skinceuticals CE Ferulic must be the most duped skincare product ever. As soon as its patent ended, everyone rushed out to copy it. Before, you couldn’t afford it without selling a kidney. Now you don’t know which dupe to get. Me? I’m going with Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster. Three reasons:
- It’s from a brand I love and trust (at least I did, before Paula sold the brand – and I still trust the old formulas)
- It’s reasonably priced
- It’s easily available in most countries
Let’s compare what they do now, shall we? Is Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster really the best dupe for Skinceuticals CE Ferulic?
What Do These Vitamin C Serums Have In The Common?
VITAMIN C TO FIGHT PREMATURE AGING
Both Skinceuticals CE Ferulic and Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster use the same form of Vitamin C, L-Ascorbic Acid. It’s the pure form of Vitamin C. The most effective. And the most unstable. Most of the studies that confirm the antiaging powers of Vitamin C were done on L-Ascorbic Acid. They found that it:
- Fights the free radicals that cause premature wrinkles
- Brightens the complexion
- Fades dark spots
- Boosts collagen, the protein that keeps skin firm and elastic
The problem? L-Ascorbic Acid is very fussy. It degrades whenever you expose it to light, heat and air. By “degrades”, I mean it loses a bit of its effectiveness overtime. Until it becomes useless. You’ll know when that happens. Vitamin C turns brown.
This makes it very difficult to create a Vitamin C serum that works. And when the mission’s accomplished, the serum should be used ASAP. This isn’t something you can forget in a drawer for 6 months and still expect it to work. One more thing: L-Ascorbic Acid can be irritating. If you have sensitive skin, you’re better off with one of its gentler derivatives.
FYI: L-Ascorbic Acid only works in high concentrations. Both serums have a whooping 15%! That’s enough to work its magic.
Related: Why You Should Add Vitamin C To Your Skincare Routine
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VITAMIN E AND FERULIC ACID TO SUPERCHARGE VITAMIN C
Vitamin E and ferulic acid are two powerful antioxidants. They both fight free radicals (ferulic acid destroys THREE types of free radicals!) while Vitamin E moisturises skin, too. They’re powerful on their own but when they mix with vitamin C, they become invincible:
- They boost one another’s effectiveness (they don’t become ineffective as quickly as they would on their own)
- They enhance your sunscreen’s protection, helping you fight sun damage and premature wrinkles
These days, I don’t even consider a vitamin C serum unless Vitamin E and ferulic acid are in it, too (that’s why I’m NOT a fan of The Ordinary Vitamin C serums…).
Related: What’s Ferulic Acid And Why Should You Use It?
SODIUM HYALURONATE TO HYDRATE SKIN
A.k.a. Hyaluronic Acid. A moisture magnet that attracts water from the air and drops it into the skin. It’s so good at this, it binds up to 1000 times its weight in water. Now skin has all that moisture, it plumps up so your wrinkles look smaller. It gets softer. It glows.
Related: Why You Should Add Hyaluronic Acid To Your Skincare Routine, No Matter Your Skin Type
What Else Is In These Vitamin C Serums?
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
- Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
- Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
- Red: What is this doing here?!
SKINCEUTICALS CE FERULIC INGREDIENTS
- Aqua / Water / Eau: The base of the formula that dissolves everything else so it blends into a usable serum.
- Ethoxydiglycol: A lightweight solvent that makes vitamin C dissolve and spread better. It keeps the formula from feeling sticky and helps actives penetrate.
- Glycerin: A classic humectant that pulls water into the skin to keep it soft, plump, and smooth. It’s gentle, works for everyone, and has been used forever. The only catch: in desert-dry climates, it can theoretically suck water out of your skin if you don’t layer moisturizer on top.
- Propylene Glycol: A humectant and penetration booster that drags actives deeper into the skin.
- Laureth-23: An emulsifier/surfactant that stops the oil and water bits from separating, and makes the serum spread nicely.
- Phenoxyethanol: The preservative that keeps bacteria and fungi from growing in the formula (vitamin C serums go off fast without it).
- Triethanolamine: Adjusts the pH so the serum isn’t too acidic or unstable.
- Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5): A skin-soother and humectant that hydrates while calming irritation. Often used to balance out harsher actives.
PAULA’S CHOICE C15 BOOSTER
- Aqua / Water / Eau: The base that dissolves everything else and turns powders and oils into a workable formula.
- Glycerin: A humectant that pulls water into your skin, leaving it soft and plump. Plays well with almost everything, but in very dry climates, it can backfire if you don’t seal it in with a moisturizer.
- Ethoxydiglycol: A lightweight solvent that keeps vitamin C dissolved and helps the serum spread easily without stickiness.
- PPG-26-Buteth-26: An emulsifier that helps oil and water ingredients stay mixed. Also gives products a smoother texture.
- Mannitol: A sugar alcohol that acts as both a humectant (pulls in water) and an antioxidant. It also helps stabilize peptides so they don’t break down.
- Tridecapeptide-1: A synthetic peptide that’ supports’s supposed to repair skin and healing. Sometimes called a “signal peptide” because it tells skin cells to regenerate. The main proof it works comes from the manufacturer.
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5: A collagen-boosting peptide that can make skin look firmer and smoother over time. Lightweight and usually non-irritating, but like most peptides, proof it works comes from the manufacturer.
- Ergothioneine: An amino acid derivative (often from mushrooms) that acts as a strong antioxidant. It protects skin from oxidative stress and helps other antioxidants work better.
- Pentylene Glycol: Both a humectant and a preservative booster. Keeps skin hydrated while also helping stop bacteria from growing in the product.
- PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil: An emulsifier/solubilizer that helps mix oils into water. Makes the texture smoother and ensures even spread.
- Bisabolol: A soothing compound that comes from chamomile. Calms redness, irritation, and sensitivity.
- Sodium Gluconate: A chelating agent that binds to metal ions in water (like iron and copper) so they don’t destabilize the formula.
- Decylene Glycol: Has both moisturizing and antimicrobial properties, which means it hydrates while helping keep bacteria in check.
- Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract: A plant extract rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and soothing compounds. Helps calm skin and offers a bit of nourishment.
- Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6: A texture enhancer that thickens the serum and makes it feel smooth, almost gel-like.
- 1,2-Hexanediol: Works as both a solvent and a preservative booster. Keeps the formula fresh while also helping other ingredients dissolve.
- Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5): Hydrates and soothes at the same time, helping calm redness or irritation.
- Sodium Phytate: Another chelating agent, it prevents metal ions from destabilizing antioxidants like vitamin C.
- Sodium Hydroxide: A pH adjuster that keeps the serum at the right acidity for vitamin C to be effective.
- Citric Acid: Another pH adjuster, also an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). Here it’s just balancing acidity, not exfoliating.
- Phenoxyethanol: The preservative that keeps bacteria and fungi from growing. Safe in low concentrations (under 1%), but can sting or irritate around the eyes or on very sensitive skin.
WHICH FORMULA IS BETTER?
Paula’s Choice sneaked a peptide and a couple of texture-enhancers in there. But these are just minor details. The bulk of the formula is exactly the same, so they’ll work the same. They also have the same crappy smell. That’s the “problem” with fragrance-free products. Fragrances are irritating so it’s best to stay away from anything that smells too nice. But without them, there’s nothing to cover the fishy odour of some ingredients… Still, I’d rather use a smelly effective serum than a beautifully scented irritating one. Just saying…
Related: Why You Should Avoid Skincare Products That Smell Too Nice
What’s The Texture Like?
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic feels more like a silky serum – a little thicker than water, glides on easily, and sometimes leaves that faint tacky finish until you layer something else on top. It’s not greasy, but you notice it’s there for a bit before it sinks in.
Paula’s Choice C15 Booster, on the other hand, is practically water. It runs through your fingers if you’re not careful, absorbs almost instantly, and disappears into skin. The trade-off? That lightweight feel can leave a slight stickiness if you overdo the drops.
What’s The Fragrance Like?
Neither formula has added fragrance, but they don’t smell the same. C E Ferulic has that infamous “hot dog water” scent people always joke about – it’s the vitamin C, E, and ferulic acid cocktail, not actual perfume. It can get more pungent as the serum ages and oxidizes. The Paula’s Choice C15 Booster smells more like faint oranges or citrus when fresh, which is again just the vitamin C doing its thing. It’s lighter, fades faster, and doesn’t linger once you’ve applied it.
What’s The Packaging Like?
Both come in glass dropper bottles designed to keep the vitamin C stable for as long as possible. SkinCeuticals uses a dark amber glass that shields against light, and the dropper makes it easy to control the amount. Still, the serum naturally darkens over time – once it turns deep orange or brown, you know oxidation has kicked in.
Paula’s Choice also uses a white and orange bottle with a dropper, recently updated to a sleeker “booster” look. It protects the formula decently, but users often say it still oxidizes quicker than they’d like. In practice, you need to use both fairly fast to get the most out of them.
How To Use Them
In the morning, after cleansing, to supercharge sun protection. Some people claim you can’t use Vitamin C during the day because it makes skin more prone to sun damage. That’s true only if you DON’T wear sunscreen.
When you use Vitamin C TOGETHER with sunscreen, studies show you’re boosting its sun protection.
Which Of The Two Should You Go For?
If money’s no issue and you want the original gold-standard vitamin C that derms rave about, SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is the one. It’s got years of research behind it, proven stability, and most people notice brighter, smoother skin fast. But it’s ridiculously pricey, and it still oxidizes quicker than you’d like.
Paula’s Choice C15 Booster gives you almost the same effect for a third of the cost. It’s watery, easy to layer, and while it might not feel as luxurious or quite as stable, it still does the job-brightens, evens out skin tone, makes you look fresher. For the price, you can actually use it generously and consistently without stressing about wasting every drop.
Availability
Skinceuticals CE Ferulic: $185 at Dermstore and Look Fantastic
Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster: $55 at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Paula’s Choice and SpaceNK
Is Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster A Dupe For Skinceuticals CE Ferulic?
Yes! Yes! Yes! It works just as well – and for a fraction of the cost!
Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Laureth-23, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine, Ferulic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate
Paula’s Choice C15 Booster
Aqua/Water/Eau, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Mannitol, Tridecapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ergothioneine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bisabolol, Sodium Gluconate, Decylene Glycol, Ferulic Acid, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Tocopherol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Sodium Phytatem, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
