Best Skinceuticals products for your daily beauty routine
As a beauty-obsessed writer, I tried and tested the iconic C E Ferulic serum – and a complete Skinceuticals routine – for a whole month. This is exactly what I thought.
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How much do I need to spend on a serum? Is an eye cream worth the cash? Do I really need to be wearing sunscreen everyday? (The answer to that one is yes, of course). There’s a lot of hard-hitting questions when it comes to the world of beauty.
As news.com.au checkout’s beauty-obsessed writer, I decided to put one of the most talked about skincare brands to the test. Hint: It’s known for its high price tags and for creating one of the most loved (and powerful) vitamin C serums on the market.
For the past four weeks, I’ve been using a skincare routine packed with exclusively Skinceuticals products.* That’s right, I’ve parted ways with some of my favourite products (all in the name of beauty), and put my skin to the test to find out whether this hyped-up skincare brand is worth your hard-earned cash.
In this article
- Review of the Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Serum
- Review of the rest of the Skinceuticals product range
- Our final verdict
- Why is Skinceuticals so expensive?
WE REVIEW: THE SKINCEUTICALS C E FERULIC SERUM
After looking at the huge range of Skinceuticals products, I wanted to create my own routine, one that’s best suited to my skin’s needs and concerns.
Overall I was looking for a product line-up that was going to hydrate, soothe and support my skin barrier, helping to fade my acne scars and brighten my overall complexion. I’m also interested in preventing anti-ageing concerns, because at the age of 26, I don’t have to address wrinkles just yet.
Before we get into the full routine, let’s go over the C E Ferulic Serum – the brand’s vitamin C serum that’s won countless awards and is loved by so many beauty editors and influencers.
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Serum, $242 at Myer
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
If you’re consumed by the world of beauty and skincare like me, then there’s a pretty high chance you know about the Skinceuticals C E Ferulic – I don’t blame you if you haven’t tried it, it does come with a hefty price tag.
Formulated with 15 per cent L-ascorbic acid, the serum is a high potency blend of vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid, which all work together to hydrate, brighten and tighten the skin.
There’s a bunch of antioxidants packed into this bottle that work to protect your complexion from atmospheric ageing – think things like free radical damage from UV rays, infra-red radiation and ozone pollution.
This is a gold standard vitamin C serum, harnessing a synergistic antioxidant complex that according to Skinceuticals, offers eight times greater environmental protection and increases skin firmness by 37 per cent.
I have tried the C E Ferulic serum once before, but it was a few years ago, so it was nice to get a refresher on how this serum works – and spoiler alert, it’s still really good.
I’ve been using the Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum every morning for over four weeks and it’s going to be hard going back to a more affordable vitamin C serum after this.
Other five-star rating customers have said called this serum “life changing” and their “holy grail” … and I have to say, they’re not lying.
Coupled with the rest of the Skinceuticals routine, I’ve noticed my skin looks so much brighter and smoother, my acne scarring looks less visible and I just feel more confident going makeup free – score!
It’s ideal for all skin types and has a unique texture – it’s not like your traditional gel-like serum, but rather feels like a super lightweight oil. I do love how quickly it absorbs into the skin and how easy it is to layer other products over the top.
Yes the price tag is high and while I don’t think you need to spend big bucks on your skincare, there are times where you can see why the price is so high.
This is a high-performing serum that creates a visible difference to your skin. So you’re getting what you pay for.
While I can’t see myself repurchasing this over and over again (hello inflation), I will be picking it up when I can – I’ve noticed that it does go on sale a few times a year, with a discount of around 10-15 per cent off.
WE REVIEW: THE SKINCEUTICALS PRODUCT RANGE
Skinceuticals Soothing Cleanser Foam, $78 at Myer
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
The first step of my Skinceuticals routine was of course using the Soothing Cleanser Foam – although I’ll be honest, I do tend to rinse my face with just water in the morning and save this for the night.
The Soothing Foaming Cleanser is a soap-free cleanser and I love how easily it foams up and cleanses the skin.
I’m not usually a fan of foaming cleansers but this one did the job without leaving my skin feeling dry and stripped of all its moisture.
It’s formulated with a 23 per cent concentration combining sorbitol, glycerine, orchis mascula extract, and cucumber extract to support all skin types, especially sensitive skin types.
Skinceuticals Equalizing Toner, $69 at Myer
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
The Skinceuticals Equalizing Toner is an exfoliating toner that refreshes and restores the skin. I saved this for my morning routine, after rinsing my face and before going in with the C E Ferulic serum, and I find it did a fabulous job at prepping my skin before everything else.
You can use a cotton pad, but I like to just pop a few drops into the palm of my hand and gently pat it into my skin.
The toner combines hydroxy acids to gently exfoliate dead skin cells, while a unique blend of botanical extracts – think witch hazel, rosemary, aloe, and camomile – work to soften and soothe the complexion.
Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel, $142 at Myer
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
After using the C E Ferulic each morning, I follow up with this Hydrating B5 Gel (making sure the previous serum is fully absorbed into the skin).
The Hydrating B5 Gel is an oil-free hyaluronic acid serum that can be used by all skin types, but is more suited to combination and oily skin, making it perfect for me.
The serum enhances moisture, restores radiance and plumps and rehydrates the skin. Specifically the inclusion of vitamin B5 works hard to replenish the skin’s nutrients.
Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 Moisturiser, $214 at Myer
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
Now this is a luxe moisturiser. The Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 is a heavy-duty cream that I use morning and night, and seriously can’t get enough of.
It’s formulated with two per cent pure ceramides, four per cent natural cholesterol and two per cent fatty acids to seriously transform your skin’s barrier.
Don’t let all these skin-loving ingredients fool you – while the cream does feel thick and jam-packed with intense hydration, it feels super lightweight on the skin and absorbs quickly, so you can follow up with your sunscreen easily.
I’d have to say this is my second favourite Skinceuticals product, after the C E Ferulic serum of course. After using this consistently, my skin feels and looks smoother and more radiant.
Skinceuticals Ultra Facial Defense SPF50, $68 at Skinceuticals
What you need to know
While I wouldn’t call this sunscreen a game changer and revolutionary, it is a good product – and if you’re protecting your skin, you get a tick in my books.
The Ultra Facial Defence SPF 50+ protects skin from UVA/UVB rays known to cause damage and premature ageing.
The sunscreen looks really nice on the skin too – the formulation is super lightweight and hydrating, blending in with ease and feeling super comfortable for wear all day long.
You definitely don’t have to spend $68 on a sunscreen though, and you can check out our roundup of the best face sunscreens for more affordable picks.
Always read the label and follow directions for use. Avoid prolonged exposure in the sun and wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun. Frequent reapplication is required for effective sun protection.
Skinceuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex, $169 at Myer
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
The Skinceuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex is created with proxylane, blueberry extract and a bunch of flavonoids and peptides to target signs of ageing around the delicate eye area.
At the beginning of my testing, I was using this anti-wrinkle eye cream every night, but it started to negatively react with skin so I had to stop.
That’s not to say this is a bad product though – this is a perfect example of how some products work great for some and not so great for others. I use and love loads of other eye creams, I think this one was a bit too powerful for me. And besides, I’m not too concerned with eye wrinkles at the moment anyway.
Skinceuticals Retinol 0.5, $139 at Myer
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
The Skinceuticals Retinol 0.5 is a potent and concentrated 0.5 per cent pure retinol cream that works to target fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, scarring and blemishes. It’s also been enhanced with the latest stabilisation and delivery technologies to ensure a steady, even release.
If you’ve never used retinol before, it’s recommended to use one of the brand’s lower concentrations before going in with this 0.5 per cent pure retinol cream.
I have been using the powerful active ingredient (retinol) for years, so I was comfortable using this product, and I did so about two to three nights a week.
It’s suitable for all skin types and works really nicely with my complexion. While it is labelled as a cream, I did still follow up with a moisturiser afterwards to ensure my skin stays protected and hydrated – and it did!
Skinceuticals Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight, $139 at Myer
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
Every good skincare routine needs an exfoliating treatment to promote cellular turnover and give you a fresh set of new skin cells. I’ve been using the Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight Treatment about two to three nights a week for the past month, and I find it’s uniquely powerful and gentle at the same time.
It’s easy to overdo it on the exfoliants and really cause havoc on your skin, but I find this one super easy to use.
It’s formulated with 10 per cent glycolic acid to remove dead skin cells, two per cent phytic acid to brighten and one per cent comforting complex, which is a mix of natural oils and botanicals to hydrate and soothe the skin.
Waking up in the morning after using this glycolic treatment, my skin looks brighter and more radiant. Hello glowy skin!
Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Essence Mist, $109 at Myer
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
There’s a good chance you’ve never used a product like this one before.
The Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Essence Mist uniquely combines a phyto botanical blend, glycerine and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin and reduce visible redness.
If you’re a little confused on where I fit this into my routine, I like to use it on my ‘recovery’ nights. So when I’m not using the glycolic treatment or retinol, I start off with this essence mist (and follow up with the matching serum I mention below) to help keep my skin barrier looking and feeling healthy.
I also love how lightweight the mist is, it feels like a super luxe addition to my skincare routine.
Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Gel, $119 at Myer
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
Similar to the essence mist above, the Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Gel is a soothing and hydrating serum that works hard to reduce redness.
Botanical extracts like thyme, olive and cucumber work to soothe the skin, while eucalyptus leaf purifies the skin. Hyaluronic acid is of course included to hydrate and replenish moisture, making this a perfect serum to use on those recovery nights I mentioned above.
If you suffer with super reactive and sensitive skin, I think the Phyto Corrective range is a great pick to try out.
OUR FINAL VERDICT ON THE SKINCEUTICALS SKINCARE ROUTINE
As you have probably noticed by now, the brand is super pricey so I would never be in the position to buy ALL these products myself at one time.
But do I think it’s worth your time? Well it depends on the product.
The Skinceuticals product line-up is packed with high-performing formulations and super active ingredients. Products like the C E Ferulic Serum and the Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 Moisturiser perform exceptionally well, and in my opinion, deserve their cult status – especially with their high price tags.
But at the same time, you don’t have to spend big bucks on a vitamin C and moisturiser if you don’t want to.
As you can see in the before and after image below, before using this routine, I was dealing with some spots (check out the friend in between my eyebrows, yikes) and an overall dull complexion. I wasn’t as comfortable leaving the house without makeup on.
But afterwards, I feel like you can visible see the difference to my skin. My complexion looks smoother and so much brighter. As expected, the active ingredients worked their magic and made my skin feel like a million bucks.
WHY IS SKINCEUTICALS SO EXPENSIVE?
Skinceuticals National Education Manager Renate Stewart said that Skinceuticals “is a medical heritage brand steeped in over 30 years of academic research”.
“The brand’s DNA is rooted in evidence-based skincare with the potency to prevent future signs of damage, correct current skin concerns and protect skin from atmospheric ageing,” she told news.com.au.
“Skinceuticals research and innovation has not only brought new active ingredients to skincare, but it has also pioneered how to formulate for maximum efficacy, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications in medical literature.”
So as you can see, science-backed research is at the forefront of what Skinceuticals creates day in and day out.
And of course as Renate puts it, “good science takes time and investment”, which is why the prices are so high.
So does that justify it? For some, yes. But remember when it comes to skincare – or any beauty item for that matter – you shouldn’t feel the need to spend outside of your means. Yes when it comes to Skinceuticals, you are paying for the active ingredients, the science-backed research and the incredible formulations. But for certain products, you can get a similar vibe from other more affordable brands.
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*Products were provided by Skinceuticals for an independent and honest review.
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