The Anti-aging Benefits of Ferulic Acid For Your Skin
Everything you need to know about this antioxidant-boosting skincare ingredient
Deciphering the ingredients label on your skincare is one of the best ways you can make sure that what you are putting on your skin actually benefits it. What does ferulic acid do to the skin? What’s the difference between AHAs and BHAs? What is retinol and what does it do for you?Skincare can be quite confusing but there’s no need to fret! We’ll break it down for you. Today, we’ll talk about ferulic acid and it’s fantastic anti-aging benefits for your skin.
Ferulic acid may not be in your standard skincare vocabulary but you may be familiar with the term ‘antioxidants’. Antioxidants are prized in skincare for their ability to neutralize the free radicals that lead to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Simply put, antioxidants like ferulic acid are one of your best defense against signs of aging.
Keep on reading to find out how ferulic acid works and all the wonderful benefits it can do for your skin.
What Is Ferulic Acid?
Ferulic acid, as mentioned, is an antioxidant prized in skincare for its ability to combat free radical damage that is infamous for prematurely aging our complexion.
Naturally, ferulic acid is botanically derived from the cell wall of plants such as oats, brown rice, barley, peanuts, oranges, and apples where it helps to protect and preserve the plant cells. It can also be created in a lab for quality control, consistency, and consumer safety.
This ingredient has become popular in a lot of anti-aging skincare products, mostly coming in the form of serums and creams.
How does it work?
Just like other antioxidants, ferulic acid works to protect your skin against free radical damage caused by our lifestyles.
Combats free radical damage
Factors like the sun’s UV radiation, processed foods, tobacco smoke, and many other factors, damage our skin cells by producing a certain molecule that, in its active state, will continue to damage other skin cells around it.
Ferulic acid neutralizes these molecules, basically shutting them off, to prevent any further damage to your skin tissues.
Protects skin integrity
Ferulic acid doesn't repair the damage that's already been done but it helps preserve your skin’s health and prevent further wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots from forming.
A study conducted in South Korea in 2016 demonstrated that ferulic acid alone effectively protects human skin cells from damage caused by UVA-rays with its superior anti-oxidant and stress-inducible cellular mechanisms.
Another study published in 2019 reported that the short term use of a serum containing a mixture of ferulic acid and vitamin C has shown to improve skin barrier function, reduce dark spots and counteract the oxidative stress on the skin, in women living in highly polluted urban areas.
Boosts the effects of Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Ferulic acid has the ability to enhance the qualities of vitamins C and E, making them more stable and doubling its photoprotection of skin. When used together, these antioxidants work harder and last longer for enhanced protection against the harmful effects of free radicals from the sun’s radiation.
Benefits of Ferulic Acid for Skin
Aside from preventing the harmful antioxidative damage that results in extrinsic aging, regular application of ferulic acid can do the following:
Minimizes appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Ferulic acid shields the skin from cellular damage caused by UV radiation, smoke, pollution, stress, and other free-radical causing factors that lead to the appearance of more wrinkles and fine lines.Preserves skin firmness
Free radicals destroy collagen, a protein that provides structure to our skin, which leads to a loss of firmness and apparent sagging. It helps preserve our collagen levels for the reduction of sagging skin.
Protects from damaging UV exposure
Ferulic acid significantly reduces oxidative damage from sun exposure. It protects fibroblasts, cells that produce collagen, and other fibers such as elastin and keratinocytes, all of which are important to the structure of our skin from UV-induced skin damage and photoaging
Prevents hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentations like sunspots, acne marks, or age spots are mainly due to prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV radiation. Ferulic acid can inhibit the enzymes responsible for the production of melanin, helping reduce the appearance of more dark spots in the future.Soothes inflammation
Ferulic acid also has anti-inflammatory properties. This is wonderful for calming the skin, lessening irritation, and reducing redness. This is especially great for soothing a breakout.
Evens out skin tone
Pollution and sun exposure causes an increase in blood vessel formation in the skin’s inner layers which results in unwanted blotchiness, redness, and uneven skin tone. Ferulic acid works to shield the skin and hamper this effect for a more even skin tone.Side Effects of Ferulic Acid
Ferulic acid has no known side effects and its use is safe for all skin types.
However, some products may combine ferulic acid with irritating ingredients like synthetic fragrance, preservatives, or parabens. This makes it hard to pinpoint if the side effects one could be experiencing is due to ferulic acid specifically. This is why you should always use paraben-free and fragrance-free products like all of YEOUTH skincare products. Products free of these will prevent skin irritation and maintain your skin’s balance.
It’s also possible to have an allergic reaction to ferulic acid. For example, if you have a peanut allergy, you could be sensitive to ferulic acid derived from peanuts. Note that ferulic acid can be sourced from different plants and can also be manufactured inside the lab so this might not be the case at all times.
Do a patch test to identify skin sensitivity
To be safe, it’s best to do a patch test before introducing a new skincare product in your routine.
Apply a small amount of the product under your chin. Wait for 24 hours and observe how your skin reacts to the product. If you encounter redness, itchiness, rash or other signs of irritation in that area, don’t use the product.
How to Use Ferulic Acid
Now that you know of the wonderful skin benefits of ferulic acid, let’s talk about how you should incorporate this anti-aging ingredient in your daily skincare routine!
We recommend the use of YEOUTH Anti-aging Super Serum. Infused with key nourishing ingredients like Ferulic Acid, Vitamins C & E, Hyaluronic Acid, this nighttime serum creates the optimal conditions it needs to enhance its natural processes, more than just deeply hydrating it. Its combination of powerhouse antioxidants specifically targets fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots to give you a more radiant, youthful complexion.
To take your skincare routine to the next level, we also recommend using YEOUTH Hyaluronic Acid Cream. This intensively hydrating cream helps reverse age-related skin changes such as wrinkles, roughness and age spots with the patented Tripeptide-31 that’s clinically proven to increase skin collagen synthesis. It’s also infused with a prized combination of antioxidants such as Ferulic Acid, and Vitamins C & E to keep your skin plump and smooth.
Using ferulic acid before bedtime will help rejuvenate and repair your skin as you sleep. Aside from that, it will also give your morning skincare routine a kickstart for healthier, nourished skin. You can incorporate the products in your nighttime routine by doing the following:
- Use only at night. Cleanse skin thoroughly with YEOUTH Vitamin C Facial Cleanser.
- Pat skin dry with a clean towel.
- Spritz on YEOUTH Balancing Facial Toner.
- While skin is still damp, apply a pea-sized amount of YEOUTH Anti-aging Super Serum to entire face and neck area. Allow to absorb into skin.
- Smooth a dime sized amount of YEOUTH Hyaluronic Acid Cream on face and neck Massage in thoroughly and allow to absorb.
- Seal in all products with ample amount of YEOUTH Anti-aging Moisturizer L-22.
The Bottom Line
Ferulic acid is an antioxidant that helps protect the integrity of the skin and preserve its youthful appearance. It has super antioxidant characteristics that combat free-radical damage (skin damage contributing to aging).
If you’re interested in giving ferulic acid a try, consider using a serum that contains other antioxidants, specifically Vitamins C and E to increase the overall effectiveness of the product.
