Cited skincare — every flag names its source, no upsell.
Fe

Ferulic Acid

Ferulic AcidAntioxidant

A plant antioxidant that keeps vitamin C from breaking down in the bottle and adds protection of its own. Rarely sold alone.

What it does

It’s most useful alongside vitamin C and vitamin E; you rarely see it sold on its own.

The EU’s ingredient database lists it as an antioxidant (slows reactions with oxygen, like going rancid).European Commission, CosIng (© European Union, CC BY 4.0) · uses put in plain words by Drop ↗

The evidence, graded

emergingFine together — vitamin C and vitamin E are both antioxidants, and they were studied as a pair: vitamin C (15% L-ascorbic acid) with 1% vitamin E. Adding ferulic acid, another antioxidant, made the vitamins last longer and doubled the protection against lab UV light, measured by redness and damaged skin cells.Lin 2005 · Journal of Investigative Dermatology ↗

Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.

Pairs worth knowing

Read more

How Drop works · 5 minConcentration Alone Doesn't Tell the Whole Story: pH, Formulation, and Delivery MatterA higher vitamin C percentage isn't always a more potent serum. Concentration is one variable; pH, formulation, and delivery often matter as much or more.Reading the evidence · 6 minSunscreen for Aging Concerns: What a 4.5-Year Trial ShowedDaily sunscreen slowed visible skin aging in a 4.5-year randomized trial, rare evidence in skincare. What that trial shows, and what it doesn't.How Drop works · 4 minWhy Skincare Fridges Are Mostly a Marketing StoryMost skincare products are formulated for room-temperature stability. Vitamin C and retinol benefit from cool dark storage — a cabinet is sufficient.

Browse all 1238 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.

This page is public so a shared ingredient card always has its sources behind it — and so you can check them without an account.
Want more like this?
Every evidence-based flag cites its source, Drop tells you when your routine is complete, and it helps you simplify — instead of selling you more. The app launches on iOS and Android in October 2026. Rate my routine works today at /rate — no sign-in.