Ferulic Acid

Ferulic Acid Enhances Skin Care

Ferulic Acid isn’t an ingredient you hear about regularly as part of your skin care regimen. This uncommon ingredient not only enhances the effects of facial products, shampoos, conditioners, and sunscreens, but it acts synergistically with other antioxidants to render them more powerful. Whether ingested or applied to the skin, its positive effects can no longer be overlooked.

What is Ferulic Acid?

Ferulic acid is a powerful antioxidant found in the leaves and seeds of most plants. It has a higher dosage in foods such as rice, wheat and oats. Fruits and vegetables as parsley, spinach, rhubarb, and grapes also contain ferulic acid.

What does this have to do with skin care? Ferulic acid fights the negative effects of various free radicals. These free radicals can cause premature ageing of skin, including under eye wrinkles. They destroy and inhibit the growth of collagen, the supportive tissue that keeps skin tight and elastic. The combination of ferulic acid and vitamins C and E in a topical solution is the best formula for anti-ageing serums, moisturisers and using underneath sunscreens. It repairs the damage and prevents it from recurring.

Protection Against Cancer

When ferulic acid is combined with vitamins C and E and applied underneath a sunscreen, the combination becomes a much better skin-protective agent, doubling photoprotection to skin from fourfold to eightfold. Thus, reducing the likelihood of skin cancer.

This powerful antioxidant was tested internally on rats which showed promise as chemopreventive agents in the tongue, skin, and other organs. Future studies may provide further insights on fighting cancers in humans.

Researchers are optimistic that ferulic acid will be a significant component in the armamentarium against photoageing and skin cancer.

Trans Ferulic Acid vs. Natural Ferulic Acid

Both of these acids are natural. Trans ferulic acid is used most often in dietary supplements taken for anti-ageing. Natural ferulic acid is used in topical treatment. While both help protect against the damage of UV rays, the topical serum may have an added benefit of helping repair some of the damage that was already done by the sun’s rays.

Skin Care Products With Ferulic Acid

Products containing ferulic acid are beginning to show up more often. However, the expense of having ferulic acid in a product currently prohibits it from becoming a mainstay ingredient. It can be found in most department stores which provide higher quality cosmetics and facial products. There are also specialty websites providing these products. Most products will combine this acid with vitamins C and E because of the extra power of this combination.

Products where ferulic acid is best used:

• Shampoos – as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent to aid in healthy hair growth

• Serum for evening out skin tone

• Also useful for dry, flaky skin

• Serum for under eye wrinkles – after applying it the serum is effective for 72 hours minimum. It cannot be rubbed off or washed off.

• Face masks and scrubs

• As an oil or cream

• Applied as an oil underneath a sunscreen

Fear of plagiarism by including ferulic acid in formulas has kept the market from expanding, especially if vitamins are already in the formula. This also keeps its price rather high. The benefits of beauty are only the beginning. However, who can put a price on avoiding cancer?

Side Effects

While no side effects have been reported to using the topical ferulic acid, since the acid does come from grains such as wheat, barley or corn, anyone allergic to these products should be careful. As always, it is best to test any new product on a small patch of skin first to determine if you are allergic to ferulic acid.