SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF Vitamin C Serum 30 ml

What is SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF?

SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF is an oil-free vitamin C serum in a 30 ml bottle, applied once each morning. It is made for oily and blemish-prone skin types, and the brand names normal, oily and combination skin among those it recommends it for, with discoloration, blemishes and aging among the concerns.

It suits skin that runs oily through the day and breaks out. SkinCeuticals describes it as a serum that helps prevent oil oxidation that can lead to breakouts, and lists reduced oiliness and improved clarity among what it does.

What is in it, and at what level

Four ingredients carry published levels: 15% l-ascorbic acid, 0.5% silymarin from milk thistle, 0.5% ferulic acid and 0.5% salicylic acid. Two of the brand's descriptions carry the argument. It calls silymarin a plant-based antioxidant derived from milk thistle that helps prevent oil oxidation, and salicylic acid a beta-hydroxy acid that provides effective exfoliation, refines pores and helps reduce the formation of blemishes. Silymarin is not an entry in the published list, which names silybum marianum fruit extract seventh of nine.

What SkinCeuticals publishes as results

SkinCeuticals publishes a 27% reduction in blemishes, a 38% improvement in skin texture and a 25% improvement in skin clarity as average results from an 8-week study run at a single centre in the USA on 55 women ages 25-50 with mild to moderate signs of photodamage, who applied Silymarin CF once daily in conjunction with a sunscreen. The brand states a further figure, a reduction in oil oxidation of up to 76%, and publishes no conditions beside it anywhere on its page, so it is not quoted here.

What the Drug Facts label says

This product carries a Drug Facts label, and that label holds warnings the brand's marketing page does not. The label says the product is flammable until dry and to keep it away from flames and heat, that it is for external use only, and to keep it out of reach of children, with medical help sought right away if it is swallowed. Alcohol denat. is the second entry in the published inactive list, which fits that first warning. The label's storage instruction is a cool, dark place.

Where it sits on our shelf

SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF Antioxidant Vitamin C Serum is the other CF serum from the brand on our shelf. Ask us and we will go through the difference with you.

This serum is filed with the rest of the serums we carry.

The SkinCeuticals line we carry is on one page, cleansers and night creams included.

Specification

SkinCeuticals directs 4-5 drops in the morning, after cleansing and toning, on a dry face, neck and chest, before other skincare products. The brand says to press it gently into the skin, adds that it may be used on the tops of the hands, and directs sunscreen to follow. The weekly step beside it on our shelf is SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Mask for Acne-Prone Skin, used on an evening of its own.

Is a vitamin C serum good for oily skin?

SkinCeuticals answers that on its own page. The brand says vitamin C is suitable for oily skin, and that its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help reduce blemishes by protecting against damage from free radicals. This is the serum it built for that skin type, and it calls the formula oil-free.

Is this an acne treatment or a serum?

Both, and the label settles it. Salicylic acid 0.5% is the active ingredient and the purpose printed beside it is acne treatment. The label says the product is for the treatment of acne and reduces the number and severity of acne blemishes.

How should I store it?

The label gives one instruction: store in a cool, dark place. It says nothing about refrigeration in either direction, so a cupboard away from a window meets what it asks for. The same label says the product is flammable until dry, which is a second reason to keep it off a sunny shelf.

Active ingredient, as published: Salicylic acid 0.5%. Purpose: Acne treatment.

Levels SkinCeuticals publishes for the rest: 15% l-ascorbic acid, 0.5% silymarin, 0.5% ferulic acid. Silymarin is not an entry in the list below. The list names silybum marianum fruit extract, seventh of nine.

Inactive ingredients, as published, in printed order: water, alcohol denat., ascorbic acid, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, laureth-23, silybum marianum fruit extract, sodium citrate, ferulic acid

SkinCeuticals updates its ingredient lists regularly and asks you to check the list on your own package.

A morning step, applied before other products, with sunscreen to follow. The FDA label for this product says skin irritation and dryness is more likely if you use another topical acne medication at the same time, and that if irritation occurs you should use only one topical acne medication at a time. Our suggestion is to keep a second acne product to a different time of day.