Some beauty products are so famous, they earn a level of recognition only enjoyed by mononymous celebrities; Sunday Riley Good Genes, Biologique Recherche P50, Glossier Boy Brow, and Skinceuticals C E Ferulic. So when one of the brands behind these iconic products drops something new, you better believe the superfans will be all but clamouring to shop. Case in point: Skinceuticals newest acne-focused serum, Silymarin CF — which, according to the brand, has been six years in the making.
As a self-proclaimed skincare savant who struggles with acne-related hyperpigmentation, I was already a devoted member of the C E Ferulic serum fan club for its legendary brightening benefits. But its new sister serum, the Silymarin C F, packs the added punch of addressing both acne-prone and oily complexions. The first magic ingredient? Silymarin. Also known as milk thistle extract, this powerhouse component helps with antioxidant protection and oil oxidation. The serum also contains a 0.5% concentration of salicylic acid to quell breakouts along with some of the aforementioned ferulic acid to stabilise vitamin C. In other words, it's a powerhouse cocktail of all the ingredients I could ever wish for in a single product.
As a self-proclaimed skincare savant who struggles with acne-related hyperpigmentation, I was already a devoted member of the C E Ferulic serum fan club for its legendary brightening benefits. But its new sister serum, the Silymarin C F, packs the added punch of addressing both acne-prone and oily complexions. The first magic ingredient? Silymarin. Also known as milk thistle extract, this powerhouse component helps with antioxidant protection and oil oxidation. The serum also contains a 0.5% concentration of salicylic acid to quell breakouts along with some of the aforementioned ferulic acid to stabilise vitamin C. In other words, it's a powerhouse cocktail of all the ingredients I could ever wish for in a single product.
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Within a week of using it nightly, I was already noticing more luminous, even skin with fewer breakouts.
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Like C E Ferulic, the Silymarin CF serum has a watery texture that instantly absorbs into the skin. Also, like C E Ferulic, Silymarin CF has a hint of that — ahem, unique hot-dog water aroma — something I'm personally more than happy to overlook if a product delivers on serious results. Since I'm a fan of the cosmeceutical skincare brand, my expectations for Silymarin CF were extremely high — and Skinceuticals passed with flying colours. Within a week of using it nightly, I was already noticing more luminous, even skin with fewer breakouts. It was gentle enough that it didn't irritate my skin, and I could still use my retinol serum afterward without it being too much. (If you're on the sensitive side, you may need to adjust your routine as needed.)
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I'm not even exaggerating when I say that this is easily one of the most game-changing products for people like me, who deal with stubborn acne and hyperpigmentation.
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Now onto the less-fun stuff: Silymarin CF is priced at £145 for a one-ounce bottle, which admittedly isn't a ton of product. However, if there's a single skincare step that I really believe in splurging on, it's a serum or similar product to target specific concerns. With acne, oiliness, and dark marks being my primary concerns, it's rare to find such a stellar product that visibly improves all three within a relatively short period of time. (And I've had acne since my early teen years, so I've had well over a decade to test out treatments and topicals galore.)
Spending triple-digit figures on one beauty product is a lot, but hear me out: All too often, acne products tend to overpromise and underdeliver, and that just wasn't the case with Skinceuticals’ new product. I'm not even exaggerating when I say that this is easily one of the most game-changing products for people like me, who deal with stubborn acne and hyperpigmentation. Even if it doesn't earn a permanent step in your routine (even if you went through a bottle in two months, that would still amount to almost £870 annually), I'd definitely recommend this potent serum as a reset button to get problematic skin back on track.
Spending triple-digit figures on one beauty product is a lot, but hear me out: All too often, acne products tend to overpromise and underdeliver, and that just wasn't the case with Skinceuticals’ new product. I'm not even exaggerating when I say that this is easily one of the most game-changing products for people like me, who deal with stubborn acne and hyperpigmentation. Even if it doesn't earn a permanent step in your routine (even if you went through a bottle in two months, that would still amount to almost £870 annually), I'd definitely recommend this potent serum as a reset button to get problematic skin back on track.
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