Product record Nº 007 / Serums, vitamin C · E · ferulic
SkipFARMACY 10% Waterless Vitamin C Serum
- $17.58
- per gram of active
- $52.00
- retail
- $1.76
- per mL
- 4.5 ★
- 441 ratings
- Ships in
- Packaging not verified No brand or retailer statement on the bottle — we won’t guess.
- pH
- pH not published the brand states no number, so neither do we
- Data source
- From retailer listing Ingredients and percentages from the product's Ulta listing.
- Best for
- Brightening & dark spots · Antioxidant defense
- How it feels
- Lightweight, fast-absorbing serum
- Value
- $52 for 30 mL · $1.76/mL
Bottom line A genuinely effective clean-beauty vitamin C serum in its own right — just don't confuse the waterless format for a CE Ferulic clone.
Editorial verdict / Social intelligence
A genuinely effective clean-beauty vitamin C serum in its own right — just don't confuse the waterless format for a CE Ferulic clone. 1
- Beauty benefit
- Brightens dull skin, fades dark spots and hyperpigmentation, and delivers antioxidant protection — powered by 10% L-ascorbic acid, alpha-arbutin, and ferulic acid in a propanediol-based waterless concentrate.
- Does it work
- Yes, on its own terms. The formula is a legitimate vitamin C serum with a sound ingredient deck and consistent brightening results reported across 1,000+ reviews. Clinical data (33 participants, 4-8 weeks) shows 16x improvement in dark spot size and intensity. However, it is NOT a CE Ferulic dupe. The base chemistry is fundamentally different: CE Ferulic uses a water-based delivery at pH ~2.8-3.2 with 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% vitamin E, and 0.5% ferulic acid — a ratio validated by Duke University patent research. Farmacy uses a waterless propanediol/pentylene glycol base at 10% L-ascorbic acid with no vitamin E. The waterless system offers superior stability (vitamin C degrades in water-based formulas) but a different texture profile, different absorption kinetics, and a lower stated vitamin C concentration. Third-party ingredient analysis (WhatsinMyJar) estimates the actual ascorbic acid concentration at 4.5-6.8% based on ingredient list position, not the marketed 10%. It is a good serum — but it plays in a different formulation category than CE Ferulic. See the verified data below →
Consensus strength
Moderate603 Farmacy.com reviews (4.58 stars), 441 Ulta reviews (4.5 stars), 53 Space NK reviews (4.3 stars); editorial reviews from StyleCaster, SimplySarahJayneLoves, RealSkinDiaries; ingredient analysis from WhatsinMyJar and Incidecoder. Consensus is genuinely positive on brightening and gentleness, with recurring packaging and texture caveats. Review volume is moderate — not yet a runaway community phenomenon.
We don't recommend this as a dupe. If you want it: price on Amazon ($52) ↗
01 / The actives
Read against the original's trio
The reference is the original's disclosed 15 / 1 / 0.5 — 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% vitamin E, 0.5% ferulic acid. This readout is the apples-to-apples comparison.
From retailer listing. Ingredients and percentages from the product's Ulta listing.
- 10% L-ascorbic acid the dossier →
- n.d. Ferulic acid the dossier →
Not in this formula: vitamin E (tocopherol) — the original carries 1%.
02 / The full ingredient list
Every ingredient, in label order
Exactly as printed, each token matched to the EU CosIng register and flagged where a CIR safety assessment exists. Highlighted rows are the actives.
| # | Ingredient, as printed | CosIng functions | CIR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Propanediol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 02 | Pentylene Glycol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 03 | Ascorbic Acid |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 04 | Betaine |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 05 | Alpha-Arbutin |
| — |
| 06 | Ferulic Acid |
| — |
| 07 | Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Fruit Extract |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 08 | Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Fruit Extract |
| — |
| 09 | Citrus Aurantium Sinensis Peel Extract |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 10 | Glycerin |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 11 | Lactic Acid |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 12 | Citric Acid |
| ✓ reviewed |
12 ingredients as printed · 12 exact CosIng matches · source: from retailer listing
03 / The ranking
We ranked it against the $185 original
Where it landed
Nº 7 of 7
12% base-formula match
Skip
Ranked Nº 7 of 7 against the $185 original, with a 12% base-formula match — and we say skip it as a dupe. It contains no vitamin E (tocopherol) at all. Ferulic acid appears in the formula at undisclosed percentages. It may be a fine serum on its own terms; as a stand-in for the original, the products ranked above it get you closer for less.
04 / Where to buy
If you want it anyway
We don't recommend FARMACY 10% Waterless Vitamin C Serum as a C E Ferulic dupe — the products ranked above it get you closer for less. If you want it on its own terms:
price on Amazon ($52) — not recommended as a dupe
Some links on this page earn us a commission. It never changes the verdict — the ranking and methodology are public.
05 / What people say
What buyers actually say
Aggregated from 1,097 verified reviews across 3 sources.
What works
- Common Visible brightening and glow — multiple users report a lasting dewy radiance throughout the day 413
Creates glazed donut model skin with visible glow lasting throughout the day Editorial
-
16x improvement in size and intensity of dark spots (clinical study, 33 participants, 4-8 weeks) Reviews
- Common Gentle enough for sensitive and acne-prone skin — no stinging, no breakouts reported by most users 541
Sensitive skin that typically reacts to Vitamin C products — found this serum gentle enough to use twice daily with no discomfort Editorial
- Some Superior vitamin C stability: waterless base eliminates the oxidation risk that degrades most water-based serums 73
Waterless formulation uses propanediol and pentylene glycol as primary solvents — helps stabilize ascorbic acid, which typically degrades rapidly when exposed to air and light Editorial
- Some Eco-conscious packaging and clean-beauty positioning — fragrance-free, paraben-free, fully recyclable 65
Pump packaging prevents contamination; fully recyclable packaging Editorial
What to know
-
The packaging leaks from the bottom and from the spout...I'd expect better packaging from a product at this price range. Reviews
- Common Oily or dewy finish divides users — preferred by dry skin types, problematic for oily/combination skin in daytime 439
Left a sheen on my hand that lasted all day long Editorial
- Some Orange-tinted formula can stain fabric if not absorbed before contact with clothing 3
comes out quite orangey and stains your clothes if not careful Reviews
- Rare Third-party ingredient analysis suggests actual ascorbic acid concentration may be 4.5-6.8%, not the full marketed 10% 7
Estimated active concentrations based on ingredient list position: Ascorbic acid 4.5-6.8%; Ferulic acid 1.4-2.1%; Alpha-arbutin 2.4-3.6% Editorial
What you'd only know from the reviews
-
The waterless base (propanediol + pentylene glycol) gives the serum its oily-but-not-greasy feel and its stability advantage — but it also means the delivery mechanism is categorically different from CE Ferulic's water-based system. L-ascorbic acid in a waterless base absorbs differently than in the pH-optimized water base that makes CE Ferulic work. These are two different products solving the same problem with different chemistry, not the same formula at different prices. 78
-
At $52 for 30ml, the Farmacy serum sits in a crowded mid-tier — the same price buys Timeless 20% Vitamin C+E+Ferulic (the closest true CE Ferulic dupe) with higher actives, or you step up $26 to Drunk Elephant C-Firma. Farmacy's real value proposition is the waterless stability angle and clean-brand positioning, not raw actives-per-dollar. 6
vs. SkinCeuticals
No credible editorial source or community review positions the Farmacy 10% Waterless Vitamin C Serum as a CE Ferulic dupe — and with good reason. CE Ferulic's validated formula is water-based at 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% vitamin E, and 0.5% ferulic acid at pH 2.8-3.2, a specific ratio with decades of clinical backing. Farmacy uses a waterless propanediol/pentylene glycol base at 10% L-ascorbic acid with no vitamin E — a different delivery system, different concentration, and different feel. Where comparisons appear (RealSkinDiaries, WhatsinMyJar), they acknowledge it as an 'affordable alternative with similar ingredients' but do not claim dupe status. Community discussions treat it as a standalone product. For shoppers seeking a true CE Ferulic dupe, the Farmacy is in the wrong category entirely — it belongs in its own lane as a stable, clean-beauty vitamin C serum suited to sensitive or dry skin, not as a substitute for the Duke-ratio water-based formula.
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06 / Questions
Frequently asked
- What's in FARMACY 10% Waterless Vitamin C Serum?
- FARMACY 10% Waterless Vitamin C Serum lists 12 ingredients. The actives: 10% L-ascorbic acid and ferulic acid at an undisclosed percentage — and no vitamin E (tocopherol) at all. Ingredients and percentages from the product's Ulta listing. The full list, matched ingredient-by-ingredient to the EU CosIng register, is on this page.
- Is FARMACY 10% Waterless Vitamin C Serum a good dupe for SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic?
- Ranked Nº 7 of 7 against the $185 original, with a 12% base-formula match — and we say skip it as a dupe. It contains no vitamin E (tocopherol) at all. Ferulic acid appears in the formula at undisclosed percentages. It may be a fine serum on its own terms; as a stand-in for the original, the products ranked above it get you closer for less.
- How much vitamin C does FARMACY 10% Waterless Vitamin C Serum have?
- 10% L-ascorbic acid — the pure, unconverted form of vitamin C. The original uses 15%. Ingredients and percentages from the product's Ulta listing.
- Where can I buy FARMACY 10% Waterless Vitamin C Serum?
- $52.00 on Amazon (price recorded 2026-06-12). We don't recommend it as a C E Ferulic dupe — the ranking above explains why.