Big news in skincare: the patent on SkinCeuticals’ iconic CE Ferulic serum officially expired in March 2025. That means the formula that’s been locked behind legal protection for nearly 20 years is now open for anyone to replicate. And the first to do it? A new brand called Skincare Generics that we’ve covered before (here and here), now taking pre-orders for what they claim is a spot-on version.
Why CE Ferulic Was Patent-Protected in the First Place
When SkinCeuticals launched CE Ferulic in 2005, they didn’t just throw together some antioxidants. They created a very specific and stable formula that combined:
- 15% L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
- 1% alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E)
- 0.5% ferulic acid
The key was how it was formulated. Their patent (US No. 7,179,841) laid out the exact percentages and required the formula to be water-based, with a pH between 2.0 and 3.5. That low pH was essential for keeping vitamin C stable and ensuring it could actually absorb into the skin. The combination of these actives at those concentrations, stabilized in a low-pH environment, was the secret sauce.
Before the patent expired, other brands couldn’t legally copy this exact setup. They could use similar ingredients, but not this trio in this precise format.
Skincare Generics Comes In Hot
With the patent now expired, brands are free to replicate the exact formula that made CE Ferulic a gold standard. Skincare Generics is the first to go live with a pre-sale, and based on what they’ve disclosed, their CE Serum purports to hit every key benchmark from the original patent.
Here’s how their version lines up:
1. Same Active Ingredients, Same Percentages
- 15% L-ascorbic acid
- 1% alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E)
- 0.5% ferulic acid
These are the exact concentrations detailed in the SkinCeuticals patent.
2. Correct pH for Efficacy and Absorption
- Skincare Generics lists a pH of 3.0 to 3.5, which is within the upper ideal range for vitamin C absorption and stability.
- The patent specified a pH between 2.0 and 3.5 to keep L-ascorbic acid stable and effective so this checks out.
3. Water-Based Formula
- Just like the original, this serum is aqueous, which is necessary for vitamin C to dissolve and deliver into the skin.
- The patent emphasized the importance of a water base with no destabilizing agents, and this formula seems to follow suit.
4. Minimalist, Stability-Focused Packaging
- It comes in a dark amber glass dropper bottle, which helps limit exposure to light and air, two things that degrade vitamin C fast.
- This mirrors SkinCeuticals' packaging strategy, which was all about maximizing shelf life.
In other words, this is one of the first publicly marketed replicas we’ve seen, built to the same specs, and sold at a fraction of the cost: $40 USD compared to $182 USD.
So Is It a True Dupe?
On paper, yes. This is the first time a product has publicly acknowledged matching the formula right down to the percentages and delivery system. There have been of course a myriad of other vitamin C serums inspired by CE Ferulic but they could never specifically market that they had this same delivery system (even if they did). A few things still matter:
- Is the vitamin C fresh and properly stabilized?
- Is the manufacturing process controlled to avoid oxidation?
- Is the packaging airtight and light-resistant?
If Skincare Generics has figured those things out, you may be able to see similar results with this product as the legendary Skinceuticals' CE Ferulic.
You should also read:
- Here's what you should know when comparing hypochlorous acid sprays
- REM Beauty Lip Stain dupe found
