Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum

Our #2 Choice

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum is a day serum containing vitamin C, antioxidants, nutrients, and fruit enzymes, in order to firm and brighten the appearance of skin, and improve the signs of photoaging.* It is pH balanced to 3.3 - 3.5, which it claims is the optimal level for facial skin, but is this actually true? We dug into the science behind day serums to bring you the answers of what makes a quality serum and if the pH balance is something that you need to be concerned about.

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Editor's Rating: Good

Introduction

Our #2 choice for day serum is Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum. Day Serums are known to be lightweight and potent in order to successfully penetrate the skin and get real results. As we investigated hundreds of day serums, we checked that their formulas were composed of top quality ingredients which were proven by clinical studies.

While we did find ingredients that look good in this product, we did not see any that were patented or trademarked. Therefore there are no ingredients which are tested and proven by scientific research or backed by clinical data.

In addition, what was interesting was the inclusion of L-ascorbic acid. This is a potent form of vitamin C which is beneficial to our skin. The problem with including it in skin serums is that it is extremely unstable, especially when exposed to light. What this means is that it is rendered useless when added this way. Another issue with including L-ascorbic acid in this day serum is that the pH is lowered to 3.3 - 3.5 and because the normal pH of skin is higher than this, skin irritation and redness can occur.

Because we are impressed with the Drunk Elephant brand, we decided to give this product and chance and review it carefully. Read on to see what we found.

Ingredients

The most concerning ingredient in this day serum is L-ascorbic acid. While this is a powerful form of vitamin C, it it also very unstable and, as such, can become inactive in the presence of light. Any benefits of L-ascorbic acid will not be effective to the skin and therefore this day serum is seriously compromised. Drunk Elephant even writes not to stock up on this product as it has a limited shelf life.

Additionally, L-ascorbic acid lowers the pH of this product which in turns lowers the skin’s pH (it’s normally between a pH of 4.0-5.0). This means people will sensitive skin may experience irritation when using this product.

  • Potent antioxidant complex (15% L-ascorbic acid plus ferulic acid and 1% vitamin E): works to firm and brighten skin and improve the signs of photo aging.
  • Chronocyclin:mimics the antioxidant benefits of vitamin D
  • Pumpkin ferment and pomegranate extract: works to dissolve surface skin cells, to minimize the appearance of pores.
  • Vinis vinifera (grape juice): potent antioxidant that aids in improving skin tone.
  • Licorice root extract: helps to brighten and promote more even looking skin tone.
  • Indian gooseberry: an antioxidant-rich superfruit that helps neutralize oxidative stress while promoting firmness.
  • Sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer: Can penetrate skin deeply to deliver hydration, reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
  • Virgin marula oil: super-absorbable oil, high in critical antioxidants and omegas 6 and 9, helps nourish and rejuvenate skin for a youthful glow.

How To Use

Apply in the morning, to a clean and dry face, neck, chest and back of hands. This should be followed immediately with a sunscreen.

Drunk Elephant also mentions that because it contains pure L-ascorbic acid it is not recommend to stock up on this product. This is because it is not stable enough and will become inactive if left for too long.

Price

For a standard 1 fluid ounce or 30 ml bottle the price is $80, which is a bit more than our #1 choice.

Guarantee

If you are not satisfied with this product, Drunk Elephant will refund your money. You must send an email to them within 30 days of purchase, and they will provide you with a return authorization and mailing information. You have to send in the unused day serum and the cost will be refunded to your account.

Please note that this only applies to day serums which were purchased via the Drunk Elephant website.

Conclusion

We like about this product is that Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum is free of parabens, phthalates and SLS as well as the fact that it is made in the United States. These are essential elements for us to rate a specific product effective and safe. . While the list of active ingredients sound scientific, none of them are patented which means they are not based on proven clinical studies which is a real shame. Additionally, we were concerned with the stability of this day serum as the L-ascorbic acid loses potency and efficacy when exposed to light. Even more so, the pH level is much lower than the pH of the skin. This opens up the possibility of skin redness and irritations which is directly opposite of what a day serum should do.

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Alexia Cook

Alexia Cook, Senior Editor

Alexia Cook is a licensed Master Cosmetologist and Esthetician with over 20 years experience. She received her degrees from Boca Beauty Academy in Boca Raton Florida. Starting at a young age, she has always been interested in treating skin to bring out its true beauty. She knows that the basis of gorgeous skin is by adopting a proper skincare routine and using top quality products. Her passion for helping people find effective skincare products led her to the role of Editor for My Beauty Care Center™. In her free time, she is an avid traveler and loves learning the beauty of different cultures.