Maelove vs SkinCeuticals 2024 (The Definitive Guide)

With millions of searches every year, thousands of five-star reviews and celeb endorsements from the likes of Hailey Bieber, Brooke Shields, and Sienna Miller—Maelove and Skinceuticals are at the top of our *need* list.

If these brands are on your radar, then you know about their crowning achievements: their CE ferulic acid serums. Let’s talk about these two competing brands, their glory products, and decide which is best for you!

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Maelove vs SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic Serums

For over a decade, ferulic acids have been helping women reverse the signs of sun damage and aging. It’s a powerful antioxidant that reduces wrinkles, sunspots and fights off free radicals from environmental damage.

A 2005 study suggests that ferulic acid has the potential to offer two times the amount of sun damage reversal when combined with vitamins C and E. It’s no surprise that Maelove and Skinceuticals’ CE ferulic acid serums have been dubbed the “holy grail” of vitamin C’s.

If you’re looking for bright, radiant, and glowing skin, keep reading to find the right product for you!

Okay, so we need to start with the elephant in the room—the massive price difference. Maelove’s The Glow Maker Vitamin C + E Ferulic Serum comes in at just under a fifth(!) of the price of the Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Serum. It’s no surprise that Maelove’s has been lovingly labeled the dupe of Skinceuticals serum. So is Maelove really as effective as Skinceuticals? What are the main differences? Which product should you add to your skincare line up?

Let’s take a look at the great beginnings of these two brands. Maelove was created by CEO Jackie Kim, who has partnered with MIT graduates to create extremely effective and affordable skincare, made from clean, organic, high-quality ingredients. Skinceuticals was born from another prestigious institution, Yale graduate, Dr. Sheldon R. Pinnell. He is an accomplished professor, collagen chemist, and dermatologist who built Skinceuticals around topical antioxidants and science-backed formulas. Pretty impressive, right?

Maelove is 100% clean and cruelty free, whereas Skinceuticals may use animal testing or third parties who do animal testing. Skinceuticals uses Triethanolamine, an ingredient banned for cosmetics use by the EU due to carcinogenic concerns, although many products in the US use it and they say it’s not a high risk.

When it comes to ingredients, as their names suggest—vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid are the key players for both of these products. They both pack in 15% L-ascorbic acid, aka vitamin C, but Maelove uses more ferulic acid and Skinceuticals uses more vitamin E.

Maelove also packs in hyaluronic acid and grape seed extract for added moisturizing, soothing, antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits. Buyers also note that The Glow Maker makes their skin “feel like silk” and is a “total game changer” to their skincare routine, you can thank their proprietary botanical blend for that which provides extra nutrition to your skin and helps your makeup go on smoothly.

Skinceuticals however, sticks to the big three: vitamin C, E and ferulic acid which are formulated according to their “Duke Antioxidant patent.” This means they’re the only product that can combine pure vitamin C, at an acidic pH and a concentration between 10%-20%—all proven to increase absorption and efficacy.

Alright, so we’re all on board that both products pack some seriously powerful ingredients to give you a bright, glowy complexion but there are some differences when it comes down to product feel.

If you’re applying something to your skin daily (which you should with vitamin C if your skin can tolerate it), you’re going to want something that just feels good. The Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Serum has a slightly sticky application and leaves a slight residue as it dries. Like many high-concentration vitamin C serums, it has a bit of a tingly sensation immediately after application as well.

Maelove The Glow Maker Vitamin C + E Ferulic Serum went on light and smooth, thanks to its oil-free formula and barely left behind any residue. It also felt gentler than other vitamin C’s and only gave me a tingly sensation when my skin was extra dry. Maelove may be better suited for acne-prone skin, as well as dry, irritated skin types.

Finally, it’s decision time! If you can’t already tell, we’re completely OBSESSED with Maelove and are honestly still in awe that they’ve been able to make such an affordable, effective dupe of Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Serum. You don’t need to break the bank to get the glowy, dewy results vitamin C provides. Maelove’s The Glow Maker Vitamin C + E Ferulic Serum is a yes from us! And pro tip, it makes an excellent make up primer. Now please excuse us while we go slather some on for ourselves.

This article was originally published on March 8th 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on February 1st 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.