Dr.pharmacist
Drunk Elephant C-Firma

Drunk Elephant C-Firma

L-ascorbic acid

CosmeticDrunk Elephant C-Firma
Reviewed by Younghun Cho

Pharmacist's Verdict

Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a potent and effective vitamin C serum for experienced users, offering excellent antioxidant protection and skin brightening, but its high price and potential for irritation make it a luxury, not a necessity.

Ingredient Analysis

L-ascorbic Acid (15%)

Ferulic Acid (0.5%)

Tocopherol (1%)

Pumpkin Ferment and Pomegranate Extract

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Contains the 'gold standard' combination of 15% L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and ferulic acid, which is proven to protect skin.
  • Noticeably brightens skin tone and can help fade dark spots with consistent use.
  • Airless pump packaging helps protect the unstable vitamin C from light and air, keeping it effective for longer.
  • Formulated without fragrance, essential oils, or silicones, which can be irritating for some skin types.

Cons

  • Very expensive compared to other vitamin C serums with nearly identical active ingredients.
  • L-ascorbic acid is highly unstable and can oxidize (turn brown and become useless) quickly, even with good packaging.
  • The high concentration of vitamin C can cause stinging, redness, or irritation, especially for sensitive skin or beginners.
  • The texture can feel slightly sticky on the skin after application.

References

  1. 1.
    FDA Drug Label — Vitamin C 10 %

    FDA DailyMed: Vitamin C 10 % · FDA

  2. 2.
    Vitamin C-Sources, Physiological Role, Kinetics, Deficiency, Use, Toxicity, and Determination.

    Doseděl M, Jirkovský E, Macáková K, et al., Nutrients, 2021 · PubMed

  3. 3.
    Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold.

    Hemilä H, Chalker E, The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2013 · PubMed

  4. 4.
    Ascorbic acid as antioxidant.

    Gęgotek A, Skrzydlewska E, Vitamins and hormones, 2023 · PubMed

  5. 5.
    Vitamin C reduces the severity of common colds: a meta-analysis.

    Hemilä H, Chalker E, BMC public health, 2023 · PubMed

  6. 6.
    Antioxidant vitamins supplementation reduce endometriosis related pelvic pain in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

    Zheng SH, Chen XX, Chen Y, et al., Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E, 2023 · PubMed