Skinceuticals Silymarin CF Serum Healed My Cystic Acne Review & Pics

Formulated with 15% L-ascorbic acid, 0.5% silymarin, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 0.5% salicylic acid, the Skinceuticals Silymarin CF Serum is an acne-focused follow-up to the brand’s cult favorite vitamin C serum, C E Ferulic (a hero product for fading dark spots and evening complexions). 

Blemish-prone skin tends to have higher levels of sebum and lower levels of antioxidants. CF's secret is in the silymarin, a powerful antioxidant derived from milk thistle that “inhibits the oxidation of the skin's sebum—a process that causes bacteria to enter the pore, leading to inflammation and blemishes,” according to the brand. 

It's Skinceuticals's first antioxidant launch in a decade and has been six years in the making—and in my opinion, it shows. Minutes after the “before” photo was taken, I dabbed a few drops of Silymarin CF along my jawline and hoped for the best. The next morning I was surprised to find that my very inflamed zits were, in a sense, dormant—not gone entirely but no longer active and angry. The serum essentially expedited the healing process, putting me far closer to the finish line than I was 12 hours prior. 

Intrigued, I continued using Silymarin CF two to three times a week for the next month and a half. While I added a few zits to this jawline cluster around my period, my breakouts are far less aggressive and painful. The zits themselves are smaller and they heal faster, if they come to a head at all. 

While I have yet to see whether Silymarin CF will also minimize pore appearance and refine my skin texture as promised, tempered breakouts and less inflammation overall are more than enough for me to keep this serum in regular rotation. I hope that the combination of Silymarin CF, an oil-free moisturizer, the occasional P.M. retinol, and a touch of scar-fading CE Ferulic will keep my breakouts at bay—without oral meds (fingers crossed!). 

The price tag on Silymarin CF is a bit steep, but I definitely recommend it to anyone with acne who has been promised “miracle” solutions before. If this did a pretty serious number on my cystic hormonal acne, I suspect it could really help people with less severe breakouts. 

Skinceuticals Silymarin CF

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Kelsey Clark is a Glamour contributor. Follow her @kelseymclark.