We’re experts in skincare – an anti-aging essential ingredient and why it should remind you of a summer BBQ

With so many beauty products touting anti-aging benefits, it can be difficult to know which ones actually work.

Skincare chemists Victoria Fu and Gloria Lu say one ingredient in particular is a “skincare multitasker” that’s great at fighting aging — but you might not like the way it smells.

4

4

Chemist Confessions founders Fu and Lu praise vitamin C in their book Skincare Decoded: The Practical Guide to Beautiful Skin.

“Vitamin C has been clinically tested for decades to prove it is a potent free radical quencher, collagen booster and skin lightener,” they wrote.

It’s an “incredibly powerful antioxidant” that can help prevent skin aging, fight uneven skin tone and diminish fine lines and wrinkles.

But the good vitamin C serums have an unfortunate, albeit unintended, scent: hot dog.

“Did you know that good vitamin C serums can actually smell like hot dogs?” wrote the experts.

So what exactly makes it smell like that?

“The smell of ‘hot dog water’ is characteristic of the classic combination of vitamins C, E and ferulic acid,” the couple told the US Sun.

“None of these ingredients individually have a strong odor. If you use a vitamin C product that doesn’t contain ferulic acid or tocopherol, it doesn’t have the smell of hot dog water,” they said.

But all three ingredients used together have “synergistic antioxidant benefits for the skin” — so it really is a good idea to check the label for all three when purchasing.

A popular product that fits those criteria is SkinCeuticals’ CE Ferulic for $169 — and fans have certainly noticed the odd Eau de Processed Meat.

“If you can get over the hot dog water smell then you’ll enjoy this,” wrote one four-star reviewer.

“Yes it smells a bit like hot dogs but you get used to it and it’s so worth it,” wrote another.

“The serum smells like hot dogs, but it’s not overpowering and goes away after about a minute,” said a third.

Another gushed: “Ok yeah this smells like hot dog water BUT this is by far the best Vit-C serum out there. Nothing beats it. I tried every single one.”

4

4