Are They Dupes?: Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum VS Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster

Last Updated on October 23, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

If you’re a regular here, you know Paula’s Choice C15 Booster is my fave vitamin C serum. I dig the lightweight texture, the bright glow it gives my complexion, and… it doesn’t break the bank (girl’s gotta eat, too). I’ve never thought I’d strayed. Why fix it if it ain’t broken, right?

So, when Drunk Elephant finally launched in the UK, I thought I’d try their C-Firma Fresh Day Serum for kicks and go back to my beloved C15 Booster once the tube ran out. Well, the tube’s almost run out and I’m not sure I want to go back. If there’s one serum that can give Paula’s Choice C15 Booster a run for its money, it’s Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum. Question is, are they really dupes? Here’s how they compare and which one to pick for your skin goals:

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh VS Paula’s Choice C15 Booster: At A Glance

What Ingredients Do Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster and Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum Have In Common?

PURE VITAMIN C TO FIGHT WRINKLES AND BRIGHTEN SKIN

Both Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum and Paula’s Choice C15 Booster have the same active ingredients: 15% ascorbic acid + 1% vitamin + 0.5% ferulic acid. Let’s focus on ascorbic acid for now. Ascorbic Acid is the pure form of vitamin C. It’s the most powerful. And the most unstable. I’ll explain what that means in a while. Let’s start with the positives. Ascorbic acid is an anti-aging superstar that has plenty of benefits:

• Fights the free radical damage that give you wrinkles
• Boosts the production of collagen, the protein that keeps skin firm
• Reduces transepidermal water loss, helping to keep skin hydrated 
• Brightens skin and fades away hyperpigmentation

The big downside of this ingredient? It’s unstable, meaning it goes bad quickly when exposed to light and air. Paula’s Choice gives it to you already mixed, while Drunk Elephant gives you two little bottle: a small one with Vitamin C and a bigger one with the rest of the serum. You’re supposed to mix it before the first use to maximise the effectiveness of Vitamin C. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of mixing my own skincare, but this time it’s worth it. Still, as soon as it’s mixed it, use it regularly cos it still goes bad fast.

Related: My Vitamin C Serum Has Turned Brown! Can I Still Use It?

VITAMIN E AND FERULIC ACID TO FIGHT PREMATURE AGING

You can totally use vitamin C alone. But I don’t recommend it. Like all antioxidants, vitamin C works way better when it can play with its antioxidant friends. Here are the extra benefits you have when you paid Vitamin C with vitamin E and ferulic acid.

A study conducted by Duke University has found that adding ferulic acid “into a topical solution of 15%l-ascorbic acid and 1%alpha-tocopherol improved chemical stability of the vitamins (C+E) and doubled photoprotection to solar-simulated irradiation of skin from 4-fold to approximately 8-fold as measured by both erythema and sunburn cell formation. This combination of pure natural low molecular weight antioxidants provides meaningful synergistic protection against oxidative stress in skin and should be useful for protection against photoaging and skin cancer.”

Academic literature translation: vitamin C + vitamin E + ferulic acid boost one another’s effectiveness and the protection your sunscreen gives you. Both Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day and Paula’s Choice C15 Booster have vitamin E AND ferulic acid, so you’re all covered here. But Drunk Elephant goes the extra mile. C-Firma Day Fresh Serum also has licorice, green tea and other antioxidants that can supercharge vitamin C.

Related: Why Your Vitamin C Serum Should Contain Ferulic Acid Too

Which Formulation Is Better?

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day and Paula’s Choice C15 Booster share the same active ingredients. If it’s the benefits of vitamin C only you’re after, it doesn’t matter what you pick. BUT, there are 3 key differences between them that may swing the balance in favour of one of them – depending on your particular needs:

• Lighter texture: Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum feels a little sticky on. Paula’s Choice C15 Booster has a lighter texture that absorbs more quickly.
• Hydration: Paula’s Choice C15 Booster boosts hydration thanks to powerhouse humectant glycerin. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum uses humectants AND marula oil (hence the sticky feeling) to attract moisture to the skin and lock it in.
• Simple formula: Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum has more antioxidant and moisturising ingredients than Paula’s Choice. That’s both good and bad. More goodies equal more benefits. But the more ingredients you add to a formula, the higher the chance one of them will irritate your skin. If yours is sensitive, use products with the least number of ingredients possible.

Winner: Drunk Elephant. It just gives you more.

Related: What The Heck Are Humectants And What Are They Doing In Your Skincare Products?

What’s The Texture Like?

Paula’s Choice C15 Booster is super lightweight and runny, like almost watery but not quite, and it just melts into your skin the second you put it on without leaving any residue or stickiness behind. You know how some serums just sit there on your face for like five minutes while you’re waiting for them to sink in? Yeah, this isn’t one of those, it’s gone immediately and you can move on with your routine without waiting around.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh is a little different. The new formula is lighter and absorbs faster than the original, but it still has a slightly oily feel and can leave a tacky finish. It’s not disgustingly sticky or anything, but if you’ve got oily skin and you’re already dealing with shine, you may find it a little annoying. Paula’s Choice still wins when it comes to a barely-there texture.

Winner: Paula’s Choice. The texture’s just better.

What’s The Packaging Like?

Paula’s Choice C15 Booster comes in this clean white bottle with orange accents (because apparently all vitamin C products are legally required to have orange on them somewhere) and it’s got a dropper applicator which is pretty standard for serums. The dropper makes it easy to control how much product you’re using so you’re not accidentally dumping half the bottle on your face, and you can just squeeze out exactly what you need. Some people love droppers, some people think they’re annoying and unhygienic because you’re sticking the dropper back into the bottle after it touched your face, but that’s a whole other debate.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum comes in a white bottle with an orange cap, keeping that vitamin C orange theme alive. Unlike most serums, the vitamin C powder and liquid base come separately, so you have to mix them together before the first use. A little extra faff, but it prevents oxidation and helps keep vitamin C fresh for longer. Once mixed, you screw on the pump and pop it into the bottle. Pumps are more hygienic than droppers because nothing goes back into the serum, plus you can use one hand when you’re half asleep in the morning. The downside? You can’t control exactly how much comes out, but honestly, it’s not a huge deal.

Winner: Tie. Paula’s Choice for ease of use, Drunk Elephant for freshness.

How To Use Them

Use these serums in the morning, after cleansing and before sunscreen. Vitamin C boosts your sunscreen’s protection by fighting the free radicals generated by UV rays and pollution that contribute to premature aging. Think of vitamin C and sunscreen as a power couple: sunscreen protects your skin from UV rays, while vitamin C helps neutralise the free radicals that slip through. Apply a few drops of your vitamin C serum, give it a moment to absorb, and follow with sunscreen. Easy peasy.

Which Serum Delivers Better Results?

The first thing I want from a vitamin C serum? That gorgeous glow that makes me look like I’ve had eight hours of sleep, even when I haven’t. Both serums deliver on that front. But they’re not quite identical.

Paula’s Choice C15 Booster is a little glow machine. Dullness doesn’t stand much of a chance against it. With regular use, dark spots start fading, skin tone looks more even, and everything feels a little smoother. There’s some improvement in firmness, too, although don’t expect miracles. It’s not particularly moisturising, but it gets the job done without leaving behind a greasy mess.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh gives Paula’s Choice a run for its money in the glow department. But the real treat is how soft and plump it makes skin feel. After a few weeks, rough patches feel smoother and that tired, dull look starts disappearing. It does a great job at minimising the appearance of fine lines. Dark marks fade gradually, too. It’s the sort of serum that makes you want to keep touching your face. (Don’t. Your hands are full of germs.)

Wrinkles and elasticity? Let’s not get carried away. Both can help soften fine lines and improve firmness over time, but neither is going to erase deep wrinkles or lift sagging skin. If only collagen were that easy to rebuild!

Winner: For brightening, it’s a tie. For added moisture, Drunk Elephant.

Which Of The Two Should You Go For?

• If you have dry or normal skin, you’ll love Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum. Marula oil makes it more moisturising for your skin type.
• Oily skin? The sticky texture of the Drunk Elephant serum will drive you crazy. Paula’s Choice C15 Booster is way lighter and hydrates your skin without adding more oil.
• Sensitive skin? Again, Paula’s Choice C15 Booster is the better choice (no pun intended!). It has a simpler formula that reduces the risk of irritation. Having said that, 15% ascorbic acid itself could be too much for your skin – use it in moderation.

Related: Can You Use A Vitamin C Serum If You Have Sensitive Skin?

Price & Availability

At $79 for 28ml, Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh costs $20 more than Paula’s Choice C15 Booster ($59 for 20ml). Ouch! But here’s the twist: Drunk Elephant actually works out slightly cheaper per ml ($2.82 vs $2.95). You get 40% more serum, extra moisturising ingredients, and a clever mixing system that helps keep vitamin C fresh. Are those extras worth the higher upfront price? If you’ve got dry skin, I’d say yes. But if you prefer a lightweight serum and just want the benefits of vitamin C, Paula’s Choice will do the job beautifully without making you spend an extra $20.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum ($79.00): available at Cult Beauty, Sephora, SpaceNK and Ulta

Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster ($59.00): available at Cult Beauty, Paula’s Choice, Sephora and SpaceNK

Is Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster A Dupe For Drunk Elephant Day Serum?

I wouldn’t call Paula’s Choice C15 Booster an exact dupe for Drunk Elephant Day Serum. They have the same active ingredients, so both will give you all the benefits of vitamin C. But Drunk Elephant’s moisturising texture makes it more suitable for dry skin. Lighter and more hydrating, Paula’s Choice is a better option for oily skin.