Augustinus Bader vs SkinCeuticals — side by side, no bias.
Our pick
Phloretin CF
9/10 · SkinCeuticals
| The Retinol Serum | Phloretin CF | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Augustinus Bader | SkinCeuticals |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Editor Rating | 8.4/10 | 9/10 ★ |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Texture | Lightweight cream-serum | Lightweight watery serum |
| Finish | Smoothed, even | Quick-absorb |
| Skin Types |
| Targets |
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
| Verdict | Augustinus Bader's TFC8-meets-retinol pivot — encapsulated retinol + niacinamide + panthenol + ectoin + magnolia bark + piper nigrum (pepper seed) + camellia leaf + Polygonum cuspidatum (resveratrol source) layered onto the brand's signature TFC8 amino-acid complex. Sephora-distributed at $290 — the brand's most aggressive active SKU vs. the more conservative The Cream and The Rich Cream. Direct competitor to SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 at significantly higher prestige pricing. | The CE Ferulic for combination/oily skin. Phloretin CF replaces tocopherol with phloretin (an apple-derived antioxidant), keeping the 10% L-ascorbic acid + 0.5% ferulic acid backbone but with a lighter, less oil-leaning texture. Better for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin where CE Ferulic feels heavy. Same antioxidant network in the basket — vitamin C primary, phloretin secondary, ferulic stabilising — and the same 4 a.m. orange-mid-tone shift that signals oxidation when it's gone too far. Not cheaper than CE Ferulic but worth it if your skin pushes back against the original. |
