Comparison
C+ Collagen Brighten + Firm Vitamin C Serum vs Phloretin CF
Dr. Dennis Gross vs SkinCeuticals — side by side, no bias.
Dr. Dennis Gross
C+ Collagen Brighten + Firm Vitamin C Serum
8.4/10serum
SkinCeuticals
Phloretin CF
9/10serum
Our pick
Phloretin CF
9/10 · SkinCeuticals
| C+ Collagen Brighten + Firm Vitamin C Serum | Phloretin CF | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Dr. Dennis Gross | SkinCeuticals |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Editor Rating | 8.4/10 | 9/10 ★ |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Texture | Lightweight serum | Lightweight watery serum |
| Finish | Velvet | Quick-absorb |
| Skin Types | ||
| Targets | ||
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| Verdict | Dr. Dennis Gross's three-vitamin-C-form serum — 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (stable, water-soluble), L-Ascorbic Acid (potent, fresh-formulated), and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (oil-soluble, deeper-penetrating). Layered with niacinamide, CoQ10 (Ubiquinone), and L-carnitine for the cellular-energy-and-antioxidant complex. The three-form vitamin C approach hedges against any single derivative's limitations — and the formulation is dense enough to justify the $82 price tag. | 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. |