Fresh vs SkinCeuticals — side by side, no bias.
Our pick
Phloretin CF
9/10 · SkinCeuticals
| Black Tea Age-Delay Firming Serum | Phloretin CF | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Fresh | SkinCeuticals |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Editor Rating | 8.3/10 | 9/10 ★ |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Texture | Lightweight gel-serum | Lightweight watery serum |
| Finish | Firmed, smoothed | Quick-absorb |
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| Verdict | Fresh's anti-aging hero — saccharomyces (black tea) ferment + camellia sinensis leaf + blackberry leaf + honeysuckle + lychee seed antioxidant complex paired with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 and acetyl dipeptide-1 peptides. The cornerstone of the brand's Black Tea franchise (alongside the Eye Cream and Crème — both prestige Sephora bestsellers). Fresh's heritage Boston-spa positioning carries weight in the prestige category, and the formulation backs up the marketing. | 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. |
