iS Clinical vs SkinCeuticals — side by side, no bias.
Our pick
Phloretin CF
9/10 · SkinCeuticals
| Pro-Heal Serum Advance+ | Phloretin CF | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | iS Clinical | SkinCeuticals |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Editor Rating | 8.7/10 | 9/10 ★ |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Texture | Lightweight serum | Lightweight watery serum |
| Finish | Velvet | Quick-absorb |
| Skin Types |
| Targets |
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| Cons |
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| Verdict | iS Clinical's post-procedure recovery formulation and the gold-standard reference in aesthetic-clinic protocols. L-Ascorbic Acid + olive leaf extract (the antioxidant heart of the formula) + vitamin E + Retinyl Palmitate (gentle retinoid) + zinc + kojic acid in a calming-yet-treating base. Aestheticians dispense Pro-Heal after fractional laser, micro-needling, and chemical peels because the formulation accelerates the healing phase without aggravating the freshly-treated barrier. Also genuinely effective for chronic redness and reactive acne. | 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. |
