SkinCeuticals vs SkinCeuticals — side by side, no bias.
Our pick
C E Ferulic
9.2/10 · SkinCeuticals
| C E Ferulic | Phloretin CF | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | SkinCeuticals | SkinCeuticals |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Editor Rating | 9.2/10 ★ | 9/10 |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Texture | Thin golden serum | Lightweight watery serum |
| Finish | Absorbed slightly tacky | Quick-absorb |
| Skin Types |
None — all ingredients are shared
| Targets |
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| Cons |
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| Verdict | The benchmark vitamin C serum the entire industry measures itself against. 15% L-ascorbic acid + 1% vitamin E + 0.5% ferulic acid — the Duke University antioxidant patent that spawned a thousand dupes. $182 is painful, but the 20-year clinical dataset on photoaging reversal is unmatched. Every derm office in America has a bottle on the shelf. | 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. |
