SkinCeuticals vs SkinMedica — side by side, no bias.
Our pick
Phloretin CF
9/10 · SkinCeuticals
| Phloretin CF | Retinol Complex 0.5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | SkinCeuticals | SkinMedica |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Editor Rating | 9/10 ★ | 8.3/10 |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Texture | Lightweight watery serum | Lightweight cream-serum |
| Finish | Quick-absorb | Smooth, treated |
| Skin Types |
| Targets |
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| Cons |
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| Verdict | 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. | SkinMedica is the brand Allergan (the Botox company) created for physicians to dispense — and this retinol complex is what plastic surgeons recommend between procedures. 0.5% retinol in a squalane-enriched base that minimises the irritation retinol typically causes, with niacinamide to strengthen the barrier while retinol challenges it. The medical-channel distribution means this formula was optimised for compliance: patients who stop using retinol because it hurts don't get results. |
