SkinCeuticals vs SkinMedica — side by side, no bias.
| Phloretin CF | TNS Advanced+ Serum | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | SkinCeuticals | SkinMedica |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Editor Rating | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Texture | Lightweight watery serum | Thick peach-pink serum |
| Finish | Quick-absorb | Silky smoothing |
| Skin Types |
| Targets |
| Pros |
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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. | The US cosmetic-derm world's post-procedure gold standard. TNS — Tissue Nutrient Solution, a growth-factor complex derived from human fibroblast conditioned media — paired with signal peptides and barrier support. Clinical data on photoaging is published and serious. $295 is genuinely expensive, but the 4–6 week post-Fraxel case is exactly what this product was built for. |
