SkinCeuticals vs The Ordinary — side by side, no bias.
Our pick
Phloretin CF
9/10 · SkinCeuticals
| Phloretin CF | Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | SkinCeuticals | The Ordinary |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Editor Rating | 9/10 ★ | 8.5/10 |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Texture | Lightweight watery serum | Watery serum |
| Finish | Quick-absorb | De-puffed, awake |
| Skin Types |
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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 Ordinary's $9 caffeine eye serum — the most-referenced drugstore depuffer on TikTok and the Reddit wiki for under-eye routines. 5% caffeine + EGCG (the polyphenol active in green tea), with hyaluronic acid, oxidized glutathione, and melanin in a vasoconstrictor-leaning watery base. The high caffeine % is the genuine differentiator — most prestige eye serums dose at 0.5-1% caffeine for the same depuffing claim. Dries down with a slight tackiness because of the polyacrylate crosspolymer film, which actually helps deliver the caffeine longer than a plain water vehicle would. |
