SkinCeuticals vs U Beauty — side by side, no bias.
Our pick
Phloretin CF
9/10 · SkinCeuticals
| Phloretin CF | Resurfacing Compound | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | SkinCeuticals | U Beauty |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Editor Rating | 9/10 ★ | 8.5/10 |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Texture | Lightweight watery serum | Lightweight serum |
| Finish | Quick-absorb | Resurfaced, brightened |
| 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. | U Beauty's flagship 'all-in-one' anti-aging serum — sodium ascorbyl phosphate + glycolic acid + lactobionic acid + mandelic acid + retinyl palmitate + glutathione + superoxide dismutase + N-prolyl palmitoyl tripeptide-56 acetate. The brand's SIREN Capsule Technology delivery system targets ingredients to compromised skin areas (according to their patents). Tina Craig's brand pivot from beauty editorial into a single-product-replaces-many positioning. Sephora-distributed at $168 — apex prestige. |
