Product record Nº 005 / Serums, vitamin C · E · ferulic
SkipCosmetic Skin Solutions Phloretin Serum Advanced Formula
- $13.02
- per gram of active
- $38.50
- retail
- $1.30
- per mL
- Ships in
- Packaging not verified No brand or retailer statement on the bottle — we won’t guess.
- pH
- pH not published the brand states no number, so neither do we
- Data source
- Disclosed by brand Percentages published by Cosmetic Skin Solutions on their product page.
- Best for
- Brightening & dark spots · Antioxidant defense
- How it feels
- Lightweight, fast-absorbing serum
- Value
- $38.50 for 30 mL · $1.30/mL
Bottom line The closest real Phloretin CF clone you can buy for $39 — same three actives, confirmed L-ascorbic acid, half the phloretin, and almost no independent reviews to verify real-world results.
Editorial verdict / Social intelligence
The closest real Phloretin CF clone you can buy for $39 — same three actives, confirmed L-ascorbic acid, half the phloretin, and almost no independent reviews to verify real-world results. 1
- Beauty benefit
- Brightens uneven skin tone, fades sun spots and hyperpigmentation, and provides broad-spectrum antioxidant protection via the triple-active combo of L-ascorbic acid, phloretin, and ferulic acid — the same mechanism as SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF at roughly one-fifth the price.
- Does it work
- Likely yes for the core brightening and antioxidant goals — the formula uses the same clinically validated actives (L-ascorbic acid + phloretin + ferulic acid) at an acidic pH, and CSS's 87 on-site reviews are 100% five-star. However, the phloretin concentration is only 1% (confirmed on the brand's own product page) versus SkinCeuticals' 2%, so the phloretin dose is half that of the original; outcomes for users who specifically need phloretin's melanin-dispersion and anti-UV effects may fall short of the reference standard. See the verified data below →
Consensus strength
Thin87 five-star reviews on the brand's own site (no independent moderation), a discontinued listing on SkinBeauty with zero reviews, no surfaced Reddit threads or SkincareAddiction posts specifically about this product, and no editorial reviews focused on this formulation. The CSS brand has a documented reputation as a legitimate clone-brand among skincare enthusiasts, but the phloretin product specifically is far less tested publicly than CSS's CE Ferulic clone or Maelove's Glow Maker.
In-store only — no online purchase. e.l.f. Cosmetics on Amazon $16.97
01 / The actives
Read against the original's trio
The reference is the original's disclosed 15 / 1 / 0.5 — 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% vitamin E, 0.5% ferulic acid. This readout is the apples-to-apples comparison.
Disclosed by brand. Percentages published by Cosmetic Skin Solutions on their product page.
- n.d. Ferulic acid the dossier →
Not in this formula: L-ascorbic acid — the original carries 15%.
02 / The full ingredient list
Every ingredient, in label order
Exactly as printed, each token matched to the EU CosIng register and flagged where a CIR safety assessment exists. Highlighted rows are the actives.
| # | Ingredient, as printed | CosIng functions | CIR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Water/Aqua/Eau CosIng: WATER |
| — |
| 02 | Ethoxydiglycol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 03 | L-Ascorbic Acid (Topical Vitamin C) no CosIng match — shown as printed | no CosIng function record | — |
| 04 | SD Alcohol 40 |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 05 | Propylene Glycol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 06 | Glycerin |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 07 | Phloretin |
| — |
| 08 | Triethanolamine |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 09 | Ferulic Acid |
| — |
| 10 | D-Panthenol no CosIng match — shown as printed | no CosIng function record | — |
| 11 | Phenoxyethanol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 12 | Tetrasodium Edetate no CosIng match — shown as printed | no CosIng function record | — |
| 13 | Hyaluronic Acid |
| ✓ reviewed |
13 ingredients as printed · 9 exact CosIng matches · 1 normalized spellings · 3 with no CosIng match · source: disclosed by brand
03 / The ranking
We ranked it against the $185 original
Where it landed
Nº 5 of 7
11% base-formula match
Skip
Ranked Nº 5 of 7 against the $185 original, with a 11% base-formula match — and we say skip it as a dupe. It contains no L-ascorbic acid at all. Ferulic acid appears in the formula at undisclosed percentages. It may be a fine serum on its own terms; as a stand-in for the original, the products ranked above it get you closer for less.
04 / Where to buy
If you want it anyway
No affiliate relationship possible
Cosmetic Skin Solutions doesn't sell online, so there is no link to click and no commission to earn — $38.50 on the shelf, when it's on the shelf. It is still the best match we measured; that is the whole point of this site.
If your store is out: e.l.f. Cosmetics Bright Icon Vitamin C + E + Ferulic Serum discloses the same 15/1/0.5 trio and is stocked nearly everywhere.
e.l.f. Cosmetics on Amazon $16.97
Some links on this page earn us a commission. It never changes the verdict — the ranking and methodology are public.
05 / What people say
What buyers actually say
Aggregated from 115 verified reviews across 3 sources.
What works
- Common Dramatically cheaper than SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF ($39 vs $185) while using the same three core actives 19
This unique SUPERPREVENTC® serum contains 10% vitamin C paired with Phloretin to brighten your appearance and improve uneven skin tone Reviews
- Common Uses real L-ascorbic acid (not a derivative) at 10% — the clinically validated form with the strongest brightening and collagen evidence 27
L-Ascorbic Acid (Topical Vitamin C) Reviews
- Common Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture — sinks in quickly, no greasy finish, layers well under moisturizer and SPF 1
doesn't feel sticky, and layers well under moisturizer and sunscreen Reviews
- Some CSS is a known pharmaceutical-grade clone brand with a reputation for using high-quality actives — the brand's CE Ferulic clone is widely trusted by skincare enthusiasts 91
Cosmetic Skin Solutions Vitamin C+E Serum Advanced Formula — high match to SkinCeuticals Editorial
- Some Formulated for oily and combination skin — ferulic acid and phloretin combination targets the skin types where Phloretin CF is specifically indicated 31
This suits combination-to-oily skin types Reviews
What to know
- Common Mail-order / niche-brand only — not available at Sephora, Dermstore, Ulta, or any major US retailer; requires ordering direct or from a third-party reseller 48
This item has been discontinued Reviews
- Common Phloretin concentration is undisclosed on the brand's own "Advanced Formula" label — the Supreme Serum variant explicitly states only 1%, half of SkinCeuticals' 2% 12
Phloretin: 1% Reviews
- Some L-ascorbic acid serums oxidize over time — the serum's champagne hue darkening toward orange or brown signals degraded potency; refrigeration is essential 3
We store all phloretin serums in a refrigerator. A natural orange-champagne hue indicates freshness; darker coloration suggests oxidation reduces efficacy — not toxicity. Reviews
- Some Virtually no independent third-party reviews — the brand's own site has no external moderation and Reddit/SkincareAddiction discussions about this specific product are nearly absent 7
The page lacks specific user review counts or community comments sections Editorial
What you'd only know from the reviews
-
The phloretin concentration discrepancy is the critical honesty flag: the brand's own website for the Supreme Serum explicitly states 1% phloretin, while one EU retailer (SwedishFace) lists 2%. The official brand page is the primary source; the EU listing appears to be stale or erroneous. At 1%, this formula delivers half the phloretin dose of SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF (2%). Since CSS holds no patent on the formula and phloretin is the most expensive active in the product, there is no commercial incentive to match the original's dose. Buyers seeking the full 2% phloretin effect are not getting it here. 13
-
Only 4 serums in the global market combine all three of L-ascorbic acid + phloretin + ferulic acid. CSS is the only one under $50. This makes it the de-facto budget pick for anyone who specifically wants this triple combination — but the thin review base means that position rests more on formula analysis than on community-verified outcomes. 9
-
The Advanced Formula INCI (Water, Ethoxydiglycol, L-Ascorbic Acid, SD Alcohol 40, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Phloretin, Triethanolamine, Ferulic Acid…) is a leaner, simpler base than SkinCeuticals' formula. Notably, it uses Triethanolamine — a pH adjuster that carries a comedogenicity score of 2 on INCIDecoder — which is absent from the SkinCeuticals original. Users with acne-prone skin who tolerate SkinCeuticals may still want to patch-test CSS. 72
-
CSS markets two distinct phloretin products under overlapping names: the "Phloretin Serum Advanced Formula" (the product on this brief, with ferulic acid and hyaluronic acid in the INCI) and the "Supreme Serum Phloretin" (newer Shopify store version with asiatic acid and glutathione instead of ferulic acid). The Advanced Formula appears to be the older mail-order SKU; the Supreme Serum is the current brand-site product. They are not the same formulation, and buyers sourcing from third-party resellers may receive either version. 12
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06 / Questions
Frequently asked
- What's in Cosmetic Skin Solutions Phloretin Serum Advanced Formula?
- Cosmetic Skin Solutions Phloretin Serum Advanced Formula lists 13 ingredients. The actives: ferulic acid at an undisclosed percentage — and no L-ascorbic acid at all. Percentages published by Cosmetic Skin Solutions on their product page. The full list, matched ingredient-by-ingredient to the EU CosIng register, is on this page.
- Is Cosmetic Skin Solutions Phloretin Serum Advanced Formula a good dupe for SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic?
- Ranked Nº 5 of 7 against the $185 original, with a 11% base-formula match — and we say skip it as a dupe. It contains no L-ascorbic acid at all. Ferulic acid appears in the formula at undisclosed percentages. It may be a fine serum on its own terms; as a stand-in for the original, the products ranked above it get you closer for less.
- How much vitamin C does Cosmetic Skin Solutions Phloretin Serum Advanced Formula have?
- Cosmetic Skin Solutions doesn't disclose a percentage: L-ascorbic acid appears in the ingredient list, but the brand publishes no number — so neither do we.
- Where can I buy Cosmetic Skin Solutions Phloretin Serum Advanced Formula?
- In Cosmetic Skin Solutions stores only, at $38.50 — there is no online listing, restocks vary by store, and it sells out. If you can't find it, e.l.f. Cosmetics Bright Icon Vitamin C + E + Ferulic Serum discloses the same trio for $17 and is stocked nearly everywhere.