Product record Nº 001 / Serums, vitamin C · E · ferulic
The originalSkinCeuticals Phloretin CF
- $50.04
- per gram of active
- $185.00
- retail
- $6.26
- 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 SkinCeuticals on their product page.
- Best for
- Brightening & dark spots · Antioxidant defense
- How it feels
- Lightweight, fast-absorbing serum
- Value
- $185 for 30 mL · $6.26/mL
Bottom line The $185 oily-skin vitamin C — lighter than C E Ferulic, adds phloretin's pigment-blocking superpower, and still the only clinically validated formula of its kind.
Editorial verdict / Social intelligence
The $185 oily-skin vitamin C — lighter than C E Ferulic, adds phloretin's pigment-blocking superpower, and still the only clinically validated formula of its kind. 1
- Beauty benefit
- Brightens skin, fades hyperpigmentation and surface-level discoloration, and provides broad antioxidant protection against UV, pollution, and infrared radiation — via a triple-antioxidant formula (10% L-ascorbic acid + 2% phloretin + 0.5% ferulic acid) optimized for oily and combination skin. Phloretin specifically inhibits tyrosinase-mediated pigment production, adding a targeted depigmentation mechanism absent in C E Ferulic.
- Does it work
- Yes, with a strong evidence base. DermApproved aggregates 7,400 reviews at 4.5 stars; LovelySkin shows 588 reviews at 4.8 stars. Clinical data (12-week, 50-subject) shows 20% more even skin tone, 27% increase in radiance, and 16% reduction in discoloration. Oily-skin users specifically credit it for oil control and pigmentation improvement — the niche C E Ferulic can't fill. The honest tension: at $185 for 30ml, the 'worth it?' debate is intense, and unlike C E Ferulic the Phloretin CF formula remains under active patent protection, meaning there are virtually no proven dupes. See the verified data below →
Consensus strength
Strong7,400 DermApproved reviews (4.5 stars), 588 LovelySkin reviews (4.8 stars), 789 Dermstore reviews (4.71 stars), SkinCeuticals 12-week clinical trial (50 subjects), editorial endorsement from DermApproved/BeautyInsiders/Beautiful with Brains/Danielle's Beauty Blog, and Skinsort community comparisons; patent on phloretin+vitamin C+ferulic combination still active as of 2026 per Skinskool Beauty research; AOL/Circana coverage of patent landscape
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 SkinCeuticals on their product page.
- 10% L-ascorbic acid the dossier →
- 0.5% Ferulic acid the dossier →
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 | Aqua/water/eau CosIng: AQUA |
| — |
| 02 | dipropylene glycol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 03 | alcohol denat CosIng: ALCOHOL DENAT. |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 04 | ascorbic acid |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 05 | butylene glycol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 06 | triethyl citrate |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 07 | phloretin |
| — |
| 08 | ferulic acid |
| — |
8 ingredients as printed · 6 exact CosIng matches · 2 normalized spellings · source: disclosed by brand
03 / The ranking
We ranked it against the $185 original
Where it landed
Nº 1 of 7
100% base-formula match
The original
Ranked Nº 1 of 7 against the $185 original, with a 100% base-formula match — and we say skip it as a dupe. At $50.04 per disclosed active gram, it also costs more than every clone ranked above it. 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
Where to buy it
No affiliate relationship possible
SkinCeuticals doesn't sell online, so there is no link to click and no commission to earn — $185 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 8,777 verified reviews across 3 sources.
What works
- Common Purpose-built for oily and combination skin — lighter and less tacky than C E Ferulic, absorbs without adding shine or heaviness 621
Helped with oil control especially around my nose Editorial
- Common Visible brightening and discoloration reduction — backed by SkinCeuticals clinical trial showing 20% more even skin tone and 27% increased radiance 231
My skin has improved so much after I started using it. The texture and pores specifically. Reviews
- Common Lightweight, fast-absorbing, watery texture — layers under SPF and makeup without pilling or greasiness 721
It goes on easily and absorbs quickly without leaving any oily feeling behind Editorial
- Common Clinically validated for nearly 20 years — among the most evidence-backed vitamin C serums in dermatology 15
Clinically validated for nearly 20 years Editorial
- Some Effective on hyperpigmentation and melasma — phloretin adds a tyrosinase-inhibiting pathway on top of vitamin C's antioxidant action 12
Phloretin specifically targets tyrosinase-mediated pigment production — a mechanism absent in CE Ferulic Editorial
What to know
- Common Price — $185 for 30ml is the dominant complaint, with reviewers questioning whether the Phloretin-specific benefit justifies the premium over cheaper vitamin C options 254
Not sure if it's significantly better than some less expensive vitamin C serums... hard to tell what's doing the heavy lifting Reviews
- Common Distinctive fermented/alcohol smell — described as 'smells like hot dog water,' 'alcohol mixed with something burnt,' or 'fish oil mixed with sulfur'; fades after application but is a recurring complaint 1042
The ferulic acid odor obscures this warning signal, meaning users potentially apply ineffective products without realizing it Editorial
- Some Thin/watery texture feels underwhelming to some — a minority of users find it feels cheap for the price and miss the skin-nourishing feel of C E Ferulic 25
It does not give my skin the same suppleness and glow Reviews
- Some Which SkinCeuticals do I need? — The CE Ferulic vs Phloretin CF decision is confusing to buyers; many who switch find they preferred CE Ferulic and return to it 26
I will go back to that [CE Ferulic] after I finish the Phloretin CF; I prefer CE Ferulic over this Reviews
- Some Oxidation risk — the serum contains denatured alcohol and should be used within 6 months of opening; dark amber color shift signals potency loss 14
Oxidizes if stored improperly Editorial
What you'd only know from the reviews
-
Phloretin and vitamin E are not interchangeable co-actives — phloretin is a polyphenol flavonoid derived from apple skin that specifically inhibits tyrosinase (the enzyme that creates melanin), whereas vitamin E (tocopherol) in CE Ferulic primarily amplifies L-ascorbic acid's antioxidant capacity and provides moisturization. Phloretin CF is therefore more pigment-targeted, while CE Ferulic is more broadly antioxidant and barrier-supportive. Choosing based on skin concern — pigmentation vs dry/aging — is more accurate than choosing based on skin type alone. 15
-
The Phloretin CF formula is still under active patent protection as of 2026 — unlike CE Ferulic (patent expired March 2025), the specific combination of 2% phloretin + 10% L-ascorbic acid + 0.5% ferulic acid is legally protected. In a database of 33,000+ products, only 4 other serums contain this combination. This is why CE Ferulic dupes ($29-$39) have proliferated while Phloretin CF dupes have not. 89
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The 'hot dog' smell in vitamin C + ferulic acid serums is not always a sign the formula is working — it is actually a sign that ferulic acid is degrading. According to Protocol Skincare, ferulic acid's oxidation odor can mask the more subtle metallic smell of degraded vitamin C, meaning users may not detect when the serum has lost potency. The color change (pale gold to dark orange) remains the more reliable potency indicator. 10
-
CE Ferulic and Phloretin CF are designed as a skin-type fork, not a hierarchy. SkinCeuticals' own positioning is: CE Ferulic for dry/normal/sensitive (15% vitamin C, vitamin E for nourishment), Phloretin CF for normal/oily/combination (10% vitamin C, phloretin for oil control + pigmentation). Reviewers who find Phloretin CF 'inferior' often have dry skin and are comparing the wrong product for their type. 61
vs. SkinCeuticals
Phloretin CF IS the original — there is no 'vs original' question. The real comparison is Phloretin CF vs C E Ferulic: two different products for two different skin types. Editorial consensus (Danielle's Beauty Blog, DermApproved, Beautiful with Brains) is clear: CE Ferulic wins for dry/normal/aging-focused users at 15% vitamin C + vitamin E; Phloretin CF wins for oily/combination/pigmentation-focused users at 10% vitamin C + 2% phloretin. LovelySkin reviewers who switch between the two and return to CE Ferulic are almost always dry-skin users who miss the hydrating profile. Oily-skin users who make the correct switch report better oil control and lighter texture without sacrificing brightening. The practical buying guide: if you're oily or combo with pigmentation concerns, Phloretin CF is the right SkinCeuticals. If you're dry or mature, CE Ferulic is. At $185 both are luxury purchases, but Phloretin CF uniquely has no credible dupe — CE Ferulic now has $29-$39 generic alternatives (patent expired March 2025) while Phloretin CF's patent remains active.
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06 / Questions
Frequently asked
- What's in SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF?
- SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF lists 8 ingredients. The actives: 10% L-ascorbic acid and 0.5% ferulic acid. Percentages published by SkinCeuticals on their product page. The full list, matched ingredient-by-ingredient to the EU CosIng register, is on this page.
- Is SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF a good dupe for SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic?
- Ranked Nº 1 of 7 against the $185 original, with a 100% base-formula match — and we say skip it as a dupe. At $50.04 per disclosed active gram, it also costs more than every clone ranked above it. 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 SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF have?
- 10% L-ascorbic acid — the pure, unconverted form of vitamin C. The original uses 15%. Percentages published by SkinCeuticals on their product page.
- Where can I buy SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF?
- In SkinCeuticals stores only, at $185 — 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.