SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic and Phloretin CF are both once-daily morning vitamin C serums. They share L-ascorbic acid and ferulic acid, then they split. C E Ferulic pairs 15% pure vitamin C with 1% vitamin E. Phloretin CF pairs 10% pure vitamin C with 2% phloretin. We carry both. This guide is how we choose between them.
Quick answers
- What is the difference?
- C E Ferulic is 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% vitamin E and 0.5% ferulic acid, with the look of lines and firmness as the focus. Phloretin CF is 2% phloretin, 10% L-ascorbic acid and 0.5% ferulic acid, with the look of discoloration and uneven skin tone as the focus.
- Who is C E Ferulic for?
- Normal, dry, combination and sensitive skin, when lines and firmness are the priority.
- Who is Phloretin CF for?
- Normal, oily and combination skin, when uneven tone and the look of discoloration are the priority.
- When do you use them?
- Morning. Four to five drops on a dry face, neck and chest after cleansing and toning, before other skincare. Phloretin CF may also be used on the back of the hands.
- Can you use both?
- Both are morning serums. The product pages do not give a sequence for using them together, so we treat them as a choice of one morning vitamin C.
- What do they cost?
- Both are 30 ml / 1 fl oz at $230 CAD.
The short version
If you want one SkinCeuticals vitamin C serum for the look of lines and firmness, and your skin runs normal, dry, combination or sensitive, start with C E Ferulic.
If you want one for the look of discoloration and uneven skin tone, and your skin runs normal, oily or combination, start with Phloretin CF.
Price is not the tie-breaker. Both are $230 CAD for 30 ml. The split is the formula and the job each serum is built to do.
Already using C E Ferulic? The 2026 bottle is a patent-pending formula with the same 15% vitamin C, 1% vitamin E and 0.5% ferulic acid. We cover what changed, how to use it, and the published clinical figures in our C E Ferulic new formula guide. This post is the Phloretin comparison that article points to.
At a glance
| C E Ferulic | Phloretin CF | |
|---|---|---|
| Main concern | The look of lines, wrinkles and firmness | The look of discoloration, fine lines and uneven skin tone |
| Skin types | Normal, dry, combination, sensitive | Normal, oily, combination |
| Vitamin C | 15% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) | 10% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) |
| Paired with | 1% vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), 0.5% ferulic acid | 2% phloretin, 0.5% ferulic acid |
| When | Morning, 4 to 5 drops, face, neck and chest | Morning, 4 to 5 drops, face, neck and chest; may be used on the back of the hands |
| Size | 30 ml / 1 fl oz | 30 ml / 1 fl oz |
| Price | $230 CAD | $230 CAD |
Who C E Ferulic is for
C E Ferulic is SkinCeuticals' synergistic antioxidant combination of 15% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), 1% vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) and 0.5% ferulic acid. On our product page it is described as enhancing protection against environmental stress and damage caused by free radicals that contribute to atmospheric ageing.
In our C E Ferulic guide we map it to normal, dry, combination and sensitive skin, with the look of lines and firmness as the priority. That is the typical reason someone chooses it over Phloretin CF: they want the vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid trio, not a discoloration-first formula.
The published INCI also includes glycerin, panthenol and sodium hyaluronate, alongside tocopherol (vitamin E). Those are listed ingredients, not extra promises. Full directions and the ingredient list are on the C E Ferulic product page.
SkinCeuticals reports visible change in wrinkles, uneven tone and radiance for C E Ferulic in clinical testing. We do not repeat those figures here. They belong with the protocol notes in the C E Ferulic new formula article.
Who Phloretin CF is for
Phloretin CF is a patented combination of 2% phloretin, 10% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and 0.5% ferulic acid. Our product page describes enhanced protection against atmospheric skin ageing from environmental stressors, including free radicals from infrared radiation (IRA), UVA/UVB and ozone pollution (O3).
In addition to those antioxidant protective benefits, Phloretin CF is published to visibly enhance the appearance of discoloration, and to reduce the look of fine lines and uneven skin tone. That discoloration language is the practical difference. If the look of uneven tone is the reason you are shopping a vitamin C serum, this is the SkinCeuticals option built for that concern.
We map Phloretin CF to normal, oily and combination skin. The published INCI lists alcohol denat. and does not list tocopherol (vitamin E). C E Ferulic does list tocopherol. We mention that only as a formula difference on the labels, not as a medical claim.
Key actives compared
Percentages below are as published on our SkinCeuticals product pages. We do not add unpublished strengths or studies.
| Active | C E Ferulic | Phloretin CF |
|---|---|---|
| Pure vitamin CL-ascorbic acid | 15% | 10% |
| Vitamin EAlpha tocopherol | 1% | Not listed on the INCI |
| Ferulic acid | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Phloretin | Not in this formula | 2% |
Both serums use pure vitamin C with ferulic acid. C E Ferulic is the only one of the two that includes vitamin E at a published 1%. Phloretin CF is the only one that includes phloretin at a published 2%, and it uses a lower vitamin C strength (10% rather than 15%).
How to use them
The morning steps are the same on both product pages: cleanse, tone, then apply the serum to dry skin before the rest of your skincare.
- In the morning, after cleansing and toning, dispense 4 to 5 drops.
- Apply to a dry face, neck and chest. Phloretin CF may also be used on the back of the hands.
- Follow with the rest of your skincare, and finish with sunscreen. C E Ferulic goes on before other anti-ageing products. Phloretin CF goes on before other skincare products.
Neither product page positions these serums as a night step, and neither replaces sunscreen. Vitamin C belongs in the morning. Sunscreen still goes on last.
Can you use both?
You can own both. Using both in the same morning is a different question.
Each page calls for 4 to 5 drops, once in the morning, on dry skin, before other products. Neither page gives a layering order, a wait time, or a required sequence for using C E Ferulic and Phloretin CF together. We do not invent one.
Because both are daytime vitamin C serums, we treat them as an either-or in the morning: pick the formula that matches your skin and your main concern. If you want to talk through using more than one vitamin C serum, email us at info@yourskinsolution.ca.
Which to buy first
Buy C E Ferulic first if the look of lines and firmness is the priority, and your skin is normal, dry, combination or sensitive.
Buy Phloretin CF first if the look of discoloration and uneven tone is the priority, and your skin is normal, oily or combination.
If you are new to vitamin C and want a lower-strength SkinCeuticals option before either of these, we also carry Serum 10 AOX+ (10% L-ascorbic acid, 0.2% ferulic acid, 30 ml).
If your budget is one bottle, match the bottle to the concern. They are the same size and the same price, so the useful question is which result you care about seeing in the mirror.
Both sit in our SkinCeuticals collection, alongside the rest of the range we retail as an authorized Canadian retailer of medical-grade skincare.
Free shipping on orders of $99 or more, and samples with every order.
Shop the collectionFrequently asked questions
C E Ferulic or Phloretin CF, which should I choose?
Choose C E Ferulic for the look of lines and firmness on normal, dry, combination or sensitive skin. Choose Phloretin CF for the look of discoloration and uneven skin tone on normal, oily or combination skin. Both are 30 ml morning serums at $230 CAD.
What is the difference between C E Ferulic and Phloretin CF?
C E Ferulic combines 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% vitamin E and 0.5% ferulic acid. Phloretin CF combines 2% phloretin, 10% L-ascorbic acid and 0.5% ferulic acid. Phloretin CF is the one published to visibly enhance the appearance of discoloration. C E Ferulic is the one that includes vitamin E at a published 1%.
Can I use C E Ferulic and Phloretin CF together?
Both are once-daily morning serums. The product pages do not specify a sequence for using them together, so we do not give one. Most people pick a single morning vitamin C that matches their skin and their main concern.
Are they used in the morning or at night?
Morning. After cleansing and toning, apply 4 to 5 drops to dry skin on the face, neck and chest before other skincare. Phloretin CF may also be used on the back of the hands. Finish the routine with sunscreen.
How many drops should I use?
Four to five drops for either serum, as published on both product pages.
Does Phloretin CF contain vitamin E?
Vitamin E (tocopherol) is not listed on the Phloretin CF INCI published on our product page. C E Ferulic lists tocopherol and publishes 1% vitamin E (alpha tocopherol).
Can Phloretin CF be used on the hands?
Yes. The Phloretin CF directions say it may be used on the back of the hands. The C E Ferulic directions on our product page name the face, neck and chest.
Do these serums replace sunscreen?
No. Both go on in the morning before other skincare. Sunscreen still finishes the routine.
Which one should I buy first?
Match the first bottle to the concern. Lines and firmness: C E Ferulic. The look of discoloration and uneven tone: Phloretin CF. They are the same size and price, so the useful split is the formula, not the cost.
Actives, directions, INCI and prices are as published on our SkinCeuticals product pages and, for C E Ferulic skin-type mapping, our C E Ferulic formula article. Language describes the look and appearance of skin. Individual results vary. This article is general information, not medical advice. Speak with your dermatologist or skincare professional about what suits your skin.