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SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF for oily acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers excellent antioxidant protection and brightening for your oily skin, as ascorbic acid and ferulic acid work to shield from pollution and even skin tone.
  • The formula is highly suitable for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts, with ascorbic acid and phloretin aiding cell turnover and sebum regulation.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
  • Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 3.5k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this product is highly regarded for brightening the complexion, evening skin tone, and reducing discoloration such as dark spots and melasma, particularly benefiting those with normal, oily, combination, or acne-prone skin. Many users report achieving smoother, more radiant skin and a decrease in fine lines. However, a significant number of reviews mention the high cost, a strong scent, and occasional issues with stickiness or packaging.

Highlights

  • Brightens skin Mostly Mentioned
    • “I really love this product, as my skin is brighter.”
    • “It has evened out my skin tone and helped the overall look of my skin!”
    • “Noticeably smoother, more even toned skin.”
    • “I immediately notice how much brighter and more even my skin looks when I add it back in.”
  • Fades discoloration Often Mentioned
    • “Really fades brown spots, perfect for men and a little goes a long way!”
    • “I have really bad melasma and this had helped to keep it under control.”
    • “It also worked synergistically with azelaic acid to fade my dark spots.”
    • “I have seen an amazing improvement in discoloration and uneven skin tone.”
  • Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
    • “It is a light weight, fast absorbing serum.”
    • “It feels lightweight and absorbs quickly.”
    • “Absorbs well and doesn't leave a greasy finish.”
    • “The formula glides onto skin easily and penetrates quickly.”
  • High price point Often Mentioned
    • “It's not bad by any means but it's also kinda meh at a high price point.”
    • “Extremely pricey ($130 for 30 mL).”
    • “It's ridiculously expensive, but it lasts a long time.”
    • “Expensive but worth the buy.”
  • Good for oily skin Sometimes Noted
    • “If you have oily skin, this is a great vitamin C to try.”
    • “Fantastic and effective vitamin c serum for acne prone skin.”
    • “I like the Phloretin better because it keeps my skin from getting too oily.”
    • “Great for sensitive or acne prone skin.”
  • Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “The scent is strong and smells like alcohol mixed with something burnt.”
    • “This product smells strongly like alcohol which is quite unpleasant.”
    • “Has strong fragrance... not my HG.”
    • “The scent reminds me of burnt sugar and wood burning.”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “Spills fast and I cannot control the nozzle.”
    • “Sometimes it makes my skin so sticky after massage.”
    • “The liquid dropper is my least favorite part.”
    • “Spreading in palms is essential before applying with fingers.”

Sources: lovi.care, skinceuticals.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, bluemercury.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?

SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF is a great fit because its blend of ascorbic acid and ferulic acid shields oily skin from pollution while evening out your skin tone. Additionally, phloretin and ascorbic acid help control oil and support cell turnover to keep blemishes and breakouts at bay safely without causing irritation.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2016

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Ascorbic acid, phloretin, and ferulic acid make this serum a great fit by shielding your oily skin from pollution, evening your skin tone, and helping control breakouts and sebum. This combination is unlikely to cause irritation while supporting clearer and brighter skin.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2016

What does phloretin do for oily acne-prone skin?

Phloretin helps oily acne-prone skin by slowing down the growth of acne-causing bacteria and reducing extra oil. Clinical studies show it also significantly lowers whiteheads and calms inflammation to keep your skin clear and smooth.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2016Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008

What does vitamin C do for oily acne-prone skin?

Vitamin C helps brighten and smooth oily acne-prone skin while improving overall texture and dark spots. It is unlikely to cause breakouts and works well to keep the skin looking clear and radiant.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, following the simple and safe approach for active serums. It is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin, helping protect from pollution while managing breakouts.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum in your morning routine and the retinol in the evening. This helps you avoid irritation while giving your oily skin strong antioxidant protection and blemish control.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2016

How often should I use this serum?

This treatment is a great fit and can be used in your evening routine, starting once a week to see how your skin responds. Ascorbic acid, phloretin, and ferulic acid help protect your skin from pollution, brighten tone, and balance oil.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2016

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily acne-prone skin. Its ingredients help regulate oil and clear dead skin cells safely without causing irritation.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2016Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).

What the research says

  • A topical antioxidant solution of 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% alpha-tocopherol, and 0.5% ferulic acid provides significant photoprotection against solar-simulated UV radiation in human skin compared to its vehicle.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008

  • A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Pretreatment with a topical antioxidant mixture of vitamin C, ferulic acid, and phloretin attenuated ultraviolet-induced sunburn cell formation, thymine dimer formation, matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression, p53 protein expression, and the suppression of CD1a-expressing Langerhans cells in human skin compared to vehicle control.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008

  • Phloretin inhibits the growth of acne-related bacteria, attenuates P. acnes-induced inflammatory mediators in vitro, and significantly reduces comedo counts, sebum output, and porphyrin levels in subjects with whiteheads compared to before treatment.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2016

  • Phloretin 3',3-disulfonate attenuated UVB-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer formation, glutathione depletion, apoptosis, and inflammatory mediator release in skin cells by enhancing nucleotide excision repair gene expression.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2014

  • Compound 11c showed potent inhibitory activity against tyrosinase at nanomolar concentrations and reduced melanin content in a UV-induced skin pigmentation guinea pig model.

    Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2023

  • An optimized phloretin-based antiacne hydrogel formulation achieved 75% drug release over 120 minutes and strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis with an 11 mm inhibition zone, comparable to benzoyl peroxide gel, while showing no skin irritancy.

    Anti-inflammatory & Anti-allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 2026

  • Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2003

  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009

  • Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

  • Treatment with 14% ferulic acid and 12% l-ascorbic acid significantly reduced pigmentation and erythema while improving hydration and elasticity in 20 women with photoaged skin, with neither acid proving definitively more effective overall though ascorbic acid showed slightly greater skin lightening.

    Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

  • Combining fractional microneedle radiofrequency with a topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced wrinkle severity by 29.9% versus 18.0%, increased elasticity by 12.9% versus 2.3%, and improved aesthetic outcomes in 31 participants compared to radiofrequency and placebo.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025

  • Topical ferulic acid-containing formulations effectively reduce skin erythema, hyperpigmentation, and signs of aging in adults compared to baseline or alternative conditions.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025

Ingredients

Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat, Ascorbic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Triethyl Citrate, Phloretin, Ferulic Acid

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
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