Versus

SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum Versus SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF

Serum
Serum
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on February 16, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 2 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin C

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Alto Defense Serum

Water

Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Propanediol

Solvent

Ethylhexyl Olivate

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Cetearyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 1 Fatty Alcohol IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Chlorogenic Acids

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Skin Conditioning

Lauryl Lactate

Emollient

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Solvent

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Bleaching
Good for Dark Spots Icon

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Ergothioneine

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Benzylidene Dimethoxydimethylindanone

Skin Protecting

Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Carnosine

Skin Conditioning

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant Icon

Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Olea Europaea Fruit Extract

Bleaching

Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract

Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2

Skin Conditioning
Peptide Icon

Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract

UV Filter

Coffea Arabica Leaf Cell Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Crocus Sativus Leaf Cell Culture Extract

Skin Protecting

Superoxide Dismutase

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Ubiquinone

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Masking

Ceramide NP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Ceramide AP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Ceramide EOP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Linoleic Acid

Cleansing
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Linolenic Acid

Cleansing
Fragrance IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sea Whip Extract

Skin Conditioning

Bisabolol

Masking
Helps reduce irritation Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Cholesterol

Emollient
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Phytosphingosine

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Jojoba Esters

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium PCA

Humectant
0 / 0

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Methyl Gluceth-20

Humectant

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Lecithin

Emollient

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

Emulsifying

Dicetyl Phosphate

Emulsifying

Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate

Emollient

Polyglycerin-3

Humectant

Ceteth-20 Phosphate

Cleansing

Diisostearyl Malate

Emollient

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Steareth-2

Emulsifying
2 / 2

Acacia Senegal Gum

Masking

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising
1 / 0

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Dextran

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Disodium EDTA

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

When to use

20 Routines
70% use in am
30% use in pm
100% use every day
120 Routines
93% use in am
8% use in pm
93% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients

Alto Defense Serum hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF 8 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 3 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Expensive (1) Light (1)
sooyeonkim's avatar

☁️Holly☁️

5 months ago
Review

Would repurchase, have repurchased.
Fantastic and effective vitamin c serum for acne prone skin. The 10% is more suited for reactive skin. I hate that it works so well for overall skin health. It made my skin just look more … balanced? And it also worked synergistically with azelaic acid to fade my dark spots.

#expensive
#light
#absorbs well
#light scent
HilaryFerraro_536's avatar

HilaryFerraro_536

2 years ago
Review

Vitamin c brightener and antioxidants