Call it a blessing or a curse but living in a warmer climate 365 days a year can really do a number on your skin. Even with a consistently full-face of heavy-duty SPF, wearing hats, large sunglasses and UV blocking clothing, the sun and heat can wreak havoc on my skin, and I’m left with dark spots that just get darker over time no matter what I do.
Enter SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF Gel ($166), a daily vitamin C serum that protects from environmental aggressors that lead to advanced skin aging while reducing the look of dark spots and hyperpigmentation while evening out skin tone and texture. While that may be a tall order, this super light gel formulation actually delivers due to the potent mix of 2% phloretin which helps lessen discoloration, 10% L-ascorbic acid to brighten skin and protect against oxidative stress, and 0.5% Ferulic Acid to neutralize free radicals.
While SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic is a holy grail skin refiner for so many, my skin has always been very reactive and sadly, I’ve never been able to fully stick with it. However, the Phloretin CF Gel boasts the same benefits and I’ve been able to use it every day without any sensitivity or redness. Just two pumps in the morning before I apply my moisturizer and my daily SPF is all I need for brighter, smoother skin—and I was floored by how quickly it worked. While my main concern is dark spots, I love that it’s also minimizing the fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes and mouth while working its magic.
Because the serum-in-a-gel is housed in an airtight container, I also don’t have to worry about oxidation or degradation of the precious vitamin C, which is an added bonus because I’m going to cherish every drop. I’m looking forward to beautiful, brighter skin all winter.
