As you can probably tell from this blog, I am an avid fan of Skinceuticals CE Ferulic ($103.70, Amazon.com), and I have been using it religiously every morning since I was nineteen years old.  (I am now twenty-three.)  In my February 13, 2008 blog post, I wrote about a possibly cheaper new alternative, Cellbone Technology C15ie Advanced C-Serum ($68.00, Cellbone.com), which contained the same amount of vitamin C as Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, half of the vitamin E, and added 5% idebenone.  I promised to write a comparison of Cellbone Technology C15ie Advanced C-Serum and Skinceuticals CE Ferulic after using Cellbone Technology C15ie Advanced C-Serum exclusively for a while, and was gently reminded to do so by a reader this morning (thank you, thank you!)  And the verdict?

As far as I can tell, no difference, except the smell

Upon first switching to Cellbone Technology C15ie Advanced C-Serum, the first difference I noticed between it and Skinceuticals CE Ferulic was the smell, which I wrongly associated with an unintended high alcohol content.  However, inspection of the ingredients in both products (listed below) shows that both products contain hydrating alcohols.  The difference turns out to be that Cellbone Technology C15ie Advanced C-Serum contains menthol, while Skinceuticals CE Ferulic does not, which was the source of the smell.  Once I realized that, the smell didn’t bother me anymore.

I honestly noticed no change in my skin after using to Cellbone Technology C15ie Advanced C-Serum, which, in my opinion, suggests that it is a reasonable alternative to Skinceuticals CE Ferulic.  Once, a few years ago, I was without Skinceuticals CE Ferulic for a week, and I thought my skin seemed drier and less smooth.  However, after switching to Cellbone Technology C15ie Advanced C-Serum, my skin was every bit as clear as when I use Skinceuticals CE Ferulic.

So which is better?

I honestly think I am going to alternate between the two products for a while, until I get a definitive answer on which one is better, from research or otherwise.  Cellbone Technology C15ie Advanced C-Serum is obviously cheaper, and contains idebenone, which I love.  After all, because the exact pathway by which each antioxidant acts is not clear, using a variety of antioxidants is an oft-recommended way to protect yourself from unwanted free radical-induced damage.  On the other hand, Skinceuticals CE Ferulic contains no idebenone but does add ferulic acid, which stabilizes the rather unstable L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in solution.  In addition, Skinceuticals CE Ferulic contains 5% more vitamin E, and vitamin E together with vitamin C has been documented to have some pretty incredible effects.

Basically, if I were already using a night cream with idebenone, like Prevage, I would use only Skinceuticals CE Ferulic during the day.  However, being a college student, I certainly love saving money with Cellbone Technology C15ie Advanced C-Serum and getting idebenone there too.  After using both, I don’t visibly notice a difference, so the choice is clearly yours.    Let me know if you have any additional insights!

Ingredients in Cellbone Technology C15ie Advanced C-Serum

Water, L-Ascorbic Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Propylenglycol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Zinc Sulfate, Bioflavonoides, Idebenone, Alpha Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica, Menthol

Ingredients in Skinceuticals CE Ferulic

Water, Ethoxydiglycol, L-ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Laureth-23, Alpha Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Ferulic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate