Thanks to Marsha, I have discovered a new set of product twins – identical ingredients in differently branded and, often, very differently priced products. If you look at the ingredients of Skinceuticals CE Ferulic and Cosmetic Skin Solutions C + E Ferulic Serum, you’ll be seeing double. They are the exact same formulas.  The only thing that isn’t the same is the price. Skinceuticals costs $142 and Cosmetic Skin Solutions costs $39.95.

How Skinceuticals CE Ferulic (which we reviewed last year) justifies the $100 difference is unclear. Perhaps it is by listing the concentrations of the three actives: vitamin C at 15%, vitamin E at 1% and ferulic acid at 0.5%.  Well no actually, Cosmetic Skin Solutions makes exactly the same claims on its bottle.

Ferulic acid, by the way, is a great ingredient. It has been found to act synergistically with other antioxidants and, specifically, renders vitamins C and E more powerful. A Duke University study found it particularly good for preventing sun damage, and studies elsewhere have demonstrated that exposure to ultraviolet light actually increases the antioxidant power of ferulic acid.

Good at any price perhaps, but I know which one I’d buy.  And, since I know you are dying to ask, Marsha is very pleased with the results of Cosmetic Skin Solutions.

For more product twins, check out this article.

Ingredients in Skinceuticals

Water, Ethoxydiglycol, 15% L-Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Laureth-23, 1% Alpha Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, 0.5% Ferulic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate

Ingredients in CSS

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