Known for their simple yet effective approach to skincare and makeup, Measurable Difference carries cosmetic essentials from cleansers and serums to concealers and mascaras. But is this all-rounder capable of replacing some of the more high-end alternatives on the market? Today we’re looking at their Vitamin C serum in particular to give you an idea of their brand philosophy, the formula and the results that users have been able to experience over time. So without further delay, let’s get started!

What are the Best Skin Care Products of 2023?

Behind the Brand

Measurable Difference is an LA based beauty brand that was founded five years ago, as a way to bring about positivity through beauty. This brand is readily available through a number of retailers including Amazon, Walmart, TJMaxx and Marshalls. Unfortunately this serum is no longer available on the brand’s website, so you’ll have to look out for it in store if this product interests you.

Vitamin C Serum

Measurable difference offers four different serums including a glycolic acid anti-aging serum, a lactic acid skin renewal serum, a collagen and retinol serum and of course, a vitamin c serum. The vitamin C serum specifically is designed to brighten and even out skin tone. Since the serum is no longer available directly through the brand, finding specific information about the claims behind this mask can be difficult. What we can tell you is that based on the ingredients, this serum could be soothing and moisturizing as well as radiance boosting.

Inside the Ingredients

This product features a effective, yet pared down list of ingredients, so you won’t find a ton of fillers here. In fact, the entire ingredients list only has eight ingredients, so you’re only seeing the essentials. While the formula is not considered organic or natural, but this formula is cruelty free as well as vegan.

The bulk of this formula is made up of moisturizing ingredients, which includes Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Aloe is an incredibly moisturizing and soothing ingredient that you can find in so many skincare products. It offers hydration as well as healing benefits, due to the hormones that are contained within it. These hormones possess anti-inflammatory properties and can also reduce inflammation.

Hyaluronic acid has become hugely popular this year as a moisturizing superstar. This ingredient has the ability to draw water to the skin and can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it an absolute essential for those with dry skin. And then finally, we have vitamin E, which actually works in several different ways. Vitamin E oil is quite nourishing on it’s own, but due to it’s antioxidant properties, it works as a more natural preservative in order to extend the shelf life of your serum.

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Alongside all those moisturizing ingredients, the star of the show in this formula is magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. This is an ester of vitamin C that claims to be a more stable replacement for pure vitamin C. Based on the research behind this ingredient, there are a few pros and cons.

Starting off with the pros of this ingredient, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate or sodium ascorbyl phosphate are some of the most popular esters of vitamin C. Pure vitamin c on it’s own is incredibly difficult to formulate with. It’s very unstable, meaning that it’s likely to oxidize and lose all of its potency within the first three months of consistent use. Additionally, pure ascorbic acid can be sensitizing to some people, especially those who have never tried a dedicated vitamin C product before. Because of these two factors, esters like magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, have become increasingly popular in vitamin C serums. These esters have none of the irritation that pure vitamin C has, and is much more stable, so you can have a serum for double the time without worrying about oxidation.

With that all said, there are a few downsides when it comes to this vitamin c derivative. When it comes to the research for these ingredients, there are a few ups and downs. While it has been shown in clinical studies that magnesium ascorbyl phosphate helps to lighten hyperpigmentation and can affect surface level skin conditions, there is not enough research yet to definitively claim that this ester penetrates the skin. What that means is that while it may be helpful with conditions like acne and hyperpigmentation, you may not receive the complete list of benefits that vitamin C has to offer, including the anti-aging benefits.

Review Recap

Unfortunately, there’s just not a whole lot to go off of here. This product is difficult to track down online, so there’s only a handful of reviews to choose from on Amazon. While the vast majority of those few are positive, there’s not enough variety to see how these products work over time, and how they perform for different skin types and skin conditions. What we can tell you though is that most reviewers felt that this serum helped to lighten hyperpigmentation and clearing up acne/acne scars. Additionally, this serum yielded some hydrating and skin softening benefits as well.

With all that said, serums like the Measurable Difference Vitamin C Serum can be helpful in combating some of the most common skin concerns, so it’s worth looking into some of these ingredients. What’s your go-to Vitamin C serum? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Related: Best Vitamin C Serums