Meladerm Review | Complete testing & Ingredient Analysis by a Cosmetic expert

If you are looking for a comprehensive and independent meladerm review, you are at the right place.

Let’s be honest, we all want that flawless and perfect skin, so as beauty addicts, we try every skin lightening cream on the market to find the best product to get rid of our brown spots, age spots, melasma and old acne scars….

Some of you kept requesting a review of meladerm skin lightening cream from the civant company. We heard you loud and clear and here is finally our detailed meladerm cream review to help you decide if this product is the right fit for your skin.

What is Meladerm?

Meladerm is a famous skin lightening cream which was released in 2003 by the Civant company.

This product has been a big hit ever since in the cosmetic industry and has received thousands of positive reviews.

You can imagine that these positive reviews clearly sparked our interest, so we definitely had to test it and check if it is really that effective.

What are the claims?

The Civant skin care company claims that it took them 4 years to work on the whitening cream formula to get the ideal cream for skin pigmentation issues.

They have also improved it recently by adding a few more ingredients to increase it lightening efficacy.

They also claim that unlike most whitening creams out there, meladerm won’t leave you with blotchy white patches and is a perfectly safe solution to hyperpigmentation.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

How does meladerm work?

Meladerm is an impressive combination of more than 10 ingredients which aim to reduce the production of melanin in your skin .

As a reminder, melanin is a pigment that is responsible for the color of your skin. Broadly speaking, the more melanin you have, the darker your skin is.

So meladerm, by keeping melanin production in check, will help fix gradually your pigmentation issues ranging from your dark spots and old acne scars to your discolored skin from stretchmarks.

Is Meladerm cream safe?

When it comes to whitening products, the safety issue is definitely the first thing that must come to your mind.

Unfortunately, there are many products out there formulated with dangerous cosmetic ingredients which can potentially lead to irreversible skin damage.

So, what about meladerm?

The good thing about civant lightening cream is that they don’t use hydroquinone, parabens, mineral oil, petrolatum, sulfates or phthalates.

Hydroquinone, is known to quickly depigment the skin. You might think: that is great!!!  well keep reading…. This ingredient, with too prolonged use and at high concentration, can bleach skin, increase the risk of skin cancer and also cause kidney and liver damage. That is why Civant company chose not to use it.

The consequence? The results will take a bit longer to appear BUT (and it is the good part) you can use meladerm in the long term without any fear as it is perfectly safe for your skin.  

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Our brutal and honest meladerm review

If you read our other cosmetic reviews, you already know we don’t it halfway, so if you are ready, fasten your seat belt and let’s dive in.

Inci list / Ingredients

Water, Caprylic Capric Triglycerides, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Butylene Glycol, Morus Alba (White Mulberry) Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi (Bearberry) Leaf Extract, Kojic Acid, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Alpha Arbutin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gum, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, C10-18 Glycerides, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine (Sepiwhite™), Citric Acid, Phenylethyl Resorcinol (SymWhite®), Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Primula Veris Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Veronica Officinalis Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract (GigaWhite™), Dicaprylyl Ether, Hyaluronic Acid, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Sorbic Acid, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Cetyl Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon), Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

Ingedients explained

Meladerm is a water-based cream with 12 key ingredients:

Bearberry Extract ( aka beta arbutin or arbutin) : it is extracted from the bear’s grape ( uva ursi in latin, yeah it sounds more intelligent haha) and studies show it is a natural skin brightener.

Emblica Fruit Extract : This extract comes from the Indian gooseberry plant or Phyllanthus emblica. Several studies have shown significant skin brightening properties when this ingredient is used in adequate concentrations.  

Kojic Acid : this ingredient is widely used by cosmetic formulators for whitening cosmetics as studies has shown that kojic acid has a lightening effect by safely inhibiting the production of melanin.

Lemon Extract : lemon juice is a well-known brightening skin ingredient, which is effective and non-irritating if formulated properly with small concentrations.

Licorice Root Extract : Glabridin, the active molecule in licorice extract, has anti-inflammatory and skin brightening properties.

Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) : this water soluble ingredient is often used by cosmetic formulators in association with other skin lightening ingredients such as arbutin and kojic acid to improve uneven skin tone, to fight moisture loss and dehydration by boosting the production of skin ceramides.

Vitamin C : Vitamin C is certainly the most famous cosmetic ingredient. It helps brighten the skin and helps protect the skin from pollution and sun damage.

Mulberry Extract : Often used in Chinese medicine, and combined with ingredients like licorice root extract and kojic acid to help brighten skin. Its efficacy has been proven by a clinical study.

Alpha Arbutin : It is one of the most effective brightening ingredients for dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Many clinical studies have shown its efficacy on all skin types.

GigaWhite™ : it is a unique combination of 7 alpine plant extracts, cultivated at high altitude whose main ingredients are flavonoids, phenolic acids, polysaccharides and iridoids. They can significantly reduce the color intensity of age spots and increase the luminescence of skin.

SymWhite™ : this oil-soluble ingredient from symrise laboratory is derived from pine trees, it outperforms kojic acid and has potent antioxidant properties. Studies show visible skin brightening efficacy within 28 days.

Sepiwhite™ : this lipoamino acid from the Seppic company is an excellent skin lightener and brightener, which is developed from phenylalanine, an amino acid involved in melanin synthesis.

First impressions about composition

At first sight, this list of key ingredients in meladerm has everything to make me happy.

As a cosmetic formulator, I am always annoyed by all these brands which spend more on marketing than on formulation. Most brands would have used maybe just 1 or 2 whitening ingredients and claim their product to be top notch.

Here, we have 12 “whitening” ingredients. So, they went far beyond what others would have done. In fact, if I had had to formulate a whitening product, I would have more or less used a similar combination.

My personal favorite brightening ingredients are Alpha Arbutin, and the 3 trademarked ingredients: GigaWhite™, SymWhite™ and Sepiwhite™. These ingredients have shown excellent results in vivo when used at a certain concentration. They also cost the most as you can imagine.

The thing is there is no data about what concentration was used for each active ingredient. We can only guess it from the Inci list which shows all the ingredients from highest to lowest concentration

• Gigawhite™ ( Malva Sylvestris Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Veronica Officinalis Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Primula Veris Extract): typical usage is 3-7 %. Here looking at the inci list, I doubt they went as far as 7%. Moreover, it would also lead to a higher concentration of glycerin which could potentially give a sticky texture.
• Symwhite™ (Phenylethyl Resorcinol): typical usage is 0,1% -1%. I think here the formulators did use between 0,1% and 0,5%. Symwhite is effective even at low concentrations.
• Sepiwhite™ (Undecylenoyl phenylalanine): typical usage is 0,2% and 2%. I think they certainly used more than 0,2%.

Another good thing is that they smartly combined Sepiwhite™ with AHAs, (alpha hydroxy acids), which can really enhance the overall whitening effect. Here they used citric acid and Vitamin C which can be considered like AHAs. They have exfoliating effects on the skin which can help get rid of the dead cells with melanin to reveal newer and more even skin. Vitamin C can be irritating. Here they used a derivative ( Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate) which is more stable and much more gentle to the skin compared to ascorbic acid ( vitamin C). So, this whitening cream can also be used by people with sensitive skin.   

I would have personally added more AHAs or at a higher dose as I think it could really improve the overall brightening efficacy, but it would also be potentially more irritating on the skin. ( I would then have recommended people to use it every other day instead of every day so to let the skin get used to this strength… it is the choice of their inhouse formulator and the choice of civant company is totally understandable as they probably wanted their product to be as effective as possible and still be suited to any skin type…)

When it comes to the preservatives, I admit I am not a big fan of phenoxyethanol, which more people and more people find a tad irritating compared to other new preservatives but to be fair, many extracts come with preexisting preservatives added by the suppliers who sell the extracts with preservatives. So, it is not always possible to avoid certain preservative. Moreover, the concentration is also a factor to take into account and with really low concentration, the irritating effect is very rare. At least, they did not use parabens and used instead a more “gentle” one for the whole formula such as the combination Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin.

So, all in all, I like this formation a lot, which really gathered all the best whitening ingredients out there in the cosmetic industry making meladerm for hyperpigmentation a very good candidate.

There could have been a few minor changes that I personally would have liked but as I said this is more a personal choice and I don’t think it would have made a huge difference in terms of efficacy. So broadly speaking, I think by looking at the composition only, this product should be really effective and help fight dark spots, age spots, old acne scars and other hyperpigmentation issues.

First impressions about texture and packaging

Meladerm skin whitening cream is a lightweight cream that is not sticky at all with a very soft and dry after feel.

It is clearly perfect for those with combination skin but for those who need a thicker texture or a more emollient cream, you will find it way too light. To make up for it, I recommend you to use either a hydrating serum below or to use on top a basic hydrating cream to avoid the dry feeling.

I also really like the fact that they used a high-quality airless dispenser to make sure the cream is not exposed to air, light or pollution. That way, they can extend the shelf life of the cream way longer and maintain its freshness and potency longer too.

What skin routine we followed during our meladerm review and testing?

We followed the same routine every day for 45 days in a row (with one exception on the 7^th day, where our tester forgot to apply the product at night, it was the only day where she forgot to apply the product).

Morning routine:   

• wash your skin with your regular face cleaner
• pat dry your face
• Use one pump of cream
• Apply it on your entire face but mostly on the targeted areas.
• Wait 2-3 minutes to let your skin absorb the cream
• Apply moisturizer and sunscreen with spf minimum 30 before going out to protect your skin and avoid melanin hyperproduction. (the sunscreen is not an option; you really need to protect your skin as sun triggers melanin production)

Evening routine:

• wash your skin with your regular face cleaner
• pat dry your face
• Use one pump of cream
• Apply it on your entire face but mostly on the targeted areas.
• Wait 2-3 minutes to let your skin absorb the cream
• Apply moisturizer (a very basic one) if you need more moisture before sleeping. You can also simply use a night oil.

Meladerm Results after 45 days

As expected from the study of its ingredients, after 45 days, we really got great lightening results.

A big thank you to emma who agreed to test the product and to send us her review after 45 days below.

The first visible results started to appear after the first 7 days with the skin looking less blotchy and uneven.

Then, the results were more gradual after the first week. My dark spots slowly faded day by day

As I mentioned earlier, my skin needed more moisture as meladerm is not nourishing enough for people like me with dry skin. So, the first week, my skin was a bit “tight” from the lack of moisture, even with the additional moisturizer on top. I also had slight skin irritation for 2 days which stopped once I applied more moisturizer at night.

After 45 days, I can clearly say that it is like day and night on some areas where the dark spots really disappeared. They were not too big to begin with. On some areas, the dark spots are still there but less visible, these ones were much bigger and will certainly require much more time and patience to fade.

We stopped the testing after 45 days, but I will keep on using the product for 90 days which should give a more accurate assessment of meladerm efficacy. I will keep Sophie our editor in chief posted with the results after 90 days.

Check here the official Meladerm website

Meladerm Results after 90 days

So as promised, I kept using the product for 90 days without missing a single day. ( Yeah I was motivated after the 45 day milestone). There was no real change after the first 45 days meaning that I got the best results in this 45 day period.

I did notice my skin tone was a bit more even, so I can’t say there was nothing lol.

I think using the product beyond 45 days probably helped me maintain the good results I got with Meladerm.

Am I still happy with Meladerm. Of course, I admit I wanted even more results lol (yeah I am greedy haha)

So, Meladerm is really worth it but you do need to stay consistent and apply the cream every day……

• if you are not ready to make that small effort, I think you should not even bother purchasing the product. Just keep your money 🙂
• if you want results, you will need to apply the cream every day and be consistent.

Possible Meladerm Side effects

Using meladerm can lead to some potential side effects due to the long list of active ingredients and your skin sensitivity.

• Irritation (we had some temporary irritation for 2 days, due to some skin dryness, that we addressed by using an additional moisturizer after meladerm)
• Redness
• Allergies for some people
• Increased skin sensitivity

These side effects are rare but can happen, so to minimize the risk we recommend 2 things:

1. Do a patch test first on your skin to make sure you don’t have any allergy and especially if you have sensitive skin, it is not possible to predict how your skin will react. Some people with sensitive skin did not experience any side effects while others did…. there are too many factors to take into account. Use the 30-day money back guarantee to test the product and get a refund if you are allergic to it.
2. Make sure to apply a sunscreen with a minimum spf of 30 as your skin will be more sensitive during this skin brightening treatment.

Is meladerm expensive?

Meladerm is clearly a whitening cream that works.

The main reason of its efficacy stems from the top-notch ingredients they have used.

As a result, the meladerm cream price can be seen as a bit high. It currently retails at $49.99 for one cream ( 1.7 fl oz / 50 ml)  with a 30-day money back guarantee

Note that if you buy 2, you can get a $20 discount off.

We recommend you to buy at least 2 bottles as your full results will appear after 2-3 months. So, you should try to take advantage of all the discounts available.

I think they could sell it at a lower price but if we compare it to other whitening products on the market which only have 2-3 active ingredients and which sell at $60-70, meladerm price is more worth it.  (yet, civant meladerm guys, if you read this review, you could probably sell it around $39-$42)

The good thing is that they offer a 30-day money back guarantee.

So, if after testing the product, you are not happy with the results, you can easily get a refund 🙂

( please whatever the brand or product, don’t be shy and ask a refund if you are not happy, I used not to dare to ask for a refund but the truth is it is your right so claim it if you need, if really you are not happy with the product)  

Check here the official Meladerm Website

Who is it for?

Meladerm whitening cream is mostly used for people with:

• Hyperpigmentation
• Discolorations
• Acne Marks
• Sun Tans
• Birthmarks
• Old Scars
• Melasma & Chloasma
• Uneven Skin Tone
• Age Spots & Dark Spots
• Elbows, Knees & Knuckles
• Underarms
• Freckles

Meladerm for hyperpigmentation can be used by people with sensitive skin and people with dry skin.

However you might need an additional moisturizer on top of it to bring more moisture.

Our final meladerm verdict

Meladerm skin lightening cream is definitely an excellent product. It shines with its impressive combination of more than 10 whitening ingredients.

The results you can get are impressive but please keep in mind it will take some time (minimum 2-3 months to reach the full results)

Pros

• 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
•  Certified cruelty free and vegan
• Impressive 12 active ingredients
• No hydroquinone
• High Quality Airless Dispenser
• Impressive results if you are patient and use it on a regular basis

Cons

• Results will take time (months)
• Minor side effects (dryness…)
• A bit expensive (but use money back guarantee if not satisfied)
• Only sold on their official website

Check the official Meladerm Website

Other civant meladerm reviews

You can easily find other meladerm cream reviews online to get a better idea of the results other people got. We are not surprised by all the positive reviews as it is truly a good product with quality cosmetic ingredients.

Great Product!!I am really amazed by this product. If I could post the before and after photos I would. I don’t even use it all the time but the results are astounding. I have dark spots all over my face. I spent way to much time in tanning beds and out in the sun. Needless to say I have stopped going to the tanning bed for quite some time now. I didn’t think I would be able to find a product that works so good. Thank you Civant for such an amazing product!! Review by Christina

Amazing product!! Hello everyone, just wanted to let you all know this product is amazing, I have really have bad scars from my acne, I only used this product for one week my face cleared up so much. I love it. I definitely recommend this product for anyone who suffers from acne scars. For the first time I feel like I could go out without makeup! Review by Alice

Click Here to Read more meladerm skin lightening cream reviews

Tips to maximize the results

If you want to speed up the process and get results faster, here is what we recommend:

Note that we did not follow the first 2 tips below.

We wanted to test meladerm without anything else that could influence the results but we strongly recommend you to add these steps to your whitening routine.

1. Do regular exfoliation (once a week for example) to get rid of dead cells and enable the meladerm cream to reach the deeper skin cells. You can use your regular scrub and save money here. You don’t need a fancy product here. You can use civant’s microdermabrasion cloth here or a regular scrub such as this one.
2. Use a serum with AHAs (alpha hydroxy acid) to enhance the overall brightening effect. Civant has an AHA exfoliating serum that you can use in combination with meladerm. We did not test it but from the look of its formula and ingredients, it seems very promising. We have added it to our list of serums to test. Feel free to let us know your results if you try it before us. You can check it here.
3. Use a sunscreen with a minimum spf of 30, it is important to avoid the harmful influence of sun during this pigmentation treatment as your skin is more sensitive. If you don’t protect your skin from the sun, your results will take more time to appear. Or worse it could prevent meladerm to work properly as the sun can worsen hyperpigmentation. Because it stimulates the production of melanin ( the pigment that colors your dark spots and old acne scars…)

To make things easier you could use their brightening kit here, where you have everything:

• Cleanser
• Toner,
• Meladerm cream
• SPF 50 sunscreen
• Microdermabrasion cloth

Check the official Meladerm Website

Meladerm On Lifetime TV

Meladerm was featured on lifetime TV. You can check it here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few questions you might ask about this meladerm product.

How long to see results with meladerm?

You will need to be patient as results will take time. In fact, the first results usually appear within 2 weeks. But to get the full results you will need to wait at least 2-3 months

Is Meladerm whitening cream safe?

Yes, it is. As previously mentioned, Meladerm does notinclude hydroquinone, mercury, steroids, or potentially harsh chemicals. So it is totally safe to use.

How long does a bottle of Meladerm last?

One bottle of Meladerm (1.7oz/ 50 ml) should last about 4 weeks.( if you apply it twice daily to your face.)

Is Meladerm safe for pregnant women or nursing mothers?

There is not enough data currently as to the safety of Meladerm for pregnant women. So, to be on the safe side, we recommend you to wait after pregnancy or nursing to use Meladerm.

Where is it made ?

It’s made in the USA in an FDA registered facility.

Is Meladerm vegan? Is meladerm tested on animals?

Yes, the good news is that all Meladerm products are vegan and cruelty-free. Moreover, the civant company is a member of the PETA Beauty without Bunnies program.

Where should I store meladerm whitening cream?

Like most cosmetics, keep the product in a cool and dry place to avoid sun and heat exposure. This will help maintain its efficacy as long as possible.

Do they ship outside the US?

Yes, the civant company ship internationally but additional shipping fees may apply.

Is there any money back guarantee?

Yes, you can try meladerm cream with confidence as they offer a 30 day money back guarantee. If you are not satisfied within 30 days, you can easily get a refund.

Where can I buy meladerm cream?  Where to get the best deal

You can easily buy meladerm online through their official website. That way, you are sure to avoid any fake products.

The best deal currently is from their official website as unfortunately, meladerm whitening cream is not available at retailers such as Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target, or CVS.

Conclusion

We hope our meladerm review really helped you get a better idea of this whitening cream and whether you would benefit from it.

Please remember, that for any cosmetic product, you need to be patient so give it some time and be consistent to get results… Results depend also on your efforts to stick to your routine…. 🙂

Stay awesome 🙂

Check the official Meladerm Website

If you want to read other awesome articles, check our complete and detailed guide about the best acne treatments here.