Meladerm Reviews: Can this cream brighten and clear up your skin?

As the largest organ of your body, your skin performs a lot of vital functions. It protects you from invaders like germs and bacteria, keeps your temperature regulated, and helps facilitate your sense of touch.1 However, your skin goes through a lot as you age — injuries, scars, sunburns, acne, and sometimes conditions like eczema, melasma, and more. And a lot of these can leave spots of discoloration (or hyperpigmentation) on your skin.

For many people, uneven skin tone can greatly affect their quality of life by being a source of lower self-esteem, anxiety, or depression. For instance, patients with acne have shown an increased risk of depression and suicide attempts.2 And some patients with melasma have reported decreased self-confidence and an increase in self-consciousness or even negative self-obsession in severe cases.3

Meladerm, from the skincare brand Civant, was designed to brighten skin and reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation from causes like melasma, acne, scarring, and more. But does it work? And is it safe to use on your skin?

We researched the active ingredients in Meladerm and conducted hands-on testing to see if Civant’s claims for its product hold up.

Meladerm’s ingredients are what make it stand out from the competition. With 15 active ingredients — all with positive research pointing toward skin lightening potential — and no harsh inclusions (like hydroquinone), Meladerm should be effective for most types of hyperpigmentation on all skin types. However, this product is more expensive than many competing products on the market, and the company’s return policy has some complicated conditions to keep in mind.

Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions to boost their wellness and live healthier lifestyles.

No matter the product or service, we extensively test and research everything we review to provide accurate and unbiased information. We analyze the subjects of our reviews based on their adherence to quality, the latest medical evidence, and current health standards. For this review, we pored over 50 relevant scientific studies and conducted hands-on testing of Meladerm. We also thoroughly researched the history of skin lightening itself.

Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this review of Meladerm was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.

When evaluating Meladerm, we graded it according to four separate criteria: safety, effectiveness, cost, and customer support. Especially with the history of dangerous (or deadly) ingredients in skin-lightening products, we considered safety to be the most important criterion, followed closely by how well Meladerm works. Cost and customer support are essential parts of the overall customer experience, but we didn’t consider those to carry as much weight as safety and effectiveness in this case.

Safety

Certain ingredients often seen in skin-lightening products — specifically, hydroquinone, mercury, and steroids — were found to cause serious (sometimes life-threatening) side effects. Because of this, in 2020, the FDA restricted the sale of over-the-counter skincare products containing hydroquinone and banned mercury’s use in them entirely.4

Thankfully, Meladerm doesn’t contain any of the aforementioned harmful ingredients. (This can also be said for all of our picks for Meladerm alternatives.) And the company behind Meladerm, Civant, takes pride in creating formulas that are vegan, made in the USA, and free from:

• Parabens
• Mineral oil
• Phthalates
• Sulfates
• Artificial fragrances

This is similar to how competitor Andalou Naturals handles ingredients — promising only non-GMO, vegetarian, cruelty-free, organic, nature-derived inclusions to its products.

But, while Meladerm’s ingredients should be tolerated by most people’s skin, including sensitive skin, everyone is different. It’s best to test the product in a small patch of your skin for a few days to make sure it doesn’t cause any irritation or allergic reactions.5

Additionally, skin-lightening products, or any product that reduces the amount of melanin in your skin, can make your skin more photosensitive (more sensitive to UV rays and, therefore, more susceptible to burning from the sun or artificial sources, like tanning beds).6 So, when using skin-brightening products like Meladerm, it’s extra important to remember your sunscreen.

Effectiveness

All 15 of the active ingredients in Meladerm have at least some positive research supporting their skin-lightening properties. From alpha arbutin and hyaluronic acid to lemon extract and pomegranate — Civant's claims of research into the efficacy of Meladerm’s ingredients aren’t false.

One other thing that boosts our rating for Meladerm’s effectiveness is the bottle it comes in. Airless pump bottles prevent oxygen from reaching certain ingredients that can oxidize when exposed to air (like vitamin C).7 This means that Civant's use of the airless pump in its Meladerm bottles should keep the product from deteriorating. Additionally, some research suggests that airless pumps can reduce the chances of cosmetics and skincare products being contaminated by bacteria.8

Most Meladerm competitors package their skin-lightening offerings in bottles that use air to pull the product up through a tube or in a jar with no dispensing mechanism at all. Only one of our picks for Meladerm alternatives, Hers Fast Fader, also uses an airless pump bottle.

Cost

Doing a quick search for skin-lightening products on the internet will show you a multitude of choices with a wide range of prices — anywhere from around $10 to well over $100. The average price for most products with decent reviews, however, appears to be around the $20-$40 range. Meladerm sits a bit outside of that range at $64 for a one-time purchase of a single 1.7oz bottle (about a 7-week supply). There is a discount for subscribing, but 5% off still makes a single bottle $60.80, or about $20 more than the higher end of the aforementioned price range.

However, many of the other products that claim to do the same thing as Meladerm — reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation — only include a few active ingredients. One example of this is Neutrogena’s Rapid Tone Repair Correcting Cream, which has three active ingredients (vitamin C, retinol, and hyaluronic acid) and costs $30.99. Meladerm, on the other hand, contains 15 active ingredients. This could certainly make the price feel more acceptable in some people’s eyes.

Ultimately, Meladerm is not the most cost-effective skin-brightening product out there, but we feel it’s decently priced for what you get. You can also purchase a 2-pack bundle to save around $30 ($98 total) or subscribe for a 5% discount. And, in the end, if you feel that the product doesn’t suit your needs, you can take advantage of the company’s 30-day money-back guarantee (provided you meet the conditions of the return policy).

Customer support

Civant’s website has an extensive FAQ section, and each individual product page boasts fairly extensive information about active ingredients, applicable skin types, what the product is for, and where it can be used on the body.

If you need to contact Civant, you can fill out the contact form on the website, send an email to the company directly, or even send physical mail to the company (Civant’s address is listed above the contact form).

On the topic of returns, Civant offers a 30-day money-back guarantee in its return policy. However, the company’s return policy comes with so many unique conditions (like needing to return any free gifts, or else you’ll be charged for them) that it doesn’t feel as customer-friendly as the policies from competitors. Neutrogena and Andalou Naturals, for example, have the same 30-day money-back guarantee, but in a much more straightforward manner without as many conditions. Acure has the most customer-friendly policy out of the companies mentioned in this review, offering a 365-day guarantee.

Hyperpigmentation is a common condition where areas of the skin become darker due to an excess of melanin, the substance responsible for the color of your hair, eyes, and skin.9 10 This usually benign condition can affect individuals of any racial background. Hyperpigmentation can appear as dark spots or patches in various shades, including brown, black, gray, red, or pink.11

You may experience the condition on only one part of your body or in multiple areas. And while the affected areas typically don't itch or feel physically uncomfortable, they can impact people’s self-esteem. Some common types of hyperpigmentation include:9 11

• Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (often caused by skin injuries due to acne, cuts, or burns)
• Melasma
• Sun damage
• Hormone changes (puberty, pregnancy, menopause)
• Genetics (one cause of freckles)
• Health conditions, such as thyroid or adrenal disorders
• Certain medications
• Vitamin deficiencies (B12)

Sun protection and proper skincare, along with various treatments (like Meladerm) can be effective in addressing or preventing additional hyperpigmentation.

The roots of skin lightening

Skin-lightening products have deep-seated roots in the historical prevalence of colorism, which is the belief that white or lighter skin is preferable or more beautiful. This concept was heavily influenced by Eurocentric beauty ideals propagated through colonialism.12

Colorism has placed pressure on Latinx,13 Asian,14 and BIPOC individuals,15 particularly women, across the globe.16 17 And many have felt obligated to use skin-lightening products in order to fit the “ideal” beauty standard, even if the products contain dangerous ingredients (such as hydroquinone, mercury, and steroids).18

Meladerm is manufactured by Civant, a company founded in 1999 with the mission of creating a product to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Over the past 20+ years, Civant has grown to sell more items designed to promote healthy skin, including eye cream, anti-aging cream, moisturizer, cleanser, toner, and more. The company also offers skincare kits that combine multiple products into bundles sold at discounted prices.

While the company demonstrates care for its product quality based on the research behind the ingredients used (many of which make an appearance on the Clinical Research section of Civant’s website), it also takes pride in the ingredients excluded from its formulas:

• Parabens
• Phthalates
• Sulfates
• Mineral oil
• Artificial fragrance
• Hydroquinone

The final exclusion, hydroquinone, is particularly relevant for Meladerm, as it’s been a common ingredient in many skin-lightening creams for decades. However, this ingredient comes with a slew of potential dangers, including, but not limited to:

• Ochronosis (permanent gray-blue discoloration of the skin)19
• Thyroid disorders20
• Liver damage20
• Aplastic anemia21
• Acute myeloid leukemias21

Due to these health risks, in 2020 the FDA restricted the sale of over-the-counter skincare products that contain the ingredient.4

What can Meladerm be used for?

Meladerm was formulated to reduce the appearance of skin hyperpigmentation, which can occur or exist for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to:9 11

• Acne
• Melasma
• Sun damage
• Hormone changes
• Freckles
• Thyroid or adrenal disorders

According to the product page on Civant’s website, Meladerm can be used on your face, elbows, knees, underarms, and inner thighs. From our research and experience, none of the ingredients Civant uses in Meladerm appear to be unsafe or too harsh for those areas of the body. Of course, everyone’s skin is different, so, as recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology, it’s always best to test skincare products first.5

Civant online reviews

As of the writing of this review, Civant’s Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot pages are both barren of any activity. If you want to find reviews for Civant’s products, the best place to look appears to be its Junip profile (a lesser-known review platform that can be integrated into Shopify storefronts).

The 1,000+ reviews on Civant’s Junip page are mainly positive — the company boasts a 4.74 out of 5 star rating, with 93% of customers stating they’d recommend the brand. Most of the reviews are about Meladerm, and a majority of customers seem happy with their results. Product complaints appear to be about not seeing results, or eventual results coming slower than they wanted.

Yes, Meladerm should work for most people. This is likely due to just how many of the included ingredients have properties that may lighten, smooth, and even out skin. Many competing products, like Neutrogena’s Rapid Repair or Acure’s Brightening Cream, contain only a couple of active brightening ingredients. Meladerm, on the other hand, includes 15 active ingredients — all with at least some positive research backing their ability to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation.

The majority of reviews report satisfaction with their results, though some users have complained of insignificant results or that it can take up to three or more months of sustained use before noticeable changes take place. According to information from the American Academy of Dermatology, this time difference for some users could be due to the shade difference of the hyperpigmented areas. The darker the shade of the hyperpigmentation, the deeper it is in the skin, and the longer it may take to begin fading as you use skin-lightening products like Meladerm.22

Taking information from customer reviews, our research, and our testers' hands-on experience with Meladerm leads us to the conclusion that the speed at which it works varies significantly (anywhere from a couple of weeks to three or more months), but it should ultimately be effective for most people.

Meladerm is a safe choice for most users. It doesn’t include commonly seen dangerous or potentially harmful skin-lightening ingredients like mercury or hydroquinone. (The former has been banned for use in skincare products by the FDA, while the latter is heavily regulated and not available over the counter.)4

As with other skin-brightening products, however, Meladerm is likely to make your skin extra sensitive to UV radiation — from both natural and artificial sources. Some ways to ensure your skin stays protected while using Meladerm include:

• Using broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30
• Sticking to shaded areas, if possible
• Wearing a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses
• Avoiding tanning beds
• Trying to stay out of the sun between the peak hours of 10AM and 4PM23

Besides an increase in UV sensitivity, the only risk of using Meladerm comes if you’re allergic or sensitive to one of its ingredients. Civant suggests testing Meladerm on a small patch of skin before applying it elsewhere to see how your skin reacts, which is what the American Academy of Dermatology recommends, as well, when trying new skincare products.5

If you do develop a reaction to Meladerm, gently wash off the product and discontinue its use. Remedies like petroleum jelly or a cool compress can help relieve skin irritation.5

Similar to some other skin-lightening products from competitors, such as those from Andalou Naturals and Acure, the majority of Meladerm’s active ingredients are from plants or otherwise found in nature.

Civant makes it known that the company doesn’t use hydroquinone, parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, sulfates, or artificial perfumes in its formulas. Meladerm is also free of dangerous skin-whitening ingredients like bleach, mercury, and steroids. This lack of harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances is likely why Meladerm is considered safe for most skin types.

Meladerm is also housed in an airless bottle, which can prevent product oxidation and reduce the chances of contamination from bacteria.7 8

Many of the ingredients in Meladerm inhibit the enzyme tyrosinase. Your body uses this enzyme to synthesize melanin, which gives your skin its pigmentation.24 By inhibiting it, you should be able to reduce hyperpigmentation.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the 15 key ingredients in Meladerm. (Lemon, licorice, and mulberry extract have been combined into one entry due to their similar purposes.)

Every bottle of Meladerm contains about 50 pumps of product, which Civant claims should last you about seven weeks. We found this estimate to be accurate in our testing (and learned that the product can be stretched even further with half-pumps).

When using Meladerm, it’s recommended you apply it twice daily for optimal results. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to use it:

1. Before applying Meladerm, it’s ideal to wash your skin thoroughly. Clearing the skin of dirt and oils can maximize the product’s effectiveness.
2. After patting your face dry, use one pump (or half of a pump) and massage the product evenly over the designated area until it’s fully worked into the skin.
3. Finally, let Meladerm soak into your skin for about ten minutes. It’s best to ensure the cream is fully dry before applying any additional skincare products or makeup.

One bottle of Meladerm costs $64 for a one-time purchase of a single 1.7oz bottle of product. This amount should last you about seven weeks if you use it as recommended — once in the morning and once at night.

Even though it isn't the most affordable product of its kind on the market, there are a couple of ways you can save money when purchasing Meladerm: by purchasing a 2-pack, subscribing for recurring deliveries, or both. The chart below breaks down the costs.

Interestingly, even though Civant has a store on Amazon, Meladerm isn’t available there at this time.

If you decide to subscribe, you can have your Meladerm shipped to you every one, two, or three months. Unfortunately, neither the quantity of bottles you purchase nor the frequency of your deliveries changes how much of a discount you receive — it’s always 5% off. This is similar to subscribing to Andalou Naturals for recurring shipments of its Renewal Cream, except you get 10% off.

After trying Meladerm, if you find it doesn’t suit your needs, then you can return it within 30 days for your money back. This is a fairly standard length of time for a return policy — it’s the same as that of Andalou Naturals and Neutrogena — but what’s not so standard are a few of the conditions of Civant’s policy. Here are the conditions that stood out to us:

• If subsequent orders of the same product are made after the original purchase, they aren’t eligible for a refund.
• Orders with four or more of the same product aren’t eligible for a refund.
• If you do return multiples of the same item, only one can be opened to receive a full refund. The others must be unopened and completely sealed.
• If you make more than three orders within a 30-day window, then any order within that time frame is not eligible for a refund.
• If you received a free gift with your purchase, it must be included in the return, otherwise the cost of that item will be deducted from your money back.

The customer is also responsible for the return shipping cost, which isn’t all that uncommon, but is still a bit disappointing.

With so many products on the market that claim to brighten your skin or even out your skin tone, it can be tough to know which one is best for you. In this section, we touch on a few of our favorite Meladerm alternatives. If you want to learn more about these options, check out our dedicated guide to the best whitening creams.

Hers Fast Fader Dark Spot Corrector

The Fast Fader Dark Spot Corrector from telehealth company Hers contains three main active ingredients — tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and azelaic acid (all three of which are also in Meladerm). The pen-like design of this product allows for more targeted application on smaller spots.

At $25 for a one-time purchase, Hers’ Fast Fader is less than half the price of Meladerm, but it’s probably not as ideal for those with larger patches of hyperpigmentation. Additionally, Hers doesn’t accept returns of its products, making it the least customer-friendly return policy out of the products we mention in this review.

Acure Brightening Day Cream and Serum

Acure’s line of brightening products is quite expansive, containing over a dozen different products at the time of this review. For the purposes of more direct comparisons, though, we stuck to looking at the company’s Brightening Day Cream and Brightening Glowing Serum. These two products, in particular, have the most similar ingredients to Meladerm and the other competitors mentioned.

The cream ($19.99) and serum ($21.99) both have four key ingredients, some of which can be found in Meladerm as well, like pomegranate. And, similar to Meladerm, Acure is cruelty-free and proud to offer formulas that are free of ingredients that can irritate the skin — such as parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, petrolatum, and formaldehyde.

Andalou Naturals Probiotic + C Renewal Cream

Andalou Naturals’ Renewal Cream, uniquely, contains vegan probiotic microflora as one of its key ingredients. Though you may not see probiotics often included in topical skincare, they can help reduce skin inflammation, among other benefits.48 49 Additionally, many of the other ingredients in this cream are nature-derived, certified organic, or fair trade.

At $28.99, Andalou’s Renewal Cream is the second-most expensive Meladerm alternative behind Neutrogena, but it’s still about half the cost of Meladerm itself. If skin inflammation is a major concern of yours, then this could be a good option.

Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Correcting Cream

Similar to Acure, Neutrogena has a whole line of products devoted to skin brightening, including a “Correcting Cream,” a day moisturizer with SPF, a night moisturizer, a spot corrector, and vitamin C capsules. Out of these products, the closest competing product to Meladerm is Neutrogena’s Correcting Cream.

Like Hers’ Fast Fader, this cream has three key active ingredients:

• Vitamin C
• Retinol
• Hyaluronic acid

The addition of retinol to Neutrogena’s Correcting Cream could make it a good option for those who are also concerned about fine lines or wrinkles. However, this product is the most expensive of the Meladerm alternatives mentioned in this review at $30.99 (about $2 more than Andalou’s Renewal Cream).