All scans / Serums / La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Niacinamide Serum
La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Niacinamide Serum ingredients: is it worth it?
A credible brightening serum, but the 10% niacinamide does most of the real work while the proprietary Melasyl story is stronger than the publicly disclosed clinical proof.
A credible brightening serum, but the 10% niacinamide does most of the real work while the proprietary Melasyl story is stronger than the publicly disclosed clinical proof.
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The efficacy score is 3.7/5: niacinamide is unusually high in the formula at position three, and glycerin plus sodium hyaluronate provide genuine hydration, but the formula does not disclose the concentration of Melasyl, lacks a clearly established high-evidence pigment treatment such as tranexamic acid or azelaic acid, and the marketed LHA and retinyl palmitate are not present in the current full INCI supplied by the Canadian/Australian brand listings. The silicone-heavy base should feel elegant and reduce water loss, but it is not itself a treatment mechanism. The safety score is 4.6/5 because the listed formula contains no denatured alcohol, fragrance, essential oils, or aggressive exfoliating-acid combination. La Roche-Posay identifies 2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine as Melasyl and lists 10% niacinamide as key actives.
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DemythSkin rates La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Niacinamide Serum 3.7/5 for efficacy and 4.6/5 for safety.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BY TIER
Gold Standards
High clinical proof | Skin-transformativeReliable
Proven resultsPotent
Developing evidenceOverhyped | Marketing
Hype | Limited dataDocumented Irritants
Evidence-backed flagFORMULATION BASE (7)⌄
FULL INGREDIENT LIST⌄
AQUA / WATER / EAU • DIMETHICONE • NIACINAMIDE • GLYCERIN • PROPYLENE GLYCOL • POLYSILICONE-11 • SILICA • BIS-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 DIMETHICONE • CYSTOSEIRA TAMARISCIFOLIA EXTRACT • 2-MERCAPTONICOTINOYL GLYCINE • PEG-20 METHYL GLUCOSE SESQUISTEARATE • SODIUM HYALURONATE • SODIUM HYDROXIDE • SODIUM THIOSULFATE • CARNOSINE • POLOXAMER 338 • AMMONIUM POLYACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE • DIPOTASSIUM GLYCYRRHIZATE • CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE
WHAT EACH INGREDIENT DOES (19)⌄
- Aqua / Water / Eau
- Solvent and formula base
- Dimethicone
- Silicone emollient and barrier film
- Niacinamide
- Brightening and barrier-support vitamin
- Glycerin
- Humectant moisture binder
- Propylene Glycol
- Humectant and solvent
- Polysilicone-11
- Silicone texture modifier
- Silica
- Absorbent and texture modifier
- Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
- Silicone emulsifier and conditioner
- Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract
- Algae-derived skin conditioning extract
- 2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine
- Melasyl brightening active
- PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
- Emulsifier and texture aid
- Sodium Hyaluronate
- Hyaluronic acid humectant
- Sodium Hydroxide
- pH adjuster
- Sodium Thiosulfate
- Formula stabilizer and antioxidant aid
- Carnosine
- Antioxidant skin conditioner
- Poloxamer 338
- Solubilizer and emulsifier
- Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
- Thickener and stabilizer
- Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
- Licorice-derived soothing agent
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
- Light emollient and skin conditioner
EXTERNAL CITATIONS
Niacinamide: La Roche-Posay identifies 10% niacinamide as a key active for hyperpigmentation and barrier support.
2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine: The official ingredient list identifies 2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine, the INCI associated with Melasyl.
Sodium Hyaluronate: The official full INCI lists sodium hyaluronate as a humectant ingredient.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ANALYSIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. AI-GENERATED DATA BASED ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INGREDIENT LISTS. VERIFY WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
A cheaper serum that scores as high or higher
A different formula for the same concern (brightening) that scores at least as high on both efficacy and safety.
La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Niacinamide Serum: common questions
Is La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Niacinamide Serum worth it?
La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Niacinamide Serum scores 3.7 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Modest) and 4.6 out of 5.0 for safety (Very Gentle) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. A credible brightening serum, but the 10% niacinamide does most of the real work while the proprietary Melasyl story is stronger than the publicly disclosed clinical proof.
What are the key active ingredients in La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Niacinamide Serum?
La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Niacinamide Serum contains no gold-standard actives. Its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.
Does La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Niacinamide Serum contain fragrance or known irritants?
DemythSkin's analysis found no flagged irritants in La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Niacinamide Serum. It scores 4.6 out of 5.0 for safety.
How is La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Niacinamide Serum scored?
DemythSkin grades every product on two independent scores: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are graded S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. Brand and price are not part of the score, and no brand pays for one.
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