La Roche-Posay

La Roche-Posay Mela-D Pigment Control Dark Spots Serum with Glycolic Acid

Name: La Roche-Posay - Mela-D Pigment Control Dark Spots Serum with Glycolic Acid
Brand: La Roche-Posay

Efficacy100/100IrritancyHigh

See all ingredients

Works for

Exfoliation

Glycolic acid, Capryloyl salicylic acid

Works well

What the product description says

“Glycolic and LHA provide precise exfoliation. Smoothes skin and boosts radiance. Formula is hydroquinone-free. **Winner!”

Source: Skinstore

This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: capryloyl salicylic acid, glycolic acid.

Glycolic acidKey activeEffect: HighAn alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid10%

Capryloyl salicylic acidKey activeEffect: High~0.3–0.7%

Evens skin tone

Glycolic acid, Tranexamic acid + 2 more

Works well

What the product description says

“Mela-D Pigment Control Dark Spots Serum with Glycolic Acid”

From product name

This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: glycolic acid, kojic acid, tranexamic acid

The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually can help even out the skin tone: capryloyl salicylic acid.

Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.

Tranexamic acidKey activeEffect: HighAn amino acid that is effective in reducing hyperpigmentation and evening out the skin tone. It can also help in skin barrier recovery. It is used to treat melasma, especially with injections and when taken orally~1.6–2.4%

Kojic acidKey activeEffect: HighHelps to reduce hyperpigmentation and neutralize free radicals. Can be irritating~1.3–2%

Capryloyl salicylic acidKey activeEffect: Medium~0.3–0.7%

Anti-oxidation

Side benefit · Kojic acid, Tocopherol

Works well

This product contains antioxidants (kojic acid) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).

Kojic acidKey activeEffect: HighHelps to reduce hyperpigmentation and neutralize free radicals. Can be irritating~1.3–2%

TocopherolUnder-dosedPure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.05–0.25%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy

3 strong irritants: Alcohol denat., Glycolic acid + 1 more — patch-test recommended

High risk

We flagged 9 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Alcohol denat.Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve productsHigh~7.9–11.8%est.

Glycolic acidAn alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acidHigh10%

Propylene glycolHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritatingHigh~3.7–5.6%est.

Kojic acidHelps to reduce hyperpigmentation and neutralize free radicals. Can be irritatingHigh~1.3–2%est.

Capryloyl salicylic acid—High~0.3–0.7%est.

ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.01–0.1%est.

Potassium hydroxideUsed to adjust the pH level of productsMedium~2.7–4.1%est.

Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinateUsed to improve stability of the formulationMedium~0.5–1.15%est.

Disodium edtaStabilizes the product formulationMedium~0.15–0.55%est.

Comedogenic

Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients

None flagged

Alternatives

The closest match we found

XOVE Whitening Radiance Starter

Closest match52% match

$89.49

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Plain old water

More about Water

Alcohol denat.~7.9–11.8%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products

More about Alcohol denat.

Glycolic acid10%

Key activeIrritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

ExfoliationEvens skin toneAnti-agingAnti-blemish

An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid

More about Glycolic acid

Propylene glycol~3.7–5.6%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Moisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating

More about Propylene glycol

Potassium hydroxide~2.7–4.1%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Used to adjust the pH level of products

More about Potassium hydroxide

Ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate~2.1–3.1%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate

Tranexamic acid~1.6–2.4%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Evens skin toneMoisturizing

An amino acid that is effective in reducing hyperpigmentation and evening out the skin tone. It can also help in skin barrier recovery. It is used to treat melasma, especially with injections and when taken orally

More about Tranexamic acid

Kojic acid~1.3–2%

Key activeIrritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Anti-oxidationEvens skin tone

Helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and neutralize free radicals. Can be irritating

More about Kojic acid

C12-13 alkyl lactate~1.1–1.7%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

More about C12-13 alkyl lactate

Hydroxyethylcellulose~0.9–1.3%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures

More about Hydroxyethylcellulose

Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate~0.5–1.15%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Used to improve stability of the formulation

More about Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate

Panthenol~0.4–1%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

MoisturizingReduces rednessReduces irritation

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function

More about Panthenol

Capryloyl salicylic acid~0.3–0.7%

Key activeIrritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

ExfoliationAnti-blemishEvens skin tone

More about Capryloyl salicylic acid

Disodium edta~0.15–0.55%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Stabilizes the product formulation

More about Disodium edta

Butylene glycol~0.1–0.45%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Butylene glycol

Tocopherol~0.05–0.25%

Under-dosed

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Anti-oxidationAnti-inflammatoryAnti-agingMoisturizing

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol

Phenoxyethanol~0.05–0.25%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol

Parfum~0.01–0.1%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum

Ingredient list view

Water, Alcohol denat., Glycolic acid, Propylene glycol, Potassium hydroxide, Ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate, Tranexamic acid, Kojic acid, C12-13 alkyl lactate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, Panthenol, Capryloyl salicylic acid, Disodium edta, Butylene glycol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
	La Roche-PosayMela-D Pigment Control Dark Spots Serum with Glycolic AcidYOUR PRODUCT	XOVEWhitening Radiance Starter	RevoxGlycolic Acid 7%	CreamyTônico clareador
Match	—	52%	51%	50%
Price	—	$89.49	$8.36	—
Shared key ingredients	—	3 of 5	2 of 5	3 of 5
Key difference	—	Ferulic Acid	Urea	Niacinamide
Irritancy	High	High	Low	Low
Drying alcohol	Contains drying alcohol	—	—	—
	View product	Shop	Shop	Shop

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Product summary

"La Roche-Posay - Mela-D Pigment Control Dark Spots Serum with Glycolic Acid" is effective for: Exfoliation and Evens skin tone

Ingredient callouts

Exfoliating acids (glycolic acid 10.00% (declared)). In this concentration, they will have a noticeable exfoliating effect. They can also have an anti-aging effect and stimulate collagen production in a long-run.
An effective concentration of Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) - about 0.40% - 1.00%. Panthenol helps strengthen the skin barrier, improve hydration and reduce inflammation in skin.