Mela B3 Serum
Reviewed by SerumTruth Editorial · Price and formula checked July 2026
A pharmacy pigment serum whose disclosed 10% niacinamide is the sure thing and whose headline Melasyl is the part you take on trust. Gentle and well-tolerated for the appearance of an even tone, it is priced for the new molecule as much as the niacinamide.
- Niacinamide dosed at a clinical, high-end level
- Every active discloses its concentration
- Evidence21 / 30
Strength of the research behind the key actives
- Niacinamide: moderate evidence
The average of the key actives’ evidence grades.
- Potency25 / 25
Dosed at studied levels, not fairy-dusted
- Niacinamide (10%): dosed at a clinical, high-end level for its category
How strongly the actives are dosed, led by the strongest, not how many there are.
- Delivery & stability14 / 20
Delivery tech + packaging that protects fragile actives
- Delivery: standard
- Packaging: tinted glass
- No fragile actives here, so packaging barely moves the score.
Delivery tech plus packaging, and packaging only counts when actives are fragile.
- Formulation6 / 10
Disclosure, active breadth, and ingredient generation
- 1 of 1 actives disclose a concentration
- 1 key active (breadth credit caps at 3)
- No current-generation or synergy bonus
Disclosure, active breadth, and current-generation or synergistic actives.
- Value10 / 15
What a month of use costs vs. the category
- About $27 per month to use
- $45 for 30 ml, used about twice a day (about 0.3 ml each time), so a bottle lasts about 1.7 months
What a month of use costs: full marks at $6 a month or less, the floor at $60 a month or more.
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Ranks #19 of 56 brightening serums we have scored.
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What’s inside
| Active | Disclosed | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Niacinamide | 10% | Clinical |
10% niacinamide, disclosed, paired with Melasyl, a proprietary molecule pitched as a melanin trapper for the appearance of dark spots, in an opaque dropper bottle. The niacinamide is the familiar, well-evidenced part; Melasyl is new and its support is largely brand-led so far. Niacinamide is not fragile, so packaging is not the story.
How it’s delivered
Air- and light-sensitive actives (vitamin C, copper peptides) lose potency fast in the wrong packaging, so delivery and the bottle are scored, not just what’s on the label.
The actives, explained
What the research says
Topical 5% niacinamide was linked to more even looking skin tone, softer looking lines, and less visible blotchiness after 12 weeks.
Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance. Dermatologic Surgery, 2005. PubMed ↗
A study of the active, not this exact product. What matters for the score is whether this serum uses it at a comparable dose.
Higher-scoring alternatives
Same category, better SerumProof score. Worth a look before you buy.
Revision history
- July 11, 2026Price and formula rechecked
- July 10, 2026Review published
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Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. The SerumProof score reflects our reading of publicly available research and formulation disclosures. See how scoring works.