Frequently asked questions
Will it make my melasma worse?
That's the right question to ask, and it's the reason we built it this way. Melasma flares from inflammation and heat — which is exactly why lasers, strong acids and high-strength actives backfire on so many women. Melora contains no hydroquinone, no retinoids, no acids and no fragrance, and nothing in it heats or strips your skin. If your skin is very reactive, patch test along your jaw for 3–4 days before going near your patches.
I have sensitive skin — and what if I'm allergic to bees?
The bee venom is purified and used at a cosmetic level, in a fragrance-free, acid-free base, so most reactive skin handles it comfortably. But we'd rather lose the sale than skip this: if you have a known bee or wasp sting allergy, do not use this product. Everyone else — patch test on your inner arm or jawline for 24 hours first. If anything stings or turns red, stop.
Does it contain hydroquinone or retinol? Can I use it while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No hydroquinone, no retinoids, no tranexamic acid — none of the prescription actives that usually get taken away from you during pregnancy and nursing. But we're not your doctor and we won't pretend to be: if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, show the full ingredient list to your OB or dermatologist before starting anything new, including us.
My melasma is hormonal — from pregnancy, the pill or my IUD. Will this still work?
Almost all melasma is hormonal. That's the norm, not your bad luck. Melora works on the pigment that's already showing, but nothing topical can switch off the hormonal signal creating it. If your trigger is still active, expect slower progress and expect to keep going once you see improvement. And wear SPF daily — with a live hormonal trigger, sun protection does more for you than any single product.
How long until I actually see something?
Longer than you want. Your skin's surface takes weeks to turn over on its own, and melasma sits deeper than the surface. Any brand promising you a transformation in two weeks is selling you something — you already know that, which is why you've stopped believing them. That's why the guarantee runs a full 90 days instead of 30.
Can I use it with my sunscreen and the rest of my routine?
Yes — and please keep the sunscreen on, it's doing more work than anything else you own. Apply Melora to clean skin, give it a minute to absorb, then SPF over the top. It's made to sit under sunscreen without pilling or rolling off in little flakes. It layers fine alongside niacinamide, azelaic acid and vitamin C. If you're on a prescription — tretinoin, hydroquinone, a compounded cream — check with your derm before adding anything.
Will my melasma come back if I stop?
Melasma is managed, not cured — by anything, prescriptions included. Sun, heat and hormones can bring it back whether you stop using Melora or stop a $300 script. The difference is what happens when you stop: there's no rebound spike coming off Melora the way there can be coming off hydroquinone.
Payment, shipping & returns?
We accept all major cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Orders ship within 24–48 hours with tracking. Not right for your skin? Return it within 90 days for a full refund — even if the bottle's empty.
