La Roche-Posay MELA B3 for oily skin
Niacinamide
Melasyl
La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water
Hyaluronic Acid
GlycerinAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate benefits for your oily skin, as niacinamide and capryloyl salicylic acid help with seboregulation and pore refinement, though it does not directly target oily shine.
- Glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide essential hydration, supporting overall skin health for oily skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like niacinamide.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 16.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is widely praised for its ability to fade post-acne marks and sunspots while brightening the overall complexion, often showing results within 2-4 weeks. A notable minority of users report no visible improvement on stubborn hyperpigmentation, and some find the strong floral fragrance and potential for dryness unsuitable for sensitive or mature skin.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs very quickly”
- “non-sticky gel feel”
- “light and non-greasy”
- “layers well under makeup”
Brightens skin tone Often Mentioned
- “skin looks radiant”
- “complexion is glowing”
- “evened out skin tone”
- “face looks brighter”
Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
- “acne scars are lighter”
- “sun spots finally fading”
- “pigmentation is less visible”
- “cleared up dark marks”
Strong fragrance Often Mentioned
- “smell is too strong”
- “scent lingers too long”
- “perfume smell gave headache”
- “wish it was unscented”
Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
- “didn't irritate sensitive skin”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “no stinging or redness”
- “soothing on my face”
No visible results Sometimes Noted
- “saw no difference”
- “spots didn't fade”
- “waste of money”
- “did nothing for melasma”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out”
- “caused tiny bumps”
- “triggered cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
Drying effect Rarely Noted
- “dried out my skin”
- “felt tight after use”
- “need extra moisturizer”
- “caused dry patches”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, dermstore.com, walmart.com, lovelyskin.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does La Roche-Posay Mela B3 work for oily skin?
La Roche-Posay Mela B3 works moderately well for oily skin, as niacinamide and capryloyl salicylic acid help balance oil and refine pores, and glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide essential moisture. Oily skin works best with products that are safe, lightweight, non-greasy, and contain high concentrations of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide for hydration and oil control.
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide and capryloyl salicylic acid help with oil control and pore refinement for oily skin. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid also provide essential hydration without heavy oils, while soothing components make the formula safe to use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
What does Melasyl do for oily skin?
Melasyl helps stop new dark spots from forming and reduces skin darkening by blocking melanin precursors without harming the skin cells that make pigment. It is a good option for oily skin when you want an even tone, though oily skin of this type also benefits from ingredients that clear pores and control shine.
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though products for oily skin also need direct oil-controlling ingredients.
Can I use this treatment with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying the treatment first and following with retinol, or by using them on alternating nights to keep your skin calm. Using a gentle moisturizer helps reduce irritation and dryness while supporting your skin barrier during active routines.
How often should I use this treatment?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. This product offers moderate benefits for oily skin through helpful ingredients like niacinamide, but oily skin also needs products that directly target oily shine.
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This treatment is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores for oily skin, as it has a low risk of doing so and contains soothing and balancing ingredients like niacinamide. An oily skin type still needs a product with strong oil-absorbing ingredients and direct shine control to get the best fit.
Can I use this treatment around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment on your body and around the eyes, as it features a safe profile with no harsh ingredients. However, because skin is exceptionally thin in the eye area, a product for oily skin of this type needs dedicated, lightweight hydration and gentle soothing ingredients to care for delicate zones safely.
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Topical treatment of nicotinamide, alone or in combination with other active ingredients, reduces the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation in clinical trials while being well tolerated.
Antioxidants, 2021Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Balneotherapy with thermal water altered specific skin microbiota at genus and species levels in healthy female volunteers compared to tap water, which produced no significant microbiome changes.
Life, 2023Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024A 2% Sphingomonas xenophaga ferment extract cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased facial vascular disorder scores compared to vehicle in 86 Caucasian female subjects, alongside dose-dependent inhibition of pre-kallikrein activity in vitro.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
Why other moisturizers fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Epigallocatechin-3-gallate significantly improved acne in patients compared to the control side during an 8-week clinical trial.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013A peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Adenosine, Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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