Frequently Asked Questions

Mella products are sold on Veriant.com, Flip, Uncommon Goods, and Closiist, and in stores at Orange Tree Boutique and Maebee's Beauty Studio.

No. The Shower Cap helps keep water and humidity out when stored properly, with the bottle upright. It is not water-tight and therefore water will get in if Appeeling To The Cleanses is submerged while using The Shower Cap.

While silicone is infinitely recyclable, most curbside recycling services don’t collect it and therefore it needs to go to a specialized recycling company. Of course, we hope you hang on to The Shower Cap forever, but when it comes time for you to part ways with it, please email us at hello@veriant.com so we help you get it recycled.

After opening, Steady As You Glow lasts 12 months.

All skin types are compatible with SAYG and A2TC! SAYG helps achieve balance for all skin types and A2TC helps achieve smooth, glowing skin for all skin types.

No, we use our melatonin at just the right level to reap all of its benefits without causing daytime drowsiness. Here’s how it works: Melatonin is created in various places in your body naturally, but your skin is the only place in your body that has a complete system for making, receiving, and distributing melatonin throughout your body. When you apply Mella products, the melatonin goes into the depot and waits until your body’s internal clock says it’s time to release its melatonin reserves. While the melatonin waits to be released, it goes to work on the skin, creating and delivering antioxidants to protect and repair your skin without making you drowsy. When the sun goes down, your circadian rhythm will start releasing the melatonin to help you fall asleep faster, sleep more soundly, and wake refreshed. 

You can expect to start noticing benefits to both your skin and your overall wellbeing after 1 week of twice daily use. Everyone’s body is different, so it may take you a bit more or less time to see these benefits. For the best results, we recommend swapping your existing skincare for Mella products to ensure maximum absorption of our ingredients. 

All Mella products and ingredients are vegan and cruelty-free. Mella products are free of gluten, nuts (except coconut), and animal byproducts. However, Steady As Your Glow does contain some ingredients derived from soy.

As a cleanser, A2TC is a super gentle but effective cleanser that smooths and conditions the skin while offering chemical exfoliation and microbiome support, along with the classic Mella melatonin benefits. As an exfoliator, you get all of these same benefits plus physical exfoliation to help buff away texture. As a mask, it gives your skin an extra polish, particularly thanks to our colloidal kaolin and kiwi enzyme, as both ingredients continue to work while you mask.  Kaolin (clay) is what allows our formula to set up as a mask and balance sebum & purify pores by absorbing and removing excess oil, impurities, and dead skin cells. With the extra time during masking, kiwi enzyme works like a peel. Masking is a boost for when your skin needs it, up to once per week.

As part of our product performance testing, we recruit a diverse external panel of testers relevant for each product to provide feedback before its launch. Here are the results from the panel for Appeeling To The Cleanses and Steady As You Glow.

• After 7 days
  
  • Mental clarity and focus improved 14.6%
  • Wakings per night reduced 36.4%
  • 95% of panelists reported that their skin felt comfortable & hydrated all day long 
• After 4 weeks
  
  • Mental clarity and focus improved 17.4%
  • Wakings per night reduced 50%
  • 95% of panelists reported that their skin felt comfortable & hydrated all day long
  • 95% of panelists reported that the products improved their skin overall
  • 90% of panelists reported that their skin looks brighter
  • 90% of panelists reported that Steady As You Glow helps them wake up with soft and glowing skin
  • 85% of panelists reported that Steady As You Glow offers long-lasting balance to their skin
  • 85% of panelists reported that their skin is smoother
  • 85% of panelists reported that their pores look smaller 
  • 80% of panelists reported that Steady As You Glow helped soothe their skin

We think it's helpful to know about the panel itself, so here's some information about the people who participated:

• Number of participants: 20
• Age range: 26-40
• Gender identity: 
  • 15 women 
  • 5 men
• Ethnic identity:
  • 15% Latinx
  • 60% White or Caucasian
  • 5% Black or African American
  • 25% East Asian
  • 5% Southeast Asian
• Self-reported skin types:
  • Dry: 75%
  • Oily: 75%
  • Sensitive (persistent): 20%
  • Reactive (environmental or circumstantial): 10%
  • Acne-prone: 15%
  • Damaged: 10%
  • Balanced (neither dry not oily; not sensitive, acne-prone, or damaged): 10%
• Self-reported skin tones:
  • Fair: 15%
  • Light: 65%
  • Medium: 20%
  • Deep: 0%
  • Dark: 5%
• Region:
  • 75% live in a metropolitan area
• Lifestyle:
  • 75% experience chronic stress
  • 40% experience chronic anxiety (diagnosed or otherwise)
  • Average hours of screen time per day:
    • • Fewer than 2 hours: 0%
      • 2-4 hours: 0%
      • 4-6 hours: 10%
      • 6-8 hours: 25%
      • 8-10 hours: 25%
      • 10-12 hours: 15%
      • More than 12 hours: 25%
  • Average hours of sleep per night prior to start of panel:
    • • Fewer than 6 hours: 15%
      • 6 hours: 15%
      • 7 hours: 20%
      • 8 hours: 40%
      • 9 hours: 10%
      • More than 9 hours: 0%
  • Average wakings per night prior to start of panel:
    • • I rarely, if ever, wake during the night: 20%
      • 1 time: 35%
      • 2 times: 25%
      • 3 times: 15%
      • 4 or more times: 5%
  • 35% have a consistent sleep schedule 7 days a week

Every Mella product has been tested for:

• Product performance: We iterate and thoroughly evaluate every formula to ensure it does what we say it will do. Not only do we test for performance internally, we also recruit a diverse external panel of testers relevant for each product to provide feedback before its launch. If you’re interested in becoming a Veriant panelist, click here.

• Formula stability: In this test, we’re looking for changes in viscosity, color, scent, weight, and active ingredient levels throughout the product’s 2-year shelf life. 

• Packaging compatibility: We do this test to make sure the formula and packaging get along; that the formula doesn’t degrade the packaging and vice versa. During this test, we also ensure that the packaging functions as it’s supposed to all the way through the product’s lifecycle.

• Preservative efficacy: When we use preservatives, it’s to protect you and our products from pathogenic bacteria. (Some waterless formulas don’t need preservatives, but all others do.) PET (preservative efficacy testing) makes sure our preservative system successfully prevents contamination throughout the product’s life.

• Skin safety: We conduct HRIPT (human repeat insult patch testing) on all Mella products. In this test, our formula is repeatedly applied to a patch of skin on each of at least 30 consenting, paid volunteers over the course of at least 3 weeks. This is done in a clinical environment and is overseen by a dermatologist, who evaluates the results each week to determine if the formula causes irritation. Successful HRIPT substantiates claims such as “safe for sensitive skin” and “dermatologist tested.” We always ensure our HRIPT panels are diverse in terms of gender, age, race, and skin type, so we can be confident the results are relevant to all of our customers.

• Batch micro: During each production, we conduct microbial testing to make sure the batches have no signs of bacterial growth.

We don’t really use the term “clean”. That’s because it’s a word that’s lost its meaning in the beauty and wellness world after lots of misuse and fluffy definitions. We’d rather give you specific, transparent, and data-backed claims.

Mella products are sustainable, and for us, that means circularity, safety, and impact. Here are some examples of what that looks like:

1. Our high-performance formulas are made of only non-GMO, biodegradable, and effective ingredients that deliver proven benefits. If an ingredient isn’t proven safe for our customers and the planet, we don’t use it. Most of our ingredients are also plant-derived (though we know natural doesn’t automatically equal safe).
2. Our packaging is designed for circularity. The packaging materials and suppliers we choose are deeply scrutinized for safety (for you and the people who make it), efficacy, and curbside recycling rates. For example, most types of plastic are “recyclable,” yet only 8.5% of that plastic actually gets recycled (read more). But our caps, made of aluminum and steel, are made of mostly recycled material, have a global recycling rate of up to 90%, and have practically limitless reusability. 
3. Our supply chains and codes of conduct support positive environmental and social impact. For example, our West African shea butter directly supports the economic advancement, health, and empowerment of the women who cultivate it and their families. And our kiwi enzyme powder comes from locally-sourced “ugly” kiwis in New Zealand that would otherwise be thrown out. This not only upcycles the kiwis but creates sustainable jobs.

These are just a few examples. We’re proud to be an Certified B Corporation.

While Mella products are not certified organic, we only use non-GMO ingredients, some of which are also certified organic.

No, there is no evidence supporting that melatonin plays a negative role in our body’s other hormones.

Melatonin promotes deeper sleep with more time in REM phases. Most dreams occur during REM sleep, so the more continuous time you spend in REM phases, the more likely you are to have dreams. For this same reason, vivid dreams and nightmares are a known side-effect associated with melatonin. However, melatonin isn’t why you have good or bad dreams, it’s just why you have more dreams, generally!(1) Bad dreams are most commonly the result of stress and anxiety.(2) Mella products use melatonin derived from St. John’s Wort, which is known to help destress and promote relaxation.(3) In our 4-week consumer panel, no panelists reported an increase in nightmares.

Yes! Melatonin has been rigorously studied for safety in both topical and ingested use cases. Even at much higher doses (topical and ingested) than we use in Mella products, melatonin has been proven safe.

No, melatonin is not habit-forming.

Hey! We’re so happy you’re here and curious about the scientific sources of our Instagram post, “Melatonin Outperforms Vitamin C.”

Here are the citations:

- Assessing the Potential Role for Topical Melatonin in an Antiaging Skin Regimen

- Melatonin as a major skin protectant: from free radical scavenging to DNA damage repair

- Melatonin and human skin aging

- Melatonin: An Established Antioxidant Worthy of Use in Clinical Trials 

We love chatting about research and science, so always feel free to join us in conversation on our social media or via email, hello@veriant.com. Talk soon!

Yes, our source of melatonin is 100% natural and plant-derived! It comes from St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.), which is a perennial flowering plant that grows all over the world. In fact, it’s considered a weed in many parts of the world. St. John’s Wort has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for minor burns, anxiety, and mild to moderate depression. You can read more about St. John’s Wort here.

Orally, melatonin works quickly to help you fall asleep faster, wake fewer times in the night, and wake feeling well-rested. It can also reduce anxiety and boost your mood. Unfortunately, ingested melatonin barely makes it to the skin because it’s degraded in your liver before it can get there.

Topically, melatonin protects against environmental stressors (blue light, pollution, and oxidants), restores your circadian rhythm, supports skin barrier function, delivers anti-inflammatory antioxidants, improves hair fullness and density, helps your skin better heal itself during your body’s nightly repair cycle, and reverses visible signs of premature aging. And, because your body naturally releases its melatonin reserves at night, topical application also helps you get the most out of your sleep, just like when you ingest it. We use our melatonin at just the right level to reap all of its benefits without causing daytime drowsiness.

Unlike many skincare ingredients, melatonin works on both the symptoms and the cause of premature aging.

Your skin works as a complete system, called the melatoni­nergic system, for producing, regulating, and receiving melatonin. But, as you age, both the amount of melatonin as well as the density of melatonin receptors decreases, impairing your skin’s ability to use this precious molecule.

Luckily, studies show that the topical application of melatonin can reverse the decline of melatonin levels as you age.

We process and ship orders as soon as we receive them. For any changes or cancellations, please contact hello@veriant.com as soon as possible so that we can process any changes or cancellations prior to the shipment of the order.

If you already received an email with tracking information, we unfortunately can no longer process any cancellations or changes. Please contact hello@veriant.com for further assistance. 

We hope you enjoy Veriant products; however, we understand that sometimes it doesn't always work out. While we do not accept exchanges for health and safety reasons, we accept returns on most products purchased through www.veriant.com within 30 days of purchase. Please note that accessory items, such as The Shower Cap, are not refundable and are final sale.

To start the return process, please contact us at hello@veriant.com with your order number, the item you wish to return, and any photos to help explain the issue. Please note that accessory items, such as The Shower Cap, are not refundable and are final sale items.

We will make sure to make it a seamless experience for you!

We’re proud to be a Certified B-Corporation. All Mella products are Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free.

Please email us at partnerships@veriant.com. We'd love to help and hear more!

If you can't find your answers in our FAQs or have any questions, feel free to contact us at hello@veriant.com. We will get back to you within 48 hours!