TIA'MAlpha-5 Mela Care Cream, 1.69 fl oz, 5% Alpha Arbutin Glow Enhancing Cream with Glutathione & Niacinamide, Korean Skin Care

Product delivered in quick timingStarted using 2 days now and already seeing results

This cream is like a lightweight gel cream and it would be good for all skin types. I love companies and products that are super transparent and list ingredients on their product listing so there is no guessing as to what is in them. This cream has a super clear ingredient list on both the product listing page and the box.The fact that they give you the percentage of their active ingredients lets you know that this is the good stuff. Many otc products for skin lightening don't really list percentages and you may or may not see results with those type of products. This cream with alpha arbutin is gentle and a good alternative to those who want to avoid hydroquinone.With all products of this nature it will take some weeks to see results, as long as there is regular and consistent use, results are likely. This cream feels nice and lightweight. For those with dry skin you might want to follow up with a thicker evening cream but if you have normal to oily skin this might do as the last layer in the evening. There is no added fragrance so that is a bonus. This is easy to apply and absorbs fairly quickly, pat in for more effective absorption. I have sensitive and dry skin but have used stronger products so this did not give my skin any issues.

As someone who has dealt with melasma for much of my adult life, I’m always on the lookout for products to help treat my uneven spots. I’ve used both OTC and prescription remedies that over time, have greatly improved my skin’s quality. I also know that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure, so I’m continuing to research and experiment with different products to maintain a balanced epidermis.That’s where alpha arbutin comes in. This cream from Tia’m (the sister brand of CosRx) has 5% alpha arbutin as the 3rd ingredient. If you’re not familiar, alpha arbutin is a derivative of hydroquinone, which is commonly used as a skin brightening agent. It’s powerful stuff, and shrouded in controversy, though it’s quite effective at treating uneven skin tones. Alpha arbutin on the other hand, is a more gentler and better tolerated compound. That said, 5% is on the upper end of what’s generally recommend, and in some cases exceeds the recommendations, so please keep that in mind.Since starting this Mela Care cream, I haven’t noticed any significant changes in my skin tone, but I can confidently say that it hasn’t worsened. The main drawback I’ve experienced is that it sometimes bleeds into my eyes and stings. That’s probably mostly due to user error (sometimes I’ll rub my eyes or tear up from dry eyes/allergies), but I feel it’s important to note nonetheless. Usually once it dries I don’t have any problem, but it can still catch me off guard if I’m not careful. Another thing is that the cream sometimes pills under my moisturizer. It’s not so noticeable when I spot treat, but I can definitely feel the granular texture when I apply it all over my face.Overall, I like the brand, and am happy with this cream. Since I’m using it more preventatively than as treatment, it’s hard to gauge if I’ve seen any effects, but again, it’s definitely not making my skin any worse.

Tia'm is the sister brand of CosRX, which is a brand I absolutely love. I ordered this Alpha-5 Mela Care Cream to address hyperpigmentation from blemishes as well as age spots. I'm 49 and perimenopause is blessing me with problems from two vastly different age groups at the same time. I applied it to my full face, which was freshly washed. Once it was fully absorbed, I applied a tiny bit of additional gel to each spot on my face and hands with hyperpigmentation. Alpha-5 Mela Care Cream contains Alpha Arbutin and Glutathione, which are the ingredients that lighten hyperpigmentation. They disclose the percentage of Alpha Arbutin (5%), which is at the upper end of what is considered safe. They aren't skimping on the good stuff. It also contains niacinamide, which is a holy grail ingredient for my pores, which tend to get clogged. It helps solve that issue by regulating oil production. I am accustomed to not seeing the ingredients in skin care products until they arrive. However, Tia'm proudly posts their ingredients in their listing. I wish all brands would follow suit because I often find I don't want to use a product based on an ingredient I wasn't aware it contained at the time of ordering.

This K-beauty serum is jam packed with ingredients to help effectively lighten dark spots and help add back a glow & even skin tone to skin. This is such a fantastic value, because it works. Consistent use of this nightly has helped my complexion more than a really expensive and painful "Clear and brilliant" laser treatment that did nothing. Yeah, cue me feeling like an idiot for that one. :/ This light gel cream doesn't irritate my combination skin that is showing the first signs of aging and I wake up glowing. I have also used this during the day under makeup. Love this

It's a clear, odorless "gel-looking" lotion that goes on easily and soaks completely into my skin right away. It creates and immediately softer feeling and smooth look for me. It leaves my skin feeling very nice.The tip of the bottle came sealed with a metal foil. That is a nice sign of quality.The writing on the box and tube are almost all Korean so I have no idea what it says. That's OK with me as long as it works, and it seems like it does.It says it contains 5% of alpha arbutin. There is research showing it is super effective for lightening and brightening skin. I used to use a product with hydroquinone that was discontinued because now they say that ingredient is not safe. Alpha arbutin is a safe derivative of hydroquinone. I read that products usually contain anywhere from 0.4–5%, but that cosmetic review boards recommend a max of 2% in leave-on products, due to safety reasons. That said, I feel safe using this. If I start to see any problems I will use a smaller amount and on less days. So far it seems very good!