Transparency

 

How MELN Edit works

We believe trust comes from clarity, especially in skincare.

This page explains how MELN Edit is curated, funded, and governed.

Editorial integrity

MELN Edit is a curated platform first.

Product inclusion is based on:

  • Ingredient efficacy and safety
  • Relevance to specific skin concerns
  • Formulation suitability for melanated skin
  • Realistic outcome expectations

We do not promote ineffective “feel-good” solutions in place of evidence-based options.

At the same time, inclusion does not mean universality. Skin responds differently, and no product is guaranteed to work for everyone.

Skin lightening vs. skin correction

MELN Edit does not promote skin bleaching or the pursuit of lighter skin as an ideal.

However, we recognise that targeted pigment correction is a legitimate dermatological goal when addressing:

  • post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
  • scarring
  • friction-related darkening
  • uneven body tone

Ingredients are discussed within their intended medical and cosmetic context, including usage limitations, risks, and appropriate duration.

Affiliate relationships

Some links on MELN Edit are affiliate links.
If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Affiliate relationships do not determine:

  • Which products are featured
  • How products are described
  • How limitations or risks are communicated

They help sustain the research, testing, and editorial labour behind MELN Edit.

Sponsored content

MELN Edit may also feature sponsored content.

Sponsored content is:

  • clearly disclosed
  • evaluated against our editorial standards
  • never published without alignment to MELN Edit’s values

Payment does not override critical context, ingredient transparency, or audience trust.

No medical advice

MELN Edit does not provide medical or dermatological advice.

All content and tools, including the MELN Scanner, are for informational and educational purposes only and should not replace consultation with a licensed healthcare professional.

Our responsibility

We recognise the historical weight of skin tone politics within Black and African communities.

MELN Edit exists to support choice, agency, and informed decision-making, rather than dictating beauty standards or denying complexity.

You are allowed to love your skin and want to make a change about it.
Both can be true.