Melyon

Melyon is a Swedish skincare brand founded in Stockholm in October 2020 by Roger Dupé, a former model of Ghanaian and Togolese heritage [10]. The company builds its range around inclusivity, with a stated focus on melanin-rich skin, and presents itself in the prestige skincare segment. It remains active, selling an expanded line of skincare, body, hair and soap products directly and through department stores in Sweden and Denmark as well as specialty retailers across Europe and beyond.

The brand's name reflects this purpose: editorial coverage describes "Melyon" as a play on the English word "melanin" combined with the Togolese and Ghanaian expression "enyonam", meaning "it is good for me" [8].

Melyon was created by Roger Dupé, described in trade press as a Swedish-born entrepreneur and one of Sweden's first Black models, who worked for fashion houses including Vogue, GQ, Ralph Lauren, Kenzo and H&M in the Milan, Paris and New York markets [10]. According to BeautyMatter, Dupé spent close to two years developing the brand before its launch.

The founding story is tied to his upbringing and West African background. Dupé has said that in Togo and Ghana, where his parents are from, skincare is treated as a form of self-love practised across generations, and that Melyon is his way of paying homage to that tradition while making people feel included regardless of skin tone [9]. He has framed the project as a response to the beauty industry's treatment of people of colour, telling BeautyMatter that he wanted to "create something beautiful that lifts up the minority that are actually the majority in the world."

Sources differ on the company's home city. The brand homepage and BeautyMatter place Melyon in Stockholm [10], while the company's own about page gives its country of origin as Sweden and names Västerås, which appears to refer to the founder's background rather than the brand's base. Both locations are Swedish.

Melyon positions itself as skincare built for real skin in every shade, tone and texture. The company describes its focus on melanin-rich skin "not as a category, but as a cornerstone" and says it addresses concerns it considers often overlooked, such as uneven tone and moisture imbalance [1]. Its products are presented as designed with darker skin tones in mind, including conditions such as hyperpigmentation, ingrown hairs and dryness, while remaining unisex and usable by anyone [8].

The brand summarises its approach with the phrase "A Slower, Better Way to Care" and states a goal of making inclusiveness, in its words, "a reflex, not an initiative." Its tagline is "Changing the ideal of beauty" [1].

Melyon launched with four products: a Milk Cleanser, Detox Serum, Day Cream and Night Cream [9]. The range has since grown to cover bodycare, haircare and treatment bar soaps alongside the original skincare line.

Baobab oil is the brand's signature ingredient, which Dupé has called its core ingredient for its use across skin, hair and body [9]. Formulas also draw on hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin A and ginger root extract, with the brand's ingredient material citing additional plant-derived components such as aloe vera, cinnamon and papaya.

The company states that its products are vegan, and editorial coverage reports them as cruelty-free and paraben-free [8]. Packaging consists of 60ml bottles made from recyclable glass, which My Imperfect Life linked to a "less is more" approach described by the founder.

Melyon sells directly through its own site and is stocked by department stores and specialty retailers in several countries. In Sweden it is carried by Åhléns and Fotografiska, and in Denmark by Magasin; further stockists are listed in France, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and Australia, along with online retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Luisa Via Roma [6].

The company lists the 2023 NEXT grant among its recognitions [1]. Melyon has also been the subject of editorial features in trade and lifestyle press, including BeautyMatter, The Glass Magazine and My Imperfect Life, which have covered its founder, its inclusive positioning and its product range.

Melyon is active. Its site is live and selling a range that extends well beyond the original four products, with current stockists in Sweden and Denmark and additional international retail, and its most recent noted milestone is the 2023 NEXT grant [1].