Melano CC Fake vs Real: How to Spot Fake Melano CC Serum

Fake Melano CC does exist. In July 2022, Rohto officially warned that counterfeits of its Melano CC and Melano CC Premium serums were being sold on some online shopping malls and flea-market sites, and in November 2022 it reported that Osaka Prefectural Police had announced action (検挙) against a suspect on suspicion of copying and selling the Premium serum. Rohto says the fakes look almost identical to the real product, down to the tube, box and labelling, but differ in ingredients and quality. It cannot guarantee their effect or safety, and it says it cannot handle warranties, exchanges or authentication requests concerning counterfeits.

Because Rohto says fakes are hard to tell apart by looks alone, the surest way to get real Melano CC is to buy from a trustworthy seller. This guide explains what Rohto has said, the checks you can still do, and where to buy Melano CC from Japan.

What you’ll learn in this article:

• What Rohto has officially said about fake Melano CC
• Why fake and real Melano CC are hard to tell apart
• Checks you can do on your Melano CC, and their limits
• What to do if you think your Melano CC is fake
• Where to buy Melano CC from Japan

Is There Fake Melano CC? What Rohto Says

Yes, fake Melano CC exists: Rohto published two official notices, in July and November 2022, about counterfeit Melano CC serums sold online. Both concern the serums (美容液), the line’s best-known products, and both say the fakes were sold online.

From Rohto’s official notices 「「メラノCC」の模倣品にご注意ください」 dated 4 July 2022 and 16 November 2022, on rohto.co.jp.

Rohto says the counterfeits differ from its products in ingredients and quality, that it cannot guarantee their effect or safety, and that it is concerned they could harm customers’ health. It also states that it cannot offer warranties or exchanges for counterfeits, take responsibility for accidents or damage they cause, or authenticate products.

Melano CC Original vs Fake: Can You Tell Them Apart?

You usually can’t tell fake Melano CC from the original by looks alone. Rohto says the fakes closely resemble its products in the tube, the outer box and the printed information, which is why it urges customers to be careful where they buy.

Media reports give a sense of what has been found. In July 2022, J-CAST News reported a buyer’s social media post: after a week of using a Melano CC Premium serum bought from a seller on a major online shopping site, the buyer said their skin became irritated, and then noticed misprints on the box such as 「ニキピ」 instead of 「ニキビ」 (pimples) and 「ヒタミソC」 instead of 「ビタミンC」 (vitamin C). A Rohto spokesperson told J-CAST News that the company had confirmed text errors on counterfeits. In November 2022, ITmedia News reported that Yahoo! Japan had also warned users of its auction site about fake Melano CC. Not every fake will have obvious misprints, so a clean-looking box is not proof that a product is real.

How to Spot Fake Melano CC: 5 Checks

To spot fake Melano CC, check the seller, the price, the Japanese text on the box, the ingredient list and the JAN code. These checks can flag a likely fake, but none of them proves a product is genuine, and Rohto says it cannot handle authentication of suspected counterfeits.

1. Check the seller first. In its November 2022 notice, Rohto pointed customers to stores it lists on its store locator, and online to LOHACO, Amazon (where Amazon is both the seller and the shipper) and Rakuten 24. Rohto also runs its own online shop (ロート通販).
2. Be wary of very low prices. On Rohto’s online shop, the Melano CC serum costs ¥1,210 and the Premium Essence ¥1,628 (October 2026). A price far below the usual range is a reason to look more closely.
3. Read the Japanese text on the box. Look for misprints like the ones in the J-CAST report, and check that the box shows the correct Japanese product name, the 医薬部外品 (quasi-drug) label for the serums, and Rohto’s name.
4. Compare the ingredient list. Check the box against Rohto’s official lists, which we reproduce in our Melano CC serum guide and Melano CC Premium Essence guide.
5. Check the JAN code. The current serum is 4987241169658 and the Premium Essence is 4987241168583.

A different-looking box isn’t automatically fake. Rohto has changed the box design of its serums, so you may see either the old or the new design on genuine stock. Rohto group companies also sell Melano CC in other countries under different English names, such as Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence in Singapore, so the name you see may not match the Japanese box.

What to Do If You Think Your Melano CC Is Fake

Stop using it, and contact the seller or the marketplace where you bought it. Rohto says it cannot guarantee the safety of counterfeits and is concerned about health problems from using them, and it does not exchange, compensate for or authenticate counterfeit products.

• Keep the product, the box and your order details.
• Report the listing to the marketplace.
• If your skin reacts, stop using the product and see a doctor.

Where to Buy Melano CC From Japan

kachicollect ships Melano CC directly from Japan. Our catalog has no proxy fees, and duties are shown in your total before you pay, so nothing extra is charged on delivery. Orders ship worldwide with tracking and usually arrive in about 7 to 14 days.

If the Melano CC product you want isn’t in our catalog, you can choose the Japanese store yourself: paste the product URL from a store Rohto lists into kachicollect, and you get an instant quote that you can buy straight away. That way you decide where the product comes from.

Proxy services that buy from Japanese stores on your behalf are another option, but the service fee they advertise is only the starting point, and various other charges are added on top by the time you check out. With kachicollect, you can skip the proxy: paste the product URL from the Japanese store you choose, such as one Rohto lists, and get an instant quote with no request fee, then buy it straight away in kachicollect, with duties shown before checkout.

Melano CC Fake vs Real FAQ

Is fake Melano CC dangerous?

Rohto says counterfeits differ in ingredients and quality, that it cannot guarantee their effect or safety, and that it is concerned they could harm customers’ health. If you suspect a fake, stop using it.

Which Melano CC products have been faked?

Rohto’s notices name the serums: the Melano CC and Melano CC Premium serums, and the November 2022 police case concerned the Premium serum.

Can Rohto check whether my Melano CC is real?

Not as a service. Rohto’s notices say it cannot handle authentication (鑑定), warranties or exchanges concerning counterfeits. If you suspect a fake, contact the seller or the marketplace you bought from.

Is Melano CC on Amazon real?

Rohto’s November 2022 notice lists Amazon as a place to buy, specifically listings where Amazon is both the seller and the shipper, along with LOHACO and Rakuten 24. Listings from other sellers are a separate matter, so check who the seller is.

Why does my Melano CC box look different from the one online?

Rohto has redesigned its boxes, so genuine stock may come in either the old or the new design. Melano CC sold by Rohto group companies outside Japan also uses different English names. A different design alone doesn’t mean a product is fake, but misprints in the Japanese text are a warning sign.

Is cheap Melano CC fake?

Not always, since store prices in Japan vary. But a price far below Rohto’s own online shop (¥1,210 for the serum, ¥1,628 for the Premium Essence) is a reason to check the seller carefully.

Conclusion: How to Avoid Fake Melano CC

Rohto confirms that fake Melano CC serums have been sold online and that they can look almost identical to the real thing, so where you buy matters most. Rohto points buyers to the stores on its store locator and, online, to sellers such as LOHACO, Amazon (sold and shipped by Amazon) and Rakuten 24. With kachicollect, you can buy from our catalog or choose the Japanese store yourself and send us the product URL. Check the seller, the price, the Japanese text and the ingredient list, and learn more about the real products in our Melano CC serum guide.

For every Melano CC product in one place, see our Melano CC guide.

Buying from kachicollect gets you Melano CC shipped directly from Japan, with no proxy fees and duties shown before you pay.