Melano CC Premium Essence: Ingredients & vs Regular Serum

Melano CC Premium Essence (メラノCC 薬用しみ集中対策プレミアム美容液) is Rohto’s richer vitamin C serum: a 20 mL quasi-drug (医薬部外品) with active vitamin C (ascorbic acid) as its whitening active and three vitamin C derivatives as moisturising ingredients. Rohto says it suppresses melanin production to prevent dark spots and freckles, and helps prevent pimples. Outside Japan, Rohto group companies sell it as Melano CC Vitamin C Concentrated Brightening Essence (Singapore) and Melano CC Vitamin C Brightening Premium Essence (Malaysia).

This guide is based on Rohto’s official Japanese product page, online shop and FAQ. For the whole Melano CC serum range, see our Melano CC serum guide.

What you’ll learn in this article:

• The size, price and features of Melano CC Premium Essence
• What Rohto says it does, and what it doesn’t claim
• Its four active ingredients, three vitamin C derivatives and full ingredient list
• How to use it and how long a tube lasts
• How it differs from the regular Melano CC serum

Melano CC Premium Essence: Quick Specs

Melano CC Premium Essence comes in a 20 mL dropper tube with a citrus scent, and Rohto describes its texture as a dense, thick drop that clings to the skin. It costs ¥1,628 on Rohto’s official online shop, and Rohto says a tube lasts about 5 to 6 months at 4 to 5 drops once a day.

Japanese name	メラノCC 薬用しみ集中対策プレミアム美容液
English names	Melano CC Vitamin C Concentrated Brightening Essence (Rohto-Mentholatum Singapore), Melano CC Vitamin C Brightening Premium Essence (Rohto-Mentholatum Malaysia)
Registered name (販売名)	メンソレータムRホワイトCGP
Type	Quasi-drug (医薬部外品) serum
Price in Japan	¥1,628 on Rohto’s official online shop
Size	20 mL dropper tube
Texture	Dense, thick drop that clings to skin (Rohto’s description)
Scent	Citrus
How long a tube lasts	About 5–6 months at 4–5 drops once a day (Rohto)
Skin type	Not specified by Rohto (its approved effects include oily skin and rough skin)
pH	Not published by Rohto

Specs from Rohto’s official Japanese product page, online shop and FAQ (as of October 2026). Rohto sells it at an open price, with no suggested retail price, so store prices in Japan vary.

• Preservative-free
• Paraben-free
• Oil-free
• Mineral-oil-free
• Menthol-free

Rohto states that it has no preservatives, oils, mineral oil or menthol. “Paraben-free” follows from “no preservatives”. It does contain fragrance, ethanol and a surfactant.

What Does Melano CC Premium Essence Do?

Rohto says Melano CC Premium Essence penetrates deep into the stratum corneum (the outer layer of skin) with its own penetration formula, suppressing melanin production to prevent dark spots and freckles, and helps prevent pimples. Rohto recommends it for people who don’t want their dark spots to increase any further.

As a quasi-drug, its approved effects listed on Rohto’s online shop are: suppresses melanin production to prevent dark spots and freckles; prevents pimples; rough skin; skin prone to roughness; oily skin; tightens skin; cleanses skin; conditions skin; keeps skin healthy; and moisturises skin. Rohto does not claim that it fades existing dark spots or acne marks, and its FAQ says results vary from person to person and recommends using it for 4 to 6 weeks, the length of the skin’s renewal cycle.

Is Melano CC Premium a Vitamin C Serum? 4 Forms of Vitamin C

Yes. Melano CC Premium Essence contains four forms of vitamin C: active vitamin C (ascorbic acid, vitamin C itself rather than a derivative) as its whitening active, plus three vitamin C derivatives that Rohto lists as moisturising ingredients rather than actives. Its other three actives are vitamin B6 (pyridoxine HCl) to control sebum, and allantoin and isopropyl methylphenol to help prevent pimples.

The three vitamin C derivatives are 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, ascorbyl glucoside and ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate. The regular Melano CC serum has only one of them, ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate.

Melano CC Premium Essence Ingredients: Full List

Melano CC Premium Essence lists 22 ingredients on Rohto’s Japanese site: the four actives, highlighted in the table, the three vitamin C derivatives, vitamin E, plant extracts, humectants, ethanol, a surfactant, stabilisers and fragrance. It has no preservatives or oils.

Ingredient list as published by Rohto Japan for メラノCC 薬用しみ集中対策プレミアム美容液 (checked October 2026). Rohto does not publish an English ingredient list for it, so the English names are our translations of Rohto’s Japanese labelling names, and the roles are general descriptions except where Rohto states them. Formulas can change, so always check the package.

How to Use Melano CC Premium Essence

Use Melano CC Premium Essence after toner: put 4 to 5 drops in your palm and smooth them over the areas you’re concerned about or your whole face. Rohto recommends using its Melano CC serums morning and night; its 5-to-6-month figure for one tube assumes 4 to 5 drops once a day.

1. Wash your face, then apply a lotion (toner).
2. Squeeze 4 to 5 drops into your palm.
3. Smooth it over dark-spot areas or your whole face, avoiding any pimples.
4. Follow with a moisturiser such as a milk, and in the morning finish with sunscreen.

Keep these points from Rohto in mind:

• Morning use is fine. Rohto says the lemon and grapefruit extracts contain no psoralen, a substance said to be one cause of phototoxicity. The serum has no UV protection, so use sunscreen during the day.
• Avoid active pimples. Rohto’s FAQ says to use Melano CC while avoiding areas with pimples.
• A slight tingle is normal. You may feel a slight tingling as it soaks in; if it settles after a while, Rohto says there is no need to worry.
• Don’t cut the tube tip. Rohto warns against cutting the tip of the tube.
• Use it within about 6 months of opening. Stop if its colour or smell seems unusual.
• Watch your clothes. Because it contains vitamin C, it can stain some fabrics pink. Rinse at once with water.

Melano CC Premium vs Regular: What’s the Difference?

The Premium Essence has a denser texture and three vitamin C derivatives instead of one, and swaps the regular serum’s vitamin E derivative and dipotassium glycyrrhizate for vitamin B6 and allantoin. Rohto says it is formulated with a stronger focus on dark spots. The regular serum is the lighter, surfactant-free and ethanol-free option, and it costs less.

From Rohto’s official Japanese product pages, ingredient lists, online shop and FAQ (as of October 2026). Both are quasi-drugs sold at open prices in 20 mL tubes.

There is also a Melano CC Men serum made for oily skin, with salicylic acid among its actives; our Melano CC serum guide compares all three.

Where to Buy Melano CC Premium Essence

kachicollect is the simplest way to get Melano CC Premium Essence 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 you can’t find it in our catalog, search Japanese stores or marketplaces for its Japanese name, メラノCC 薬用しみ集中対策プレミアム美容液, or its JAN code, 4987241168583. Paste the product URL into kachicollect and you get an instant quote that you can buy straight away. Rohto’s FAQ notes that the Premium Essence is not classed as dangerous goods for air transport.

On marketplaces such as eBay, listings use many retailer-made names, so check the Japanese name and the ingredient list.

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 any Japanese store or marketplace and get an instant quote with no request fee, then buy it straight away in kachicollect, with duties shown before checkout.

FAQ

Is Melano CC Premium Essence better than the regular one?

It depends on what you want. Rohto describes the Premium Essence as formulated with a stronger focus on dark spots, with three vitamin C derivatives and a denser texture. The regular serum is lighter, contains no ethanol or surfactant, and costs less.

How long does Melano CC Premium Essence take to work?

Rohto’s FAQ says results vary from person to person and recommends using Melano CC for 4 to 6 weeks, the length of the skin’s renewal cycle. It is made to prevent new dark spots and freckles, so use it daily and keep up sun protection.

Should I use Melano CC Premium Essence in the morning or at night?

Both. Rohto recommends using it morning and night, and says it can be used in the morning. It has no UV protection, so use sunscreen during the day.

How long does a tube of Melano CC Premium Essence last?

Rohto says one 20 mL tube lasts about 5 to 6 months at 4 to 5 drops once a day. Once opened, Rohto recommends using it within about 6 months; unopened tubes have no set expiry date.

Does Melano CC Premium Essence fade dark spots or acne scars?

It is made to prevent, not fade: Rohto says it suppresses melanin production to prevent dark spots and freckles and helps prevent pimples, but it does not claim to fade existing dark spots or acne marks.

Does Melano CC Premium Essence contain alcohol or fragrance?

Yes. Its ingredient list includes anhydrous ethanol and fragrance, and it has a citrus scent. If you want a Melano CC serum without ethanol, the regular serum doesn’t list it.

Why is my Melano CC Premium Essence turning yellow?

Rohto says pure vitamin C oxidises when it touches air, which is why it uses a tube designed to let less air in. Rohto doesn’t describe the serum’s colour, but it says to stop using it if the colour or smell seems unusual.

Is Melano CC Premium Essence good for oily or dry skin?

Rohto doesn’t name a skin type for it. Its actives include vitamin B6 (pyridoxine HCl), which Rohto lists as a sebum-control ingredient, and its approved effects include oily skin, rough skin and moisturising skin. Rohto describes its texture as denser and thicker than the regular serum’s, so if you prefer a light feel, the regular serum may suit you better.

Does Melano CC Premium Essence sting?

Rohto says you may feel a slight tingling as it soaks into the skin, and that there is no need to worry if it settles after a while. If you have sensitive skin, Rohto recommends a patch test first.

Can men use Melano CC Premium Essence?

Yes. Rohto’s FAQ says men can use it.

Can I use Melano CC Premium Essence while pregnant or breastfeeding?

Rohto’s FAQ says it can be used during pregnancy, given its ingredients and amounts, and while breastfeeding. Because the body changes during pregnancy, Rohto says to stop if a sensitive reaction appears.

Is Melano CC Premium Brightening Essence the same as Premium Essence?

“Melano CC Premium Brightening Essence” is a name used by retailers and ingredient sites; Rohto-Mentholatum Malaysia sells the product as Melano CC Vitamin C Brightening Premium Essence, and Rohto-Mentholatum Singapore as Melano CC Vitamin C Concentrated Brightening Essence. Rohto doesn’t state whether the formulas sold in each country are identical, so compare the ingredient list on the box with the one above.

Conclusion: Is Melano CC Premium Essence Worth It?

Choose Melano CC Premium Essence if you want Rohto’s dark-spot serum with the stronger focus: active vitamin C, vitamin B6, three vitamin C derivatives and a dense texture, with a tube that Rohto says lasts about 5 to 6 months at once-a-day use. If you prefer a lighter, ethanol-free serum, start with the regular one in our Melano CC serum guide, and pair either with a toner from our Melano CC toner 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.