Melano CC Serum (Vitamin C Essence): Ingredients & How to Use

Melano CC serum is Rohto’s vitamin C serum, sold in Japan as メラノCC 薬用しみ集中対策美容液 and called Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence on Rohto-Mentholatum’s Singapore site. It is a 20 mL quasi-drug (医薬部外品) serum whose whitening active is active vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Rohto says it suppresses melanin production to prevent dark spots and freckles, and that it also helps prevent pimples. It costs ¥1,210 on Rohto’s official online shop.

The Melano CC line has three serums: this one, the richer Premium Essence and the Men serum. This guide covers all three, based on Rohto’s official Japanese website and FAQ.

What you’ll learn in this article:

• The size, price and features of Melano CC serum
• What Rohto says it does, and what it doesn’t claim
• Its active ingredients and full ingredient list
• How to use it, morning and night, and how long a tube lasts
• How it compares with Melano CC Premium Essence and the Men serum

Melano CC Serum (Intensive Anti-Spot Essence): Quick Specs

Melano CC serum (Intensive Anti-Spot Essence) is a 20 mL medicated vitamin C serum in a dropper tube, made by Rohto and sold in Japan as a quasi-drug. It is a light, non-sticky liquid with a citrus scent, it costs ¥1,210 on Rohto’s official online shop, and Rohto does not publish its pH.

Japanese name	メラノCC 薬用しみ集中対策美容液
English name	Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence (Rohto-Mentholatum Singapore)
Registered name (販売名)	メンソレータムホワイトCG
Type	Quasi-drug (医薬部外品) serum
Price in Japan	¥1,210 on Rohto’s official online shop
Size	20 mL dropper tube
Texture	Light, non-sticky liquid (Rohto’s description)
Scent	Citrus
Skin type	Not specified by Rohto
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
• Surfactant-free
• Oil-free
• Mineral-oil-free
• Ethanol-free
• Menthol-free

Rohto states that the serum has no preservatives, surfactants, oils, mineral oil or menthol. It is the only Melano CC product without surfactants. “Paraben-free” follows from “no preservatives”, and “ethanol-free” means no ethanol appears in Rohto’s ingredient list. It does contain fragrance.

What Does Melano CC Serum Do?

Rohto says Melano CC serum suppresses melanin production to prevent dark spots and freckles, and helps prevent pimples. Rohto says its own penetration formula delivers active vitamin C deep into the stratum corneum (the outer layer of skin), and that the serum moisturises and conditions skin that is worried about acne marks.

Rohto does not claim that it fades existing acne marks or dark spots, so this guide doesn’t either. Rohto’s 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 a Vitamin C Serum? Key Ingredients

Yes. Melano CC serum’s whitening active is ascorbic acid, which Rohto calls “active vitamin C”: vitamin C itself, not a derivative. It is paired with a vitamin E derivative that promotes blood circulation, which Rohto calls its “W (double) vitamin” formula, and two actives that help prevent pimples.

“Active vitamin C” is Rohto’s name for ascorbic acid itself, rather than a vitamin C derivative. Rohto says pure vitamin C oxidises when it touches air, so the serum comes in a tube with a small ball in the nozzle that lets less air in.

Melano CC Serum Ingredients: Full List

Melano CC serum lists 11 ingredients on Rohto’s Japanese site: the four actives, highlighted in the table, plus a vitamin C derivative, a solvent, a moisturising plant extract Rohto calls Alpinia White, a humectant, a stabiliser, a thickener and fragrance. It has no preservatives, oils or surfactants.

Ingredient list as published by Rohto Japan for メラノCC 薬用しみ集中対策美容液 (checked October 2026), with English names taken from the Rohto-Mentholatum Vietnam listing where they match. The Vietnam listing also includes water, which Rohto Japan’s list does not. Formulas can change, so always check the package.

How to Use Melano CC Serum

Use Melano CC serum after toner, morning and night: put a small amount in your palm (Rohto’s serum guide uses 4 to 5 drops) and smooth it over the areas you’re concerned about or your whole face, then follow with moisturiser and, in the daytime, sunscreen. Rohto’s guide for its serums says 4 to 5 drops twice a day lasts about 2 to 3 months.

Rohto’s suggested Melano CC routine runs: cleanser, lotion (toner), sheet mask, serum, then gel, cream or milk, and UV milk in the morning.

1. Wash your face, for example with a gentle cleanser, then apply toner.
2. Squeeze a small amount (about 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, and in the morning finish with sunscreen.

Keep these points from Rohto in mind:

• Morning use is fine. Rohto says its Melano CC products have no phototoxicity problem, but the serum has no UV protection, so use sunscreen during the day.
• Avoid active pimples. Rohto’s FAQ says to use it while avoiding areas with pimples. If you use an acne treatment, apply your skincare first and the medicine after, and keep the serum off the treated area.
• 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 Serum vs Premium Essence vs Men

The regular Melano CC serum is the light, surfactant-free option. Melano CC Premium Essence has a denser texture and contains vitamin B6 and three vitamin C derivatives (the regular serum has one), while the Men serum adds salicylic acid and a lemon scent and is designed with oily skin in mind. All three contain active vitamin C, come in 20 mL tubes and help prevent dark spots and pimples.

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

Melano CC Premium Essence

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 the richer version, with a denser texture, vitamin B6 among its actives and three vitamin C derivatives as moisturising ingredients. Rohto says 4 to 5 drops once a day lasts about 5 to 6 months. For its full ingredient list, how to use it and a side-by-side comparison with this serum, see our Melano CC Premium Essence guide.

Melano CC Men Serum

Melano CC Men serum (メラノCC Men 薬用しみ集中対策美容液) is made for oily skin. Its actives are active vitamin C and vitamin B6, which Rohto says help prevent dark spots and moisturise so pores look less noticeable, plus salicylic acid and isopropyl methylphenol to help prevent pimples. It has a fresh lemon scent, and Rohto’s FAQ says women can use it too.

Where to Buy Melano CC Serum

kachicollect is the simplest way to get Melano CC serum 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 the one you want in our catalog, search Japanese stores or marketplaces for its Japanese name or JAN code: メラノCC 薬用しみ集中対策美容液 (JAN 4987241169658), メラノCC 薬用しみ集中対策プレミアム美容液 (JAN 4987241168583) or メラノCC Men 薬用しみ集中対策美容液 (JAN 4987241171507). Paste the product URL into kachicollect and you get an instant quote that you can buy straight away. Rohto’s FAQ notes that the serums are not classed as dangerous goods for air transport, unlike the Melano CC mist lotion.

Outside Japan, Rohto group companies sell Melano CC serums under different English names, such as Melano CC Vitamin C Brightening Essence in Malaysia and Melano CC Essence in Vietnam. 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 serum pure vitamin C?

Its whitening active is ascorbic acid, which Rohto calls active vitamin C, meaning vitamin C itself rather than a derivative. It also contains a vitamin C derivative, ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate.

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

Both. Rohto recommends using the Melano CC serums morning and night. It says they can be used in the morning, but they don’t protect against UV, so use sunscreen during the day.

Does Melano CC serum work on acne scars and dark spots?

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 acne marks or dark spots. For skin worried about acne marks, Rohto only says it moisturises and conditions. Rohto also says to avoid areas with active pimples.

How long does Melano CC serum take to work?

Rohto says results vary from person to person and recommends using it continuously for 4 to 6 weeks, the length of the skin’s renewal cycle.

Why is my Melano CC serum turning yellow? Does it oxidise?

Rohto says pure vitamin C oxidises when it touches air, which is why the serum comes in 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, and to use it within about 6 months of opening.

Can I use Melano CC serum with retinol or niacinamide?

Rohto doesn’t comment on specific ingredients. Its FAQ says Melano CC can be used with ordinary cosmetics and quasi-drugs, and that you should ask your doctor first if you are having a peel at a dermatology clinic.

Does Melano CC serum have salicylic acid?

No. Salicylic acid is not in the ingredient lists of the regular serum or the Premium Essence. Only the Melano CC Men serum contains it, as one of its actives.

Does Melano CC contain hydroquinone or tranexamic acid?

No. Rohto’s FAQ says no product in the Melano CC series contains hydroquinone or tranexamic acid.

Why does Melano CC serum tingle?

Rohto says you may feel a slight tingling as the serum soaks into the skin, and that there is no need to worry if it settles after a while. Stop using it if it doesn’t suit your skin.

Is Melano CC serum good for sensitive skin?

Rohto says it may not suit everyone and recommends a patch test first if you are concerned. It contains fragrance.

Is Melano CC serum fragrance-free or alcohol-free?

It contains fragrance and has a citrus scent. Ethanol is not in its ingredient list, but the Premium Essence and the Men serum both contain ethanol.

Can I use Melano CC serum on my body?

Yes. Rohto’s FAQ says it can also be used on areas such as the arms and neck.

How long does Melano CC serum last once opened?

Rohto recommends using it within about 6 months of opening. Unopened tubes have no set expiry date.

Can I use Melano CC serum while pregnant?

Rohto’s FAQ says the serum 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 Intensive Anti-Spot Essence the same as Melano CC serum?

Yes. Intensive Anti-Spot Essence is the name Rohto-Mentholatum Singapore uses for the serum sold in Japan as メラノCC 薬用しみ集中対策美容液, and other Rohto group companies call it Melano CC Vitamin C Brightening Essence (Malaysia) or Melano CC Essence (Vietnam). 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: Which Melano CC Serum Should You Choose?

For most people, the regular Melano CC serum is the place to start: a light, surfactant-free vitamin C serum that Rohto says prevents dark spots, freckles and pimples, for ¥1,210 on its online shop. Choose the Premium Essence if you want a denser texture and three vitamin C derivatives instead of one, or the Men serum if your skin is oily. Pair it with a toner from our Melano CC toner guide, or compare Rohto’s other whitening line in our Hada Labo Shirojyun 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.