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Rohto Mentholatum

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@tinatanakaharris reviewing Melano CC Essence at 13:16 in a YouTube Shorts videoMelano CC Vitamin C Essence"I think it is literally the most well-known vitamin C serum to come out of Japan."-@tinatanakaharris reviewing Rohto Melano CC Premium Brightening Essence Serum at 05:14 in a YouTube Shorts videoMelano CC Premium Brightening Essence Serum"Literally just the easiest vitamin C to travel with."-

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Melano CC Vitamin C Essence
4.9Melano CC Vitamin C Essence
  • “I think it is literally the most well-known vitamin C serum to come out of Japan”11:43–11:48
  • “It is also very oxidation free. It is an opaque packaging and only very small amounts of the product come out at a time. So, you know, it does keep that vitamin C really fresh”13:16–13:29
  • “In terms of ingredients, cost and efficacy, it still holds up. It is literally a vitamin C serum for less than like $10. I feel like it is still unbeatable and no one has really come out with anything much better in terms of bang for bucks”13:29–13:41
  • “Is it still a holy grail? Yeah, I'd say so”13:47–13:50
  • “When it comes to traveling, I feel like I always choose my holy grails. And this is one that I always, always travel with”13:07–13:16
  • Source: Still my holy grails? Top skincare products part 2 - Aug 29, 2025
Tina Tanaka HarrisTina Tanaka Harris274K subscribers
4.9Melano CC Vitamin C Essence
  • “It's not only my favorite vitamin C serum, but I think it's actually Japan's number one bestseller”3:15–3:18
  • “It's affordable, effective, and you know, it's just often sells out”3:28–3:32
  • “Really helps to target like dark spots, may help to protect your skin against additional environmental aggressors, or if you suffer from even acne”3:34–3:40
  • “It's got pure vitamin C ascorbic acid that is the most effective form of vitamin C along with vitamin E”
  • “It is hydrating, it is a little bit more nourishing with the plant oils but in no way is it heavy, greasy”
  • “I do feel like this is one vitamin C that could be suitable for all skin types, including acne prone skin and sensitive skin”3:41–3:48
  • Source: Japanese skincare routine: what a derm uses morning & night - Jun 19, 2025
Dr. Jenny LiuDr. Jenny Liu316K subscribers
3.8Melano CC Vitamin C Essence
  • “This is one of the most popular Japanese vitamin C products”12:15–12:20
  • “What's really interesting about this is how they formulated and what type of packaging they used for this product. The tube itself is an aluminum tube and the tip is so small and fine, so that doesn't let air through, which keeps the product stable”12:39–12:45
  • “I find that it works well on hyperpigmentation that's newer, not like deep pigments that have been there for a while like melasma. This won't really get rid of that”13:15–13:25
  • “If you've had breakouts and they've sort of like turned into just dark spots and you want to sort of fade that, this is a great product to use”13:29–13:33
  • “The only thing is that it feels oily. It feels like a dry oil, not like a watery serumy type”13:34–13:41
  • “I only like to use it at night, but you could use it morning and night if you really wanted to. I just don't like that oily feeling in the morning, especially when I'm applying like makeup over it”13:41–13:44
  • “I think a tube like this will last you a while because you don't need a lot of product and the product is stable”13:55–14:00
  • “If you have sensitive skin, maybe you want to try something like this, but only use it every second or third day to see if your skin can handle it”14:00–14:06
  • Source: Ranking viral Japanese beauty products - May 22, 2026
Tina YongTina Yong3.9M subscribers
Melano CC Premium Brightening Essence Serum
Brand note

Rohto Mentholatum is the Japanese drugstore powerhouse behind some of the most functional, no-nonsense skincare out there — think stable vitamin C serums, hydrating sunscreens, and nourishing lip balms that actually work without a luxury price tag. The Melano CC Vitamin C Essence is the standout: a stable, affordable serum that targets newer dark spots and is suitable for most skin types, though the oily finish can be a trade-off for some.

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