This post contains affiliate links. Product provided by GlowieCo.
I've been on a jbeauty (Japanese beauty) review roll lately, and I hope you like it. Today’s product is the iconic Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Vitamin C Essence. This essence combines vitamin C (ascorbic acid) with vitamin E (tocopherol acetate) to brighten the skin, fade hyperpigmentation, and prevent new issues from happening. It’s available on GlowieCo (code kbhobbit10), YesStyle (reward code KHBOBBIT), Stylevana (code INF10KBH), and Amazon.
How to use
Cleanse the face and use toner
Apply 4-5 drops of the essence and gently pat in
Follow with the rest of your routine
Melano CC Essence can be used as a spot treatment or all over the face (I use it all over). The name “essence” may sound like this would be a watery product, but it’s not. Instead, it’s a slightly oily serum-like substance that gets a little warm during application. If you’ve had Klairs Freshy Juiced Vitamin Drop (review here), the feel and application experience are similar, with Melano CC being a bit lighter texture-wise. While Klairs feels somewhat oily even after application, Melano CC fully sinks into the skin.
The essence has a faint scent of ascorbic acid, which I personally love. It’s a slightly sour, citrus-like smell and exactly what I would expect from a vitamin C product. It doesn’t linger and is barely noticeable.
The packaging is interesting - it’s a metal tube with a small plastic nozzle. Squeezing the tube releases drops of the product. The overwhelming feedback online is that the essence stays clear / doesn’t oxidize for a long time, and I’m guessing it’s partially because of the packaging which lets in no light.
My impressions
This is a great product. I have combination skin with some oily and dry areas and a lot of freckles. I’ve been using some sort of vitamin C every morning before sunscreen, as it can boost the effectiveness of SPF.
My skin drinks up Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Vitamin C Essence and I'm left with a glowy (but not oily) complexion. I use various things to help with pigmentation, but I do think that vitamin C products like this one make a difference with long term use. My skin is brighter and a lot more even, with freckles barely visible. I like my freckles, but wouldn’t want them blending into age spots. This plays well under sunscreen and makeup, although most days I only use SPF and powder.
I have mixed feelings about the packaging. I do appreciate that it seems to keep the product nice and clear and not let in the light. However, I’m not a patient person and squeezing tiny drop by drop drives me nuts in the mornings. And sometimes if I Hulk out on it, a little too much comes out and starts to run down the side of the tube (happened this morning). I never thought I would say this, but I prefer pipette dispensers, because they are quicker. This is a small thing and not enough to make me dislike the product overall, so I will keep using it.
Have you tried this iconic product? What did you think? I also have a lotion / cream from the same line, but it’s patiently awaiting its turn. I’m careful to only open products I plan on using right away to avoid waste.
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Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Vitamin C Essence ingredients: Ascorbic Acid (Active Vitamin C), Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E Derivative), Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate, Isopropylmethylphenol, Vitamin C Tetraisopalmitate, Ethoxydiglycol, Alpinia Catfish Seed Extract (Alpinia White), BG, Edetate, Viscosity Modifier, Perfume.