Melano CC was developed by Rohto Pharmaceutical around the potential of vitamin C. Rather than positioning itself as luxury or prestige skincare, the brand emphasizes functional ingredients, simple routines, accessibility, and everyday use.

The name combines “Melano,” referring to melanin-related skin concerns, and “CC,” associated with its vitamin-C-centered concept. Its Japanese positioning focuses on preventing the appearance of blemishes and freckles by suppressing melanin production, while the broader portfolio addresses acne, pores, roughness, and hydration.2

2005 — Birth of Melano CC

Melano CC traces its origins to 2005, when Rohto launched a product called Mentholatum Melano Buster. Rohto’s corporate history identifies this product as the predecessor of today’s MELANO CC. The concept was built around vitamin C research and skincare, particularly using vitamin C to address visible pigmentation and common skin concerns. According to Rohto, the brand has continued evolving since its launch, expanding from an original serum concept into a broader skincare system.

2022 — Expansion into cleansing

A significant expansion occurred with the release of Melano CC Deep Clear Enzyme Facial Wash, which combined vitamin C with enzymes and positioned the brand more strongly around pore care. Rohto reported that the product became a major hit, exceeding ¥2 billion in sales within ten months of launch.3

2025 — 20th anniversary

2025 marked Melano CC’s 20th anniversary. Rohto used the occasion to refresh the brand’s visual identity and reformulate its flagship lotion. The company stated that Melano CC’s lotion had achieved No. 1 sales volume in the Japanese lotion market for two consecutive years, according to cited market data.3

2026 — Melano CC+

In January 2026, Rohto introduced MELANO CC+, a higher-value-added extension of the brand. Its first product, MELANO CC+ AZmask, combines pure vitamin C and pure azelaic acid and targets concerns including enlarged pores, blackheads, and rough skin.4 This evolution represents a shift from a straightforward “vitamin C + brightening” proposition toward a broader ingredient-combination and pore-care strategy.

Melano CC’s central philosophy summarizes as making vitamin-C-centered skincare practical enough for everyday use. Rohto describes the brand as based on an approach of taking skincare seriously while pursuing technological innovation.

The brand sits between Japanese drugstore skincare, functional skincare, and active-ingredient skincare, rather than traditional luxury cosmetics. This positioning made it recognizable among consumers interested in ingredient-focused Asian skincare.

Vitamin C is the defining ingredient behind Melano CC. Products may contain pure ascorbic acid, vitamin-C derivatives, or other vitamin-C-related ingredients. Rohto’s current Japanese lineup includes products featuring ascorbic acid and various vitamin-C derivatives.

The brand uses vitamin C primarily for:

• Melanin/spot prevention
• Brighter-looking skin
• Acne-mark care
• Pore care
• Antioxidant-oriented skincare
• Overall skin conditioning

When Melano CC products use terms such as whitening or brightening, the Japanese regulatory meaning relates to suppressing melanin production and preventing spots/freckles, rather than literally bleaching the skin. Rohto explicitly defines its Japanese “brightening/whitening” claims this way.

Rather than relying on a single hero product, Melano CC has developed into a complete skincare routine. The current Japanese lineup includes categories such as:

1. Cleansers

The Deep Clear Enzyme Face Wash combines enzymes and vitamin C, positioned around daily cleansing and pore care.

2. Lotions / toners

Medicated lotions are designed around hydration and blemish/spot prevention. The newer lotion introduced in 2025 provides hydration while supporting the delivery of brightening active ingredients.

3. Serums / essences

This is the most iconic category associated with Melano CC. The medicated spot-treatment essence is built around a vitamin-C-focused formulation for targeted care of blemish-prone areas.

4. Gels, creams and emulsions

Moisturizing products designed to complement active-treatment products, allowing consumers to build a routine without unrelated brands.

5. Masks

Sheet masks and intensive-care masks, including newer products aimed at post-sun-exposure hydration and pore concerns.

6. Sunscreen / UV care

The Japanese lineup includes Deep Day Care UV Milk, combining UV protection with vitamin-C-related skincare positioning. It is listed with SPF50+ / PA++++ and UV-water-resistance specifications.

7. Supplements

The Japanese brand portfolio also includes sustained-release vitamin C tablets, extending the vitamin-C concept beyond topical skincare.

Outside Japan, “Melano CC” often refers specifically to its vitamin C essence. This product became the brand’s international signature due to its straightforward proposition: Vitamin C → targeted skincare → dark-spot/acne-mark concerns.

The premium version, Melano CC Premium Brightening Essence, is part of Rohto-Mentholatum Vietnam’s official imported Japanese lineup. The brand’s identity was established through this small, affordable, highly targeted vitamin-C product before expanding outward.

Standard and premium products differ significantly:

Melano CC Essence
→ The mainstream, accessible hero product.

Melano CC Premium Brightening Essence
→ A more advanced/premium version within the same brand family.

Rohto-Mentholatum Vietnam lists both products separately in its official range.

The 2026 Melano CC+ launch indicates the brand’s direction. Instead of relying exclusively on vitamin C, the new line follows a “vitamin C + α” approach—combining vitamin C with another active ingredient for specific concerns.

The inaugural product combines Pure vitamin C + pure azelaic acid and is positioned toward pores, blackheads, and rough skin.4

Evolution summary:

• 2005: Vitamin C → spots/blemishes
• 2010s–2020s: Vitamin C → spots + acne marks + pores + overall complexion
• 2026 onward: Vitamin C + complementary actives → specialized skin concerns

Melano CC suits consumers seeking:

• Ingredient-focused skincare
• Vitamin C products
• Help with the appearance of acne marks
• Everyday brightening/spot-prevention care
• Pore-focused skincare
• Affordable Japanese skincare
• Relatively uncomplicated routines
• Drugstore/pharmacy-accessible products

The brand also offers Melano CC Men, a separate line targeting men’s skincare concerns, including blemishes and pores.

Its strength lies in making active-ingredient skincare relatively approachable, rather than exclusivity.

Melano CC is a brand within Rohto Pharmaceutical’s broader health-and-beauty portfolio. Rohto, founded in 1899, has a much longer history than Melano CC (launched 2005). Rohto’s portfolio also includes brands such as Hada Labo, Skin Aqua, and Obagi.5

This relationship allows Melano CC to benefit from Rohto’s long-standing pharmaceutical and formulation research capabilities.

Rohto Pharmaceutical
↓
Rohto / Mentholatum skincare portfolio
↓
Melano CC
↓
Vitamin-C-centered skincare

Melano CC is officially represented in Vietnam through Rohto-Mentholatum (Vietnam), which lists Japanese-import Melano CC products on its official website. The Vietnamese lineup includes the Deep Clear Enzyme Face Wash, Premium Brightening Essence, Brightening Essence, Brightening Gel, and several lotions.

Because many Melano CC products are sold through different online marketplaces, Japanese domestic products, imported products, and products intended for other Asian markets can have differences in packaging, formulation, labeling, or product names. Consumers are advised to check official product information rather than relying solely on marketplace listings.

Melano CC’s visual identity is highly recognizable. Its packaging traditionally uses a yellow/orange color palette, visually connecting the brand with:

• Vitamin C
• Citrus
• Brightness
• Energy
• Freshness

The aesthetic is deliberately pharmaceutical/drugstore functional rather than luxury, consistent with Rohto’s heritage. The design communicates “this is a functional treatment” rather than “this is an exclusive beauty object.”

Several factors contributed to the brand’s success:

1. Clear hero ingredient

Consumers do not need to memorize complicated ingredient stories: Melano CC = vitamin C.

3. Accessible positioning

Instead of positioning vitamin-C skincare exclusively as expensive serum technology, Melano CC brought it into the Japanese mass-market/drugstore environment.

4. Product ecosystem

Once the essence became successful, Rohto extended the concept into: cleanser → lotion → essence → moisturizer → mask → UV care.

5. Japanese pharmaceutical heritage

Association with Rohto gives the brand credibility linked to research, formulation technology, and functional skincare.

Melano CC turns vitamin C from a single “trendy ingredient” into the central organizing principle of an entire affordable skincare brand.

While many companies sell vitamin-C serums, Melano CC differs because vitamin C is essentially the brand’s identity. This identity has remained consistent since the original Melano Buster launched in 2005, even as the brand expanded into cleansing, lotions, moisturizers, masks, UV products, men’s skincare, and the 2026 Melano CC+ line.

As of 2026, the ecosystem includes:

MELANO CC

• Core vitamin-C skincare
• Brightening / spot-prevention
• Acne-mark and pore care
• Cleansing, Lotion, Essence, Gel/Cream/Emulsion, Masks, UV care

MELANO CC Men

• Men’s-oriented version
• Blemish and pore care
• Oilier-skin-focused positioning

MELANO CC+

• Newer, higher-value-added extension
• Vitamin C + additional active ingredients
• First major focus: pores / roughness
• Launch product: Vitamin C + azelaic acid mask4

Melano CC is a Japanese functional skincare brand owned by Rohto Pharmaceutical, launched in 2005 from the original Mentholatum Melano Buster serum. Built around Rohto’s research into vitamin C, the brand focuses on everyday care for blemishes, acne marks, uneven-looking skin tone, freckles, and pores. Its signature product category is the vitamin-C essence, but the brand has since expanded into cleansers, lotions, moisturizers, masks, UV products, men’s skincare, and supplements. After celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, Melano CC entered a new phase in 2026 with the Melano CC+ line, which combines vitamin C with complementary active ingredients such as azelaic acid. Its defining market position is affordable, accessible, ingredient-focused Japanese skincare centered on vitamin C.

1. メラノCC
2. Melano CC
3. New lotion launched from “MELANO CC,” the No. 1 selling lotion in the lotion market for two consecutive years
4. The “MELANO CC ®+” series is born. New “MELANO CC + AZmask” with pure vitamin C and pure azelaic acid is now available…
5. Sở hữu 4 bước dưỡng da chuẩn Nhật với bộ sản phẩm Melano CC