Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Vitamin C Essence for dry skin
Ascorbic Acid Active Vitamin C
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E Derivative
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate- Vitamin C Tetraisopalmitate
Alpinia Katsumadai Seed Extract
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers excellent brightening and evening of skin tone due to the presence of Ascorbic Acid Active Vitamin C and Vitamin C Tetraisopalmitate, which promote skin tone evenness for your dry skin.
- While Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E Derivative provides antioxidant and moisturizing effects, the ethoxydiglycol can be drying, and there's a lack of significant emollient or occlusive ingredients to counteract potential dryness for your dry skin.
- The product is safe for your dry skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 5.7k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this essence for its ability to fade post-acne marks and brighten skin tone without rapid oxidation. While some find the initial texture oily, it generally absorbs well, though it may be best for spot treatment or layering. A significant number of reviews highlight its effectiveness on dark spots and the smart packaging that prevents oxidation. Moderate feedback points to its lightweight absorption and good value, while some users note an oily residue, and a low number report breakouts, dispensing issues, or fragrance sensitivity.
Highlights
Effective on dark spots Mostly Mentioned
- “Faded my acne scars”
- “lightened hyperpigmentation significantly”
- “spots are barely visible”
- “brightens overall complexion”
Smart packaging Often Mentioned
- “Tube prevents oxidation”
- “stays clear for months”
- “nozzle dispenses one drop”
- “great for travel”
Great value Sometimes Noted
- “Lasts a long time”
- “little goes a long way”
- “affordable price point”
- “unbeatable for the cost”
Lightweight absorption Sometimes Noted
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “non-sticky finish”
- “sinks into skin”
- “layers well under makeup”
Oily texture Sometimes Noted
- “Feels greasy at first”
- “leaves an oily film”
- “too shiny for day use”
- “slippery consistency”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused closed comedones”
- “broke me out”
- “gave me small bumps”
- “clogged my pores”
Difficult dispensing Rarely Noted
- “Hard to squeeze out”
- “dispenses too slowly”
- “drop-by-drop is annoying”
- “struggle to get product”
Fragrance sensitivity Rarely Noted
- “Strong citrus scent”
- “smells like yuzu”
- “irritated my sensitive skin”
- “wish it was fragrance-free”
Sources: lovi.care, stylevana.com, iherb.com, yesstyle.com, reddit.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Melano CC Essence work for dry skin?
This essence brightens your skin tone and provides some antioxidants, but it lacks rich softening and sealing ingredients to properly counteract dryness. A product of this type needs rich soothing ingredients that provide deep hydration and support the skin barrier, such as ceramides, niacinamide, or nourishing plant oils, to truly suit dry skin.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?
This serum brightens and evens your skin tone using Ascorbic Acid Active Vitamin C and Vitamin C Tetraisopalmitate, while Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E Derivative provides antioxidant and moisturizing effects. Because dry skin needs extra help to stay comfortable, this skin type benefits most from rich, soothing ingredients that lock in moisture, repair the barrier, and keep skin soft.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Scientific Reports, 2025
What does Ascorbic Acid do for dry skin?
Ascorbic acid helps hydrate dry skin and smooth its surface while improving moisture retention. It also supports skin barrier function, which may reduce flakiness and keep the skin feeling soft.
Skin Research and Technology, 2008Experimental Dermatology, 2008
What does Tocopheryl Acetate do for dry skin?
Tocopheryl acetate helps dry skin by locking in moisture to keep your face feeling soft and smooth. It may also boost elasticity and help restore a healthy skin barrier.
Scientific Reports, 2025International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine for dry skin, after cleansing and before moisturizing. Because it lacks rich, trapping ingredients and contains drying components, dry skin needs this type of product paired with deep moisturizers and soothing creams that seal in hydration.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine before your moisturizer, but dry skin needs a rich moisturizer with heavy softening and sealing ingredients to prevent any drying effects from this formula.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment works best in your evening routine, and dry skin needs a rich moisturizer or skin-softening oils alongside it to prevent any flaky dryness.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry skin, as it has a safe formula with a low complaint rate for clogged pores. However, a product for dry skin needs rich, locking-in ingredients and skin-softening elements to prevent potential dryness from some of its components.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025Cardamonin suppressed pigmentation and decreased intracellular melanin production by inhibiting the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway and suppressing MITF and tyrosinase expression in human normal melanocytes.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2009
Why other serums fit dry skin better
Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.
Annals of Dermatology, 2019
Ingredients
Ascorbic Acid Active Vitamin C, Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E Derivative, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Isopropyl Methylphenol, Vitamin C Tetraisopalmitate, Ethoxydiglycol, Alpinia Katsumadai Seed Extract Alpinia White Seed Extract, Bg, Edetate
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.