Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Vitamin C Essence for combination skin
Ascorbic Acid Active Vitamin C
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E Derivative
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate- Vitamin C Tetraisopalmitate
Alpinia Katsumadai Seed Extract
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 moderate brightening and evening of skin tone for your combination skin, as Ascorbic Acid and Vitamin C Tetraisopalmitate work to improve discoloration, while Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E Derivative provides antioxidant support and barrier repair.
- The formula also includes Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate and Isopropyl Methylphenol, which offer general skincare benefits supportive for oily shine and combination skin.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
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 combination skin?
Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Vitamin C Essence works moderately well for combination skin by offering some brightening and evening of skin tone with vitamin C and vitamin E without causing irritation. However, treatments that fit combination skin better need ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA to fully regulate oiliness and provide optimal hydration without imbalance.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Ascorbic acid and vitamin C tetraisopalmitate help brighten dark spots and even out your skin tone, while tocopheryl acetate vitamin E derivative supports your skin barrier. In addition, dipotassium glycyrrhizate and isopropyl methylphenol provide supportive benefits for oily shine. To work even better for combination skin, a product of this type needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA that regulate oiliness and provide optimal hydration without excess oiliness or dryness.
What does Ascorbic Acid do for combination skin?
Ascorbic acid helps brighten combination skin, improve overall radiance, and smooth the surface texture while protecting against environmental damage. It also works well alongside other ingredients to boost firmness and even out skin tone.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1996
What does Tocopheryl Acetate do for combination skin?
Tocopheryl Acetate helps protect combination skin from sun damage and keeps it feeling soft by supporting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to clog pores, making it a safe choice for balancing oily and dry areas.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Dermatologic Surgery, 2005
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Combination skin needs products with antioxidants like vitamin C and soothing ingredients that brighten tone while balancing oily shine.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying this vitamin C treatment in the morning and saving your retinol for your evening routine. This helps you avoid irritation while still giving your skin brightening and antioxidant support. To work best for your combination skin, this product needs ingredients that balance oily shine while smoothing and evening your skin tone.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it once a week at first and carefully using it more often if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results. This product works for your combination skin, though other products fit it better; a product of this type needs antioxidant support and barrier repair along with ingredients that target oily shine to make a great fit for your skin.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for combination skin as it has a very low complaint rate for causing blemishes. To better avoid clogged pores on combination skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-balancing ingredients that keep pores clear.
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, 2020A 3-in-1 anti-aging topical night serum-in-oil applied once daily decreased wrinkles by 11%, increased skin firmness by 8%, reduced redness by 70%, and improved overall skin quality and complexion in 103 female subjects over 28 to 84 days compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Dermatological 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
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?
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