Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence Japan versus Hada Labo Melano CC Vitamin C Essence .

Last updated on February 16, 2024. Published on April 09, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe essences. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Essence Japanese Brand Japan
Essence Japanese Brand Japan

Essence

Essences are used to prep skin for further treatment and may provide extra skin benefits. They are usually used before serum and moisturizers. Essences are thought to have originated in either Japan or Korea and is an essential step in K-Beauty.

Essence

Essences are used to prep skin for further treatment and may provide extra skin benefits. They are usually used before serum and moisturizers. Essences are thought to have originated in either Japan or Korea and is an essential step in K-Beauty.

Price

Shop

Buy Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence

Shop

Buy Melano CC Vitamin C Essence

Starts at $79.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C (2)
Vitamin E

Benefits

Redness Reducing (3)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture (2)
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots (3)
Scar Healing (2)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C (2)
Vitamin E

Benefits

Redness Reducing (3)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture (2)
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots (3)
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)
Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Antioxidant, Buffering, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.

Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.

Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.

Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!

Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.

Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.

The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.

Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.

Read more about other types of Vitamin C:

Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.

Learn more about Ascorbic Acid

Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence Japan contains this as ingredient number 1.

Hada Labo Melano CC Vitamin C Essence contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence Japan contains this as ingredient number 2.

Hada Labo Melano CC Vitamin C Essence contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.

Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.

One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.

Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.

Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.

Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.

Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.

Learn more about Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence Japan contains this as ingredient number 3.

Hada Labo Melano CC Vitamin C Essence contains this as ingredient number 3.

4
What it does: Humectant, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethoxydiglycol is a synthetic solvent.

Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.

Ethoxydiglycol also helps deliver other key ingredients into the skin.

Learn more about Ethoxydiglycol

Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence Japan contains this as ingredient number 7.

Hada Labo Melano CC Vitamin C Essence contains this as ingredient number 6.

5
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence Japan contains this as ingredient number 9.

Hada Labo Melano CC Vitamin C Essence contains this as ingredient number 8.

6
What it does:
Community Rating: Very Disliked

EDTA is the shortened name for ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. It is a chelating agent and used to stabilize products.

Chelating Agents are used to prevent trace metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This can prevent unwanted reactions or changed efficacy of products.

Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence Japan contains this as ingredient number 11.

Hada Labo Melano CC Vitamin C Essence contains this as ingredient number 9.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

33% are loved or liked
17% have mixed ratings
33% are disliked or very disliked
17% have no rating yet
44% are loved or liked
22% have mixed ratings
11% are disliked or very disliked
22% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Loading routine usage...
Loading routine usage...

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence 12 ingredients

4.8 /5
from 2 ratings
Great Value (2) Works Well (2) Absorbs Well (1) Light (1) Light Scent (1) No Scent (1)
vch718's avatar

vch718

5 months ago · Oily Skin
Review

Price: 5/5
Great for the product quality & packaging.
Packaging: 5/5
Very good for vitamin c that oxidize easily. Easy to dispense the...

Price: 5/5
Great for the product quality & packaging.
Packaging: 5/5
Very good for vitamin c that oxidize easily. Easy to dispense the product.
Texture: 5/5
Slightly watery. Easy to spread and absorb into skin. Easy to layer with other skincare.
Smell: 5/5
pleasant citrus smell
Result: 5/5
After 1 month use, my dark acne scars are noticeably lighter, some completely gone. Not irritating even when when I spread it on my eyelid.

shoppingaddict's avatar

shoppingaddict

2 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

works super well my darkspots started to fade after 2 weeks of using it

Hada Labo Melano CC Vitamin C Essence 9 ingredients

4.3 /5
from 4 ratings
Oily (1) Strong Scent (1)
BobaSheer's avatar

BobaSheer

5 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

Fade my dark spots in less than a month!!
My skin is kinda sensitive(i had a damage skin barrier) so I use this with nothing but cleanser only...

Fade my dark spots in less than a month!!
My skin is kinda sensitive(i had a damage skin barrier) so I use this with nothing but cleanser only until around 9-10 pm i washed it off and begin my night routine 💆🏻‍♀️

RanaKitapyan_260's avatar

RanaKitapyan_260

7 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

Fades dark spots, works great for uneven texture, non irritating, little goes a long way, texture works perfectly with rest of skincare

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 4 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Rohto Mentholatum Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence Japan.

See 4 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 4 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Hada Labo Melano CC Vitamin C Essence.

See 4 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...