Rohto Mentholatum Obagi Vitamin C Serum C5
Works for
MoisturizingYeast extract, Serine + 5 moreWorks
“It moisturizes the stratum corneum and addresses various skin concerns from a variety of angles, including texture, roughness, and pores (moisturizing the skin for smoother skin with less noticeable pores), leading to a smooth, lustrous, and eye-catching translucency.”
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": betaine, glycerin.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Tocopherol, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid + 3 moreWorks well
This product contains antioxidants (tocopherol) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
The following ingredients - 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, yeast extract also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.
Evens skin toneSide benefit · 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, Yeast extract + 1 moreMay help
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, yeast extract.
Anti-agingSide benefit the brand mentions · Serine, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid + 2 moreMay help
“Brand from Japan Rohto Mentholatum. Contains pure vitamin C and vitamin E. Newly formulated with Advanced C Control.”
This product contains serine. This ingredient might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Alcohol, Citrus paradisi fruit extract + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Propanediol~22–34%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolAlcohol~7.3–11%
- Irritation risk
- High
Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties
More about AlcoholWater~4.8–7.2%
Propylene glycol~3.4–5.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
More about Propylene glycolIsopentyldiol~2.7–4.1%
Ascorbic acid~2–3.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
The most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of aging
More about Ascorbic acidButylene glycol~1.5–2.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolTocopherol~1.1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about Tocopherol3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid~1.1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- High
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Can help neutralize free radicals and help reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
More about 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acidCynara scolymus leaf extract~0.6–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might have some anti-oxidant properties. It might be irritating
More about Cynara scolymus leaf extractYeast extract~0.45–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some anti-oxidant and skin lightening properties. It can help calm down inflammation in skin
More about Yeast extractPerilla frutescens extract~0.45–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Serine~0.35–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
More about SerineCitrus paradisi fruit extract~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- High
Betaine~0.15–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
More about BetaineGlycerin~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinPeg/ppg-300/55 copolymer~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Parfum~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumIngredient list view
Propanediol, Alcohol, Water, Propylene glycol, Isopentyldiol, Ascorbic acid, Butylene glycol, Tocopherol, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, Unknown, Cynara scolymus leaf extract, Yeast extract, Perilla frutescens extract, Serine, Citrus paradisi fruit extract, Betaine, Glycerin, Peg/ppg-300/55 copolymer, Parfum
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| Rohto MentholatumObagi Vitamin C Serum C5YOUR PRODUCT | ObagiC20 Serum | BellflowerVitamin C 20% Serum | BlissPro Brightening Serum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 99% | 89% | 88% |
| Price | — | — | $15.30 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 7 of 7 | 3 of 7 | 3 of 7 |
| Key difference | — | Centella Asiatica Extract | Niacinamide | Niacinamide |
| Irritancy | High | High | Medium | Low |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: IOPE Expert Vitamin C 25% Antioxidant Serum for BrighteningBrickell Men's Products Vitamin C Booster for Men
Product summary
"Rohto Mentholatum - Obagi Vitamin C Serum C5" could be helpful for: Anti-aging, Moisturizing and Evens skin tone, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- This product also contains Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid). It can be an effective active for anti-aging and evening out the skin tone, but in this product it is used for stabilizing other ingredients in the formulation. In this concentration (2.00% - 3.10%) it cannot have a noticeable benefit for the skin.
- Humectants (glycerin 0.10% - 0.40% and betaine 0.15% - 0.55%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails for 43.29$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 10 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycolonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 4Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5Vitamin E and Skin Healthlpi.oregonstate.edu
- 6
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