Tsujimoto Market: Our Guarantees
Description
HYTHIOL-C PLUS 2, 270 Tablets — Japanese Class 3 OTC L-Cysteine and Vitamin C Medicine by SSP
Overview
Two things about this product were wrong on our page and need saying plainly. It is not made by Daiichi Sankyo — the manufacturer is SSP Co., Ltd. (エスエス製薬), an established Japanese OTC pharmaceutical house. And it is not a supplement: HYTHIOL-C PLUS 2 is a registered Japanese Class 3 over-the-counter medicine (第3類医薬品), with a fixed dosage, an age limit and an approved list of indications printed on the box.
The daily dose of six tablets provides L-cysteine 240 mg, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) 500 mg and calcium pantothenate 24 mg. Japan's approved indications for this product are pigmentation disorders such as spots, freckles and sunburn marks, plus general fatigue, hangover, acne and eczema. 270 tablets is a 45-day course at the full adult dose. See also our Japanese supplements and brightening skincare.
Key Benefits
- ✓ A registered Japanese Class 3 OTC medicine, not a food supplement — the actives and their amounts are on the label and reviewed
- ✓ L-cysteine 240 mg per daily dose, the amino acid Japanese dermatology has long associated with melanin handling
- ✓ Ascorbic acid 500 mg per daily dose, a genuinely high amount for a daily product
- ✓ Calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5) 24 mg completes the panel
- ✓ 270 tablets is a full 45-day course at the adult dose, so you can assess it fairly rather than half-finishing it
- ✓ Shipped from our base in Kobe, Japan with tracking, in the Japanese domestic packaging
Product Details
| Brand | HYTHIOL (Hythiol-C) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | SSP Co., Ltd. (エスエス製薬), Japan |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Product type | Oral L-cysteine and vitamin C preparation |
| Volume / count | 270 tablets (45-day adult course) |
| JAN code | 4987300067000 |
| Regulatory status | Class 3 OTC medicine (Japan) — not a supplement |
Who Is This For?
- Adults wanting the Japanese pharmacy approach to pigmentation from spots, freckles and sun exposure, alongside daily sunscreen
- Anyone who prefers a product with a stated dosage and an approved indication list over an unregulated beauty supplement
- People who want a full 45-day course rather than a two-week trial
- Approved in Japan from age 7 at a reduced dose, but not for children under 7
- Not for you if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking prescription medication, or if your country restricts personal imports of medicines — check before ordering
How to Use
- Adults aged 15 and over: take 2 tablets three times a day, six tablets in total.
- Children aged 7 to 14: 1 tablet three times a day. Not for children under 7.
- Swallow with water or lukewarm water. Taking it with or after food suits most stomachs better.
- Continue for the full 45-day course before judging the result, and keep using sunscreen throughout — this is the half of the equation the tablets cannot do.
- Do not exceed six tablets a day for an adult.
Frequency: Three times a day, every day, for the 45-day course. This is a dosage, not a suggestion — do not double up on a missed dose.
Full Ingredients
Active ingredients per adult daily dose of 6 tablets, as declared by SSP:
- L-cysteine — 240 mg
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) — 500 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5) — 24 mg
That is the whole active panel. The previous version of this page described "a small B-vitamin pack", which was misleading: the only B vitamin in the formula is pantothenic acid as calcium pantothenate. There is no B1, B2, B6 or B12 in HYTHIOL-C PLUS 2. Excipients are listed on the Japanese package insert inside the box; send us a photo after delivery and we will translate it.
Cautions
- This is a registered Japanese over-the-counter medicine, not a beauty supplement. Japan's Class 3 tier is the mildest self-selection category, but the packaging still carries a dosage, an age limit and a list of approved indications, and it is regulated as a drug. Check the interaction and dosage rules for your own country before ordering.
- Not a substitute for a varied diet, for sun protection or for medical treatment. Nothing here diagnoses, treats, cures or prevents any disease.
- Do not exceed the stated daily amount. Taking more does not work faster.
- If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, under medical care or taking prescription medication, ask your doctor before starting.
- Stop taking it and consult a doctor if you notice any unusual reaction, rash or digestive upset.
- Check your own country's import rules before ordering. Some ingestible products cannot legally be imported for personal use in every jurisdiction.
- Keep out of reach of children. Store away from direct sunlight, heat and humidity, and close the pack after each use.
Package Contents
One box containing 270 tablets and the Japanese package insert.
Shipping & Store Notes
- Ships directly from Japan
- Processing time: 2–6 business days
- Tracking number provided after dispatch
- Import duties and taxes may apply depending on destination country
- Opened cosmetics cannot be returned for hygiene and safety reasons
Authenticity Guarantee
Every product at Tsujimoto Market is sourced directly from Japan and verified for authenticity. We never sell fakes or grey-market goods. Each order is carefully packed in Kobe, Japan and dispatched with full tracking.
FAQ
Is this a medicine or a supplement, and does it matter?
It is a medicine, and yes it matters. HYTHIOL-C PLUS 2 is registered in Japan as a Class 3 over-the-counter drug: it has a fixed dosage, a minimum age, an approved indication list and a package insert, and Japanese pharmacy rules govern how it is sold. That is a higher bar than a beauty supplement clears, which is a point in its favour — but it also means the ordinary supplement caveats do not apply. Check whether your country allows personal import of medicines, and tell your doctor you are taking it if you take anything else.
What does L-cysteine actually do for pigmentation?
L-cysteine is a sulphur-containing amino acid and a building block your body uses to make glutathione, which is involved in how melanin synthesis is routed. That is the mechanism Japanese pharmacy has built this category on, and it is why the approved indication mentions pigmentation. What it is not is a bleach: the realistic expectation over a 45-day course is that existing marks look no worse and new ones darken less, not that anything disappears. Pigmentation is driven by ultraviolet light, so a tablet without sunscreen is working against itself.
Do I still need sunscreen while using this?
Yes, and it is not a detail you can skip. Ultraviolet light is what drives melanin production in the first place, so a brightening routine without daily sun protection is a bucket with a hole in it. Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every morning you will see daylight, including through windows and on overcast days.
The packaging is in Japanese — how do I know what I am using?
The carton and bottle carry Japanese-language labelling, because this is stock made for the Japanese domestic market. Where an ingredient list appears on this page, it is translated from that labelling or from the manufacturer's own published data; where the manufacturer does not publish one, the ingredients section says so rather than filling the gap. Either way, send us a photo of anything unclear on the box after delivery and we will translate it, and ask us before ordering if you need the full label list first.
Will I pay customs duty or import VAT?
That depends on your country and on the declared value of the parcel, not on us. We ship from Japan with a correct customs declaration and full tracking; any duty or import VAT your country charges is collected by your local carrier or customs office on delivery. Check your national de-minimis threshold before ordering if you want to avoid a surprise.
