Tsujimoto Market: Our Guarantees
Description
Obagi C Refine Lotion, 150 ml — Vitamin C Toner
Overview
A Japanese vitamin C lotion from the Obagi C line, developed and sold in Japan by Rohto Pharmaceutical. It sits at the toner step: applied straight after cleansing, absorbed in seconds, no residue.
The formula declares two vitamin C forms — pure ascorbic acid and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate — alongside fullerene, a separate antioxidant. Ethanol is the second ingredient, which is what gives the fast dry finish and also what makes this a poor match for skin that reacts to alcohol.
See also Japanese toners and lotions and Japanese whitening skincare.
Key Benefits
- ✓ Two declared vitamin C forms: ascorbic acid and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate
- ✓ Fullerene declared as a separate antioxidant alongside the vitamin C
- ✓ Botanical extracts including green tea, loquat leaf and Ascophyllum nodosum
- ✓ Absorbs in seconds and leaves no film — the classic Japanese lotion finish
- ✓ Made by Rohto Pharmaceutical for the Japanese domestic market
- ✓ 150 ml bottle, the standard Japanese size
- ✓ Bought in Japan and dispatched from Kobe with tracking
Product Details
| Brand | Obagi C (オバジC) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Japan |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Product type | Vitamin C lotion / toner (化粧水) |
| Format | Liquid lotion, bottle |
| Volume | 150 ml |
| Key declared actives | Ascorbic acid; magnesium ascorbyl phosphate; fullerene |
| Regulatory status | Cosmetic (化粧品). Not a quasi-drug |
| Notable | Ethanol is the second ingredient — high-alcohol formula |
| Contains | Sodium metabisulfite (sulfite); fragrance |
| Shop SKU | Obagi Refine Lotion |
Who Is This For?
- Skin that tolerates alcohol-based toners and wants a vitamin C step that is not sticky
- Dull or uneven-looking skin tone where a brightening routine is the goal
- People building a Japanese routine who want the lotion step to do more than hydrate
- Combination or oily skin, which generally suits this texture best
- Not for you if alcohol stings, if your skin barrier is compromised, or if you react to sulfites
How to Use
- Cleanse and pat the face dry.
- Dispense two or three pumps into the palm or onto a cotton pad.
- Press it into the skin with the palms rather than rubbing; work outwards from the centre of the face.
- Let it absorb for a few seconds — it does not need to be wiped off.
- Follow with serum and moisturiser as usual.
Frequency: Morning and evening. If your skin is new to a vitamin C toner, start once a day and build up.
Full Ingredients
Full ingredients (maker's list, in order): Water, Ethanol, BG, Glycerin, DPG, Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Fullerene, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Maclura Cochinchinensis Leaf Prenylflavonoid, Eriobotrya Japonica (Loquat) Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-32, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Trehalose, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 60, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Dilauroyl Glutamate Lysine, Sorbitol, t-Butanol, PVP, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Fragrance.
Two vitamin C forms are declared: pure ascorbic acid and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, a stable derivative. Fullerene is a separate antioxidant, not a vitamin C.
Ethanol is the second ingredient — this is a high-alcohol lotion by design, which is common in Japanese vitamin C toners and is worth knowing if alcohol stings your skin.
Allergen note: contains sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite. Halal note: contains ethanol at a high position in the list.
Cautions
- Contains a high proportion of ethanol. Do not use on broken, sunburnt, freshly exfoliated or actively irritated skin.
- Patch-test on the inner forearm before first use, particularly if your skin is sensitive or reactive.
- Contains sodium metabisulfite. Avoid if you have a known sulfite sensitivity.
- Stop using it if redness, stinging beyond the first few seconds, swelling or itching develops, and see a doctor if it persists.
- Avoid the eye area. If it gets into the eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water.
- Store closed, away from direct sunlight and heat. A gradual colour change is normal in a formula containing pure ascorbic acid.
Package Contents
1 × Obagi C Refine Lotion, 150 ml, in the maker's bottle and outer carton. Japanese-language packaging.
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 the same Obagi as the American Obagi Medical?
No, and the difference matters. Obagi C in Japan is developed and sold by Rohto Pharmaceutical under licence, with its own formulations. This lotion is a Rohto product made for the Japanese market; it is not the US Obagi Medical range.
Does it lighten dark spots?
Rohto positions the line around vitamin C for a bright, even-looking complexion. We do not claim it lightens pigmentation: that is a treatment claim, and this is a cosmetic, not a medicine or a Japanese quasi-drug.
Why is there so much alcohol in it?
Ethanol is the second ingredient. In Japanese vitamin C toners it does two jobs: it helps keep pure ascorbic acid in solution and it gives the fast, dry, non-tacky finish the category is known for. If alcohol stings your skin, this is not the lotion for you.
Where in a routine does it go?
After cleansing, before serum and moisturiser, like any Japanese 化粧水. Rohto sells a matching serum and moisturiser but the lotion works on its own.
Is pure ascorbic acid unstable?
Pure L-ascorbic acid does oxidise. That is why the formula pairs it with magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, a stable derivative, and why the bottle should be closed properly and kept out of sunlight. A gradual colour change with age is normal for this kind of formula.
