Hada Labo vs Elemis
Hada Labo and Elemis are two distinct skincare brands founded in Japan and Britain, respectively. Hada Labo is known for its targeted toners, gentle makeup removers, and deeply hydrating moisturizers, while Elemis is celebrated for its nourishing serums, rich moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and refreshing toners anchored by hydrating glycerin and softening shea. The first brand suits dry, sensitive, oily, and combination skin types best, whereas the second suits mature skin and dry skin best. They differ primarily in their formulation approaches and regional heritage, offering diverse options to support healthy, comfortable skin.
Hada Labo is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 2004 and owned by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd..
en.wikipedia.orghadalabosa.co.zahadalabotokyo.pl
Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.
elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org
This page compares some of the most popular Hada Labo and Elemis products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Hada Labo vs Elemis products
People Say
Intense and deep hydration Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
- “skin drinks it up — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
- “Plumps fine lines — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
- “leaves skin soft, smooth, and hydrated — Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion”
- “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
Gentle formulation Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
- “leaves skin soft and hydrated — Hada Labo Gokujyun Cleansing Oil”
- “never stings my sensitive skin — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
- “No fragrance/alcohol — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
- “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
Lightweight texture and absorption Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “absorbs super quickly — Hada Labo Premium Whitening Lotion (Light)”
- “absorbs super quickly — Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion”
- “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “weightless serum — Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment”
Spa-like or pleasant scent Not notedOften Mentioned
- “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “smells like a holiday — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “smells like a tropical cocktail — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
Versatile application Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “mixes well with oils — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
- “Mixes with oils — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
- “Streamlines your routine by replacing five separate products. — Hada Labo Gokujyun Perfect Gel”
- “great overnight mask — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
Smoother skin texture Not notedOften Mentioned
- “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
- “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “skin feels baby-soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
High price point Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
Sticky or tacky finish Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “slightly tacky to touch — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
- “Tacky residue — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
Skin breakouts and clogging Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “terrible spots — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
- “clogged my pores — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “gave me tiny bumps — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
Questions and answers
Hada Labo or Elemis: which is better?
Hada Labo is better for deep hydration and gentle, fragrance-free care, while Elemis stands out for luxurious textures and smoother skin texture. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and hydration.
What is the difference between Hada Labo and Elemis?
Hada Labo focuses on fragrance-free, deeply hydrating hyaluronic acid formulas that provide great value, while Elemis offers a more luxurious spa-like experience with scented, multi-benefit anti-aging routines that come at a higher price point.
Hada Labo or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?
Hada Labo focuses on deep hydration with hyaluronic acid and fragrance-free formulas, while Elemis offers luxurious textures with key ingredients like glycerin and shea butter, though many of its products contain added fragrance. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and hydration.
Which is more affordable, Hada Labo or Elemis?
Hada Labo is more affordable than Elemis, as reviewers frequently note the high price point of Elemis products.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Hada Labo or Elemis?
Hada Labo causes fewer breakouts, as skin breakouts and clogging are noted as a negative review theme for Elemis while Hada Labo is favored for gentle formulation.
Which brand uses fragrance-free formulations, Hada Labo or Elemis?
Hada Labo is fragrance-free across the products on this page, whereas Elemis includes fragrance in the majority of its items.
How do the founding years and corporate ownerships of Hada Labo and Elemis compare?
Hada Labo was founded in Japan in 2004 and is owned by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., while Elemis was founded in the United Kingdom in 1989 and has been owned by the L'Occitane Group since 2019.
Which brand is better suited for mature skin based on their best-fit skin types?
Elemis is better suited for mature skin, as mature skin is one of the skin types the brand fits best according to its brand-focused routines. Hada Labo does not list mature skin among its best-fit skin types on this page.
Research behind their key ingredients
Bacterial cellulose membranes as drug delivery systems: an in vivo skin compatibility study
Preparation and characterization of a lecithin nanoemulsion as a topical delivery system
Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study
Topical beta-carotene protects against infra-red-light-induced free radicals
A Rose Extract Protects the Skin against Stress Mediators: A Potential Role of Olfactory Receptors
The anti-wrinkles properties of sodium acetylated hyaluronate
Comparative measurement of hydration effects of herbal moisturizers
Topical Almond Oil for Prevention of Pressure Injuries: A Single-Blinded Comparison Study
Skin recovery by Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract: Redox control of Nrf2 signaling
Moisturizing Effects of Diglycerol Combined with Glycerol on Human Stratum Corneum
Formulation and evaluation of exotic fat based cosmeceuticals for skin repair
Nanocomplex of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and hyaluronic acid for a skin delivery
Effects of fermented tea seed oil on the skin lipid barrier and microbiome of sensitive skin
Combined Effect of Silybin and Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate on UV-Induced Photoaging
Behind this comparison
Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated 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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