🇨🇦Canada

Kiehl's vs Hada Labo

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Kiehl's and Hada Labo are a pair of esteemed skincare brands originating from America and Japan, respectively. The American brand is loved for its nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, and gentle eye products relying on glycerin and squalane, while the Japanese brand is warmly loved for its targeted toners, gentle makeup removers, and deeply hydrating moisturizers. Kiehl's suits mature and sensitive skin best, whereas Hada Labo suits dry, sensitive, oily, and combination skin types best. Both differ primarily in their geographical origins, foundational years, parent companies, and specific active ingredients like squalane versus harmoniously crafted hydrating formulas.

Kiehl's is an American skincare brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Hada Labo is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 2004 and owned by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd..

en.wikipedia.orghadalabosa.co.zahadalabotokyo.pl

This page compares some of the most popular Kiehl's and Hada Labo products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Kiehl's vs Hada Labo products

People Say

Kiehl'sHada Labo
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Texture and Weight Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Absorbs quickly — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “absorbs super quickly — Hada Labo Premium Whitening Lotion (Light)”
  • Gentle on Skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “never stings my sensitive skin — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
    • “No fragrance/alcohol — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
    • “no irritation, no breakouts — Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Dark Spots and Brightening Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “faded considerably — Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion”
    • “faded my PIH considerably — Hada Labo Premium Whitening Lotion (Light)”
  • High Price Point Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Sticky or Tacky Finish Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “leaves a tacky film — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Tacky residue — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Closed comedones — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
    • “gave me closed comedones — Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion”

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Hada Labo: which is better?

Hada Labo is better for hydration and gentleness, while Kiehl's is better for texture and weight. Reviewers note that Hada Labo provides deep hydration with fragrance-free formulations, whereas Kiehl's offers lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Hada Labo?

Hada Labo provides better hydration and moisture and is more gentle on skin, while Kiehl's is better for texture and weight. Reviewers often mention Hada Labo for deep hydration and value, and Kiehl's for lightweight moisturizers.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Kiehl's or Hada Labo: which moisturizer is better?

Hada Labo is better for hydration and moisture among the products on this page, while Kiehl's is better for texture and weight. Both brands are equal regarding breakouts and acne.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Hada Labo?

Hada Labo is more affordable because Kiehl's carries a high price point.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Kiehl's or Hada Labo?

Both Kiehl's and Hada Labo do equally well when it comes to breakouts and acne.

Between Kiehl's and Hada Labo, which brand offers fragrance-free products across its entire line?

Hada Labo offers fragrance-free products across its entire line, as every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, Kiehl's includes fragrance in a small number of items, such as the Age Defender Moisturizer and Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men.

How do the founding years and parent companies of Kiehl's and Hada Labo compare?

Kiehl's was founded in the United States in 1851 and is owned by L'Oréal S.A., whereas Hada Labo was founded in Japan in 2004 and is owned by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Which brand has products that achieve a superior Lovi fit level for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and Hada Labo feature products that achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for dry skin. Specifically, Kiehl's offers the Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate, while Hada Labo provides the Gokujyun Lotion and Gokujyun Premium toners.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Research behind their key ingredients

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play