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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 distinct skincare lines, with the former being an American brand founded in 1851 and the latter a Japanese brand founded in 2004. Kiehl's is beloved for dependable moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products incorporating nourishing glycerin and squalane, while Hada Labo is deeply loved for hydrating toners, gentle makeup removers, and nourishing moisturizers driven by advanced science. The American brand suits mature skin and skin with dark spots best, whereas the Japanese offerings suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best. Ultimately, they differ in their formulation approaches and regional heritage, yet both support a healthy skin barrier.

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”

Kiehl's vs Hada Labo routines for dry skin

Buy Hada Labo routine · $158.72 · 99% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · $382.00 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Hada Labo routines for oily skin

Buy Hada Labo routine · $332.14 · 95% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · $343.42 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs Hada Labo routines for combination skin

Buy Hada Labo routine · $313.73 · 94% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · $339.90 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Hada Labo: which is better?

Hada Labo is a better fit overall, offering Superior routine fit for dry, oily, combination, acne-prone, mature, and dark-spot-prone skin types compared to Kiehl's. Reviewers note that Hada Labo provides deep hydration and gentle, fragrance-free formulations, while the products on this page help deliver moisture effectively.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Hada Labo achieves a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Kiehl's achieves a High fit. Hada Labo features hyaluronic acid across its products and is noted for deep hydration, while Kiehl's offers a wider range of serums and moisturizers with key ingredients like glycerin and vitamin C.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Kiehl's or Hada Labo for dry skin?

Hada Labo is a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas Kiehl's is a High fit. Hada Labo provides deep hydration with hyaluronic acid, while the products on this page for Kiehl's offer average to high hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Hada Labo provides superior routine fit for moisturizers on dry skin compared to Kiehl's, and every Hada Labo product on this page lists no fragrance.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Hada Labo is more affordable, as the products on this page often mention value and versatility, whereas Kiehl's frequently receives feedback about its high price point.

Do Kiehl's or Hada Labo products contain fragrance?

Hada Labo lists no fragrance in any of the products on this page, whereas most Kiehl's products are also fragrance-free except for the Age Defender Moisturizer and the Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men.

Which brand focuses more on hyaluronic acid as a key ingredient, Kiehl's or Hada Labo?

Hada Labo focuses more on hyaluronic acid, as hyaluronic acid is listed as a key ingredient across the products on this page for Hada Labo.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

How do Kiehl's and Hada Labo compare in terms of skin texture and weight according to reviewers?

According to reviewers, Kiehl's does better than Hada Labo for texture and weight, while the products on this page for Hada Labo are more often noted for sticky and tacky finishes.

Kiehl's or Hada Labo for oily skin?

For oily skin, Hada Labo has a Superior routine fit and Kiehl's has a High routine fit according to Lovi. Hada Labo provides better overall hydration and moisturization for oily skin types based on the products on this page.

Kiehl's or Hada Labo for acne-prone skin?

Hada Labo is a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, whereas Kiehl's is an Average fit. Hada Labo features deep hydration and gentle, fragrance-free formulations, while the products on this page for Hada Labo achieve a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin.

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?

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