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The INKEY List vs Hada Labo

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

The INKEY List and Hada Labo are two distinct skincare brands offering targeted solutions for diverse complexions. The British line relies on glycerin-centric moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products that suit combination and sensitive skin best, while the Japanese house is deeply loved for its hydrating toners, gentle makeup removers, and nourishing moisturizers driven by advanced science that suit dry and acne-prone skin best. Both options deliver essential hydration and support a healthy skin barrier through thoughtfully formulated ingredients. Ultimately, they differ in their foundational approaches, as the brand from the UK focuses on precise active ingredients for specific concerns like dark spots and aging, whereas the brand from Japan centers on deeply restoring moisture and soothing irritation without clogging pores.

The INKEY List is a British skincare brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

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 The INKEY List and Hada Labo products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The INKEY List vs Hada Labo products

People Say

The INKEY ListHada Labo
  • Hydration and Moisture Often 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”
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Affordability and Value Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Good for the price — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “One of the best balms for quality and also price — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “unbeatable value — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “bottle lasts forever — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “feels like applying straight up water to the skin — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “absorbs super quickly — Hada Labo Premium Whitening Lotion (Light)”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Sometimes NotedMostly 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”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “calms redness instantly — The INKEY List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum”
    • “Skin instantly looks less oily — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “calms my redness — Hada Labo Premium Whitening Lotion (Light)”
  • Sticky or Tacky Finish Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Feels tacky on skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Leaves a tackiness that never goes away. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “feeling sticky — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Tacky residue — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
  • Causes Breakouts and Clogging Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “did cause major breakouts — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “New formula breaks me out — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Caused cystic acne — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “gave me tiny bumps — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
  • Packaging and Quality Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Prefer old version — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”

The INKEY List vs Hada Labo routines for dry skin

Buy Hada Labo routine · $158.72 · 99% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · $106.98 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Hada Labo routines for oily skin

Buy Hada Labo routine · $332.14 · 95% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · $261.57 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The INKEY List vs Hada Labo routines for combination skin

Buy Hada Labo routine · $313.73 · 94% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · $254.57 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Hada Labo: which is better?

The INKEY List and Hada Labo both fit combination skin at a Superior level, while Hada Labo is superior for dry, oily, acne-prone, mature, and dark-spotted skin types on this page. Hada Labo performs better for hydration and gentle formulas, whereas The INKEY List excels in affordability, lightweight textures, and acne control.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Hada Labo?

Hada Labo provides deeper hydration and moisture for dry skin and acne-prone skin, while The INKEY List offers greater affordability and value with lightweight textures. Reviewers note that Hada Labo focuses on gentle hyaluronic acid formulas, whereas the products on this page from The INKEY List feature a wider variety of targeted serums and cleansers.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Drug Delivery, 2017

The INKEY List or Hada Labo for dry skin?

For dry skin, Hada Labo is a Superior fit across its brand-focused routines, while the products on this page for The INKEY List reach a High fit level. Hada Labo provides deep hydration and moisturization with its hyaluronic acid key ingredients. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

The INKEY List or Hada Labo: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, The INKEY List offers budget-friendly, lightweight options with key ingredients like glycerin, whereas Hada Labo focuses on deep hydration and moisturization using hyaluronic acid. Reviewers note that the products on this page from The INKEY List provide affordable and fast-absorbing hydration, while Hada Labo is well-regarded for its gentle and deeply hydrating formulas.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Hada Labo?

The INKEY List offers greater affordability and value for money across the products on this page compared to Hada Labo.

Which brand has a better routine fit for mature skin, The INKEY List or Hada Labo?

Hada Labo has a Superior routine fit for mature skin, whereas The INKEY List has a High fit. Hada Labo also offers better hydration and moisture for dry and mature skin types.

Do The INKEY List products contain fragrance?

The products on this page from The INKEY List list no fragrance in their ingredients.

What are the key ingredients across Hada Labo products?

The products on this page feature hyaluronic acid as their key ingredient. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration and moisturization.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The INKEY List or Hada Labo for oily skin?

For oily skin, Hada Labo is a Superior fit while The INKEY List is a High fit.

The INKEY List or Hada Labo for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Hada Labo has a Superior routine fit on the products on this page, while The INKEY List has a High fit.

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

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