🇪🇸Spain

NIVEA vs Hada Labo

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

NIVEA and Hada Labo are established skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily hydration and barrier support. The German line focuses on reliable sunscreens, targeted serums, and nourishing moisturizers driven by glycerin, while the Japanese line is celebrated for hydrating toners, gentle makeup removers, and nourishing moisturizers. The former suits combination skin and sensitive skin best, whereas the latter excels for dry skin and acne-prone skin. Ultimately, they differ through their foundational ingredients and formulation philosophies, balancing moisture retention with targeted care.

NIVEA is a German skincare brand founded in 1911 and owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2004.

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

Popular NIVEA vs Hada Labo products

People Say

NIVEAHada Labo
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “skin drinks it up — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
    • “Plumps fine lines — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
  • Scent and Fragrance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like holiday — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
    • “Smell brings me back to childhood — NIVEA Creme”
    • “never stings my sensitive skin — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
    • “no scent or smell — Hada Labo Gokujyun Cleansing Oil”
  • Value and Price Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Best affordable vegan moisturizer. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “absolute steal for the price — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “bottle lasts forever — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
  • Skin Smoothing and Blemish Reduction Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “cleared my complexion in 7 days — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “skin feels squeaky clean and soft — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “unclogs pores — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
    • “faded considerably — Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion”
  • Versatility and Multi-Use Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Use it on face, body, hands, and feet — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Applying is easy, you can use on your face, hands, and body. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “mixes well with oils — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
    • “Mixes with oils — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
  • Texture and Absorption Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Thick serum-like — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
    • “absorbs super quickly — Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion”
  • Texture and Consistency Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Consistency is like a thick paste or sunblock — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Tacky residue — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
    • “Texture Sticky, sticky, sticky! If you have sensory issues, beware. — Hada Labo Gokujyun Perfect Gel”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Clogged my pores and caused bad acne — NIVEA Creme”
    • “I noticed some acne breakouts on my chin after using this crème for a while. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “gave me tiny bumps — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
    • “Closed comedones — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
  • Formula Changes and Consistency Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “dried me out in winter — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
    • “balls up under sunscreen — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
    • “Prefer old version — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
    • “not super gritty — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”

NIVEA vs Hada Labo routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

NIVEA vs Hada Labo routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

NIVEA vs Hada Labo routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

NIVEA or Hada Labo: which is better?

When comparing NIVEA and Hada Labo, both brands offer great options, but Hada Labo is noted for fragrance-free formulations and lightweight toners while NIVEA provides strong value and blemish-clearing serums.

What is the difference between NIVEA and Hada Labo?

NIVEA and Hada Labo differ mainly in their key ingredients and fragrance profiles, with NIVEA featuring glycerin and offering fragrance in some of the products on this page, while Hada Labo uses hyaluronic acid and provides fragrance-free formulations across all of its products on this page.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

NIVEA or Hada Labo for dry skin?

Both NIVEA and Hada Labo fit dry skin well, though Lovi rates Hada Labo as Superior and NIVEA as High for this skin type. Glycerin in NIVEA helps moisturize the skin, while hyaluronic acid in Hada Labo may help improve skin hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

NIVEA or Hada Labo: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Hada Labo Gokujyun Perfect Gel is rated Superior by Lovi for dry skin, while NIVEA Creme is rated High for dry skin. Glycerin helps moisturize the skin, and hyaluronic acid helps maintain skin hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, NIVEA or Hada Labo?

NIVEA is more affordable, offering better value and price according to reviewers on this page.

Do NIVEA and Hada Labo products contain fragrance?

NIVEA products on this page often contain fragrance, whereas every Hada Labo product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which brand performs better for skin smoothing and blemish reduction according to reviewers?

NIVEA performs better for skin smoothing and blemish reduction according to reviewers.

What are the founding years and parent companies of NIVEA and Hada Labo?

NIVEA was founded in 1911 in Germany and is owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA, while Hada Labo was founded in 2004 in Japan and is owned by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

NIVEA or Hada Labo for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi rates both NIVEA and Hada Labo as having a Superior routine fit, meaning either brand helps provide good care depending on your preference for ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid. Glycerin helps maintain skin hydration, while topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

NIVEA or Hada Labo for acne-prone skin?

Both NIVEA and Hada Labo fit acne-prone skin well, with Lovi rating their routines as High and Superior, respectively. Hada Labo formulations are entirely fragrance-free, whereas NIVEA features select blemish-clearing serums on the page.

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