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Paula's Choice vs Hada Labo

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

Paula's Choice and Hada Labo are two distinct skincare lines founded in 1995 and 2004, respectively, offering carefully formulated serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners. Paula's Choice is built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c, suiting combination and oily skin best, whereas the Japanese brand relies on advanced science to provide hydrating toners, gentle makeup removers, and nourishing moisturizers that suit dry and acne-prone skin. While both incorporate ingredients like glycerin to significantly increase skin hydration and restore barrier function, they differ in their primary formulation approaches and targeted solutions for dark spots, acne, and mature skin.

Paula's Choice is an American skincare brand founded in 1995 and owned by Unilever since 2021.

unilever.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 Paula's Choice and Hada Labo products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Paula's Choice vs Hada Labo products

People Say

Paula's ChoiceHada Labo
  • Hydration and Plumping 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”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
  • Lightweight Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “watery consistency — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “absorbs quickly — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “absorbs super quickly — Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula 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”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Brightening and Dark Spots Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “acne scars faded — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “Discoloration almost gone — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
    • “faded considerably — Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion”
  • Texture Improvement Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “bumps be gone — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
  • Acne Clearing and Pores Often MentionedNot noted
    • “cleared my bumps — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “Helped clear my cystic acne — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “pores look smaller — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
  • Miscellaneous Product Issues Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “turned orange in weeks — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “Did not notice any difference in my pores. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
    • “takes months to work — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “Greasy in humidity — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
  • Price and Value Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “surprisingly small bottle — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
  • Sticky or Tacky Finish Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “sticky, oily film — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
    • “feels sticky — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “leaves a sticky residue — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “Tacky residue — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”

Paula's Choice vs Hada Labo routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs Hada Labo routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Paula's Choice vs Hada Labo routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Paula's Choice or Hada Labo: which is better?

Both brands offer effective options, but Hada Labo achieves a Superior routine fit for dry skin, oily skin, combination skin, acne-prone skin, mature skin, skin with dark spots, and oily acne-prone skin compared to Paula's Choice.

What is the difference between Paula's Choice and Hada Labo?

Paula's Choice offers a wide range of targeted serums and exfoliants that excel at acne clearing and brightening, whereas Hada Labo focuses on deep hydration and gentle, value-driven toners. For overall routines, Lovi rates Hada Labo as Superior for dry skin, while Paula's Choice achieves a High fit.

Paula's Choice or Hada Labo for dry skin?

For dry skin, Hada Labo has a Superior Lovi fit level, whereas Paula's Choice has a High Lovi fit level.

Paula's Choice or Hada Labo: which moisturizer is better?

Hada Labo is a better choice for deep hydration and moisturization compared to Paula's Choice, offering strong value with its Gokujyun Perfect Gel. Paula's Choice also provides popular moisturizers like the Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer, which helps oily skin while maintaining fragrance-free formulations across the products on this page.

Which is more affordable, Paula's Choice or Hada Labo?

Hada Labo is more affordable, as value and affordability are notable strengths often mentioned by reviewers for the brand, whereas high price is a drawback mostly mentioned for Paula's Choice.

Paula's Choice or Hada Labo for brightening and dark spots?

Paula's Choice does better than Hada Labo for brightening and dark spots, offering targeted treatments like vitamin C and niacinamide boosters. These ingredients help reduce uneven pigmentation and improve overall skin clarity.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Which brand has better hydration and plumping results, Paula's Choice or Hada Labo?

Hada Labo does better for hydration and plumping. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Paula's Choice or Hada Labo for acne clearing and pores?

Paula's Choice does better for acne clearing and pores, with products on this page frequently achieving a Superior fit for acne-prone and oily skin types.

Paula's Choice or Hada Labo for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi rates both Paula's Choice and Hada Labo as having a Superior routine fit. Paula's Choice helps with oil and acne using ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide, while Hada Labo provides deep hydration through hyaluronic acid.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Drug Delivery, 2017

Paula's Choice or Hada Labo for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Lovi rates both Paula's Choice and Hada Labo as having a Superior routine fit. Paula's Choice helps clear acne and pores better, while Hada Labo provides deep hydration with gentle, fragrance-free formulations.

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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