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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 American brand founded in 1851 and the Japanese brand established in 2004. Kiehl's is beloved for thoughtful moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more that incorporate nourishing glycerin and squalane, while Hada Labo is deeply loved for its hydrating toners, gentle makeup removers, and nourishing moisturizers, all driven by the advanced science of its formulas. The former suits skin with dark spots and combination skin best, and the latter suits dry skin and acne-prone skin best. They differ primarily in their targeted formulations and foundational ingredients, offering specialized care for diverse complexions.

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

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs Hada Labo routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Kiehl's vs Hada Labo routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Hada Labo: which is better?

Hada Labo is generally better for deep hydration and budget value, while Kiehl's offers a lighter texture and a wider variety of specialized serums. For dry skin, Lovi rates Hada Labo as Superior and Kiehl's as High.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Hada Labo is a Japanese brand founded in 2004 that focuses on deep hydration powered by hyaluronic acid, achieving Superior routine fit across dry, oily, combination, acne-prone, mature, and dark spot skin types. In comparison, Kiehl's is an American brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A., which utilizes key ingredients like glycerin, vitamin C, and squalane while offering High routine fit for most of these same skin concerns.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Kiehl's or Hada Labo for dry skin?

Hada Labo is a better choice for dry skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for Kiehl's. Hada Labo features deep hydration and moisturization with hyaluronic acid, while Kiehl's products on this page may sometimes cause a sticky or tacky finish.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Hada Labo is a better choice for moisturizers, as Lovi rates its routine fit for dry skin as Superior while Kiehl's is High.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Hada Labo is more affordable, as reviewers often mention a high price point as a drawback for Kiehl's while noting value and versatility for Hada Labo.

Between Kiehl's and Hada Labo, which brand is better for sensitive skin and gentle formulations?

Hada Labo does better for gentle and fragrance-free formulations, as every product on its page lists no fragrance and reviewers often mention it as gentle, whereas Kiehl's includes fragrance in a couple of its items.

How do Kiehl's and Hada Labo compare in terms of fragrance options across their product lines?

Kiehl's offers a mix of options, as 26 of 28 products on this page list no fragrance while two contain it, whereas Hada Labo is entirely fragrance-free across the products on this page.

Which brand performs better for dark spots and brightening, Kiehl's or Hada Labo?

Both Kiehl's and Hada Labo perform equally well for dark spots and brightening based on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Hada Labo provides excellent deep hydration, while Kiehl's offers lightweight textures and targeted treatments containing ingredients like Vitamin C.

Kiehl's or Hada Labo for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi rates Hada Labo as Superior and Kiehl's as High. Reviewers note that Hada Labo does better for hydration and moisture, while Kiehl's does better for texture and weight.

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 fragrance-free formulations, while the products on this page for Kiehl's often involve a high price point and may cause breakouts and skin irritation.

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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