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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 lines known for thoughtful formulas built around barrier-supporting ingredients. The British brand features glycerin-rich moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products suited best for dry and sensitive skin, while the Japanese brand offers beloved hydrating toners, gentle makeup removers, and nourishing moisturizers tailored for dry and acne-prone skin. Both lines address targeted concerns through specific offerings, such as azelaic acid and PHA for the former, alongside the Gokujyun and Shirojyun series for the latter. They primarily differ in their regional origins, parent companies, and primary foundational ingredients.

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

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Hada Labo routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The INKEY List vs Hada Labo routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Hada Labo: which is better?

Both brands perform well, but Hada Labo does better for deep hydration and sensitive skin, while The INKEY List offers greater affordability and specialized blemish control.

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

The INKEY List and Hada Labo both offer fragrance-free skincare products, but Hada Labo tends to provide deeper hydration with its key ingredient hyaluronic acid. Meanwhile, the products on this page from The INKEY List are often noted for their affordability and lightweight textures.

The INKEY List or Hada Labo for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Hada Labo are a Superior fit for dry skin on the products on this page. Reviewers report that Hada Labo excels in deep hydration and moisturization, while The INKEY List offers affordable and lightweight moisturizers.

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

When it comes to moisturizers, The INKEY List is generally better for affordability and a lightweight texture, while Hada Labo excels in deep hydration.

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

The INKEY List does better for affordability and value, with reviewers mostly mentioning its affordable moisturizers and serums.

Between The INKEY List and Hada Labo, which brand is better for hydration and moisture?

Hada Labo does better for hydration and moisture among the products on this page. Reviewers mostly mention deep hydration and moisturization as a key benefit of the brand.

Which brand performs better for acne and blemish control, The INKEY List or Hada Labo?

The INKEY List performs better for acne and blemish control on the products on this page. Lovi rates Hada Labo as having a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, while The INKEY List is rated High.

Which skincare brand has fewer packaging and quality issues, The INKEY List or Hada Labo?

The INKEY List does better than Hada Labo when it comes to packaging and quality issues, as packaging issues are a negative review theme noted for Hada Labo.

The INKEY List or Hada Labo for oily skin?

For oily skin, Hada Labo reaches a Superior routine fit level while The INKEY List reaches a High routine fit level.

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

For acne-prone skin, Hada Labo achieves a Superior routine fit while The INKEY List achieves a High routine fit. Hada Labo does better for hydration and moisture, whereas The INKEY List does better for acne and blemish control.

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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