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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 celebrated skincare brands offering nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, gentle eye products, and makeup removers designed for daily support. The American brand is loved for formulations featuring glycerin and squalane, which suit dry skin and mature skin best by addressing moisture loss, barrier resilience, and oxidative stress. Meanwhile, the Japanese brand is deeply cherished for moisture-replenishing properties that suit dry skin and combination skin best. While both deliver reliable hydration, they differ in their heritage, with Kiehl's founded in 1851 and Hada Labo launched in 2004.

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

Buy Hada Labo routine · S$263.75 · 99% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · S$209.58 · 92% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Hada Labo routines for oily skin

Buy Hada Labo routine · S$394.68 · 93% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · S$287.99 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs Hada Labo routines for combination skin

Buy Hada Labo routine · S$360.41 · 95% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · S$287.99 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Hada Labo: which is better?

Both Kiehl's and Hada Labo are great options, as Lovi rates their routines as equal for most skin types. Hada Labo tends to provide deeper hydration with entirely fragrance-free formulas, while Kiehl's offers a lighter texture and a wider variety of specialized serums.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Hada Labo helps deliver deep hydration with fragrance-free formulas, while Kiehl's offers lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers across its range. Lovi finds both brands have a Superior routine fit for dry, oily, combination, mature, and oily acne-prone skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Kiehl's or Hada Labo for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and Hada Labo are a Superior fit for dry skin. Reviewers often mention deep hydration and moisturization for Hada Labo and lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers for Kiehl's.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Both Kiehl's and Hada Labo offer moisturizers with a Superior routine fit for dry skin. Reviewers note that Kiehl's provides lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers, while Hada Labo focuses on deep hydration and moisturization.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Hada Labo is more affordable, whereas reviewers often mention that Kiehl's has a high price point.

Between Kiehl's and Hada Labo, which brand is gentler on the skin according to reviewers?

Hada Labo is gentler on the skin according to reviewers. The products on this page feature 100 percent fragrance-free formulations.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Kiehl's and Hada Labo compare?

Kiehl's was founded in the United States in 1851 and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, whereas Hada Labo was founded in Japan in 2004 and is owned by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Which brand performs better when it comes to dark spots and brightening effects?

When it comes to dark spots and brightening effects, both Kiehl's and Hada Labo perform at an equal level. Lovi rates the dark spot routine fit as High for Kiehl's and Superior for Hada Labo.

Kiehl's or Hada Labo for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and Hada Labo provide a Superior routine fit for oily skin. Lovi rates Kiehl's cleansing and toning products as Superior for oily skin, while Hada Labo offers gentle, fragrance-free formulations that help deliver deep hydration without heavy oils.

Kiehl's or Hada Labo for acne-prone skin?

Hada Labo is a better choice for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to High for Kiehl's. Reviewers often mention Hada Labo for gentle and fragrance-free formulations, which may help avoid 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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