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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 offering targeted serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and toners built around science-backed formulas and key ingredients like glycerin. The American brand features products that suit oily skin and acne-prone skin best, while the Japanese counterpart creates nourishing moisturizers and hydrating toners that suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best. Both utilize ingredients that significantly increase skin hydration and restore barrier function, yet they differ in their heritage, with one founded in 1995 and the other in 2004.

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

Buy Hada Labo routine · £152.93 · 99% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · £210.78 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Paula's Choice vs Hada Labo routines for oily skin

Buy Hada Labo routine · £236.09 · 94% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · £280.77 · 92% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Paula's Choice vs Hada Labo routines for combination skin

Buy Hada Labo routine · £202.44 · 94% fitBuy Paula's Choice routine · £235.40 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

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

Both Paula's Choice and Hada Labo are great options, depending on your primary skin goals and budget. Paula's Choice is often preferred for targeting acne and texture, while Hada Labo is favored for deep hydration and value.

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

Paula's Choice excels in acne clearing, brightening, and texture improvement with active-rich serums, whereas Hada Labo focuses on deep hydration and gentle moisturization using hyaluronic acid. For dry skin, Lovi rates Paula's Choice as High and Hada Labo as Superior, while both brands achieve Superior routine fits for oily, combination, acne-prone, mature, and dark-spot-prone skin.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Paula's Choice or Hada Labo for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi rates Hada Labo as Superior and Paula's Choice as High. Hada Labo relies on hyaluronic acid to help provide deep hydration and moisturization.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

Paula's Choice offers a better moisturizer for oily skin with its Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer, whereas Hada Labo provides a superior moisturizing option for dry skin with products like the Gokujyun Perfect Gel. Both brands deliver fragrance-free hydration, but Paula's Choice is often noted for a lightweight feel while Hada Labo excels in deep moisturization.

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

Hada Labo is more affordable than Paula's Choice, as reviewers note that Paula's Choice suffers from a high price while Hada Labo delivers better value and versatility.

Which brand is better for brightening and dark spots, Paula's Choice or Hada Labo?

Paula's Choice does better for brightening and dark spots. Niacinamide helps reduce pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Do Paula's Choice or Hada Labo products contain fragrance?

Both Paula's Choice and Hada Labo offer fragrance-free formulations, as every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Paula's Choice or Hada Labo for oily skin?

For oily skin, Paula's Choice and Hada Labo are a Superior fit on Lovi. Paula's Choice features the products on this page that help clear acne and pores, while Hada Labo provides deep hydration without fragrance.

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

Both Paula's Choice and Hada Labo achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for acne-prone skin. Hada Labo is often noted for gentle, fragrance-free hydration, while Paula's Choice specializes in targeted acne-clearing and pore treatments.

Paula's Choice or Hada Labo for dry sensitive skin?

Hada Labo has a Superior Lovi fit for dry sensitive skin, while Paula's Choice has a High fit. Hada Labo is often noted for deep hydration and 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

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