A Cosmetic Doctor Reviews Hada Labo's New Premium Range That's Perfect For Dry Skin
Dr Yumiko Kadota is an Australian-trained medical doctor with 14 years of clinical experience. She owns a cosmetic skin clinic in Sydney, performing treatments such as injectables, lasers, and chemical peels. She was born in Tokyo and loves using Japanese and Korean skin care in particular. You can find her on @dryumikokadota or @sydneyfacedoctor
Key Takeaways
- Hada Labo's credibility lies in its authentic popularity among Japanese consumers, not just marketing hype.
- Premium lotion's uniqueness comes from its seven types of hyaluronic acid, providing deep and effective hydration.
- Texture can be sticky initially, but once absorbed, skin feels smooth and hydrated, especially overnight.
- Extreme Skin Regenerator offers rich hydration without feeling greasy, making it suitable for sensitive skin types.
- Lightweight moisturiser options like the Anti-Ageing Oval V Lift Hydro cream can bring joy with their delightful texture.
- Sheet masks are effective, with the Express Glow & Anti-Stress Jelly Sheet Mask noted for its hydrating properties and compatibility with diverse face shapes.
- The Premium range from Hada Labo is a 'ride-or-die' brand for me, now accessible to Australian consumers for better skin care experiences.
Do Japanese people really like Hada Labo, or is it just marketing? Is Hada Labo good?
As a Japanese person who first bought Hada Labo over a decade ago in Tokyo, I can confirm it’s the real deal. I was flying back to Sydney and didn’t want my skin to get dry, so I walked into a random Japanese pharmacy on the way to the airport and grabbed the Hada Labo Premium Lotion without knowing much about it, meaning I had very little expectation.
I can tell you I was seriously impressed that when I got off my flight, my skin was still “mochi mochi” (how Japanese people like to call plump, hydrated skin, kind of like the Koreans and their glass skin).
I was very excited when Hada Labo launched in Australia (especially seeing how much buzz the iconic Hada Labo hyaluronic acid lotion got), and now the Premium range is available right here at Adore Beauty. I’d love to share my Hada Labo Tokyo faves, but first, let me talk nerdy about its hero ingredient, hyaluronic acid (HA).
What Is The Difference Between Hada Labo Premium And Original?
Is Hada Labo good for mature skin? This Hada Labo hydrating skincare could just be perfect.
Why?
Hada Labo Hyaluronic Acid:
When it comes to Japanese skin care brands, the reason why the Hada Labo Premium lotion has cult status in Japan is because it boasts seven different types of HA (hyaluronic acid) to give you ultimate hydration.
HA is a humectant, which means it moisturises your skin by drawing water in.
It's already a part of the skin structure, but we have different ways of producing it for skin care.
There are different ways to categorise HA but I think the easiest way to think about it is by how big the molecules are.
The smaller the molecule, the easier it is to sink deeper in the skin, whereas the big molecules are too big to get through the skin and sit on top.
Some types of HA are hydrolysed, which means it has been chopped up into smaller pieces (you may have also seen peptides being described this way to increase its absorption).
On the other end of the scale, there are HA cross-polymers, which involve binding multiple HA molecules together like one big, knitted blanket.
Hada Labo Premium Range Products Review.
1. Hada Labo Premium Lotion Intense 7x HA Super Deep Hydrator.
Of course, the first product I have to mention is the Hada Labo Premium Lotion Intense – this is the one with the seven types of HA!
Texture-wise this Hada Labo lotion initially feels sticky on the skin, but that stickiness is only for a short time. It didn’t take long after application before my skin felt smooth.
I like to use it in my night routine and I found my skin to still feel hydrated in the morning.
I’ve also previously used the Anti-Aging Super Hydrator, which I like using as a body hydrator because it is lightweight and absorbs so quickly.
I like to use it on my ashy knees, shins, and elbows when I’m particularly dry and then a moisturising cream on top if needed.
2. Hada Labo Premium Extreme Skin Regenerator 7x HA Super-Cream.
The Hada Labo Premium Extreme Skin Regenerator also has the seven types of HA!
It is a very rich and deeply nourishing cream, and I like that it is unfragranced – it is suitable for sensitive skin.
Sometimes I find that rich creams can feel greasy, but this was not like that.
The texture didn’t feel too heavy and I think this one would be great for those who need intense moisture.
For those of you who prefer a light-weight moisturiser, can I introduce you to the Hada Labo Anti-Ageing Oval V Lift Hydro cream?
This Hada Labo moisturiser would definitely make my top three favourite moisturising creams of all time.
I am extremely fussy about texture and this one is absolutely delightful.
If it was possible to make an aerated pudding, I think that’s what this feels like. It’s very rare that a skin care product makes me genuinely feel joy and this is one of those.
I also like that it has soy milk and ginseng extracts – two very popular ingredients in J and K Beauty, for good reason.
3. Hada Labo Premium Express Glow & Anti-Stress Jelly Sheet Mask.
If you love a sheet mask, add the Express Glow & Anti Stress Jelly Sheet Mask to your rotation!
Not only is it hydrating, I noticed that my skin felt really soft after using it.
The mask itself has a nice gel texture, and it is soaked in a generous amount of serum that you can apply to your neck and decollete too.
In terms of fit, I think I have an average sized face (maybe slightly on the bigger side) and found the sheet mask to be a good size for me.
I liked that it already comes with slits on the inner part of the eye so it sits nicely on the nose.
For my particular face, the only place it lifted was the outside part of the eye so I made a couple of small snips and then it fit perfectly.
As well as HA this mask also has another humectant – glycerin.
For those who want actives in their sheet masks, this is a great brightening mask which has tranexamic acid and vitamin C.
So, take it from me, a Japanese woman, Hada Labo is one of my ride-or-die brands, and I am so happy that Australians now get to experience the Premium range!
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