I don’t know about you, but I had not heard of Hada Labo prior to its launch here in Malaysia. There said it :) Have you heard of this line of Japanese drugstore skincare before this?
Apparently, the Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Lotion is a major hit in Japan, selling one every 4 seconds since its launch there – I’ll let you know if its a visible brand there ;) Well, curious cats, we’ll soon be able to spot Hada Labo at Guardian Pharmacies starting November 2009! They will probably get more visible over time, but they’ll start out in Guardian for now.
Hada Labo is an affordable Japanese skincare brand under the Rohto-Mentholatum umbrella. Packaging is minimalist Japanese style with LOTS of Japanese words on it. Don’t know about you, but I like it! :D Under all that Japanese Kanji and Katakana is an organized clutter that appeals to me.
The brand has 3 main lines for 3 distinct skincare concerns:-
- Hada Labo Aha/BHA (green packaging) – inspired by a smooth egg! There are 2 cleansers under this range
- Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening(dark blue packaging) – self-explanatory whitening skincare line with extract of bearberry plant.
- Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing (white packaging) – to hydrate and nourish skin for smooth radiant crystal clear skin.
The star product is of course the Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Lotion with Super Hyaluronic Acid for which their tagline is “1 drop to lock up an ocean” and for which a cute technique of application is advised as will be demonstrated below.
Lofty claims but what it does is to lock in moisture in your skin better than normal hyaluronic acid so your skin is better moisturized. There is even a special technique to applying it, for which I absolutely love the Japanese for – making it look so kawaii! :D Watch this video below.
So cute right? :D You don’t have to slap your skin hard, just pat and press in the lotion into the skin.
Whilst this is called a “lotion” the Japanese use this as the 2nd step in their skincare routine – what in the western parlance would be “toner”. Japanese style lotions are usually moisturizing in line with the “double moisturizing” skincare routine of Japanese skincare.
The texture of the Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Lotion is a clear slightly viscous liquid. It takes a little while to dry on the skin, feeling a bit sticky but if you keep patting it as in the video, it will get absorbed and the skin does feel more moisturized.
Hada Labo has no additives, colorants, fragrance or mineral oil and best of all, is affordable. Price will range from RM16.90-59.90 so watch out for the counters popping up at major Guardian pharmacies! :)
I’m excited about this brand – aren’t you? :) Heard or read about this brand before?
Update Jan 2010: Here’s my review on the Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion :)
Stay beautiful,
Paris B
Update: The best people to tell you which line suits your skintype will be the brand people themselves. Please do not ask here as no one will reply. Instead ask at the Hada Labo Malaysia Facebook page here.
oooh! this is a hit in JP and TW!
i have read bout this in some TW blogs and am rather excited as it will be in Msia soon! saw the ad in Cleo Nov :D
I can’t wait for em to come!
Hey Plue
Ah good to know then – if its a hit there its likely to be a hit here too :P
Totally can’t wait for it to arrive.. wonder where can i get this…
Hi Joyce
Its only at Guardian Pharmacies for now
This looks like a promising substitute for Fancl. Never heard of this, but hope it will be available in Singapore too.
Hi Su Yen
I’m told it should be in Singapore soon too. I’ve never tried Fancl though.
yeah, i saw the ad in CLEO too and I went to look for it yesterday in MidV but couldn’t find it.. just found out that it will be launched in Nov at night.. silly me.. hahah
btw, have u heard of the brand JuJu Cosmetics Aquamoist? I almost mistaken this for Hada Labo.. I think their skincare line is almost the same..
Hi ShaynaJo
I’ve seen Juju Aquamoist around – when they launched in Isetan but I wasn’t drawn to it for some reason. I think there was a bit of a strong sharp alcohol scent but I might be mistaken.
oh my God i love this very well, if anybody knows the company’s website i will
be glad to purchase it online since am leaving Malaysia to another country soon. Any way i purchase it in IOI Puchong farmasi near the exchange bereau shop. thanks and wait your reply soon.
YOU CAN SIMPLY BUY IT ON EBAY :) I LIVE IN UK AND IS NO OTHER WAY TO GET IT…
I saw the their ads and introduction in magazines, I am very curious about the brand and thought of finding out more, like you I like their packaging! Thanks for for the updates!
Hiya Reese
Isn’t that clutter so appealing for some reason? hehe…
So much hype about hyaluronic acid that I feel like trying a moisturizer too. =)
Hi Jyoan
I’ve been using a product with hyaluronic acid recently (not Hada Labo) and yes it does help retain moisture so I guess they aren’t all kidding :P
I saw the ads in magazine and kinda interested too!!
Hiya Jean
I guess many of us are! :)
Read about this lotion as well =) But opted for the shiseido aqualabel whitening one instead because i wanted to try the aqualabel line.
Hi Babybubblz
I don’t think we get the Shiseido Aqualabel one here yet though I’d seen it on my trips to HK. Who knows – could be a matter of time :)
I like that it’s affordable. At this price, there’s no harm trying.
Hopefully they have a starter set or something.
Hi Aiyu
Yup! I was pleased at the prices too but not sure about starter/trial sets.
So kawaii!! haha… HaboLabo… Ooo… Can’t wait for some reviews on this =)
Hi Yuki
Isn’t it just so cute? Even the name is cute! Haha…
If you read Japanese magazine like Ray you’ll see this brand very often. It is famous in Japan. I’ve used it and loved it. It’s cheap and moisturize. I bought it from Japan during my last visit.
JuJu is another brand with very similar range of products. I have used both. I prefer Hada Labo as Juju seems to contain more alcohol in it.
Hi Pim
Nope I don’t read Japanese mags – thanks for letting us know its truly as popular as they say it is :)
you’ve definitely gotten me interested! The prices are within my budget too :) can’t wait!
Hiya Connie
Yep very wallet friendly prices yay! hehe…
wow japanese trends are getting more popular here XD
would love to try the lotion XD
I’ve seen it appearing in Japanese magazines’ top selling items numerous times! Can’t wait to get my hands on it :D
Hi Paris, I’m currently using the Juju Aquamoist Hyaluronic Acid moisturizer. I have oily + sensitive skin, This moisturizer is the best moisturizer I’ve been using so far!!!!
It’s a tad sticky when you first apply but it won’t give you an unpleasant feeling as it is gel like texture. My face has never felt so moisturized and comfortable before.
I saw your comment that the Juju range have alcohol scent, but strangely my Juju moisturizer doesn’t have any scent at all. I bought this moisturizer for RM58. Maybe after I’ve finished my current jar of Juju I will give Hada Lobo a try ^^
oh wow! i just saw this at guardian near my house this morning~
really interested with the items on display. but the claim saying 1 bottle sold in 4 seconds in japan is like too far fetched for me though :P
While browsing around at Watson in Zhao Qing, China, saw this product on the rack.
hi…wonder these products are made in???
Hi Linda
They are made in Japan.
Oo…issit?? it’s now in m’sia rite?? i saw it at GUARDIAN few days ago…but it’s showing MADE IN CHINA…should i buy it even try it?
Hi Linda
The product is made in China but formulated in Japan – Rohto Mentholatum is a Japanese company. I’ve tried a couple of the Hada Labo range – its decent.
yea…i get it!!! thx ParisB…i will get it a try =)
Managed to get a bottle at Guardian The Weld,retails for RM40.90..cant wait to go home and try it..hehe.Didn’t see any starter sets tho..they only have the AHA/BHA range (cleanser) and hyaluronic acid range (cleanser,moisturizing lotion and milk)..maybe the bigger outlets have more products..
I bought the HADA LABO moisturizing range yesterday and have tried it last night. The moisturizing lotion is excellent ! No wonder it sells 1 bottle every 4 seconds. Though it feel a bit sticky initially but it absorbed very fast moment later and my face feel so moisturizing. I bought the full range from cleanser to mask.