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I tried Japan's No. 1 facial lotion for a week. Here’s what happened
Because K-Beauty and its 10-step skincare routine really work for me, I've been a huge fan and vocal advocate since I discovered it a few years back.
But a bit of a disclaimer: They work best in conjunction with regular visits to the derma.
I have endometrioma and that means I’m prone to hormonal acne on the chin and along the jawline. It also means that I see my derma regularly and that, in addition to my K-Beauty products, I use a special medication that my derma prescribes to manage acne.
So when I heard that Japanese cult favorite Hada Labo Facial Lotion was all I needed to achieve "mochi-mochi skin" — the Japanese equivalent of Korean's "chok chok skin" — I was equal parts skeptical and intrigued. One product to rule them all? I simply had to check it out.
I went to its launch, which started by having attendees check the hydration level of our skin. Despite my already established skincare routine, mine turned out to be a measly 8%. All around me, I could hear attendees read about their 30-40% range.
According to an Insider story, 0-40% means dry skin that needs moisture, 40-70% indicates normal, and 70-99% means oily skin with plenty of moisture.
I was at 8%. To be fair, I was recovering from the flu — at least that’s what I told myself to feel better at the time.
Then the Hada Labo Facial Lotion was introduced. Apparently, it contains four types of Hyaluronic Acid (HA), its main ingredient, which is why it’s supposed to be more effective in fully hydrating the skin from the surface down to the inner layers.
What more: there is a special way apply the facial lotion. We were taught to gently pat it on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin, then finish it up by applying it to the neck in a feathery upward motion.
At the end of the event, they asked us to apply the facial lotion to the back of our hands for a second reading of our hydration level. Mine jumped up to 54%.
The facial lotion isn’t the only product from the Japanese brand. Other Hada Labo products include the Hydrating Face Wash that has a balanced pH and contains double-HA, a non-greasy Hydrating Light Cream with aloe vera, and the ceramide-enriched Hydrating Water Gel. First timers to Hada Labo might want to get their Hydrating Trial Line set, which comes with the facial wash, lotion, and light cream.
I decided to put Hada Labo to the ringer, having been suffering from the flu, dry skin, and a spate of hormonal acne. For this experiment, I used the facial lotion the next morning, and in the evening, to add the Hada Labo Hydrating Face Wash and Hydrating Light Cream.
Day 1:
My skin has always been on the oily side, so dehydrated skin is totally new to me. And my go-to snail mucin, aqua bomb, and honey mask had been falling short for the first time in years. Plus, I’ve been suffering from hormonal acne on my chin and jawline. In short, I’ve been having several bad skin days lately.
After washing with my regular face wash in the morning, I applied the facial lotion using the Hada Labo application technique I learned during the event. Using both hands, gently pat the product on your outer cheeks, then the inner cheeks and nose. You then pat your forehead and chin, before finally applying it to the neck in gentle upward strokes.
Then I slapped on some sunscreen on top of it.
Before bedtime, I decided to use the Hada Labo Facial Wash instead of my regular one. I then applied the facial lotion after and finished it off with the Hada Labo Light Cream.
I usually use a few more serums and creams in the evening, but I decided to ditch them during the duration of the experiment to really test the efficacy of the Hada Labo products.
Day 2:
Full disclosure: Today I went to the derma for a scheduled visit. I had to address my dry, dull skin and acne, and get rid of a few warts. The whole shebang as it were. She administered a light chemical peel, did some extractions, and prescribed new medication for my acne, to be used on the chin and jawline exclusively.
With regards to the Hada Labo products, I have yet to see any visible change in the texture of my skin. Based on the experiment at the event, I was expecting to see immediate results.
Day 3:
My skin started peeling ever so mildly — nothing crazy — and my scars were still pretty visible from the treatment. But the dullness seemed to have been addressed thanks to the visit to my derma.
I applied the Hada Labo facial lotion in the morning and for the first time since I started the experiment, my skin felt and appeared hydrated again. My theory is that having removed the dead skin cells and dry top layer of my skin, it was now easier for my skin to absorb the HA in the facial lotion.
I followed the same Hada Labo evening routine, but this time I included the medicine my derma prescribed.
Day 4:
Now I can really see the difference. My skin does feel and appear more "mochi mochi." It’s smoother and it looks less dull and uneven. The dewy glow is back. Hallelujah!
I suspect the facial lotion helped minimize the peeling by keeping my skin moisturized throughout the day.
Day 5:
My skin is beginning to look like it has bounced back from both my recent run-in with hormonal acne and dehydration. It’s starting to look like it did before. It’s starting to look smooth and not grainy or uneven under light again. And especially on the cheeks, it's more dewy and smooth.
While it's not totally back to normal, I’m beginning to be cautiously optimistic.
Day 6:
Again, my skin does look and feel better. Again, the results aren’t as dramatic as I expected.
Day 7:
To be fair, the texture of my skin is getting better day by day. And Hada Labo has cut my evening skincare routine considerably. From my usual, which included: my derma’s medication, an essence, two serums, an aqua bomb (which is a water-based cream), and a leave-on night mask, I have only used the hydration lotion, prescribed medication, and night cream.
I wake up to moisturized and younger looking skin and, for the most part, it does stay that way the whole day.
I even got a compliment from a friend saying that I was looking younger these days.
Will I use it again? The short answer is yes, because it does what it promises to do, which is to moisturize the skin. That said, I think I would pair it with regular visits to the dermatologist, especially if your skin needs extra TLC like mine.
Is it any better than my K-Beauty products? I would have to say they are both just as equally effective in hydrating the skin. The Hada Labo Hydrating Lotion makes a great alternative to my snail mucin essence, while the Hada Labo Light Cream — so rich and the light at the same time — would make a great alternative to my aqua bomb.
It's worth noting they’re considerably more affordable than their K-Beauty counterparts: The 170ml Hydrating Lotion is priced at an affordable P685, the 100g Hydrating Face Wash is just P385, and the 50g Hydrating Light Cream is only P850. — LA, GMA News
Hada Labo products at Watsons stores nationwide.
