What is the difference between the white and blue Hada Labo Lotions?
Photography by Perkin Gotohio
I have to admit that I love using high end facial skincare products because they tend to work better than most things I can find in the drugstore. It really shows on the face when a brand is using good quality actives in high concentrations! I definitely don’t mind splurging for something that truly works. However, there is one drugstore brand that I can swear by when it comes to skincare. It’s something I always recommend to those on a budget because it’s iconic for a reason: Hada Labo.
Hada Labo is a Japanese brand that has a face lotion (also called a toning essence) that’s consistently been named No. 1 in the country. In a place that’s obsessed with good skincare habits, that’s no small feat. It’s just so good at making and keeping skin soft and supple! You might be familiar with the iconic white bottle already, but did you know that they have another variant?
The Hada Labo Gokujyun Hydrating Lotion (P685 / 170ml) is the best-selling one, instantly recognizable in its milky white bottle with the Japanese characters. This clear, gel-ly liquid features four types of hyaluronic acid for better absorption on the skin, and provides that deep hydration without the sticky dry-down. This one is a basic hydrating toner/essence that works for all skin types and plays well with any skincare products you have in your routine. It’s even designed to improve absorption of the next products you will use! Really useful if you love serums.
It has no added fragrance, mineral oil, alcohol, or colorants, which makes this lotion suitable for sensitive skin. You can use this by itself as a moisturizer if you do two or more layers.
The Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion (P685 / 170ml) comes in the deep blue bottle. This one is the same in terms of appearance, texture, and formulation to the original lotion. Like the original, it also doesn’t have any fragrance, mineral oil, alcohol or colorants. What makes this different is that it has brightening actives. It has the addition of Alpha Arbutin, Niacinamide, and Vitamin C to help fade spots and other discolorations faster! This is on top of the two types of hyaluronic acid in the formulation.
Do note that the Gokujyun lotion have 2 variants - a Light and a Rich one. The Light variant is more watery and less emollient compared to the Rich variant, so if you have oily skin, it’s a better option. If you have dry skin, go for the Rich one. And remember, the key to achieve soft, bouncy, supple, mochi-mochi skin is to make sure to apply the lotions using the patting motion technique.
Personally, I prefer the Shirojyun lotion over Gokujyun. The Gokujyun is great as a basic step if you’re just looking for hydration, but the Shirojyun provides hydration plus the brightening effect. I develop blemishes constantly so I like to keep the blue bottle handy!
It really comes down to what your skin needs are. How about you, are you for the white bottle or the blue bottle?
Get Hada Labo at Watsons and Zalora, and through the official Mentholatum store on Lazada and Shopee.
