I Tried Hada Labo Toyko's New Anti-ageing Skincare Range Under $50 and Here Are My Honest Thoughts
Jas is the former Senior Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. A beauty admirer turned certified addict, she brings a sharp editorial eye and pop-culture pulse to everything she creates. Her words have appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Broadsheet. When she’s not producing viral content or podcasting about skincare, you’ll find her thrifting for vintage treasures or binging Bravo (strictly for research, of course).
I have to let you in on a little secret: I’ve never tried retinol.
Well, I hadn't until about two weeks ago, when Hada Labo Tokyo's new Red Range landed on my desk.
Coincidentally just in time for the last year of my twenties. Which, if you didn't know, is the perfect time to begin using retinol.
Having heard about the wonders of the J-Beauty brand, part of me was really excited to try Hada Labo's Red Range and the other part was a lil’ scared.
This was my *official* foray into anti-ageing skincare, after all. And we know it often gets worse before it gets better.
It was also my first proper introduction to Japanese skincare.
I’ve tried products here and there, and have a handful (ok, heaps) of others in my cart, but I was yet to sink my teeth into the global phenomenon that alongside K-Beauty gave us skin flooding, glass skin and the infamous 10-step beauty routine.
But who better to show me the ropes than Japan's number one skincare brand!?
With so much delicious dewy potential on the line, I scooped the products up, went home, and immediately got to work.
Here’s how everything went down.
What Is Hada Labo Tokyo Red Range?
Exclusive to Adore Beauty for six months, Hada Labo Tokyo Red Range promises to rehydrate, rejuvenate and restore skin from the inside out to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
It blends skin-strengthening collagen and a gentler form of retinol/vitamin A derivative (known as retinyl palmitate) with Hada Labo’s Super Hyaluronic Acid™ to give you what the brand like to call the “Mochi-Mochi effect”.
Aka, soft, smooth and supple skin. Yes. Please.
Hada Labo’s hydration-first focus and simple formulas make their products suitable for dry and dehydrated skin havers (welcome, my friends) and can even help to reduce redness for our sensitive skin pals.
In other words, everyone’s a winner. Now, onto the reviews.
1. Hada Labo Lotion Anti-Aging Super Hydrator.
Fast facts:
- Hada Labo Lotion Anti-Aging - Super Hydrator is a lightweight, essence-like lotion formulated to help improve the signs of ageing, dehydration and fatigue.
- Its watery texture applies weightless and absorbs fast, instantly quenching dry/dehydrated skin thanks to its inclusion of the star ingredient, Super Hyaluronic Acid™.
- Retinol and collagen work to promote cell turnover to improve the texture and tone of the skin, increase elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
My Hada Labo Lotion Anti-Aging Super Hydrator review:
This was my first time trying a lotion, but I’d heard great things about the brand’s hero product Hada Labo Lotion No.1 Super Hydrator (which sells every three seconds in Japan!), so I was eager to give this anti-ageing edition a go.
Applying it after cleansing, I sprinkled a few drops into my hands and patted it onto my damp skin.
Its thin, watery texture surprised me with its deep hydration. Initially, it felt a tad sticky (that’s the mochi-mochi at work), but that quickly dissipated as it absorbed, leaving my skin feeling soft and supple.
By this stage in my routine, I’m usually hustling to get hydrating serums on my skin, stat. But the lotion restored enough moisture lost from my scalding hot shower (guilty) to give me enough time to tend to the rest of my neglected body.
This alone is enough to secure the lotion a permanent position in my dry skin routine as an extra layer of defence, particularly to combat dehydration and dullness during winter.
2. Hada Labo Anti-Aging Wrinkle Reducer Cream.
Fast facts:
- Hada Labo Anti-Aging Wrinkle Reducer Cream is a rich, creamy moisturiser that nourishes the skin while helping to improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
- It contains a potent blend of Super Hyaluronic Acid™, collagen and retinyl palmitate to boost hydration, speed up cell renewal, improve texture and enhance radiance.
My Hada Labo Anti-Ageing Wrinkle Reducer Cream review:
I don’t think I gave this cream enough credit when I first tried it.
While it has everything I look for in a moisturiser (thick, luxe, hydrating), I think I got a little carried away with the dewy goodness of the Hydro Cream (below) that I completely overlooked just how lovely this one is.
Compared to Hydro, the Wrinkle Reducer Cream has a fluffy consistency. Its silky texture melts into the skin and leaves it feeling soft and soothed thanks to a cocktail of plant oils which are naturally high in antioxidants, particularly vitamin E.
But my favourite part of this cream is how radiant my skin looks after applying it. It leaves a glowy film on the skin that feels firm and protective but not tight or greasy, making it ideal for dull skin days.
3. Hada Labo Anti-Ageing Oval V-Lift Hydro Cream.
Fast facts:
- Hada Labo Anti-Ageing Oval V-Lift Hydro Cream is a jelly moisturiser that promises to lift and firm the skin for more definition, leaving it looking plump and supple.
- Water-loving ingredients like Super Hyaluronic Acid™ and glycerin work to draw moisture toward the skin and boost hydration at multiple levels of the skin’s surface.
- Superstar K-Beauty ingredient ginseng and soy milk (hello, antioxidants!) help to reduce signs of ageing, promote elasticity, reduce inflammation and brighten skin.
My Hada Labo Anti-Ageing Oval V-Lift Hydro Cream review:
I’ve truly never experienced a cream like this.
On second thought, I don’t even think you could call it a cream. It’s more like a tub of Aeroplane jelly, sans the sickly-sweet flavouring.
When I first used it, I couldn’t get over how glowy and bouncy my skin looked. Naturally, I immediately grabbed my phone to take a selfie.
And what’s even wilder, is that by the time I’d snapped said selfie, it had already shapeshifted back into its former untouched, glassy self. Gasp!
The Hydro Cream, while primarily a night moisturiser, also doubles as a dewy day cream. And guess what? It plays well with makeup too, casting a soft-focused veil over the skin for a flawless base.
10s, 10s, 10s across the board.
4. Hada Labo Deep Wrinkle Corrector Eye and Mouth Cream.
Fast facts:
- Hada Labo Deep Wrinkle Corrector Eye and Mouth Cream is designed to help improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles around the gentle eye and mouth area while boosting radiance.
- It’s infused with a blend of Super Hyaluronic Acid™, collagen and retinol to help nourish the skin while it helps lift and firm.
My Hada Labo Deep Wrinkle Corrector Eye and Mouth Cream review:
Not gonna lie, when I first tried this cream my skin had a little moment (not unusual for a retinol newbie), but after a day or so, the spots that had shown up around my mouth had faded.
Compared to the other two moisturisers in the Red Range, the eye and mouth cream has a lusciously thick and silky consistency that glides onto the skin like a dream, leaving my undereye feeling cool and nourished.
As for its anti-ageing abilities, my skin might not be showing major signs just yet, but I can see how this buttery goodness would help to plump, firm and fill fine lines, so I’ll gladly keep dabbing it on for the sake of well-ageing skin.
5. Hada Labo Night Body Serum.
Fast facts:
- Available exclusively at Adore Beauty!
- Just like the serums you use on your face, except for your body.
- Contains concentrated Super Hyaluronic Acid™ and age-management actives retinol and collagen.
- Designed to be applied in the evening before bed for smooth and nourished skin the next morning.
My Hada Labo Night Body Serum review:
This is the first time I've actually used a body serum.
Is it a necessity for your skincare routine? Probably not. But is it a treat to use? Most definitely.
Unlike regular body moisturisers that can be quite thick and creamy, the Hada Labo serum has a thin, silky consistency that sinks into the skin pretty much instantly.
I've been applying it before bed most evenings and love how comfortable it is to use.
It has a non-greasy, non-sticky formula that feels basically undetectable between the sheets. A bonus for those hot summer nights.
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