Hada Labo Toner Review

Hada Labo Toner is a mild, gentle toner that contains hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant, for soft, smooth, hydrated skin.

(Curious about Hada Labo products? Check out this list of the best Hada Labo products for your skincare routine!)

Hada Labo is a Japanese skincare company known for its straightforward, no-fuss approach to skincare. They prioritize the science over the aesthetic, like packaging and fragrance. This makes them affordable too.

Similar to my favourite Hada Labo Foaming Cleanser and Hada Labo Moisturizer, Hada Labo Toner is called many different names like:

• Hada Labo Rohto Goku-Jun Hyaluronic Lotion
• Hada Labo Gokujyun Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Lotion
• Rohto Hadalabo Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Lotion (Moist)
• Rohto Mentholatum – Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion

They all refer to the same toner and this review covers them all.

Note that there are two kinds of Hada Labo toners though: light and regular/moist. I use light and haven’t really found a resource detailing a significant difference between the two so I won’t make distinctions here.

Also, Hada Labo sells premium versions of their toner (gold packaging) and we won’t cover those products in this review.

Difference between Hada Labo Lotion and Hada Labo Milk

If you’re new to Japanese skincare and Hada Labo  specifically, you might be a little confused about the distinction between lotion and milk. 

Personally, when someone says lotion I immediately think body lotion and if someone says milk, well, I think cereal to be honest lol.

In Japanese skincare though, while both products are meant to deliver moisture and hydration, “lotion” refers to a product similar to a toner while “milk” refers to a product more closely resembling a moisturizer.

For easy reference, since I can’t read Japanese, I go by the coloured stripe on the bottle:

Pink = milk (or moisturizer)

Green or red = lotion (or toner), green means light and red means regular

Gold bottle = premium line

Hada Labo Toner ingredients

Hada Labo Gokujyun Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Lotion contains hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant, which is an ingredient that sits on the top layer of your skin, draws in moisture, slowing it from evaporating, and therefore keeping skin hydrated.

Full ingredient list below (source):

Water, Dipropylene Glycol Dimethyl Ether, Alcohol, Glycerin, Disodium Succinate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Methylparaben, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Succinic Acid

How I Use Hada Labo Rohto Goku-Jun Hyaluronic Lotion 

Hada Labo is my go-to toner in the morning. It’s the next step in my routine after cleansing.

I apply 2-3 drops of product on my palm and gently pat it all over my face and neck. 

In general, it’s good practice to apply toner to damp skin but it’s really important in this case because Hada Labo Toner contains so much hyaluronic acid.

The way hyaluronic acid works is it pulls water into your skin and holds it there, so you want to give it water to pull in the first place.

If you apply it to dry skin, or you live in a particularly dry climate, you will end up having drier skin because it will get the water from the skin itself. 

So make sure to apply the toner on your face while slightly damp to benefit from its hydrating effects.

What I like about Hada Labo Toner

There’s a lot of things I like about Rohto Mentholatum – Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion.

• Fragrance-free. First, I like that it’s fragrance-free. I really believe skincare products don’t need scent to be effective.

• Hydrating. Second, I love how hydrating it is. We get pretty cold winters here and this product keeps my skin hydrated and moisturized (I’m combination-dry in the winter). Of course, if I go out and it’s -30C/-22F, my face dries out immediately. I have yet to find a product to protect my skin against that. But for “normal” winter days, this works great for me.

• Lightweight. This toner also absorbs fast, sinks into your skin and leaves no greasy feeling. Just smooth, supple skin. Which makes it a great product for the warmer months too.

• Gentle and Hypoallergenic. I’m a big fan of Hada Labo because their products are simple and to the point. They only contain ingredients that are absolutely essential. I’ve been using Hada Labo Rohto Goku-Jun Hyaluronic Lotion for a long time and my sensitive skin hasn’t had any bad reactions to it at all. It also works nicely with the rest of my skincare products.  

What I don’t like about it

The only thing I don’t like about it is it’s not widely available here as other k-beauty or Japanese skincare products. So if you need to re-purchase, you need to order online a bit in advance to make sure your order arrives in time.

Do I recommend Hada Labo Toner?

In a rating scale of 1 to 5 — 5 being awesome — this product is a 5 for me. 

It’s a simple, hydrating toner. No bells and whistles. But that’s exactly what I like about it. It doesn’t need all that to be effective.

There’s an argument to be made for harder-working toners and I love multi-tasking products myself. 

However, I find myself always reaching for this toner especially when I’m breaking out from testing a new product or when I feel like my skin needs a bit of a break and I need to simplify my routine.

I know I can count on it to help calm my skin, repair my moisture barrier, and get me that much needed hydration.

So if you’re looking for an uncomplicated, effortless toner that won’t irritate your skin but provide you with much needed hydration, Hada Labo Toner (sometimes sold as Rohto Hadalabo Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Lotion) is a very good product to try. 

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You can buy it from Amazon by clicking this affiliate link > Hada Labo Toner

Looking for a toner/essence combo? I highly recommend Rovectin Activating Treatment Lotion.

If you love adding natural essential oils to your routine, try Klairs toners.

And if you want to go all-natural, rice is a great skincare ingredient and I’m From Rice Toner is packed with it!

As always, remember that every person’s skin and skin type is different so what might work for me might not work for you, and vice versa.

So before trying a new product, it pays to do a little bit of research first. Pay special attention to ingredients that you might have a reaction to.

And doing a patch-test is always a good idea. Unsure? Best to consult your dermatologist.

Happy skin experimenting!

Have you tried Hada Labo Toner? Did it work for you? Will you recommend it? Would love to hear from you in the comments section below!

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