Review: Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion 2020 Edition

I have to admit that I had originally planned to review the Rovectin Activating Treatment Lotion. It’s a very similar product, an essence packed with hyaluronic acid and a lot of other great ingredients. But really, I gave up using this product along the way because I really dislike its texture which leaves a greasy film on my face and has a hard time absorbing into my skin (well, there you go, I guess that’s my review of it for you lol).

However, I was very excited to replace it with my all-time favorite, the Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Hyaluronic Acid Lotion. Especially since this time it is almost a new product since the brand reformulated it last year!

If you didn’t know the Hada Labo brand, here’s a reminder:

Hada Labo (which translates as “Skin Laboratory” in Japanese) is a skincare range developed by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Rohto. Rohto Pharmaceutical Company Ltd is a leading manufacturer of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products in Japan.

The brand favors simple and short formulas, fragrance, dye, and mineral oil free. They are also formulated at a pH between 5.0 and 6.5 to respect the skin’s natural physiological balance. They are therefore perfect for all skin types, even the most sensitive.

Their best known and most loved products in the world are definitely their hyaluronic acid lotions (which I wrote about in great detail in my Hada Labo article).

I’m a big fan myself because I find these products simple but oh, so effective! I even have a hard time finding dupes for them, they are not cult without reason…

So let’s talk more about the Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Hyaluronic Acid Lotion, version 2020!

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Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion 2020 Edition, product presentation:

The new version has a brand new packaging (you can see what the old one looked like in my first Hada Labo lotions’ article 😉 ).

The big change in this reformulated version is that it no longer contains five but seven different forms of hyaluronic acid!

Hyaluronic Acid, reminder:

Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the skin that keeps the skin moisturized, smooth and firm. Don’t be scared by the term “acid”! Usually, it’s a very well-tolerated ingredient and it doesn’t provide an exfoliating effect like AHAs or BHAs 😉

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant ingredient. It has the property of attracting and retaining a large quantity of water (up to 1000 times its weight in water). This ability, among other things, gives volume and elasticity to the skin. Over time, the skin’s hyaluronic acid level decreases and it causes the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and loss of firmness.

The ingredient used by Hada Labo, the Super Hyaluronic Acid is a unique blend of 3 types of hyaluronic acid that provides deep hydration, to significantly increase the skin’s moisture level and also helps to support skin’s fibers (collagen and elastin), allowing it to have an anti-aging effect. According to the brand, Super Hyaluronic Acid has hydration retention capacities twice as high as conventional hyaluronic acid.

Indeed, depending on the size of its molecules (or molecular weights), hyaluronic acid can penetrate into the skin’s deeper layers and its effects will therefore vary.

A larger sized hyaluronic acid has a smoothing effect on the skin’s surface, an intermediate size hydrates more deeply and a smaller sized hyaluronic acid has a repairing and regenerating effect on the skin’s supporting fibers. These smaller hyaluronic acid molecules are therefore more anti-aging.

Hada Labo, with their Super Hyaluronic Acid, chose to combine several molecular sizes, and therefore provide several beneficial effects for the skin!

And that’s the case in this new version of the Premium lotion, which is aimed at dehydrated skin that tends to be on the drier side, with its silky texture that feels super comfortable on the skin (but doesn’t stay greasy like the Rovectin does! 😆).

The first version of the Premium Lotion I tried (4 years ago now, it was my first Asian skincare product, I believe) already contained five different forms of hyaluronic acid but this 2020 version has seven:

– hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid: a nano-sized hyaluronic acid for better absorption into the skin,
– sodium acetylated hyaluronate, or “super hyaluronic acid”: it provides longer-lasting surface hydration and helps to tone the skin. It’s also less sticky and more cosmetically elegant than conventional hyaluronic acid.
– hydroxypropyltrimonium hyaluronic acid: a hyaluronic acid that penetrates deep into the skin and also has a protective effect,
– hyaluronic acid crosspolymer: the famous 3D hyaluronic acid, which has the specificity of absorbing 5 times more hydration than classic hyaluronic acid. This cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel forms a smoothing and plumping film on the skin and helps to deliver moisture over time.
– hyaluronic acid obtained by fermentation with Lactobacillales (a lactic acid bacterium used to ferment sake!): a fermented hyaluronic acid that allows the skin to keep moisture better,
– hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate: a hyaluronic acid that penetrates to the stratum corneum,
– sodium hyaluronate: a hyaluronic acid that forms a plumping film on the skin.

All this advanced technology for a 170ml bottle that usually retails for around $10 to $15!

Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion 2020 Edition, my experience:

This will be brief: I love this product as much as the old version!

Its texture is still as silky and pleasant as before. To tell you the truth, my husband also uses this product and always comes back to it because of this texture that leaves the skin comfortable without stickiness, a true delight!

It’s hard to believe that they sell this product in drugstores in Japan! It really feels like a serum from a luxury brand (well OK, its packaging gives it away a bit 😜). Because yes, you can totally use it instead of your moisturizing serum, it’s much more than just an essence!

And with the amount, you’re covered for a long time 🙂

You can use it morning, evening, on your face, on your body too if you want! It’s a very versatile product (you can find my method of application further down the page).

It leaves my skin hydrated, plumped and for a long time, leaving no greasy effect. It’s clearly one of my favorite hydrating products!

In short, the new 2020 version is definitely a must-have for me!

In conclusion:

There is no debate: for me, the Hada Labo lotion remains the best hyaluronic acid product on the market.

Better for its efficiency, better for the quality/quantity/price ratio. And this Premium 2020 version is a real treat for dehydrated skin with a dry tendency who, like me, want long-lasting comfort but no heavy effect on the skin.

The Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Hyaluronic Acid Lotion (2020 version) retails between $10 and $20 for 170 ml depending on the retailers.