Juniper
A couple of months ago, I spotted Hada Labo’s new anti-aging skincare range on the shelves at Guardian Pharmacy. Not long thereafter, the products appeared on my doorstep for review. The products in their red coloured packaging are quite arresting .
Anti-aging skincare always grabs my attention. Any skincare that purports to improve the appearance of sagging skin, fine lines and not so fine furrows, wrinkles and nasolabial folds has my full attention, more so than a Chippendale in the buff (yup, been there and done that! The looking, not touching, I hasten to add!).
Hada Labo’s Retinol range claims to lift, firm and hydrate – all of which aging skin needs. That’s exactly what I look for in skincare. The 3 anti-aging ingredients in this range are:-
(1) Retinol Vitamin A for reducing visible fine lines and wrinkles;
(2) Super Hyaluronic Acid for locking in moisture and keeping skin soft and smooth; and
(3) Hydrolyzed Collagen for improving skin’s elasticity for firmer and more lifted skin.
These are the 5 skincare products in the Retinol range:-
(1) Lifting + Firming Lotion (170ml/RM55.90)
Just like its famous counterpart, the bestselling Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion which really needs no introduction, this Lotion is applied the same way – by pouring a drop (or two, as needed) on to palms and patting gently on to the face until absorbed.
This can be considered as the toning process but it isn’t a toner. It’s more like a lotion to prep skin for the next steps of applying serum and moisturizer. I use my fingers to pat the lotion into my skin and love the silky smooth sensation of my skin afterwards. It is slightly sticky so one has to be use it sparingly.
Since you need so little Lotion for each application, one bottle will last a long time. I reckon I can stretch this bottle to upwards of 6 months. The Lotion is thicker than regular toners but then again, it has to be otherwise how to pour on to palms? Sometimes I use it on my hands as well, it’s a good substitute for hand cream.
As the opening under the flip-top lid is so small, fear not that you will pour out too much. It dispenses the right amount. The bottle is heavy and I’d like it if there was a travel sized version. This one is just too big to bring along for a short trip away from home.
(2) Lifting + Firming Essence (30ml/RM75.90)
Out of all the Retinol products, this one is my favourite. Feel free to disagree but I think this product is the most important product in the range as it’s the serum which delivers the anti-aging effects. This is the essence for improving skin’s elasticity and firmness.
After using it for a month, my skin feels more supple and firmer. It seems to soften the lines around my neck and collarbone area and my nasolabial folds appear less pronounced. If there was one product in this range I would purchase, it’d definitely be the Essence.
This is the smallest and most lightweight bottle in the range. It is a pump bottle which dispenses not much with each pump. I need at least 2 pumps for my face and neck. I’ve been using it so frequently over the past month that there is only 1/4 of the product left. The bottle is semi-opaque so you can see how much there is left inside.
For a serum and an anti-aging one at that to be priced not much more than the moisturizers is a pleasant surprise. For an anti-aging serum found in a drugstore that delivers some positive results (to me anyway) is an even bigger surprise.
(3) Lifting + Firming Cream (50g/RM65.90)
This is my least favourite product in the range as I find the Cream to be too heavy and thick even for my normal-dry skin. Those with oily skins will probably love it less than me. It’d make a good moisturizer for those living in cold climates or people who really need extra moisturization though.
Although recommended for use twice daily, I’ve only ever used it at night. It provides more than enough hydration and since it is so thick, you need very little for each application. It does feel slightly sticky so I don’t find myself wanting to apply more anyway.
(4) Lifting + Firming Milk (140ml/RM61.90)
This is my 2nd most favourite product in the range as this is a lightweight, easily absorbed moisturizer which feels not at all sticky. I like using this moisturizer day and night as it makes my skin feel so smooth, soft and hydrated.
It comes in the same flip-top bottle with a small opening under the cap as the Lotion. This moisturizer should suit those with oily skins or people like me who prefer lighter consistency moisturizers. After all, we live in constant humidity and I am sure the last thing most people want is to apply heavy creams to the face.
(5) Lifting + Firming Mask (20ml x 4 sheets/RM49.90)
These masks claim to rejuvenate skin cells to improve skin’s elasticity and firmness. They are recommended to be used for 15-20 minutes. The texture of the masks isn’t as thin as the new and improved version of My Beauty Diary masks but they are thinner than the older version of My Beauty Diary masks.
I can get 30 minutes maximum usage out of these masks but I wouldn’t say that my skin got any firmer with each use. If anything, they are above average hydration masks which can be used to complement the other 4 skincare products in this range.
Overall Comments
Having used the entire range, I do like most of them (other than the Cream) as they have helped maintain and improve my skin’s elasticity as well as well as kept fine lines at bay. I also like the fact that they are free of fragrances, mineral oil and colorant. They are often on 10% discount at Guardian Pharmacy so they are worth having a look at. As I said earlier, if there is one item I’ll be replenishing, it’d be the Essence.
Note : Hada Labo Retinol range was provided by PR for review.
