Review: Hada Labo - Gokujyun Lotion (Clear)

Packaging: It comes in a clear, plastic bottle (170ml) with a label stuck right on it along with a cap that pulls open. I like that the spout dispenses the product in the exact amount I need when I simply tip the bottle upside down over my hand for a moment. What I don’t like is that its design is so similar to their other products that sometimes we may confuse it for something else. A quick Google search shows that it also appears to go by the name “Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion (Moist),” making matters worse. (And remember, Japan refers to toners as “lotions.”)

Price: Because I bought this at a T&T store in Canada, the price was marked up to about $25-30 CAD, but you can get this product off of Amazon for about $16 USD. So far, it has lasted me over five months and I generally use it 2x a day (although, admittedly, I haven’t been using it as often this month since I’m testing out another hydrating toner).

Consistency: The consistency is very watery, but there is still this slightly viscous feel to it. Because of this, I don’t use a cotton ball/pad to apply it since so much of the product can get trapped inside and get wasted; instead, I simply use the palms of my hands to pat it onto my face. Its finish feels dewy (or as the name implies, “moist”), making it the perfect hydrating toner.

Scent: Absolutely no scent! Great for people who are sensitive to fragrances.

Ingredients: A CosDNA analysis showed that the only flagged item was butylene glycol (solvent + moisturizer) for acne, which only scored a 1. But let us dive right in and analyze the star ingredient, hyaluronic acid. It only sounds scary, but it isn’t – I promise! When we think of “acids,” we generally think of exfoliation and skin peeling, but this ingredient does the exact opposite: it moisturizes, plumps your skin, and sucks moisture out of the air and into your skin. This product includes two forms of hyaluronic acid for increased efficiency due to their differently sized molecules: hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid and sodium hyaluronate. They are naturally found within the skin and even between connective tissues. 

Its “plumping” effect on the fine lines of my forehead shows that it actually works instantly; the photos above were taken only minutes apart. And take a look at that short ingredient list! I love it! Unless you have a sensitivity to hyaluronic acid, this product may be just what you’re looking for if your fine lines need some plumping.

Important note: If you find that hyaluronic acid actually dries out your skin, this is because there is no moisture in the air for it to draw into the skin, so it sucks the moisture out of your face instead. This issue can easily be mitigated by using a moisturizer on top (which you absolutely should be using anyway!).

Overall Review: This product is ideal for all skin types due to its simple ingredient list and lack of fragrances. I will note that it does contain parabens to keep the other ingredients from breaking down or spoiling, so if that bothers you, then you may not like this product. But if this doesn’t bother you, then you will absolutely love this product for its efficiency just as I do. 5/5.

Welcome to the World of Toners

Did you know that there are multiple types of toners? Why do we even need toners anyway? Well, I picked up this great book called The Little Book of Skin Care by Charlotte Cho (of Soko Glam) that explained the reasoning behind toners just perfectly:

Think of toners as prep school for your pores: It gives them a head start for what comes next and will help your skin absorb your skin-care products. Picture your skin as a dried-up sponge. If you try to put a heavy cream on it, a brittle, dry sponge won’t accept it – it isn’t “prepped” for moisture. But if you wet the sponge, the cream will sink in more easily. (p. 42)

Looking at toners in this light, it’s quite obvious now that if you plan on upping your skincare routine, you should consider buying one (or multiple, like me – a hoarder).

Different Types of Toners

• Astringent Toners
• These are the toners that we westerners are most accustomed to using – we’ve known them to be rather drying or simply alcoholic in nature. But the truth is there’s a lot more to them than this. Some people need astringent toners more than others (esp. oily, acne-prone people), but they can be helpful to everybody. They’re meant to clean the remaining gunk and/or makeup you didn’t fully wash off with your cleanser and they penetrate much deeper into your pores.
• Common astringent ingredients found in toners include (but are not limited to):
• Alcohol
• Witch Hazel 
• AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acid)*
• Citric Acid
• Glycolic acid
• Lactic Acid
• Malic Acid
• Mandelic Acid
• Tartaric Acid
• BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acid)*
• Benzoic Acid 
• Salicylic Acid
• Rose (Water/Extract)
• Citrus (Extract)
• Astringent toners pictured above: Mamonde - Rose Water Toner (contains rose extract – a very mild astringent) and Missha - Time Revolution Clear Toner (contains a very small percentage of both BHAs and AHAs, making it a very mild formulation as well).

• Boosting Toners
• These toners are very interesting. Some may not even classify them as “toners” in themselves, but I most certainly do (because they can be used in place of a toner in your skincare routine), so under this category I also include “boosting toners” that are referred to as:
• First Essence [Treatment]
• First Essence Booster
• Generally speaking, you would want to use a boosting toner before another toner (but never before an astringent one) because, as the name implies, it “boosts” whatever product that follows it. They can be used with or without an accompanying toner. Boosting toners tend to be thicker and less watery than other types. They generally contain a handful of extracts. These toners are also generally geared more toward those with dry skin types, but I find that they can be beneficial to all skin types.
• Boosting toners pictured above: Missha - Geum Sul First Essence Booster and Missha - Time Revolution Night Repair Turn Over Control Booster.

• Hydrating Toners
• While westerners focus on astringent toners, easterners focus on the opposite: hydrating toners. Had I known these existed in my teenage years, I would have been all over them because of how amazing they are. As the name implies, these toners are “hydrating,” meaning they add to the water content of your skin. Hydrating toners are beneficial to all skin types.
• Before I was even aware of it, I always thought “hydration” and “moisturization” meant the same thing. Wrong. Hydration involves adding water content to your skin, while moisturization involves adding oil content to your skin. “Ideal skin” (meaning not overly dry nor oily) has a balanced water-oil ratio. We spend so much time worrying about lotions and creams (which add oil content) that we forget about hydration! This is where these beautiful hydrating toners come in.
• Common hydrating ingredients found in toners include (but are not limited to):
• Ceramides
• Ferments  
• Glycerin
• Propanediol 
• Hydrating toners pictured above: Hada Labo - Gokujyun Lotion (Clear) and Missha - Super Aqua Ultra Waterful Active Toner.

• Mist Toners
• Mist toners fall under astringent, boosting, or hydrating types of toners, but more often than not, you will find that they are usually geared toward light hydration. They’re perfect for all skin types.
• Fun tip 1: They can be used between different layers of products in your routine if you hate that sticky feeling that essences, serums, etc. can leave behind.
• Fun tip 2: They can be used even after you put on makeup if you feel like your skin needs just a little more hydration without ruining it.
• Fun tip 3: Use a mist toner to set your makeup!
• Fun tip 4: Spray your mist toner onto a beauty cushion or sponge before application for a more even and well-adhered look. 
• Mist toners pictured above: The Creme Shop - Chia Seed Calming Spritz Toner, TheFaceShop - Chia Seed Soothing Mist Toner, and Innisfree - Aloe Revital Skin Mist.

I realize after writing all of this, someone new to skincare could easily be overwhelmed. If you are looking to start off easy, I would suggest starting with a hydrating toner!

* Read more about the differences between AHAs and BHAs here.
* Always use a sunscreen if you incorporate AHAs and/or BHAs into your routine.