For straightforward hydration, start with the white Gokujyun bottles. Prefer a thicker texture? Compare the gold Gokujyun Premium. For Japan-labelled brightening care, look at Shirojyun and Shirojyun Premium; for wrinkle improvement, look at the red Gokujyun medicated lotion. The green Skin Conditioner is a separate option for preventing acne and rough skin, not simply a lighter white-bottle formula.
I’m Irene, a Taiwan-born, Japan-licensed pharmacist working in a Japanese drugstore. This guide helps you narrow down a Japanese drugstore shelf in two steps: choose your main purpose, then choose the texture. You do not need the whole range, and “Premium” does not automatically mean a better match.
This comparison covers six Japanese lotion families and nine formula choices, checked on October 11, 2026. Emulsions, creams, masks and all-in-one gels are outside its scope. Different bottle sizes and refill pouches are not counted as new formulas.
- First, choose the job you want your lotion to do
- 1. White Gokujyun: regular or Light for everyday hydration
- 2. Gold Gokujyun Premium: a richer hydration option
- 3. Shirojyun: tranexamic acid and allantoin
- 4. Shirojyun Premium: compare the formula, not just the price
- 5. Red Gokujyun: choose it for a wrinkle-care purpose
- 6. Green Skin Conditioner: check alcohol and menthol too
- How to use them, and when to stop
- Buying in Japan versus buying overseas
- Irene’s final shelf check
- Sources
First, choose the job you want your lotion to do
- Everyday hydration: Gokujyun, in regular or Light.
- Richer-feeling hydration: Gokujyun Premium, in the gold bottle.
- Hydration plus brightening and acne/rough-skin prevention: Shirojyun, in regular or Moist.
- Another medicated brightening formula to compare: Shirojyun Premium, in regular or Moist, with a different second active ingredient.
- Hydration plus wrinkle improvement: the red Gokujyun medicated firming lotion.
- Acne and rough-skin prevention: the green Gokujyun Skin Conditioner.
In Japanese skincare, “lotion” here means a hydrating toner step, not a body lotion or milky moisturizer. The white Gokujyun and gold Gokujyun Premium are cosmetics. Shirojyun, Shirojyun Premium, the red lotion and the green Skin Conditioner are Japanese quasi-drugs with different labelled purposes.
“Whitening” or “brightening” on these Japanese products means suppressing melanin production to help prevent spots and freckles. It does not promise to bleach your natural skin tone or erase existing spots.
1. White Gokujyun: regular or Light for everyday hydration
Image: Rohto Pharmaceutical · Official product
Image: Rohto Pharmaceutical · Official product
The regular version has a gently thickened texture; Light is described as fresher and less sticky. Both contain four types of hyaluronic-acid moisturizing ingredients, but their complete formulas differ. If you want hydration without much thickness, compare Light before moving into a medicated range.
Both come in 170 mL bottles and 170 mL refills. Regular also has a 400 mL pump. A larger bottle changes the format; Light changes the formula.
Japanese label identification:
- Regular: 肌ラボ 極潤ヒアルロン液. Registered sales name: ハダラボモイスト化粧水d.
- Light: 肌ラボ 極潤ヒアルロン液 ライトタイプ. Registered sales name: ハダラボモイスト化粧水Ld.
2. Gold Gokujyun Premium: a richer hydration option
Image: Rohto Pharmaceutical · Official product
This cosmetic lotion contains eight types of hyaluronic-acid moisturizing ingredients and has a thicker texture. Consider it if you enjoy a richer-feeling hydration step. If lightness matters more, the white Light version may fit your preference better.
Eight versus four describes ingredient types, not twice the moisturizing effect. Gold Premium does not gain a medicated brightening or wrinkle-improvement claim just because it is Premium. Bottle and refill: 170 mL each.
Japanese label identification: 肌ラボ 極潤プレミアム ヒアルロン液. Registered sales name: ハダラボスーパーモイスト化粧水c.
3. Shirojyun: tranexamic acid and allantoin
Image: Rohto Pharmaceutical · Official product
Image: Rohto Pharmaceutical · Official product
The current Japanese formula uses tranexamic acid for its brightening purpose and allantoin as an active ingredient to prevent rough skin. Rohto also labels the lotion for acne prevention. This is preventive skincare, not a treatment for an inflamed breakout.
Regular has the fresher feel; Moist is the more moisturizing-feeling option. They share the active ingredients but have different base formulas. Moist does not mean stronger brightening. Both have 170 mL bottles, 170 mL refills and 400 mL pumps.
Japanese label identification:
- Regular: 肌ラボ 白潤薬用美白化粧水. Registered sales name: ロートH薬用美白化粧水La.
- Moist: 肌ラボ 白潤薬用美白化粧水 しっとりタイプ. Registered sales name: ロートH薬用美白化粧水Ra.
4. Shirojyun Premium: compare the formula, not just the price
Image: Rohto Pharmaceutical · Official product
Image: Rohto Pharmaceutical · Official product
Premium combines tranexamic acid with dipotassium glycyrrhizate, an anti-inflammatory active ingredient. Its second active and overall formula differ from current Shirojyun.
Both ranges are options for Japanese medicated brightening care. If regular Shirojyun already suits you, Premium is not a mandatory upgrade. If you try Premium, choose between regular and Moist rather than using dark-blue packaging alone. Both sizes are 170 mL for bottle and refill.
Japanese label identification:
- Regular: 肌ラボ 白潤プレミアム 薬用浸透美白化粧水. Registered sales name: ロートHP薬用ホワイトニング化粧水La.
- Moist: 肌ラボ 白潤プレミアム 薬用浸透美白化粧水 しっとりタイプ. Registered sales name: ロートHP薬用ホワイトニング化粧水Ra.
5. Red Gokujyun: choose it for a wrinkle-care purpose
Image: Rohto Pharmaceutical · Official product
The red lotion contains niacinamide as its active ingredient and three types of hyaluronic-acid moisturizing ingredients. Its Japanese claims include wrinkle improvement and suppressing melanin production to prevent spots and freckles.
That separates it from gold Premium’s hydration focus. You do not need to switch at a particular birthday: choose according to your concern and preferred feel. Rohto defines this range’s age-related care as moisturizing care suited to age, not a promise to reverse ageing. Bottle and refill: 170 mL each.
Japanese label identification: 肌ラボ 極潤 薬用ハリ化粧水. Registered sales name: ロートH薬用リンクル化粧水Lb.
6. Green Skin Conditioner: check alcohol and menthol too
Image: Rohto Pharmaceutical · Official product
Its active ingredients are dipotassium glycyrrhizate and epsilon-aminocaproic acid. The purpose is acne and rough-skin prevention alongside hydration. The botanical extracts are moisturizing ingredients, not a reason to treat this lotion as acne medicine.
The ingredient list includes ethanol, menthol and camphor. Do not transfer an “alcohol-free” claim from another Hada Labo bottle to this one. If you have reacted to these ingredients, ask a pharmacist or clinician to check the full list. Painful, swollen or worsening acne needs more than choosing a different toner. Bottle and refill: 170 mL each.
Japanese label identification: 肌ラボ 薬用 極潤 スキンコンディショナー. Registered sales name: ハダラボ薬用化粧水b.
How to use them, and when to stop
Rohto places lotion at the hydration step, followed by an emulsion or cream to help retain moisture. Gold Premium’s thicker texture does not make it an emulsion. Check your own Japanese packaging for the amount and application directions.
For the red lotion and green Skin Conditioner, the Japanese brand guides describe using roughly a 500-yen-coin-sized amount, gently cupping the skin with both hands, and repeating two or three times. Those repetitions are within one application routine, not a stated daily frequency. Skin Conditioner can also be used before another lotion, but that does not make layering two lotions necessary. Do not rub hard or keep adding product through irritation.
The product cautions say not to apply to wounds, swelling, eczema or other abnormal areas. Stop and consult a dermatologist if redness, swelling, itching, irritation, loss of pigment or darkening develops during use, or after sun exposure following use. Rinse accidental eye contact promptly with water or lukewarm water; seek eye care if problems persist. Fragrance-free, alcohol-free and tested formulas are not guarantees against reactions.
Buying in Japan versus buying overseas
Similar Hada Labo names are sold in different markets. Do not assume an overseas bottle matches a Japanese formula because its colour or translated name looks familiar.
At the shelf, check the family, lotion versus emulsion, regular versus Light or Moist, the registered sales name, and finally size or refill format. Japanese prices are open-priced and vary by store, so compare the same formula and size before deciding which is cheaper.
Irene’s final shelf check
For hydration alone, choose the texture you prefer among white regular, white Light and gold Premium. For brightening care, compare Shirojyun and Shirojyun Premium’s actives and feel. For wrinkle improvement, look at red. For green, take one extra moment to check alcohol, menthol and your own tolerance.
A lotion that matches your current needs is more useful than treating the whole range as a ladder you have to climb.
