Hada Labo Shirojyun vs Premium: All 8 Whitening Products Compared

Hada Labo Shirojyun (白潤, also spelled Shirojun) is Rohto’s medicated whitening line in Japan: 8 products across Shirojyun and Shirojyun Premium, all with tranexamic acid as the whitening active ingredient. In Japan, “whitening” (美白) on a medicated (quasi-drug, 医薬部外品) product means it suppresses melanin production to help prevent spots and freckles. This guide compares all 8 products, explains Shirojyun vs Shirojyun Premium and lists the full ingredients of both lotions, based on Rohto’s official pages. Some shops outside Japan list these products as “Shirojyun Brightening”.

What you’ll learn in this article:

• All 8 Shirojyun and Shirojyun Premium products sold in Japan, with Japanese names and prices
• What “whitening” means on a Japanese medicated product, and what the active ingredients do
• The full ingredient lists of Shirojyun Lotion and Shirojyun Premium Lotion
• The difference between Shirojyun and Shirojyun Premium, and which to choose
• How to use the line, where to buy it and answers to common questions

Hada Labo Shirojyun Products at a Glance

Rohto sells 8 Shirojyun products in Japan: 4 Shirojyun (two lotions, a milk and a gel) and 4 Shirojyun Premium (two lotions, a milk and a cream). All 8 are medicated, labelled weakly acidic and contain tranexamic acid.

From Rohto’s official Japanese product pages and online shop (as of September 2026). Rohto does not set a suggested retail price, so store prices in Japan vary. The 170 mL bottle of the moist Shirojyun lotion was not listed on Rohto’s online shop when we checked.

What Is Hada Labo Shirojyun?

Hada Labo Shirojyun is a medicated whitening line: tranexamic acid (Rohto calls it “white tranexamic acid”) is the whitening active ingredient, and allantoin is an active ingredient that prevents rough skin and acne. It also contains vitamin C derivative (magnesium ascorbyl phosphate), vitamin E, Job’s tears extract and fermented Job’s tears as skin-conditioning ingredients, plus 2 types of hyaluronic acid, and Rohto says it moisturises while helping to prevent acne. Rohto’s promotion page says the regular Shirojyun line is patch-tested on sensitive skin and non-comedogenic tested, noting that not everyone will be free of irritation or comedones.

Japanese name	肌ラボ 白潤薬用美白化粧水 (Shirojyun Medicated Whitening Lotion)
Price in Japan	¥902 (170 mL), ¥781 (170 mL refill) and ¥1,694 (400 mL pump) on Rohto’s official online shop
Category	Medicated (quasi-drug)
Active ingredients	Tranexamic acid (whitening), allantoin (prevents rough skin)
Texture	Light type: smooth and quick to absorb; moist type: thick and slower to absorb (Rohto’s description)
Skin type	Not specified by Rohto
Scent	Fragrance-free (Rohto label)
pH	Weakly acidic (manufacturer label)

Specs from Rohto’s official Japanese product pages, promotion page and online shop (as of September 2026).

• Fragrance-free
• Colourant-free
• Mineral-oil-free
• Alcohol-free (ethanol)
• Paraben-free

All 8 Shirojyun and Shirojyun Premium products carry these five free-from labels.

Shirojyun vs Shirojyun Premium: What’s the Difference?

Both use tranexamic acid; the difference is the second active ingredient (allantoin in Shirojyun, dipotassium glycyrrhizate in Premium), plus Premium’s serum-like feel and a cream instead of a gel. Only Shirojyun contains Job’s tears extract and fermented Job’s tears, and Rohto doesn’t say that either line is stronger.

From Rohto’s official Japanese product pages, promotion pages and online shop (as of September 2026). For the Premium line’s hyaluronic-acid lotion counterpart, see our Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion guide.

Is Hada Labo Shirojyun Acidic or Alkaline?

Rohto labels all 8 Shirojyun and Shirojyun Premium products weakly acidic but doesn’t publish pH numbers.

Hada Labo Shirojyun Ingredients (Full Lists)

Shirojyun Lotion and Shirojyun Premium Lotion each have 19 ingredients, both led by tranexamic acid; the second active ingredient is allantoin in Shirojyun and dipotassium glycyrrhizate in Premium. Japanese medicated products list their active ingredients first, then the other ingredients.

Shirojyun Medicated Whitening Lotion: Full Ingredient List

Ingredient list as published by Rohto for Hada Labo Shirojyun Medicated Whitening Lotion (checked September 2026), in Rohto’s order. English names are our translations of the Japanese quasi-drug labelling names; Rohto’s list does not show water. The moist type (しっとりタイプ) has the same list plus diglycerin and xanthan gum. Formulas can change, so always check the package.

Shirojyun Premium Medicated Whitening Lotion: Full Ingredient List

Ingredient list as published by Rohto for Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Medicated Whitening Lotion (checked September 2026), in Rohto’s order. English names are our translations of the Japanese quasi-drug labelling names; Rohto’s list does not show water. Formulas can change, so always check the package.

Which Shirojyun Product Should You Choose?

Choose Shirojyun Lotion with the milk or gel if you want spot prevention plus acne prevention at the lower price, and Shirojyun Premium if you want the serum-like feel and the anti-inflammatory active ingredient.

How to Use Hada Labo Shirojyun

Use the lotion after cleansing, then a Shirojyun milk or gel to keep moisture in (Rohto’s recommended Shirojyun routine). Rohto also suggests the 400 mL pump lotion for the body, such as elbows, knees, the tops of the feet and the back.

1. Cleanse your face (see our Hada Labo cleanser guide).
2. Apply Shirojyun Lotion to moisturise.
3. Seal in moisture with Shirojyun Milk or Shirojyun Gel. For the gel, Rohto says to take a suitable amount in your palm and spread it gently over your whole face; crystals of the whitening ingredient may form on the cap, so wipe them off with clean gauze.
4. For the body, use the 400 mL pump lotion on areas such as elbows and knees.

From Rohto’s Shirojyun promotion page and product pages (checked September 2026). Rohto doesn’t publish a routine for Shirojyun Premium; its line-up is two lotions, a milk and a cream. For more on each step, see our Hada Labo lotion, milk and moisturizer guides.

Where to Buy Hada Labo Shirojyun

kachicollect is the simplest way to get Hada Labo Shirojyun from Japan. Our catalog has no proxy fees, and duties are shown in your total before you pay, so nothing extra is charged on delivery. Orders ship worldwide with tracking and usually arrive in about 7 to 14 days.

If the Shirojyun product you want isn’t in our catalog, search Japanese stores or marketplaces for its Japanese name from the table above (for example, 肌ラボ 白潤薬用美白化粧水 or 肌ラボ 白潤プレミアム). Paste the product URL into kachishop to get an instant quote with duties included and no request fee.

On marketplaces such as eBay, check the active ingredients on the box, because products sold abroad under Shirojyun names may use a different formula.

Proxy services that buy from Japanese stores on your behalf are another option, but the service fee they advertise is only the starting point, and various other charges are added on top by the time you check out. kachicollect’s purchase request does the same job with no proxy or request fees, and duties are shown before checkout.

Discover more from the brand in our Hada Labo guide.

FAQ

Does Hada Labo Shirojyun lighten your skin?

In Japan, “whitening” (美白) on a medicated (quasi-drug, 医薬部外品) product means it suppresses melanin production to help prevent spots and freckles. Rohto’s claim is limited to that; it does not claim to change your natural skin colour.

Does Hada Labo Shirojyun fade existing dark spots?

Rohto’s claim is prevention: the whitening active ingredient suppresses melanin production to help prevent spots and freckles. Rohto does not claim that Shirojyun removes spots you already have.

Shirojyun or Shirojyun Premium: which is better for dark spots?

Rohto doesn’t rank them. Both contain tranexamic acid as the whitening active ingredient; Premium adds dipotassium glycyrrhizate, an anti-inflammatory active ingredient, while Shirojyun adds allantoin.

Is Hada Labo Shirojyun good for acne-prone skin?

Rohto says the regular Shirojyun line moisturises while helping to prevent acne, with allantoin as an active ingredient, and that it is non-comedogenic tested. For Premium, Rohto describes dipotassium glycyrrhizate as an active ingredient that helps prevent rough skin and acne.

Is Hada Labo Shirojyun OK for sensitive skin?

Rohto says the regular Shirojyun line is patch-tested on sensitive skin, noting that not everyone will be free of irritation. It doesn’t state a patch test for Shirojyun Premium; all 8 products are weakly acidic and fragrance-free.

Is Hada Labo Shirojyun alcohol-free?

Yes. Rohto labels all 8 Shirojyun and Shirojyun Premium products alcohol (ethanol)-free, and also paraben-free. “Alcohol-free” here means no ethanol; Shirojyun Premium Cream does contain the fatty alcohols stearyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol.

Why does my Shirojyun box say arbutin?

Rohto’s current Shirojyun and Shirojyun Premium in Japan list tranexamic acid as the whitening active ingredient. Products labelled “Shirojyun Arbutin” list arbutin instead, so they are not the formula on Rohto’s current Japanese pages. Some shops outside Japan also sell the tranexamic-acid Shirojyun as “Shirojyun Brightening”, so check the active ingredient on the box rather than the English name.

Is Shirojyun Premium the same as Gokujyun Premium?

No. Shirojyun Premium is the medicated whitening line, while Gokujyun Premium is Hada Labo’s hyaluronic acid moisturising line; see our Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion guide.

Shirojyun Gel or Whitening Perfect Gel?

Shirojyun Gel is a gel cream you use after lotion, while Whitening Perfect Gel belongs to the Gokujyun line and is an all-in-one gel you use on its own after cleansing. Both contain tranexamic acid; see our Hada Labo Perfect Gel guide.

Does Hada Labo Shirojyun have SPF?

No. Rohto doesn’t list an SPF for any Shirojyun product, and neither lotion’s ingredient list contains UV filters. Hada Labo’s only product with SPF in Japan is covered in our Hada Labo sunscreen guide.

Can I use Shirojyun on my body?

Yes. Rohto suggests the 400 mL pump lotion for the body, such as elbows, knees, the tops of the feet and the back.

Conclusion: Which Hada Labo Shirojyun Is Right for You?

For most people, Shirojyun Lotion with the milk or gel is the place to start: tranexamic acid and allantoin, weakly acidic, free of fragrance, alcohol and parabens, and patch-tested on sensitive skin. Choose Shirojyun Premium if you want the serum-like feel and the anti-inflammatory active ingredient, with a cream for a richer finish. For Rohto’s vitamin C serum, see our Melano CC serum guide.

Buying from kachicollect gets you Hada Labo shipped directly from Japan, with no proxy fees and duties shown before you pay. If the product you want isn’t in our catalog, paste its product URL from any Japanese store or marketplace for an instant quote with no request fee.