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Some By Mi vs SK-II

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Some By Mi and SK-II are two celebrated Asian beauty brands offering diverse serums, cleansers, toners, and moisturizers designed to nurture distinct complexions. While the Korean line relies on niacinamide, centella asiatica, and salicylic acid to best soothe dry sensitive skin and reduce dark spots, the Japanese label anchors its nourishing serums and rejuvenating masks in its signature pitera to gently comfort acne-prone and dry skin. Ultimately, the two brands differ through their unique ingredient philosophies, with the former pairing acids for clarity and the latter utilizing pitera to refine texture and tone.

Some By Mi is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by JKL Partners since 2021.

kedglobal.compreqin.comtracxn.com

SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

en.wikipedia.orgdiscoversk-ii.wixsite.comglossy.co

This page compares some of the most popular Some By Mi and SK-II products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Some By Mi vs SK-II products

People Say

Some By MiSK-II
  • Hydrating and Lightweight Formulations Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “absorbs quickly — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Skin became smoother — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner”
    • “Surprisingly gentle — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner”
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Brightening and Glow Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Skin looks brighter — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “Fades dark spots — Some By Mi Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum”
  • Gentleness and Sensitivity Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Zero irritation or redness — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum”
    • “doesn't strip dry my skin — Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Clean Clay Mask”
    • “didn't find this irritating — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Advanced Triple Action Eye Cream”
    • “Watery consistency — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedNot noted
    • “Reduces pimples — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner”
    • “cleared my cystic acne — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Clear Foam”
    • “flattened my cystic acne — Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Serum”
  • Refreshing and Soothing Often MentionedNot noted
    • “Calmed my retinol burn overnight — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “nice cooling effect — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Clear Foam”
    • “calmed my angry red skin — Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Serum”
  • Product Value and Pricing Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive — Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Clean Clay Mask”
    • “Too expensive for 50ml — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Scents and Fragrance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Fermented smell — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “overwhelming citrus fragrance — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
  • Overhyped and Slow Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “didn't do much for old scars — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Anti Blemish Serum”
    • “not noticed any significant changes — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Advanced Triple Action Eye Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “No visible difference — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Dryness and Dehydration Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Need extra moisturizer — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”

Some By Mi vs SK-II routines for dry skin

Buy Some By Mi routine · A$222.98 · 93% fitBuy SK-II routine · A$1,400.12 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Some By Mi vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy SK-II routine · A$1,436.99 · 89% fitBuy Some By Mi routine · A$301.59 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Some By Mi vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy Some By Mi routine · A$224.16 · 88% fitBuy SK-II routine · A$1,429.91 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Some By Mi or SK-II: which is better?

Some By Mi fits best for sensitive skin and skin with dark spots, while SK-II performs better for hydration and brightening. Lovi rates routine fit for dry skin as Superior for both brands.

What is the difference between Some By Mi and SK-II?

Some By Mi is better for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and sensitive skin, while SK-II does better with hydrating and lightweight formulations and brightening and glow. Both brands perform equally well for skin texture, mature skin, combination skin, and oily skin.

Some By Mi or SK-II for dry skin?

Both Some By Mi and SK-II achieve a Superior fit for dry skin through their targeted routines. The products on this page for both brands feature formulations designed to hydrate without added fragrance.

Some By Mi or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Some By Mi and SK-II both offer great options depending on your skin goals. Lovi rates Some By Mi as having a Superior fit for dry skin, while SK-II also achieves a High fit for dry skin with its Facial Treatment Essence.

Which is more affordable, Some By Mi or SK-II?

Some By Mi is more affordable than SK-II, as reviewed by shoppers noting product value and pricing as a stronger point for Some By Mi.

Which brand performs better for brightening and glow?

SK-II performs better for brightening and glow according to the review themes on this page. Lovi rates the routine fit for skin with dark spots as Superior for Some By Mi and High for SK-II.

When was Some By Mi founded compared to SK-II?

Some By Mi was founded in 2016 in South Korea, whereas SK-II was founded earlier in 1980 in Japan.

Some By Mi or SK-II for oily skin?

Both Some By Mi and SK-II achieve a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers indicate that the two brands perform equally well for skin texture and smoothing.

Some By Mi or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Some By Mi fits sensitive skin better than SK-II, as Lovi rates Some By Mi as Superior and SK-II as High for this skin type.

Some By Mi or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Some By Mi is better for acne-prone skin because the products on this page provide stronger acne and blemish control. Lovi rates the routine fit for acne-prone skin as High for Some By Mi and Superior for SK-II.

Some By Mi or SK-II for skin with dark spots?

Some By Mi fits skin with dark spots better, earning a Superior rating from Lovi compared to SK-II's High fit. Reviewers often mention complexion brightening for Some By Mi, and niacinamide is featured across its products to help target pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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