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SOME BY MI AHA-BHA-PHA Real Cica 92% Cool Calming Soothing Gel for dry sensitive skin

Average

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • Low RiskSafety

Works for dry sensitive skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate suitability for your dry and sensitive skin as Centella Asiatica Extract and multiple forms of Hyaluronic Acid provide excellent soothing and hydration. The presence of AHAs and Salicylic Acid offers some exfoliation but may pose a mild irritation risk for your sensitive skin.
  • While the humectant ingredients effectively draw moisture to the skin, the formula lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive agents to fully address your dry skin's need for deeper nourishment and barrier support.
  • The product is generally safe for your skin, with a low risk of irritation from the exfoliating acids.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using this moisturizer 3 times a week and move to daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toner in the morning, or after your serum in the evening. Always pair it with SPF in the morning.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it harshly to protect your sensitive skin.
  • Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help with hydration absorption. This also works well for dry and flaky skin types.
  • Do a patch test before your first use. Avoid the eye area to prevent any irritation.

People Say

★4.2Overall rating based on 100+ reviews

Based on limited data, this gel is highly effective for oily and acne-prone skin, providing immediate cooling and significant redness reduction for conditions like sunburns and active breakouts. However, users with dry or dehydrated skin often find it lacks sufficient moisture, leading to a tight sensation due to its exfoliating acids.

Highlights

  • Soothing and calming Mostly Mentioned
    • “Calmed down my redness so fast”
    • “Helped with bug bites and rash”
    • “Great for soothing sunburn.”
  • Cooling sensation Often Mentioned
    • “Feels light and cooling”
    • “Lowers skin temperature”
    • “Refreshing menthol sensation.”
  • Good for oily skin Often Mentioned
    • “Perfect for my oily skin”
    • “Controls excess sebum”
    • “Doesn't turn me into an oil slick.”
  • Insufficient hydration Often Mentioned
    • “Made my face feel tight”
    • “Not moisturizing for dry winter”
    • “Felt 'keset' (squeaky/dry) on skin.”
  • Versatile application Sometimes Noted
    • “Used on face and arms”
    • “Applied as a sleeping pack”
    • “Good for body acne.”
  • Sticky residue Sometimes Noted
    • “Leaves a sticky feeling”
    • “Tacky finish”
    • “Residue lingers.”
  • Medicinal scent Rarely Noted
    • “Smells like medicine”
    • “Strong tea tree scent”
    • “Scent is too herbal.”
  • Potential irritation Rarely Noted
    • “Made inflammation worse”
    • “Stinging sensation”
    • “Too harsh for broken skin.”

Sources: lovi.care, nudieglow.com, mikaelabeauty.com, femaledaily.com, skinsort.com, yesstyle.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does SOME BY MI Real Cica Soothing Gel work for dry sensitive skin?

This soothing gel works moderately well for dry sensitive skin, offering good hydration and calming effects, though the exfoliating acids may pose a mild irritation risk. Because it lacks enough rich, softening ingredients to deeply nourish dry skin, a product of this type needs richer softening and barrier-supporting ingredients to truly lock in moisture.

Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this gel a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

Centella Asiatica and hyaluronic acid help soothe and hydrate your skin. To better fit dry sensitive skin, this type of product needs rich nourishing ingredients and protective sealants to lock in moisture and support the skin barrier.

Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Centella Asiatica do for dry sensitive skin?

Centella asiatica helps calm dry sensitive skin by improving moisture, reducing water loss, and soothing irritation. Using this ingredient helps repair the skin barrier and keeps the skin feeling soft and comfortable.

Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?

Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013

Where does this gel go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This soothing gel goes in the evening routine after your cleansing and toning steps, and before your moisturizer. Treatments of this type need rich softening and protective barrier ingredients to properly nourish dry skin.

Can I use this gel with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this gel in the same routine as retinol, applying the gel first to soothe and hydrate your skin before following with your retinol. Because this formula lacks enough nourishing and protective ingredients for dry skin, a product of this type needs richer barrier-supporting creams or oils to lock in moisture and prevent flaking.

How often should I use this gel?

This soothing gel works best for your dry sensitive skin when used as an evening treatment once a week to minimize irritation from the exfoliating acids. As your skin gets used to it and tolerates it well, you may carefully use it more often. To properly care for dry skin, this type of product needs rich moisturizing and barrier-supporting ingredients like nourishing oils, rich butters, or ceramides.

Can this gel clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This soothing gel is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on your dry sensitive skin. Its exfoliating acids may help clear pores, but because the formula lacks richer softening and barrier-locking ingredients, it needs extra nourishing oils and rich creams to truly care for dry skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Can I use this gel around the eyes or on my body?

This gel is generally safe to use on the body and around the eyes, though the thin skin in those areas may have a slightly higher chance of mild irritation from the exfoliating acids. When used on the body or face, dry skin needs rich, softening, and sealing ingredients along with moisture-drawing agents to truly thrive.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

Is this gel fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.

    Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020
  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020
  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2008
  • Treatment with an asiaticoside-containing cream applied twice daily for 12 weeks significantly improved periorbital wrinkles in 65% of 27 female volunteers compared to a vehicle control cream.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008
  • Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008
  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005
  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010
  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019

Why other moisturizers fit dry sensitive skin better

  • Nanoemulsions containing Macadamia integrifolia seed oil successfully enhanced skin hydration and reduced wrinkles in human volunteers, outperforming conventional emulsions in skin hydration enhancement.

    Nanomaterials, 2024
  • A formulation containing glycerol (5%) and xylitol (5%) applied twice daily for 14 days increased skin hydration, filaggrin protein quantity, interdigitation index, and biomechanical properties, and decreased transepidermal water loss compared to untreated and vehicle-treated skin in twelve volunteers with dry skin.

    Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017

Ingredients

Centella Asiatica Extract, Water, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Leaf Water, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Allantoin, Arginine, Adenosine, Salicylic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Citric Acid, C12-13 Pareth-9, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil Leaf Rosemary Oil Leaf

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score 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.

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