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Some By Mi vs Grown Alchemist

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

Some By Mi and Grown Alchemist are distinct skincare lines offering targeted serums, cleansers, toners, and moisturizers. The Korean brand founded in 2016 relies on niacinamide, centella asiatica, and salicylic acid, while the other is celebrated for its specific botanical formulas. Both brands suit sensitive and dry skin, though the former best serves skin with dark spots and the latter particularly embraces combination skin. They differ primarily in their core active ingredients and regional origins, with the 2016-established line focusing heavily on clarifying acne and hyperpigmentation.

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

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

Popular Some By Mi vs Grown Alchemist products

People Say

Some By MiGrown Alchemist
  • Hydrating and Moisturizing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Skin version of chugging water — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
    • “doesn't strip at all — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
    • “Lasts 100 hours as claimed — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
  • Gentleness and Sensitivity Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Perfect for sensitive skin — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “calms my skin down — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
    • “Zero irritation or redness — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum”
  • Pleasant Scent Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Smells amazing — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “smell is divine — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
    • “smells like fresh lemons — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Anti Blemish Serum”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly — Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Serum”
    • “Very light weight — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
  • Product Texture and Feel Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “silkiest cleanser — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
    • “spreads soft on my skin — Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Clean Clay Mask”
  • Deep Pore Cleansing Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Gets everything nice and clean — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “pores look visibly smaller — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Clear Foam”
  • Fragrance Dislikes and Sensitivity Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “overwhelming citrus fragrance — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
    • “Smell is too strong — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum”
    • “Too perfumy notes — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “smells medicinal — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
  • Packaging Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Hate dipping fingers in a jar — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “bottle is too small — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Anti Blemish Serum”
    • “tube cracks easily — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
  • Price Point and Value Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “expensive — Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Clean Clay Mask”
    • “Too expensive for 50ml — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “expensive for what it is — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”

Questions and answers

Some By Mi or Grown Alchemist: which is better?

Some By Mi fits dry sensitive skin, skin with dark spots, and dry skin best, whereas Grown Alchemist has no specific top-fitting skin types listed among the products on this page. Reviewers note that Grown Alchemist does better for hydration, gentleness, and pleasant scents, while Some By Mi does better on price point and value.

What is the difference between Some By Mi and Grown Alchemist?

Some By Mi focuses on targeted treatments with key ingredients like niacinamide, while Grown Alchemist offers gentle cleansers and creams. Reviewers find that Grown Alchemist performs better for hydration, gentleness, and texture, whereas Some By Mi scores higher on price value and acne-clearing treatments.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Some By Mi or Grown Alchemist: which cleanser is better?

Some By Mi cleansers, such as the Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Low pH Gel Cleanser, generally achieve higher Lovi fit levels for skin with dark spots, mature skin, and acne-prone skin than Grown Alchemist cleansers. Reviewers note that Some By Mi offers deep pore cleansing alongside effective acne-clearing treatments.

Which is more affordable, Some By Mi or Grown Alchemist?

Some By Mi is more affordable, as reviewers on the page note it is better for price point and value compared to Grown Alchemist.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Some By Mi or Grown Alchemist?

Some By Mi offers multiple products on this page with High to Superior Lovi fit levels for acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin alongside effective acne-clearing treatments, whereas Grown Alchemist only provides average or high fits without dedicated acne routines.

How do the founding years and current ownership differ between Some By Mi and Grown Alchemist?

Some By Mi was founded in 2016 in South Korea and is owned by JKL Partners, whereas Grown Alchemist was founded in 2008 and is independently owned.

Which brand has more products rated as Superior for dry sensitive skin, Some By Mi or Grown Alchemist?

Some By Mi has more products rated as Superior for dry sensitive skin, while Grown Alchemist has no products with that rating on this page.

How do reviewer opinions on packaging and price point compare between Some By Mi and Grown Alchemist?

When it comes to packaging issues and price point and value, Some By Mi does better than Grown Alchemist.

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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