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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 a Korean skincare brand founded in 2016 and a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980, respectively. Some By Mi offers serums, cleansers, toners, and moisturizers built around niacinamide, centella asiatica, and salicylic acid, while the brand is known for suiting dry sensitive skin and skin with dark spots best. SK-II provides luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, clarifying toners, and restorative masks anchored by pitera, with formulations that suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best. These brands differ in their key ingredients and precise target concerns, though both actively improve clarity and skin texture.

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 · $124.60 · 91% fitBuy SK-II routine · $591.97 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Some By Mi vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy SK-II routine · $713.54 · 89% fitBuy Some By Mi routine · $232.30 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Some By Mi vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy SK-II routine · $714.65 · 89% fitBuy Some By Mi routine · $232.30 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

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

Both brands are great choices, but they fit different needs because Some By Mi does better for acne control and gentleness, while SK-II is better for hydrating and brightening formulations. Lovi finds that Some By Mi has a Superior fit for sensitive skin and dark spots, whereas SK-II offers a Superior fit for acne-prone skin.

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

Some By Mi and SK-II differ mainly in their ingredient focus, with Some By Mi relying on ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid for acne and sensitivity, while SK-II uses Pitera. Reviewers find that Some By Mi tends to do better for acne and soothing, whereas SK-II leads in hydrating formulations and brightening.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Some By Mi or SK-II for dry skin?

Both Some By Mi and SK-II achieve a Superior routine fit level for dry skin. Reviewers note that Some By Mi is better for refreshing and soothing effects, while SK-II performs better for hydrating and lightweight formulations.

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

Both Some By Mi and SK-II offer moisturizers with a High fit level for dry skin, as well as for oily, combination, mature, and oily acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that SK-II delivers hydrating and lightweight formulations, while Some By Mi features excellent texture moisturizers.

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

Some By Mi does better than SK-II for product value and pricing, making Some By Mi more affordable.

Which brand is better for mature skin, Some By Mi or SK-II?

Both Some By Mi and SK-II are a High fit for mature skin. Reviewers note that SK-II does better for hydrating and lightweight formulations and brightening and glow.

Some By Mi or SK-II for oily skin?

Both Some By Mi and SK-II are good options for oily skin, as the products on this page offer a High routine fit for this skin type.

Some By Mi or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Some By Mi fits sensitive skin better than SK-II. Lovi rates the routine fit for sensitive skin as Superior for Some By Mi and High for SK-II.

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

Both brands are great choices for acne-prone skin, with Lovi rating SK-II as Superior and Some By Mi as High. Reviewers note that Some By Mi does better for acne and blemish control.

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

Both Some By Mi and SK-II fit skin with dark spots well, but Some By Mi has a Superior Lovi fit level for this skin type compared to SK-II's High fit level. The niacinamide present in the products on this page helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Some By Mi or SK-II for dry sensitive skin?

Some By Mi is the better choice for dry sensitive skin because Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for SK-II. Reviewers also note that Some By Mi does better for gentleness and sensitivity.

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

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