🇩🇪Germany

Some By Mi vs Elemis

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

Some By Mi and Elemis are two distinct skincare lines known for curated serums, cleansers, toners, and moisturizers. The Korean brand founded in 2016 relies on niacinamide, centella asiatica, and salicylic acid to best suit sensitive and dark spot-prone skin, whereas the British brand established in 1989 weaves together glycerin and shea to best nurture dry and mature skin. While the former focuses on ingredients that decrease hyperpigmentation and reduce acne lesions, the latter offers deeply restorative qualities that significantly increase skin hydration and reduce inflammation. Ultimately, choosing between them depends on whether one prefers the clarifying botanicals of the 2016 label or the rich, barrier-supporting formulations of the 1989 house.

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

kedglobal.compreqin.comtracxn.com

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Some By Mi vs Elemis products

People Say

Some By MiElemis
  • Hydrating and Moisturizing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't strip dry my skin — Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Clean Clay Mask”
    • “Lasts 100 hours as claimed — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Skin Brightening and Glow Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Fades dark spots — Some By Mi Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum”
    • “skin looks visibly brighter — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Anti Blemish Serum”
    • “brightens dull skin — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”
    • “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin became smoother — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner”
    • “Skin feels baby soft — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • Gentle Formula Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “non-stripping formula — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “absorbs quickly — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly — Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Anti Blemish Serum”
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Product Texture and Feel Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “texture is light — Elemis Peptide4 Eye Recovery Cream”
    • “The texture is rich and creamy without feeling heavy or greasy. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “spreads soft on my skin — Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Clean Clay Mask”
  • Strong Scent and Fragrance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “smell is too strong — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “Only small negative is the smell is quite strong. — Elemis Superfood Facial Oil”
    • “overwhelming citrus fragrance — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
  • Product Price Point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive — Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Clean Clay Mask”
    • “Too expensive for 50ml — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Overhyped or Slow Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “didn't see a difference — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “didn't see difference — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “Verdict still out. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “didn't do much for old scars — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Anti Blemish Serum”

Some By Mi vs Elemis routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Some By Mi vs Elemis routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Some By Mi vs Elemis routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Some By Mi or Elemis: which is better?

Some By Mi is better for shoppers seeking a lower price point and fragrance-free formulas, as every product on its page lists no fragrance compared to most Elemis products which contain fragrance and carry a high price point. Reviewers also note that Some By Mi does better for complexion brightening and lightweight, fast-absorbing products.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

What is the difference between Some By Mi and Elemis?

Some By Mi is an affordable South Korean brand focused on sensitive skin and dark spots with fragrance-free formulas, whereas Elemis is a higher-priced UK brand known for luxurious moisturizers that often contain added fragrance. Niacinamide in Some By Mi products helps reduce pigmentation and soothe the skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Some By Mi or Elemis for dry skin?

Some By Mi is the better choice for dry skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis, which has a High fit level. The products on this page for Some By Mi feature key ingredients like Niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and manage skin aging.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Some By Mi or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

Both Some By Mi and Elemis feature popular cleansers, but reviewers note that Some By Mi cleansers tend to offer deep pore cleansing while Elemis cleansers provide luxurious textures with a higher price point.

Which is more affordable, Some By Mi or Elemis?

Some By Mi is more affordable than Elemis, as high price point is a mostly mentioned negative review theme for Elemis while Some By Mi wins on product price point.

How do the founding years and ownership of Some By Mi and Elemis compare?

Some By Mi was founded in South Korea in 2016 and has been owned by JKL Partners since 2021, whereas Elemis was founded in the United Kingdom in 1989 and has been owned by the L'Occitane Group since 2019.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Some By Mi or Elemis?

Some By Mi has more fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas Elemis includes fragrance in 18 of its 22 products.

What are the main key ingredients used across Some By Mi and Elemis products?

Some By Mi relies on key ingredients like niacinamide, centella asiatica, and salicylic acid, while Elemis commonly features glycerin and shea butter across its products.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Some By Mi or Elemis for oily skin?

Both Some By Mi and Elemis are a High fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that Some By Mi offers lightweight and fast-absorbing products, while Elemis is frequently mentioned for its hydrating moisturizers.

Some By Mi or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer popular moisturizers, but Some By Mi stands out for brightening and hydration with options like the Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream, while Elemis focuses on luxurious, collagen-boosting formulas such as the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Some By Mi or Elemis for sensitive skin?

Some By Mi is the better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis at High. Additionally, every product listed for Some By Mi contains no fragrance, helping to reduce the likelihood of skin irritation.

Some By Mi or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

Both Some By Mi and Elemis are options for acne-prone skin, with Some By Mi achieving a High routine fit and Elemis also achieving a High routine fit. Some By Mi relies on fragrance-free formulations with key ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide, whereas Elemis features products with added fragrance.

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

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