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Some By Mi vs MAC

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

Some By Mi and MAC are two distinct skincare brands offering specialized routines for varied complexions. The Korean brand features serums, cleansers, toners, and moisturizers built around niacinamide, centella asiatica, and salicylic acid, while the Canadian brand offers reliable daily moisturizers and makeup removers from balanced formulas. Both options suit different complexions, as the former fits dry sensitive skin and dry skin best, whereas the latter suits balanced skin. They differ primarily in their formulation approaches and regional heritage, with the first utilizing active-rich ingredients like salicylic acid for acne and the second relying on gentle maintenance.

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

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MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

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

Popular Some By Mi vs MAC products

People Say

Some By MiMAC
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Absorbs in a snap — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft and supple, never tight. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Lasts 100 hours as claimed — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Base Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “sits fine under makeup — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
  • 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”
    • “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Skin became smoother — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner”
    • “Skin feels baby soft — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Serum”
    • “petal-soft skin — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Gentle Exfoliation and Formula 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”
    • “Surprisingly gentle — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner”
    • “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Absorption and Texture Mostly MentionedNot 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”
  • Price and Packaging Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive — Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Clean Clay Mask”
    • “Too expensive for 50ml — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “Hate dipping fingers in a jar — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Strong Scent and Fragrance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Has a scent that might irritate very sensitive noses. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “overwhelming citrus fragrance — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
  • Skin Purging and Breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Zits appeared initially — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner”
    • “gave me cystic acne — Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Serum”
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”

Questions and answers

Some By Mi or MAC: which is better?

Some By Mi does better on this page for brightening, skin texture, gentle exfoliation, and absorption, while MAC does better for hydration and makeup compatibility. Reviewers note that every product on the Some By Mi page lists no fragrance, whereas every product on the MAC page includes fragrance.

What is the difference between Some By Mi and MAC?

Some By Mi does better for brightening and glow, skin texture and smoothing, and gentle exfoliation and formula, while MAC does better for hydration and moisture as well as makeup compatibility and base. Furthermore, every product on the Some By Mi page lists no fragrance, whereas all three products on the MAC page contain fragrance.

Some By Mi or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

Some By Mi provides moisturizers with High fit levels across most skin types, including dry, oily, and mature skin. In contrast, MAC products on this page often feature added fragrance and fit most skin types at an Average level.

Which is more affordable, Some By Mi or MAC?

Some By Mi is more affordable, as MAC products on this page have a high price point.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Some By Mi or MAC?

Both Some By Mi and MAC perform equally when it comes to skin purging and breakouts.

Between Some By Mi and MAC, which brand offers fragrance-free skincare products?

Some By Mi offers fragrance-free products because every item on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas MAC includes fragrance in all of its products on this page.

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

Some By Mi was founded in South Korea in 2016 and is owned by JKL Partners, while MAC was founded in Canada in 1984 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Which brand performs better for brightening and glow versus hydration and moisture according to review themes?

Some By Mi performs better for brightening and glow, while MAC does better for hydration and moisture. Niacinamide helps control skin aging and pigmentation.

Antioxidants, 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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