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

Average

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for dry skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, 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 skin due to the presence of humectants like Sodium Hyaluronate and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, which provide supportive hydration and calming benefits with Centella Asiatica Extract.
  • While the formula offers excellent soothing and moisturizing, it lacks sufficient emollient ingredients for optimal hydration for your dry or flaky skin.
  • The product is safe for your dry skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and work your way up to daily use.
  • Apply your moisturizer after your toner and before your sunscreen in the morning. At night, use it as the final step after your serum.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing to keep your dry skin happy.
  • Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra hydration. This is great for soothing dry and flaky areas .
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use .

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 92% Cool Calming Soothing Gel work for dry skin?

SOME BY MI Real Cica 92% Cool Calming Soothing Gel works moderately well for dry skin, providing supportive hydration and calming benefits through ingredients like sodium hyaluronate and centella asiatica extract. It is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, but it lacks sufficient richer softening and sealing ingredients that dry or flaky skin needs for optimal and lasting moisture.

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

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

Sodium Hyaluronate and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid make this gel a good fit for dry skin by providing supportive hydration, which is further helped by Centella Asiatica Extract. Because this product only offers moderate suitability, dry skin needs a moisturizing treatment rich in moisture-retaining ingredients and emollients for optimal hydration and barrier support.

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

What does Centella Asiatica do for dry skin?

Centella asiatica helps dry skin by boosting moisture levels and keeping water locked in to make the skin feel softer and smoother. It also calms redness and supports the natural barrier to prevent everyday irritation.

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

What does Niacinamide do for dry skin?

Niacinamide helps dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss. It supports ceramide production and helps keep the surface smooth and calm. This ingredient tends to be very well tolerated and is unlikely to irritate dry skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026

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

This gel is a treatment that goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. A dry skin routine of this type also needs rich, nourishing hydrators and barrier-smoothing oils or creams to lock in moisture and prevent flaking.

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

You can use this gel with retinol by applying the gel first to calm and hydrate your skin before following with retinol. A product of this type needs rich softening ingredients and heavy moisturizing oils to properly seal in hydration for dry skin.

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

How often should I use this gel?

You can use this treatment in your evening routine, starting once a week and slowly increasing frequency if your skin feels comfortable. While it provides soothing moisture, dry skin needs additional rich softening ingredients and heavy moisturizing creams to stay truly smooth.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2006

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

This soothing gel is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on dry skin, as its formula is gentle and free of heavy, pore-clogging ingredients. Reviewers rarely report any irritation, and the included soothing components help keep your skin calm.

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

You can use this moisturizing treatment safely around the eyes and on the body because it has a gentle safety profile with soothing ingredients. A product of this type needs rich softening ingredients to provide optimal hydration for dry skin.

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
  • Profhilo treatment led to significant improvements in superficial skin hydration and transepidermal water loss over time in Chinese females, while demonstrating good product tolerability.

    Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026
  • Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.

    Molecules, 2023
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 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 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
  • Topical oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions containing glyceryl glucoside, natural moisturizing factors, and ceramide significantly improved skin hydration and barrier function while reducing visible dryness and tactile roughness in subjects with very dry skin compared to untreated sites and vehicles.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2012

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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