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Some By Mi vs Paula's Choice

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

Some By Mi and Paula's Choice are two prominent skincare lines known for distinct formulations addressing varied complexion needs. Some By Mi utilizes niacinamide, centella asiatica, and salicylic acid across serums, cleansers, and toners to suit dry and dry sensitive skin, whereas Paula's Choice relies on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin c to benefit oily and mature skin. Both brands offer targeted solutions, with the former emphasizing ingredients that decrease hyperpigmentation and the latter featuring components that significantly increase hydration.

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

kedglobal.compreqin.comtracxn.com

Paula's Choice is an American skincare brand founded in 1995 and owned by Unilever since 2021.

unilever.comtracxn.com

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

Popular Some By Mi vs Paula's Choice products

People Say

Some By MiPaula's Choice
  • Texture Smoothing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin becomes very smooth — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “skin is insanely soft — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “skin never been this silky — Paula's Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment”
    • “Skin became smoother — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue behind. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”
    • “absorbs instantly — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “watery consistency — Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster”
    • “absorbs quickly — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”
  • 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”
    • “visible glow — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “acne scars faded — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • 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”
    • “Surprisingly gentle — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner”
    • “Finally a vitamin C product I can use — Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Helped clear my cystic acne — Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser”
    • “heals blemishes faster — Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Lasts 100 hours as claimed — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “Absorbs quickly — Some By Mi Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum”
    • “lightweight texture — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Advanced Triple Action Eye Cream”
    • “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish. — Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner”
  • Strong Scent and Fragrance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like grain — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster”
    • “weird glue-like smell — Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA”
    • “overwhelming citrus fragrance — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
  • High 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”
    • “tiny tube — Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster”
  • Drying and Dehydration Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “not moisturizing enough — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”
    • “Skin felt tight — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner”
    • “peeling and flaking — Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment”
    • “Not hydrating enough for winter. — Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer”

Some By Mi vs Paula's Choice routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Some By Mi vs Paula's Choice routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Some By Mi vs Paula's Choice routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Some By Mi or Paula's Choice: which is better?

Some By Mi is better for dry and sensitive skin types, while Paula's Choice is better for oily and mature skin. Both brands offer effective acne-clearing treatments, with Niacinamide helping to reduce pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

What is the difference between Some By Mi and Paula's Choice?

Some By Mi is best for dry sensitive, dry, and sensitive skin, while Paula's Choice best fits oily, mature, and oily acne-prone skin. Reviewers note that Some By Mi excels in hydration and gentle formulas, whereas Paula's Choice is better for texture smoothing and lightweight absorption.

Some By Mi or Paula's Choice for dry skin?

For dry skin, Some By Mi achieves a Superior Lovi fit level, whereas Paula's Choice reaches a High fit level. Review themes indicate that Some By Mi performs better for hydration and moisture, while the products on this page list no fragrance.

Some By Mi or Paula's Choice: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers, the products on this page show that Paula's Choice is better for oily and acne-prone skin with a Superior Lovi fit level, whereas Some By Mi has a High fit level for those skin types. Reviewers mention that Some By Mi cleansers provide deep pore cleansing, while Paula's Choice offers options like the CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser that are well-suited for targeted breakout care.

Which is more affordable, Some By Mi or Paula's Choice?

Some By Mi is more affordable, as Paula's Choice has a high price point among the products on this page.

Between Some By Mi and Paula's Choice, which brand has better anti-aging serums?

Paula's Choice performs better for mature skin and offers specialized anti-aging treatments like retinol serums. Studies show that topical retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Do Some By Mi and Paula's Choice products contain added fragrance?

Every product on this page from both Some By Mi and Paula's Choice lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which brand performs better for brightening and glow?

Both Some By Mi and Paula's Choice perform equally well for brightening and glow. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Some By Mi or Paula's Choice for oily skin?

Paula's Choice is better suited for oily skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Some By Mi's High fit level.

Some By Mi or Paula's Choice: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, Some By Mi achieves a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Paula's Choice reaches a High routine fit. Reviewers often note that Some By Mi delivers excellent texture in its moisturizers.

Some By Mi or Paula's Choice for sensitive skin?

Some By Mi is the better choice for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its overall routine fit as Superior compared to High for Paula's Choice. Reviewers note that Some By Mi offers a gentler formula, whereas Paula's Choice is more frequently associated with a strong scent and fragrance.

Some By Mi or Paula's Choice: which sunscreen is better?

Both brands offer solid sunscreen options, but Lovi rates the V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen from Some By Mi as High across all skin types, including dry, oily, sensitive, and acne-prone skin.

Some By Mi or Paula's Choice for acne-prone skin?

Paula's Choice achieves a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, whereas Some By Mi achieves a High fit level. Reviewers often mention Paula's Choice for texture smoothing and acne-clearing treatments, utilizing key ingredients like salicylic acid across the products on this page.

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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