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Some By Mi vs Kiehl's

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

Some By Mi and Kiehl's are two distinct skincare lines, with the South Korean label known for serums, cleansers, toners, and moisturizers featuring niacinamide, centella asiatica, and salicylic acid, while the American heritage brand is loved for nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, and gentle eye products relying on glycerin and squalane. The former fits skin with dark spots and dry sensitive skin best, whereas the latter suits mature skin and sensitive skin best because of their gentle formulations and barrier-supporting properties. Both brands differ fundamentally in heritage and active ingredient focus, as the 2016 Korean brand decreases hyperpigmentation and reduces acne lesions through salicylic acid, while the 1851 American brand significantly increases hydration and counteracts oxidative stress using squalane.

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

kedglobal.compreqin.comtracxn.com

Kiehl's is an American skincare brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Some By Mi vs Kiehl's products

People Say

Some By MiKiehl's
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “Lasts 100 hours as claimed — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
  • Brightening and Radiance 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”
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
  • Skin Smoothing and Texture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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 baby soft — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • 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”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • 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”
  • Price and Value Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive — Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Clean Clay Mask”
    • “Too expensive for 50ml — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Scents and Fragrance Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “smells clinical — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “faint lab smell — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “overwhelming citrus fragrance — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
  • Sticky or Greasy Residue Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “leaves face really greasy — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
    • “leaves sticky film — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “too radiant for oily skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”

Some By Mi vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Some By Mi vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Some By Mi vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Some By Mi or Kiehl's: which is better?

Some By Mi is better for acne-prone skin, sensitive skin, and dark spots, while Kiehl's is better for lightweight moisture and hydration. The products on this page for Some By Mi achieve a Superior routine fit for dry sensitive skin, whereas Kiehl's achieves a High fit.

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

Some By Mi fits dry sensitive skin at a Superior level, whereas Kiehl's fits it at a High level. Additionally, Some By Mi performs better for acne and blemish control and skin smoothing textures, while Kiehl's is noted for lightweight and fast-absorbing formulas and deep hydration.

Some By Mi or Kiehl's for dry skin?

Some By Mi is the better choice for dry skin, as the products on this page offer a superior routine fit compared to Kiehl's high fit. Niacinamide and panthenol are key ingredients in the formulations that help support moisture and barrier health.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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

For cleansers on this page, Some By Mi is better for acne and blemish control, while Kiehl's is better for lightweight and fast-absorbing formulas. Both brands offer deep pore cleansing cleansers as noted by reviewers.

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

Some By Mi is more affordable, as it wins on price and value according to the review themes on this page.

Which brand has more products containing added fragrance, Some By Mi or Kiehl's?

Kiehl's has more products containing added fragrance than Some By Mi. On this page, Kiehl's lists two products with added fragrance, while every product from Some By Mi lists no fragrance.

How do Some By Mi and Kiehl's compare when it comes to skin smoothing and texture?

When it comes to skin smoothing and texture, Some By Mi does better than Kiehl's on the products on this page. Reviewers often mention skin smoothing textures for Some By Mi.

Which brand fits best for skin with dark spots according to their routines?

Some By Mi fits best for skin with dark spots, achieving a Superior routine fit rating, whereas Kiehl's achieves a High routine fit rating. Niacinamide, a key ingredient featured across Some By Mi products, helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Some By Mi or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both Some By Mi and Kiehl's are a High fit for oily skin, offering effective options like cleansers and toners on the products on this page. Some By Mi particularly helps with acne and blemish control, while Kiehl's is known for lightweight and fast-absorbing formulas.

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

Both brands offer effective moisturizers, but Some By Mi is a better fit for dry skin with a Superior rating compared to Kiehl's High level. The products on this page feature key ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin to help deliver hydration and improve skin texture.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Some By Mi or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

Some By Mi is the better choice for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for Kiehl's. Reviewers note that Some By Mi offers gentle serums, and every product on the page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

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

Both brands offer sunscreens on the products on this page that achieve a High Lovi fit level for oily skin, acne-prone skin, sensitive skin, and dry skin. Reviewers indicate that Kiehl's provides lightweight and fast-absorbing options.

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

Both brands are a High fit for acne-prone skin, but Some By Mi is specifically highlighted for effective acne-clearing treatments and acne and blemish control. The products on this page utilize key ingredients like niacinamide, which may help improve skin condition, and salicylic acid.

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

How does it fit your skin?

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