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The Ordinary vs Some By Mi

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

The Ordinary and Some By Mi are two 2016-founded skincare brands, owned respectively by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and JKL Partners since 2021, that offer diverse serums, cleansers, toners, and moisturizers. The Canadian brand centers its formulations around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to suit dry and sensitive skin best, while the Korean brand builds its offerings around niacinamide, centella asiatica, and salicylic acid to benefit skin with dark spots and dry sensitive skin. Both lines address specific concerns through targeted items like Lovi-rated favorites for acne, dark spots, and maturity. Ultimately, they differ in their foundational ingredients and regional origins, allowing each to serve distinct skin priorities with precision.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

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

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Some By Mi products

People Say

The OrdinarySome By Mi
  • Acne clearing and spot treatment Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “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”
  • Skin texture smoothing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “Skin became smoother — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner”
    • “Skin feels baby soft — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum”
  • Great value and pricing Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Finally a cleanser that doesn't sting my face. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “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”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Lasts 100 hours as claimed — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “Absorbs quickly — Some By Mi Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum”
    • “Leaves a nice glow — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Unpleasant scent and fragrance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like vinegar — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “smell is unbearable — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “has a slight chemical smell — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “overwhelming citrus fragrance — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
  • Breakouts and purging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “gave me cystic acne — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Zits appeared initially — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner”
  • Stinging and irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “stings really bad upon application — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “stings my eyes — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
    • “burned my skin — Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Serum”

The Ordinary vs Some By Mi routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Some By Mi routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Some By Mi routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Some By Mi: which is better?

Both The Ordinary and Some By Mi offer products on this page that perform well, but The Ordinary is better for value while Some By Mi tends to provide better hydration and lightweight absorption. For dry skin, both brands achieve a Superior routine fit level.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Some By Mi?

The Ordinary provides great value and pricing while Some By Mi offers lightweight absorption and hydration and plumping. The Ordinary is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., whereas Some By Mi is owned by JKL Partners.

The Ordinary or Some By Mi for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Some By Mi achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for dry skin. The Ordinary offers great value and pricing, while Some By Mi provides better hydration and plumping alongside lightweight absorption.

The Ordinary or Some By Mi: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and Some By Mi offer cleansers that are well-rated for various skin types, but neither brand emerges as universally better than the other across all categories. The Ordinary features options like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser which has a High fit for dry and sensitive skin, while Some By Mi offers products like the Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Low pH Gel Cleanser which also achieves High to Superior fits across similar skin types.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Some By Mi?

The Ordinary offers better value and pricing on the products on this page compared to Some By Mi. Reviewers frequently mention The Ordinary for offering affordable and great value serums.

Which brand performs better for lightweight absorption, The Ordinary or Some By Mi?

Some By Mi performs better for lightweight absorption, as highlighted by reviewers on the page. Both brands offer fragrance-free products with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

How do the key ingredients differ between The Ordinary and Some By Mi products?

The key ingredients across the products on this page for The Ordinary are hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, whereas Some By Mi relies on niacinamide, centella asiatica, and salicylic acid.

Which brand has better review themes regarding scent and fragrance issues?

The Ordinary does better regarding scent and fragrance issues, as it is noted for having less unpleasant scent compared to Some By Mi.

The Ordinary or Some By Mi for oily skin?

The Ordinary is a superior fit for oily skin compared to Some By Mi, which has a high fit. Niacinamide helps control oil production and reduce pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

The Ordinary or Some By Mi: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Some By Mi offer excellent moisturizers on this page, with routines for dry skin rated as Superior for both brands. Some By Mi stands out for hydration and plumping, while the products on this page from The Ordinary provide great value and pricing.

The Ordinary or Some By Mi for sensitive skin?

Both brands offer a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin. The Ordinary features fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane, while Some By Mi helps brighten and soothe with niacinamide and centella asiatica.

Drug Delivery, 2017Antioxidants, 2021

The Ordinary or Some By Mi for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Some By Mi are great options, as Lovi rates both brands high to superior for acne-prone skin. The Ordinary offers better pricing and value, while Some By Mi provides lighter absorption 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

How does it fit your skin?

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