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Dr. Althea vs Some By Mi

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

Dr. Althea and Some By Mi are two renowned Korean skincare brands that offer thoughtful moisturizers, gentle cleansers, effective makeup removers, nourishing serums, and reliable toners driven by soothing formulas and key ingredients like niacinamide, centella asiatica, and salicylic acid. The first brand suits dry skin and acne-prone skin best, while the second fits dry sensitive skin and skin with dark spots best. They differ primarily in their founding years, ownership, specific standout products, and the precise balance of hydration and active treatment they provide.

Dr. Althea is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd..

doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr

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

kedglobal.compreqin.comtracxn.com

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

Popular Dr. Althea vs Some By Mi products

People Say

Dr. AltheaSome By Mi
  • Gentle Formula Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “doesn't dry out my face — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “skin doesn't feel stripped — Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser”
    • “great for sensitive skin — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “Zero irritation or redness — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum”
  • Soothing and Calming Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “calms redness — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “instantly calms irritated skin — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “perfect for sensitive skin — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “Calmed my retinol burn overnight — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “consistently hydrated mornings — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Lasts 100 hours as claimed — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “Absorbs quickly — Some By Mi Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs beautifully — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly — Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Serum”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Melts instantly — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
  • Brightening and Evening Skin Tone Sometimes NotedOften 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”
    • “faded dark spots — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
  • Scent and Fragrance Dislike Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like plants — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “clinical scent — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “prominent acidic hint — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “overwhelming citrus fragrance — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
  • Insufficient Hydration or Dryness Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “not enough for dry skin — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “drying on my hands and face — Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”
  • Breakouts and Purging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “broke me out — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “gave me cystic acne — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “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”

Dr. Althea vs Some By Mi routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Dr. Althea vs Some By Mi routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Dr. Althea vs Some By Mi routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Dr. Althea or Some By Mi: which is better?

Dr. Althea tends to work better for gentle and soothing care, whereas Some By Mi is stronger for texture improvement and brightening. Niacinamide may help reduce pigmentation and even out skin tone as shown in studies.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

What is the difference between Dr. Althea and Some By Mi?

Dr. Althea is better for a gentle formula and soothing, while Some By Mi is better for skin texture improvement and brightening. For Lovi fit, Dr. Althea is Superior for dry skin and acne-prone skin, whereas Some By Mi is Superior for sensitive skin, skin with dark spots, and dry sensitive skin.

Dr. Althea or Some By Mi for dry skin?

For dry skin, Dr. Althea provides a Superior routine fit while Some By Mi offers a High routine fit. Dr. Althea also fits best for dry skin by its brand-focused routines, making it a stronger choice for dry skin types.

Dr. Althea or Some By Mi: which cleanser is better?

Dr. Althea is better for gentle cleansing, as the products on this page feature soothing and gentle cleansers that reviewers mostly mention. Some By Mi provides deep pore cleansing cleansers, but reviewers note that they may sometimes cause drying or stripping effects.

Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or Some By Mi?

The provided page does not contain information on the pricing or affordability of Dr. Althea and Some By Mi products.

Between Dr. Althea and Some By Mi, which brand performs better for skin texture improvement according to review themes?

Some By Mi performs better for skin texture improvement. Reviewers frequently note its skin smoothing textures.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Dr. Althea and Some By Mi differ?

Dr. Althea was founded in South Korea in 2014 and is owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd., whereas Some By Mi was established in South Korea in 2016 and has been owned by JKL Partners since 2021.

Which brand is better suited for addressing dark spots, and what are their respective routine fit levels for that skin type?

Some By Mi is better suited for addressing dark spots, featuring a Superior routine fit level for skin with dark spots, while Dr. Althea has a High routine fit level for that skin type.

Dr. Althea or Some By Mi for oily skin?

For oily skin, both Dr. Althea and Some By Mi are a High fit according to Lovi. Some By Mi products on this page often help improve skin texture and brighten the complexion, while Dr. Althea is known for gentle cleansers and soothing moisturizers.

Dr. Althea or Some By Mi: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Some By Mi works well for dry skin, where Lovi rates the Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream as Superior. Dr. Althea also offers strong options, with its 345 Relief Cream achieving a Superior fit for acne-prone skin.

Dr. Althea or Some By Mi for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Lovi rates Some By Mi as Superior and Dr. Althea as High. Reviewers note that Some By Mi offers gentle and lightweight serums and deep pore cleansing cleansers, though it is sometimes noted as not suitable for sensitive skin. Dr. Althea is better known for its gentle formula and soothing and calming products.

Dr. Althea or Some By Mi for acne-prone skin?

Dr. Althea is a better fit for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Some By Mi's High fit level. Niacinamide, a key ingredient in Some By Mi products on this page, helps control pigmentation and supports skin aging care.

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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