🇳🇱Netherlands

Some By Mi vs MAC

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

Some By Mi and MAC are distinct skincare brands founded in 2016 and 1984, respectively. The Korean brand is known for serums, cleansers, toners, and moisturizers built around niacinamide, centella asiatica, and salicylic acid, fitting dry sensitive skin and skin with dark spots best. Meanwhile, the Canadian brand is beloved for its thoughtful approach to daily skincare, offering reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas that suit balanced skin best. While both provide targeted solutions for concerns like acne and aging, they differ fundamentally in their ingredient philosophies and regional heritage.

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

kedglobal.compreqin.comtracxn.com

MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

elcompanies.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Some By Mi vs MAC products

People Say

Some By MiMAC
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Absorbs in a snap — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft and supple, never tight. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Lasts 100 hours as claimed — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Base Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “sits fine under makeup — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
  • 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”
    • “brightens dull skin — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”
    • “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “petal-soft skin — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Gentle Exfoliation and Formula Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Absorption and Texture Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “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”
  • Price and Packaging Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive — Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Clean Clay Mask”
    • “Too expensive for 50ml — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “Hate dipping fingers in a jar — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Strong Scent and Fragrance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Has a scent that might irritate very sensitive noses. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “overwhelming citrus fragrance — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
  • Skin Purging and Breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”

Questions and answers

Some By Mi or MAC: which is better?

Some By Mi is better for brightening and smoothing skin with fragrance-free formulas, whereas MAC is better for hydration and makeup compatibility despite containing fragrance.

What is the difference between Some By Mi and MAC?

Some By Mi is better for brightening and smoothing textures with fragrance-free formulas, whereas MAC performs better for hydration and makeup compatibility but often includes fragrance. Some By Mi helps target dark spots and acne with key ingredients like niacinamide, while MAC offers lightweight moisturizers and cleansing oils at a higher price point.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Some By Mi or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

Some By Mi is better for hydration and brightening routines, with Lovi rating its moisturizers as superior for dry and acne-prone skin types. MAC offers lightweight moisturizers with good makeup compatibility, but its products on this page contain fragrance.

Which is more affordable, Some By Mi or MAC?

Some By Mi is more affordable than MAC, as MAC has a high price point. Review themes indicate that Some By Mi does better on price and packaging.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Some By Mi or MAC?

Some By Mi and MAC perform equally when it comes to skin purging and breakouts.

Between Some By Mi and MAC, which brand offers better options for brightening and glow?

Some By Mi offers better options for brightening and glow, standing out for its complexion brightening and effective niacinamide formulas. Niacinamide may help reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

How do the fragrance ingredients and scent profiles compare between Some By Mi and MAC products?

Some By Mi products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients, whereas all MAC products on this page contain fragrance. Reviewers note that Some By Mi has a strong or medicinal scent, while MAC reviewers frequently mention strong fragrance and sensitivity.

Which brand has products that provide better skin texture smoothing and gentle exfoliation?

Some By Mi does better than MAC for skin texture smoothing and gentle exfoliation 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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play