🇳🇱Netherlands

Some By Mi vs SK-II

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

Some By Mi and SK-II are distinct Asian skincare brands offering dedicated ranges of serums, cleansers, toners, and moisturizers anchored by signature ingredients like niacinamide, salicylic acid, and pitera. The Korean label is best suited for dry sensitive skin and skin with dark spots, while the Japanese brand excels in nurturing acne-prone and dry skin with time-tested efficacy. Both brands differ in their founding heritages and specific targeted solutions, such as balancing hyperpigmentation or refining skin texture through regular application.

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

kedglobal.compreqin.comtracxn.com

SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

en.wikipedia.orgdiscoversk-ii.wixsite.comglossy.co

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

Popular Some By Mi vs SK-II products

People Say

Some By MiSK-II
  • Hydrating and Lightweight Formulations Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “absorbs quickly — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “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 soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Brightening and Glow Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Skin looks brighter — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “Fades dark spots — Some By Mi Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum”
  • Gentleness and Sensitivity 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”
    • “didn't find this irritating — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Advanced Triple Action Eye Cream”
    • “Watery consistency — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • 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”
  • Refreshing and Soothing Often MentionedNot noted
    • “Calmed my retinol burn overnight — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “nice cooling effect — Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Clear Foam”
    • “calmed my angry red skin — Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Serum”
  • Product Value and Pricing Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive — Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Clean Clay Mask”
    • “Too expensive for 50ml — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Scents and Fragrance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Fermented smell — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “overwhelming citrus fragrance — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
  • Overhyped and Slow Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “didn't do much for old scars — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Anti Blemish Serum”
    • “not noticed any significant changes — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Advanced Triple Action Eye Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “No visible difference — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Dryness and Dehydration Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Need extra moisturizer — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”

Some By Mi vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Some By Mi vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Some By Mi vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Some By Mi or SK-II: which is better?

Some By Mi is better for acne and blemish control, gentleness, and sensitivity, while SK-II does better with hydrating and lightweight formulations, brightening and glow, and product value and pricing. For specific skin types on this page, Lovi finds Some By Mi to have superior fit levels for dry sensitive skin, sensitive skin, and skin with dark spots, whereas SK-II fits acne-prone skin and dry skin best.

What is the difference between Some By Mi and SK-II?

Some By Mi is a South Korean brand founded in 2016 that focuses on acne control and soothing care using ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid, while SK-II is a Japanese brand founded in 1980 that centers around hydration and anti-aging with its signature Pitera ingredient. For routine fit, Lovi rates Some By Mi as Superior for sensitive skin, skin with dark spots, and dry sensitive skin, whereas SK-II achieves a Superior fit for acne-prone skin and dry sensitive skin.

Antioxidants, 2021The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Some By Mi or SK-II for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi rates Some By Mi as High and SK-II as Superior.

Some By Mi or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Both Some By Mi and SK-II offer highly rated moisturizers on this page, with SK-II performing better for hydrating and lightweight formulations. For specific skin concerns, Some By Mi features standout options like the Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream, which provides Superior Lovi fit levels for dry, acne-prone, and mature skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Which is more affordable, Some By Mi or SK-II?

Some By Mi is more affordable than SK-II, as review themes note that Some By Mi does better on product value and pricing.

Between Some By Mi and SK-II, which brand is better suited for addressing skin with dark spots?

Some By Mi is better suited for addressing skin with dark spots, as Lovi rates its overall routine as Superior compared to SK-II's High fit. The products on this page help target pigmentation with key ingredients like niacinamide.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

How do Some By Mi and SK-II compare in terms of fragrance across their product lines?

Both Some By Mi and SK-II feature fragrance-free formulations, as every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which brand performs better for gentleness and sensitivity when comparing Some By Mi and SK-II?

Some By Mi performs better for gentleness and sensitivity than SK-II. Lovi rates Some By Mi as Superior for sensitive skin.

Some By Mi or SK-II for oily skin?

Both Some By Mi and SK-II are a High fit for oily skin according to Lovi. Reviewers note that the products on this page offer refreshing and soothing benefits for oily skin.

Some By Mi or SK-II for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Some By Mi is the better choice because Lovi rates the brand's routine fit as Superior while SK-II achieves a High fit level.

Some By Mi or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

SK-II is rated as a superior fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page, whereas Some By Mi is a high fit. Reviewers note that Some By Mi does better for acne and blemish control.

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