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Some By Mi vs Dr. Barbara Sturm

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

Some By Mi and Dr. Barbara Sturm are distinct skincare lines created for different complexions and concerns. The Korean label relies on niacinamide, centella asiatica, and salicylic acid across serums, cleansers, toners, and moisturizers to suit dry skin and skin with dark spots. Meanwhile, the German brand is deeply loved for gentle moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums built on scientifically advanced formulas that suit sensitive, dry, and balanced skin best. While both offer targeted solutions for acne-prone, dark spot, and mature skin, they differ through the former's focus on clarifying active ingredients and the latter's emphasis on deep hydration and barrier support.

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

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Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by Puig since 2024.

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

Popular Some By Mi vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products

People Say

Some By MiDr. Barbara Sturm
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Care Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “reduced redness — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “Zero irritation or redness — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum”
  • Skin Barrier and Deep Hydration Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Lasts 100 hours as claimed — Some By Mi Beta Panthenol Repair Cream”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Often MentionedOften 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 texture is immediately more even — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
  • Brightening and Complexion 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”
    • “skin looks brighter — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorption Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”
    • “leaves behind no white cast — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
    • “sinks in immediately — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Skin Type Specificity and Usage Duration Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in quickly — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “great for combination skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “lasts almost 5 months — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “moisturize my sensitive skin — Some By Mi Retinol Intense Advanced Triple Action Eye Cream”
  • Product Value and Results Expectations Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Only 3% Vitamin C — Some By Mi Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum”
    • “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Scent and Fragrance Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “smells a bit weird — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “overwhelming citrus fragrance — Some By Mi V10 Hyal Air Fit Sunscreen”
  • Drying and Dehydration Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “face feels a bit tight — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Brightening Moisture Gel Cream”

Questions and answers

Some By Mi or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?

Some By Mi is better for brightening and complexion, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm does better for gentle and sensitive skin care, skin barrier and deep hydration, and skin type specificity and usage duration.

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

Some By Mi better targets brightening and complexion, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm better targets gentle and sensitive skin care as well as skin barrier and deep hydration.

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

For a moisturizer, some products on this page by Some By Mi fit dry skin with a Superior level, while Dr. Barbara Sturm offers options like Hyaluronic Serum that help with hydration. Niacinamide in Some By Mi moisturizers may also help brighten the complexion.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

The products on this page do not include pricing information, so a comparison of affordability cannot be made from the available details.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Some By Mi or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Some By Mi provides a wider variety of specialized acne-clearing treatments and products on this page that fit acne-prone skin well, helping to manage breakouts.

Between Some By Mi and Dr. Barbara Sturm, which brand is better suited for brightening and complexion?

Some By Mi does better for brightening and complexion. Niacinamide helps reduce skin pigmentation, and the products on this page feature key ingredients like niacinamide.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between Some By Mi and Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Some By Mi was founded in South Korea in 2016, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm was founded in Germany in 2014.

Which brand performs better in terms of gentle and sensitive skin care according to review themes?

According to review themes, Dr. Barbara Sturm performs better in terms of gentle and sensitive skin care.

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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