30 days MIRACLE cream? Okay you got me. I had to try this Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA Miracle Cream when I saw it. I’d been struggling to clear away some texture and small bumps on my forehead for years at this point. Did this make a difference? Is it worth trying? No spoilers here, let’s dive into the review!
Quick facts:
EWG Rating: 3 for moderate concern, peppermint oil in formulation can cause irritation or sensitivity
Formulated without: Parabens, Sulfates, Alcohol, Silicones
Potential irritants: Mentha Piperita [Peppermint] Oil contains an EWG score of 4 meaning it may be a high concern for allergies/immunotoxicity for certain skin types. The chemical exfoliants in this cream as well may also be irritating to the skin.
Texture: A lightweight gel moisturizer with great spreadability, normal to oily skin peeps may love this
Scent: Contains a fresh light mint smell with a small hint of tea-tree, reminiscent of mint toothpaste
Packaging: The moisturizer comes in a plastic jar. Full size is 60g. Feels a little cheap but the texture is a lovely gel cream consistency.
Where to purchase: Amazon, StyleVana [where I purchased from], YesStyle
Price: $19 USD
Main Pros: This is a very comfortable PM gel moisturizer for those with combo or oily skin. I really enjoyed the texture, it’s refreshing to use, super spreadable and leaves skin with a glow. I loved the results from the second and third day of using this.
Main cons: PLEASE patch test prior to applying on your face. While I did notice some results with this in the first week, my sensitive skin also felt RAW. I would NOT use this daily and definitely would not use this as a day time moisturizer, it will make your skin very sensitive to UV rays. If you have active breakouts, I would also avoid this because of the peppermint oil and limonene. I don’t know how I would’ve ever gotten through 30 days straight of using this, I only used it every other day at most.
If you have thinner/sensitive combo skin like me and you have closed comedones or blackheads/whiteheads you’re trying to clear up, it’s always better to go in with a separate treatment in the areas that you need it [vs. applying something like this 3 in 1 all over the face].
I love using the COSRX BHA 4% Blackhead Power Liquid just in my forehead and T-zone area + then a basic moisturizer in the cheeks/other areas that are just dry. You don’t see/feel the results immediately but it’ll be more of a gentle slow treatment over time.
If you have normal/not very sensitive skin and you’re concerned about texture, then I recommend researching The Ordinary Glycolic Acid toner [review here] to try. The benefit of having a separate chemical exfoliant is that you could use it more sparingly and work your way up to more frequent applications and take a break when you need to or wash it off after.
Verdict: 7/10. This product has good ingredients and it has really worked miracles for a lot of people. If you don’t have sensitive skin, you may be able to reap the benefits of this cream! It’s still a lot more gentle compared to some of the western brand AHA BHA creams.
Personally for my sensitive skin I found it to be a bit too much so used it more sparingly and that’s why it did not make it to my all time favourites list.
About the Some By Mi Miracle Cream
This cream was designed to help your skin fight against acne, contain antibacterial/anti-inflammatory agents, combat collagen-damaging free radicals, exfoliate skin, help fade brownish spots [hyper-pigmentation] caused by sun damage or PIH [post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation] while providing pore care and skin soothing benefits.
Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA Cream ingredients
We will be breaking down some of the key points below, but you can also read our in-depth guide on how to read skincare ingredient labels to geek out over the details if you’d like.
Centella Asiatica Extract[70.78 %], Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Water, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Melaleuca Alternifolia [Tea Tree] Leaf Water[10,000 Ppm], Ricinus Communis [Castor] Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena [Eggplant] Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa [Turmeric] Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia [Lavender] Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis [Rosemary] Extract, Origanum Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Thymus Vulgaris [Thyme] Extract, Fructan, Albatrellus Confluens [Mushroom] Extract, Salix Alba [Willow] Bark Extract, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Lens Esculenta [Lentil] Seed Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana [Witch Hazel] Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Coptis Japonica Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Betaine, Allantoin, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Adenosine, Ceramide NP, Oleanolic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid[100 Ppm], Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lactobionic Acid[100 Ppm], Citric Acid[11 Ppm], Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Disodium EDTA, Mentha Piperita [Peppermint] Oil, Limonene INCIDecoder.com
Key Ingredients:
Centella Asiatica [700,000ppm]
At over 70% of the formulation, Centella Asiatica is great at reducing inflammation and promoting wound healing, it also has moisturising properties and stimulates hyaluronic acid synthesis in the skin. I recently rave reviewed this 100% Centella Asiatica ampoule from SKIN1004 and highly recommend you check out this amazing ingredient too]. Niacinamide also helps to reduce inflammation and minimize the appearance of pores.
Tea Tree Leaf Water
Not to be mixed up with tea tree oil, which can be a little more sensitizing than the tea tree leaf water. This also helps to soothe inflammation, with antimicrobial and antiseptic properties which can help with treating acne.
Lactobionic Acid
A polyhydroxy acid [PHA], which exfoliates like an AHA but is less irritating due to its larger molecule size which does not penetrate as deeply. It also moisturizes the skin and promotes a healthy skin barrier.
It’s great that the key ingredients are pretty high up on the label [this means they’re in higher concentrations] and the formulation also contains many plant extracts [Willow Bark Extract is one that I really enjoyed in the COSRX BHA Liquid]. However, according to INCIDecoder, the perfuming agents in here [like the Peppermint oil and Limonene etc] are common skin sensitizers.
How to use:
- Cleanse and tone skin per usual [do not use any chemical exfoliants or potentially sensitizing products with this cream, as this already contains AHA BHA and PHA]
- Apply as the last step of your evening skin care routine. Spread a generous amount of cream on the face, neck and upper chest area and massage gently into the skin.
* Avoid using this cream daily to start since it is an exfoliator. Opt for a gentle cleanser, toner or serum to pair with it as well as sunscreen for the morning/day after!
Summing up this Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA Cream review
My initial impression was that the texture of this gel was so refreshing and it was very comparable to the Farmacy Daily Greens Oil Free Gel Moisturizer I reviewed last month. This one wasn’t sticky or tacky after application though and felt very comfortable on.
However, I didn’t see an incredible difference when using this product. Maybe because I also couldn’t use this regularly either due to the combination of exfoliants or due to the peppermint oil [or both]. For this reason, this did not make it to my all time favourites list.
When I’m done using up the rest of this product, I’ll still be sticking to my COSRX BHA Liquid since I can use that on a daily basis and won’t need to worry about sensitivity issues.
Does some by Mi cause purging?
Given this Some By Mi Toner contains 3 types of exfoliating acids, it's possible you may see a "purge" as your pores come unblocked. However, it shouldn't be a long or especially severe one, particularly given as it's meant to ultimately reduce breakouts.
How often should I use some by MI?
Suggested Use:.
Either soak a cotton pad and gently swipe over skin, or dispense into palms of hands and press into the skin..
If you've never used AHA or BHA, start by using it 1-2 times per week..
Use 2-3 times per week in your nighttime routine, or as needed..
If used during the day, follow with your favorite SPF!.
Is it OK to use AHA BHA PHA everyday?
Yes! AHA, BHA and PHA are very safe to use daily. They're all-natural ingredients that are effective in improving skin health. While the number of times you should apply it varies for each person, there is no evidence to suggest that using AHA BHA PHA daily would be harmful.
Can I use AHA BHA PHA miracle cream everyday?
The SomeByMi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Cream is recommended for daily use. However, as it contains actives like AHA, BHA, and PHA, it's best to start using it every other day to allow your skin to adjust. If your skin tolerates it well, you may gradually increase usage to once or twice daily as needed.