SOME BY MI: the Korean brand behind the AHA.BHA.PHA Miracle Toner
Its story, its lines, its ingredients and which product to choose for your skin: the complete guide to SOME BY MI.
- SOME BY MI is a Korean skincare brand launched in 2016 by the company Perennebell, in Seoul.
- Its signature product: the AHA.BHA.PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner, a toner with three gentle acids and tea tree, which has sold several million bottles.
- It presents itself as a “clean derma” brand: targeted skincare for blemish-prone, dull or sensitized skin.
- Its other lines: Yuja Niacin for radiance, Snail Truecica to soothe, Retinol Intense, Super Matcha for pores, and a body line that became a hit on TikTok Shop.
Contents
A green bottle, a white label and a name that looks like a chemistry formula: AHA.BHA.PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner. If you’re even a little into K-beauty, you’ve definitely come across it. It’s the toner SOME BY MI was built around, a Korean brand born in Seoul and sold in Southeast Asia even before it was sold in Korea.
Is SOME BY MI Korean? Yes, 100%. In this guide, we tell you where the brand comes from, what’s really in its bottles (gentle acids, tea tree, yuja, snail mucin…), how to find your way through its lines and, above all, where to start for your skin, with no miracle promises despite the name.
The story of SOME BY MI, a Korean brand born in 2016
Behind SOME BY MI is Perennebell (페렌벨), a cosmetics company based in Seoul, founded by Lee Ji-eun. The brand was launched in 2016, with a clear idea from the start: selling abroad. Its first sales went through export wholesalers, and it was in Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia) that it took off.
The breakthrough was the Miracle Toner: a toner that brings together three families of acids (AHA, BHA, PHA) and tea tree, at a time when few products offered this mix. Word of mouth did the rest. In April 2021, SOME BY MI ranked second in cosmetics sales on Shopee, Southeast Asia’s big online shopping platform. At that time, more than 90% of its sales were already made outside Korea.
Since then, the brand has expanded its range well beyond the toner: yuja and niacinamide for radiance, snail mucin to soothe, retinol, matcha for pores, sunscreens, scalp care… The Miracle Toner remains its go-to product, with several million bottles sold worldwide.
In the news, as of mid-October 2026: the brand is run by Jin Yun-jin, and it’s its body line that’s getting attention. In February 2026, the duo of Miracle Body Cleanser shower gel and Beta Panthenol body cream climbed to first place in the bath and shower category on TikTok Shop in the United States, and the brand followed up by launching an acid body toning mist.
The SOME BY MI philosophy: targeted skincare, no complications
SOME BY MI defines itself as a “clean derma” brand: skincare designed for skin with a specific concern (breakouts, visible pores, dull complexion, redness), with clearly identified ingredients. In the bottle, that means three things:
- One line per need: Miracle for blemish-prone skin, Yuja Niacin for radiance, Snail Truecica to soothe, Retinol Intense for the first signs of aging… You choose your line according to your skin, not the other way around.
- Numbers on the label: on the Miracle Toner, you’ll read Teatree 10,000 ppm and niacinamide 2%; on the Yuja Niacin toner, 90% yuja extract and 5% niacinamide. You know right away what you’re applying.
- Light textures, originally designed for the hot, humid climate of Southeast Asia: fluids, gels, creams that don’t feel sticky.
The toner at the heart of the SOME BY MI range. Its three gentle acids help remove dead cells on the surface and keep pores clear, while tea tree and centella soothe. For combination to oily, blemish-prone skin, preferably at night.
SOME BY MI’s key ingredients
Every SOME BY MI line revolves around one or two main ingredients. Here are the ones to know before you choose.
The AHA, BHA and PHA trio
These are three families of exfoliating acids: AHAs (like citric or lactic acid) work on the skin’s surface, BHA (salicylic acid) loves sebum and helps keep pores clear, and PHAs are the gentlest, with a hydrating side. At SOME BY MI, they’re dosed for daily use, not for a peel. You’ll find them throughout the Miracle line: the Miracle Toner, the Miracle cleansing foam and the Miracle Serum.
Tea tree
Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) is a small tree native to Australia, unrelated to the tea you drink. In skincare, it’s appreciated for its purifying and soothing effect on blemish-prone skin. It’s the signature of the Miracle line: the label of the Miracle Cream or the Miracle shower gel reads Teatree 10,000 ppm.
Yuja and niacinamide
Yuja (Citrus junos, “yuzu” in Japanese) is a citrus fruit much loved in Korea, where it’s drunk as yuja-cha, a sweet winter infusion. Rich in vitamin C, at SOME BY MI it’s paired with niacinamide (vitamin B3), which helps even out your skin tone and fade the look of marks. The duo to know: the Yuja Niacin toner and the Yuja Niacin Blemish Care serum.
Snail mucin and Truecica
The Snail Truecica line combines black snail mucin, known for its hydrating and comforting effect, with Truecica, the name the brand gives to its soothing complex based on centella asiatica. A line for skin that feels tight, is marked or sensitized: Snail Truecica serum, toner and Snail Truecica cream.
Retinol
For the first signs of aging and skin texture, the Retinol Intense line relies on retinol, often combined with retinal and bakuchiol. The Retinol Intense eye cream, for example, lists retinol 0.1% on its tube. Save it for nighttime, and go gently.
Galactomyces and matcha
Galactomyces is a ferment widely used in K-beauty for radiance: SOME BY MI pairs it with vitamin C in its Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C serum. And for pores, the Super Matcha line relies on matcha green tea, which you’ll find in the Super Matcha clay mask.
The SOME BY MI lines to know
| Line | What for |
|---|---|
| AHA.BHA.PHA 30 Days Miracle | Combination to oily skin, blemishes, pores |
| Yuja Niacin | Radiance, dull complexion, marks |
| Snail Truecica | Soothing, sensitized or marked skin |
| Beta Panthenol | Skin barrier, comfort, dry skin |
| Retinol Intense | First signs of aging, skin texture |
| Galactomyces | Radiance, luminous complexion |
| Super Matcha | Visible pores, excess sebum |
| Lactosoy | Gentle cleansing, blackheads |
| Truecica and V10 Hyal (sunscreens) | Daily sun protection |
| Miracle Body | Body: back, shoulders, rough skin |
| Cica Peptide | Scalp, fine hair |
Which SOME BY MI for your skin?
Pick your need: we give you our favorite product, plus two more to round things out.
Blemish-prone skin, visible pores
Start with a gentle acid cleanser, then add the serum and cream from the same line: light textures that don’t clog pores.
Dull complexion, marks
Yuja and niacinamide morning and night for radiance, and sunscreen every morning so you don’t lose the benefits.
Sensitized, tight skin
Put acids on pause for a few days and focus on comforting care: snail mucin, centella and panthenol.
First signs of aging
Retinol at night, two to three times a week at first, and vitamin C in the morning for a more luminous complexion.
A complete SOME BY MI routine, morning and night
Morning
- CleanseThe Yuja Niacin cleanser if your skin is dull, or the Beta Panthenol cleansing gel if it’s sensitive.
- ToneThe Yuja Niacin toner, patted in with your hands.
- SerumThe Galactomyces Vitamin C serum for radiance, or the Snail Truecica serum if your skin needs comfort.
- MoisturizeThe very light Yuja Niacin gel cream, ideal for combination skin.
- ProtectThe Truecica Aqua Calming sunscreen, every day, especially if you use acids or retinol.
Evening
- Remove makeupThe Lacto Soy cleansing oil, massaged onto dry skin and then emulsified with a little water.
- CleanseThe Miracle foam, for perfectly clean skin.
- ToneThe Miracle Toner on a cotton pad, or a Clear Pad, two to three nights a week.
- SerumThe Miracle Serum, or the Retinol Intense serum on the other nights (never both on the same night).
- RepairThe Snail Truecica cream to finish, and a Micro Pin patch on a spot that’s coming up.
Our tips for using SOME BY MI well
- Start acids slowly: the Miracle Toner every other night the first week, then every night if your skin tolerates it well.
- Only one exfoliating product per night: acid toner, Clear Pad or mask, not all at the same time.
- Alternate acids and retinol: one night the Miracle line, one night Retinol Intense, to avoid tightness.
- Slight tingling can happen with acids; if it burns or turns red, rinse and take a break.
- Patch-test every new product on a small area (your neck or behind your ear) before applying it to your whole face.
- “30 Days” is a guideline, not a promise: allow at least a month of regular use before judging any product.
- Sunscreen is a must as soon as you use acids, retinol or vitamin C.
SOME BY MI products are cosmetics: they help purify, soothe and even out the complexion of blemish-prone skin, but they don’t replace medical advice. If your breakouts are numerous, painful, leave marks or have lasted a long time, or if your skin reacts to a product, ask a dermatologist for advice.
Here, we don’t put acids everywhere: we swipe the Miracle Toner with a cotton pad only on the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin), where pores show the most, and keep a gentle toner like Snail Truecica for the cheeks. And in summer, many Koreans use the Miracle shower gel on their back and shoulders, the areas we tend to forget.
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Frequently asked questions about SOME BY MI
Is SOME BY MI a Korean brand?
Yes. SOME BY MI was launched in 2016 in Seoul by the Korean company Perennebell, which still makes and sells its products.
Who created SOME BY MI?
The brand was created by Lee Ji-eun, founder of Perennebell. As of mid-October 2026, the company is run by Jin Yun-jin.
What is SOME BY MI’s signature product?
The AHA.BHA.PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner, which has sold several million bottles. With us, the Miracle foam, the Yuja Niacin cream and the Miracle shower gel are also in high demand.
What do AHA, BHA and PHA mean?
They’re three families of exfoliating acids: AHAs work on the surface, BHA (salicylic acid) helps keep pores clear, and PHAs are the gentlest. Together, they help remove dead cells for smoother skin.
Is the Miracle Toner suitable for sensitive skin?
It’s formulated for daily use, but it contains acids: if your skin is sensitive, start every other night and patch-test it first on a small area. If your skin reacts, go for Snail Truecica or Beta Panthenol.
Can you use the Miracle Toner and SOME BY MI retinol together?
Yes, but the easiest way is to alternate them at night: one night acids, one night retinol. And sunscreen every morning.
Do SOME BY MI products really work in 30 days?
“30 Days” is part of the line’s name: it’s a guideline, not a guarantee. Every skin is different; allow at least a month of regular use before judging, and ask a dermatologist for advice if your blemishes persist.
Are the SOME BY MI products from Ma Petite Corée authentic?
Yes, everything we sell is official and ships directly from our office in Seoul.
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Jihyun, team Ma Petite Corée