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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum versus Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum .

Published on December 31, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 16 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid and niacinamide

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum South Korean Brand South Korea
Serum South Korean Brand South Korea

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum

Starts at $18.00
Shop

Buy Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum

Starts at $19.70

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

PHA
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin (3)
Redness Reducing (4)
Reduces Irritation (3)
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Niacinamide
Ceramides
Hyaluronic Acid (3)

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (5)
Reduces Irritation (5)
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Rosacea
Eczema
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Smoothing
Community Rating: Loved

Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.

It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.

Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.

The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.

Learn more about Niacinamide

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

2
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

1,2-Hexanediol is a multi-tasker ingredient. It acts as a preservative to increase shelf-life and can aid other preservatives in preventing microbe growth. 1,2-Hexanediol also helps the skin retain moisture as a humectant.

In products that are water-based, this ingredient can help stabilize perfumes and fragrances. It can also help make the texture of products softer and more smooth.

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

3
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 36.

4
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

5
What it does: Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Arginine is an amino acid that is important for human development. Your body uses is it to produce hair keratin and skin collagen.

As a cosmetic ingredient, Arginine has antioxidant properties and can also help repair damaged skin. This ingredient is derived either synthetically or from animals.

Arginine isn't fungal acne safe when used in the presence of other lipids (fats, fatty acids, oils, esters, etc). Oils and fats occur naturally within the skin, so take caution when using Arginine if you're prone to fungal acne.

Learn more about Arginine

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 29.

6
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 38.

7
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.

Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.

Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.

In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.

Learn more about Adenosine

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 24.

8
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 40.

9
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 41.

10
What it does: Cleansing, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing, Soothing, Tonic
Community Rating: Loved

Centella Asiatica Extract is derived from an herb plant native to Southeast Asia. It is rich in antioxidants and amino acids. In skincare products, Centella Asiatica Extract is used for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.

Many active components found in Centella Asiatica Extract, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside, encourage the skin to naturally produce hyaluronic acid. This helps keep our skin hydrated. Many of these components also show antioxidant activity and may help reduce the signs of aging.

Research shows Centella Asiatica can help increase Type I collagen production by increasing fibroblast production. Fibroblast helps form connective tissue.

The combination of all these properties makes Centella Asiatica Extract effective at soothing the skin.

Other components of Centella Asiatic Extract include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.

Recent studies found madecassoside may help prevent damage from UV rays by preventing UV-induced inflammation. Further research is needed.

This plant has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.

Learn more about Centella Asiatica Extract

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 24.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

11
What it does: Antimicrobial, Antiseborrhoeic, Astringent, Tonic
Community Rating: Liked

This ingredient is created by distilling parts of the tea tree plant. The bark and leaves of the tea tree plant are rich in Terpinen, an antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory ingredient.

Learn more about tea tree benefits here.

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 25.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

12
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Madecassoside comes from the super popular skin-soothing ingredient, Centella asiatica. It is one of four active compounds found in the extract of Centella Asiatica.

Madecassoside has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating properties. It contains fatty acids, amino acids, beta-carotene, and phytochemicals.

One study found using Madecassoside with ascorbic acid helped reduce the signs of aging and improved skin hydration.

Learn more about Madecassoside

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 25.

13
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Asiaticoside comes from the super popular skin-soothing ingredient, Centella asiatica. It is one of four active compounds found in the extract of Centella Asiatica.

Asiaticoside is an antioxidant and helps with wound healing. It has been shown to increase antioxidant activity during the wound healing process.

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 30.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.

14
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Stabilising
Community Rating: Loved

Asiatic Acid is a major component of Centella Asiatica Extract. It has wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.

Studies show Asiatic Acid is able to block the pathway for skin inflammation receptors, helping to soothe skin.

As an antioxidant, asiatic acid helps protect our skin against damaging environmental factors.

Learn more about Asiatic Acid

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 28.

15
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Madecassic Acid is a major component of Centella Asiatica Extract. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

It is a triterpenoid, meaning it naturally acts as an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect your skin against damage from environmental factors such as pollution and UV.

Studies show Madecassic Acid helps soothe the skin due to its ability to block inflammation pathways.

Learn more about Madecassic Acid

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 32.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.

16
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 33.

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

54% are loved or liked
16% have mixed ratings
22% are disliked or very disliked
8% have no rating yet
59% are loved or liked
15% have mixed ratings
12% are disliked or very disliked
15% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Some By Mi Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum 37 ingredients

Super Matcha Pore Tightening Serum hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Some By Mi Propolis B5 Glow Barrier Calming Serum 41 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 2 ratings
jnlaohoo's avatar

jnlaohoo

2 years ago · Normal Skin
Review

Good quality and light on the pockets too!
Some By Mi Propolis Serum does the job of helping brighten old acne dark spots. I find that this product...

Good quality and light on the pockets too!
Some By Mi Propolis Serum does the job of helping brighten old acne dark spots. I find that this product worked better for my skin that TO's Niacinamide + Zinc. The consistency is just right, thick enough for my dry skin, but still lightweight enough for humid climates. Good value for money!

CustardBunny's avatar

CustardBunny

8 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

Felt good first..
I really liked the scent and feeling of this set at first but 2 weeks in and my face has never been so broken before. I have more...

Felt good first..
I really liked the scent and feeling of this set at first but 2 weeks in and my face has never been so broken before. I have more acne now than i have had in months! I will try this Companys other product line.. but this set was not for sensitive acne prone skin!

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