First, I have to say Some By Mi is not a zero-waste brand or a brand that necessarily used organic ingredients. Though face soap bars are hard to come by where I live and based on the ingredient list, I got this face soap bar.
SOME BY MI – Vitamine C pure
“Promises” to be moisturizing, brightening, smoothing.
Size: 95 gr
Organic: no
Not tested on animals.
Price: 10 EUR
Price on sale: 8 EUR
Ingredients: Glycerin, Water, Sodium palmitate, Sodium Stearate, Potassium Laurate, Sodium Laurate, Coco-betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sucrose, Sorbitol, Decyl Glucose, Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C), Niacinamide (VitaminB3), Stearic Acid, Fragrance, lex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Ubiquinone, Boesenbergia Pandurata Rhizome Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Powder, Fragaria Ananassa (Strawberry) Fruit Powder, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Peel Oil, Riboflavin, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Peel Extract, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Calcium Pantothenate, Inositol, Folic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Limonene, Linalol
Made in South Korea
Marked OK for sensitive skin, though note that vit. C can be very drying and irritating. Also, vitamin C makes skin photosensitive, so apply sunscreen, if you are using it in the AM.
Zero waste packaging: yes or no?
The packaging isn’t zero waste, the facial bar comes in a paper box and the soap is wrapped in thin plastic foil, so I would grade this as a low-waste product. Both are recycled where I live, but that will likely not be the case for everyone.
Smell/how long does the smell last?
When you first open the bar, the smell is divine, like cutting into an orange (plastic wrap helps to keep the scent in…). I thought the scent will dissipate after having the bar open for a couple of hours, though this didn’t happen. I keep my soap bar in the shower, unwrapped, and after several months, it still has a gentle orange-almond smell.
When you use it, the scent is very gentle and dissipates almost immediately. I don’t quite care for scents in skincare products, my skin much prefers natural to no scent, but I had no reaction after this one and I’m pleasantly surprised with the formula.
How easy it is to use?+tips for use
Some By Mi Vitamine C soap bar is super easy to use. It lathers immediately and applies well. I also use it to remove sunscreen and makeup and it does the job well.
If I feel my face really needs a good wash in the evening, I wash my face twice. I apply the soap, massage gently, rinse and then repeat. I normally only use my hands, to avoid stretching or tugging on my skin, but I also have a small wash/massage silicone pad I use together with the soap.
The lather is silky and thick, but and not really foamy. It rinses off easily.
Does it work?Results/Looks and feel of skin?
The face bar promises to be moisturizing, brightening, smoothing. Now, I didn’t buy this soap, particularly for the brightening aspects. Knowing Some By Mi is a Korean brand, I am very much aware of Korean beauty standards and what they may bring.
I do have hyperpigmentation caused by sun damage, though I am not addressing it with soap. Why?
- Soap only stays on our skins for a very short time.
- Vit.C is a very reactive ingredient. It loses potency after a very short period of getting in contact with light, heat and oxygene. If you want vitamin C in yourskincare routine, it’s best to buy vitamin C in powder, keep it in the fridge and mix in the base product 1-2 applications at the time.
For my skin, the Some By Mi Vitamine C soap bar was not moisturizing. Especially after the first week of use, I felt my skin be a tad dried than usual. But it never got tight ( I never had the squeaky clean feeling).
Especially in the summer, after heavier sunscreen application, my skin quite enjoys it, but I only use it in the evening. In the morning, I just rinse my face with water.
Some By Mi low waste face wash for men
My partner’s skin type is the complete opposite of mine(mixed to oily), though he really enjoys the bar. His skin is cleansed well, but it’s not stripping. He says the scent is pleasant.
How long did it last?
It lasts exceptionally well.
My partner and I have been using the face bar for 3 months and still have 33gr left (1/3 of the bar). We both use it once per day though, so with a bit of calculation… it would last 1 person 4-5 months with 2 uses per day.
How to store the face bar?
I keep all my bars in the shower, away from water, but close enough I can reach it without a problem. I have a regular metal shower rack that allows airflow under the bars as well.
Who would I recommend it for?
I think this soap bar is best for mixed to oily skin. My dryness-prone skin is OK with it, which is actually already a lot. I wouldn’t recommend it for people with dry or reactive skin.
But with that said… I likely would buy it again for my partner for sure. The price is a bit high for me, but we have already gotten several months of use out of it.
Where to buy?
I got mine at Iherbs which is based in the USA and they ship to most countries of the world. If you’d like, you can use my code NTN955 for a $5 USD discount on your first purchase.
I have seen it on Amazon as well (which I’m trying to avoid) or Stylevana (they ship to limited countries).
More: Zero waste makeup tips and tricks
Recap
We both really liked this face bar. It’s not 100% plastic-free, it is more in the low-waste category, but we’ve been using it for several months now and we are both quite happy.
I wouldn’t recommend it to people with very sensitive reactive or dry skin, but it worked quite well for us.
