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As a longtime user of SOME BY MI’s Super Miracle Spot All Kill Cream, which is super effective for dealing with zits, I’ve always been interested in trialing other products from its AHA, BHA, PHA collection. Fellow editor Maureen reviewed some of the most popular items back in 2018, but with so many new releases, it’s high time to get everyone updated! Read on for a full review of the AHA, BHA, PHA Real Cica 92% Cool Calming Soothing Gel, the AHA, BHA, PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Clear Body Cleanser and the AHA, BHA, PHA 30 Days Miracle Truecica Clear Pad.
All three products have passed skin irritation tests and are made free of 20 harmful ingredients. They’re all formulated with AHA, BHA and PHA, which target the root cause of acne to prevent future breakouts. For those who aren’t sure about what these ingredients do, AHA refines skin texture and exfoliates dead skin cells, BHA removes excess sebum and unclogs impurities from pores, and PHA softens skin and minimizes moisture loss. In addition, the body cleanser and clear pad both soothe irritated skin with Truecica™ (a patented ingredient made of tea tree, mugwort and centella asiatica) and houttuynia cordata extract, which detoxifies and sterilizes inflamed skin and promotes smoother texture. The soothing gel doesn’t contain houttuynia cordata extract, but is made with many of the same ingredients, including 92% centella asiatica extract, tea tree leaf water and mugwort leaf extract, as well as bonus ingredient rosemary leaf oil – all of which serve to calm and cool skin.
Soothing Gel
The soothing gel offers emergency cooling to alleviate irritation and to regenerate skin. It’s recommended for those with flushed skin caused by strong sunlight, those with itchy skin from wearing face masks all day, and those with oily skin and excess sebum caused by fine dust and pollution. It moisturizes skin with three types of hyaluronic acid, locking in moisture and providing a refreshing, cooling effect. It’s also made free of artificial colorants and fragrances to prevent further skin irritation. This multifunctional gel has many suggested uses. On the face, it can be used as a daily moisture cream, moisturizing sleep pack or calming pack, as well as an astringent for swollen and puffy eyes. It can also be used to moisturize and soften damaged hair, or as a hydrating body gel. If you want an even more immediate cooling effect, pop it in the fridge before use!
The gel comes in a convenient pump bottle that’s great for just leaving by your bed or even in the office for a quick pick-me-up. It smells fresh and minty, and also strongly of tea tree. When I saw the word “gel,” I was expecting a thick, sticky and goopy consistency, so I was pleasantly surprised that the product was thin, lightweight and easy to spread. However, after applying it on my face, I did notice a slightly sticky feeling on my hands.
I loved that this was super refreshing and gentle on skin. It didn’t aggravate any of the popped pimples or little scratches on my skin, and left it feeling smooth and supple. The brightening serum I use tends to make my skin quite dry and flaky, and this gel is just the thing my skin needs for soothing moisture. I don’t have terribly sensitive, irritated skin in general, so I mostly used this product as a moisturizer, for which it fares reasonably well. It has the added benefit of being suitable for use all over the body. This isn’t an everyday essential for me, but probably one I’d save for an as-needed basis.
Body Cleanser
This body cleanser, which comes loaded with plenty of acne-fighting ingredients, is designed to specifically clear back and chest acne. Acne on the back and chest is harder to deal with because the skin in these areas is thicker than skin on your face, and also has a lower ability to regenerate. The cleanser creates micro-bubbles (that are smaller than skin pores) to absorb impurities deep within pores. Made with naturally sourced surfactants for sensitive skin, it softens and hydrates without creating feelings of tightness. SOME BY MI recommends applying a proper amount on your body with a loofah and massaging gently before rinsing off with lukewarm water.
As someone who struggles with serious bacne, I’ve had my eye on this bestseller for quite a while now! I’ve been using a normal, run-of-the-mill body soap because other acne-fighting body cleansers I’ve tried weren’t particularly effective. Off the bat, the eucalyptus scent of this cleanser reminds me of White Flower Oil, which I love as it’s super reinvigorating and almost sinus-clearing. Before lathering, it actually has a similar consistency as the gel, both being thin and liquidy.
The cleanser left my skin feeling squeaky clean and smooth, likely due to its exfoliating effects. Although I’m not sure if it’s because of the formula or because my skin wasn’t used to the friction caused by loofahs, when I first tried the cleanser, I experienced a stinging sensation. It also aggravated my existing bacne. On later trials, I applied the cleanser directly onto skin without a loofah and I did find it to be less irritating that way. Still, I didn’t see any significant improvements with my bacne.
Clear Pad
This mild, low-pH cotton pad seeks to eliminate current and future breakouts while normalizing skin’s pH level. Made with thin and soft cotton that minimizes friction and irritation, it’s double sterilized to prevent bacterial propagation, and boasts overflowing moisture from highly concentrated cica essence. The embossed side is for removing dead skin cells, sebum and impurities, and the softer side for calming skin.
All three products have a somewhat similar but slightly distinct scent, and this one smells like Mentos or candy cane to me. As promised, each piece is truly dripping with essence, which might be the reason this product has the strongest scent. I appreciate its double-sided design that balances efficacy and gentleness for overall skin-loving.
To use, I wiped the embossed side across my T-zone after initial cleansing and then wiped the soft side over my whole face. Because it’s so rich in essence, it’s not only extremely moisturizing but also really effective in cleansing and exfoliation. It offered a refreshing, cooling sensation similar to the gel and – to my delight – didn’t irritate my skin at all. Of the three, this was my favorite, as it was a great post-cleanse step both morning and night to ensure my skin was truly free of impurities. I tend to have a lot of dead skin cells around my nose, and this definitely helped refine my skin texture so makeup could go on smoother. Straightforward and easy-to-use, these pads gave me the immediate results I was looking for.