Brand Comparison
Sofina iP vs Mediheal
A head-to-head comparison of two popular K-beauty brands. Which one is right for your skin?
Our Pick
Mediheal
Higher editor rating (9 vs 8.2)
Sofina iP
Sofina is the Kao Group's answer to SK-II and IPSA: dermatology-grade J-Beauty with a 40-year R&D lab behind it, priced in the premium-but-approachable middle. The iP Base Care Serum — a pre-toner "interpenetrating" essence — became a cult pick among Japanese women who wanted a single-shot booster without building a 10-step routine. Lower-hype than Shiseido, more formulated than Hada Labo.
Pros
- ✓ iP Base Care Serum (pre-serum booster) is a category-defining product
- ✓ Kao R&D muscle behind every SKU
- ✓ Fragrance-free variants for sensitive skin
- ✓ Widely respected in Japanese derm-clinic circles
Cons
- ✗ Limited English-market distribution
- ✗ Packaging feels industrial to Western shoppers
- ✗ Pricing is upper-mid — no drugstore options
Mediheal
Mediheal is the top-selling skincare brand at Olive Young for two years running — beating more than 3,000 brands. Their sheet masks created the modern sheet mask category, and their Madecassoside Blemish Pad saw 820% year-over-year growth. If you only add one new sheet mask brand to your routine, make it this one.
Pros
- ✓ #1 selling brand at Olive Young
- ✓ Clinical-grade sheet mask formulations
- ✓ The Madecassoside line is category-defining
- ✓ Affordable daily-use pricing
Cons
