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Medik8 vs Grown Alchemist

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Medik8 and Grown Alchemist are British and Australian skincare brands offering serums, cleansers, moisturizers, eye products, and toners built around ingredients like hyaluronic acid. Medik8 features hyaluronic acid to lengthen toxin wrinkle effect duration, suiting dry and dry sensitive skin best, while the brand excels in targeted solutions such as the Surface Radiance Cleanse for acne-prone skin, Oxy-R Peptides for dark spots, and Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream for mature skin. Grown Alchemist is loved for its formulas that suit sensitive, dry, and combination skin, with standout options including the Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser for acne, Instant Smoothing Serum for dark spots, and Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser for maturity. Both brands differ in their origins and specific formulations, giving you distinct paths toward balanced, healthy skin.

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular Medik8 and Grown Alchemist products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Medik8 vs Grown Alchemist products

People Say

Medik8Grown Alchemist
  • Gentle and non-irritating formula Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Perfect for sensitive skin — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “calms my skin down — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
  • Lightweight and elegant texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “silkiest cleanser — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
    • “Very light weight — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Deep hydration and plumping Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “Skin version of chugging water — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
    • “Doesn't dry tacky — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
  • Pleasant experience and scent Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Smells amazing — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “smell is divine — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
    • “smells like a spa — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
  • Brightening and glow Often MentionedNot noted
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
  • Improves skin texture Often MentionedNot noted
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
  • High price point Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “expensive for what it is — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
    • “A bit pricey — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
  • Packaging issues and fragility Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Glass bottle breaks easily — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “hard to get last bit — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “click mechanism tricky — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “tube cracks easily — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
  • Makeup removal issues Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Isn't going to be your makeup remover — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”

Questions and answers

Medik8 or Grown Alchemist: which is better?

Medik8 stands out for brightening and improving skin texture, while Grown Alchemist delivers a more lightweight and elegant texture. Both brands offer good hydration and gentle formulas.

What is the difference between Medik8 and Grown Alchemist?

Medik8 stands out for improving skin texture and providing a brightening glow, whereas Grown Alchemist is noted for its lightweight and elegant texture along with pleasant scents.

Medik8 or Grown Alchemist: which cleanser is better?

For cleansing, Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse has a Superior Lovi fit for acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots. Meanwhile, Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser has a High Lovi fit across several skin types.

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Grown Alchemist?

Reviewers note that a high price point is a concern for both Medik8 and Grown Alchemist.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Medik8 or Grown Alchemist?

Both brands offer products with average to high Lovi fit levels for acne-prone skin, as both feature gentle formulas that are unlikely to clog pores.

Between Medik8 and Grown Alchemist, which brand offers a wider selection of serums?

Medik8 offers a wider selection of serums on this page, featuring options like Liquid Peptides, CRYSTAL RETINAL 3, and Bakuchiol Peptides, whereas Grown Alchemist includes just one serum.

How do Medik8 and Grown Alchemist compare regarding the inclusion of fragrance in their products?

Medik8 and Grown Alchemist both offer mostly fragrance-free options among the products on this page, with Medik8 including fragrance in only one product, Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream. Grown Alchemist lists no fragrance in any of the ingredients for its products on this page.

Which brand has products specifically rated as Superior for dry skin?

Medik8 features products on this page specifically rated as Superior for dry skin, such as Bakuchiol Peptides, Hydr8 B5 Intense, and Press & Glow.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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