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Avène vs Grown Alchemist

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

Avène and Grown Alchemist are two distinct skincare lines with different strengths for diverse complexions. The French brand founded in 1990 relies on glycerin to provide gentle moisturizers, protective sunscreens, targeted serums, and soothing cleansers that suit oily, acne-prone, and combination skin best. Meanwhile, the second brand is celebrated for its restorative cleansers, serums, and overall formulas designed for sensitive, dry, and combination skin. While both offer effective solutions, their key difference lies in Avène utilizing glycerin for barrier function and hydration versus the specialized formulations of the other.

Avène is a French skincare brand founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com

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

Popular Avène vs Grown Alchemist products

People Say

AvèneGrown Alchemist
  • Gentle and non-stripping Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “Doesn't dry out my skin — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “Perfect for sensitive skin — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
  • Deeply hydrating Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Restores moisture barrier — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “Leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “Skin version of chugging water — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
  • Pleasant scent Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Smells amazing — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “smell is divine — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
  • Effective oil control and cleansing Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Gets everything nice and clean — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “Keeps me matte for hours — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Hydrating and lightweight Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Very light weight — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Smooths fine lines and improves texture Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “I've noticed a definite improvement in the fine lines around my eyes — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
    • “skin feels smoother — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
    • “Smooths out fine lines — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
  • Strong fragrance Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “smell is too strong — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Too perfumy notes — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “smells medicinal — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
  • High price Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Its a bit pricey but so worth it!! — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “Tiny tube for the money — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “Tube is quite small — Avène Soothing Radiance Mask”
    • “expensive for what it is — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
  • Product separation and packaging issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Tube squirted water everywhere — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Tube cracked on the side — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Cap leaks in bag — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
    • “tube cracks easily — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”

Questions and answers

Avène or Grown Alchemist: which is better?

When comparing the products on this page, Grown Alchemist does better for a pleasant scent, effective oil control and cleansing, and a hydrating and lightweight feel, while Avène offers more product variety.

What is the difference between Avène and Grown Alchemist?

The products on this page show that Avène features a wide range with varying Lovi fit levels across skin types and includes options with strong fragrance, whereas Grown Alchemist offers fragrance-free formulations with average to high Lovi fit levels.

Avène or Grown Alchemist: which cleanser is better?

Both Avène and Grown Alchemist offer great cleansers, with Avène featuring options like Cleanance Cleansing Gel that achieves a High Lovi fit for oily and acne-prone skin, while Grown Alchemist provides gentle formulas such as Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser. Reviewers mention that Avène cleansers provide a gentle deep clean while Grown Alchemist cleansers are hydrating and pleasant. Glycerin is a key ingredient across Avène products.

Which is more affordable, Avène or Grown Alchemist?

According to the review themes on this page, Grown Alchemist does better on price while Avène has a high price.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Avène or Grown Alchemist?

When it comes to acne-prone skin, the products on this page for Avène achieve High Lovi fit levels for oil control and blemishes, whereas Grown Alchemist products achieve only Average fit levels.

How do the founding years and company ownership compare between Avène and Grown Alchemist?

Avène was founded in France in 1990 and is owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre, whereas Grown Alchemist was founded in 2008 and has been independently owned since 2024.

Which brand has more products that list no fragrance in their ingredients?

Avène has more products on this page that list no fragrance in their ingredients, with 8 out of 15 products being fragrance-free compared to all 3 products for Grown Alchemist.

What are the main product performance and packaging complaints reviewers have for Grown Alchemist compared to Avène?

For Grown Alchemist, reviewer complaints focus on cleanser performance and packaging issues, which are often mentioned. Meanwhile, reviewers sometimes note a high price and product separation or packaging issues for Avène.

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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