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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 and effective oil control and cleansing, while Avène has a lower price point and higher-rated fit levels across a wider range of skin types.

What is the difference between Avène and Grown Alchemist?

Avène offers a large range of products featuring items like sunscreens, serums, and masks that fit oily acne-prone, combination, and acne-prone skin best, while Grown Alchemist features a smaller selection of cleansers and a serum. Reviewers note that Grown Alchemist does better with pleasant scents, effective oil control and cleansing, and hydration and lightweight textures, whereas Avène has better pricing and fewer product separation and packaging issues.

Avène or Grown Alchemist: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers, the products on this page show that Avène has a Superior fit for oily skin and High fit for oily acne-prone skin, while Grown Alchemist offers gentle, hydrating cleansers that are completely free of added fragrance.

Which is more affordable, Avène or Grown Alchemist?

Avène has a high price, while Grown Alchemist does not.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Avène or Grown Alchemist?

When it comes to breakout control, the products on this page show that Avène fits oily acne-prone skin with a High or Superior level for several items, whereas Grown Alchemist products offer an Average fit for those skin types.

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 fragrance-free options across their products listed on the page?

Avène has more fragrance-free options across the products on this page, with 7 out of 15 products listing no fragrance, while every product listed for Grown Alchemist is fragrance-free.

What are the main reviewer complaints regarding product performance and packaging for each brand?

The main reviewer complaints for Avène include a strong fragrance and a high price point, along with occasional product separation and packaging issues. For Grown Alchemist, reviewers mostly complain about cleanser performance and packaging issues.

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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