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Biore vs Grown Alchemist

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

Biore and Grown Alchemist are skincare brands offering thoughtful daily care. The Japanese brand founded in 1980 and owned by Kao Corporation features sunscreens, cleansers, masks, and makeup removers with effective formulas, while the latter is known for cleansers, serums, and formulas. Both suit sensitive and combination skin, though Grown Alchemist also suits dry skin, and the two differ in their distinct ingredient approaches and origins.

Biore is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by Kao Corporation.

biore.comkao.com

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

Popular Biore vs Grown Alchemist products

People Say

BioreGrown Alchemist
  • Texture and Weight Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “silkiest cleanser — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
    • “Very light weight — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
    • “melts into skin — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Cleansing Efficacy Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Gets the gunk out — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “Face feels squeaky clean — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
    • “Gets everything nice and clean — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
  • Non-Stripping Formula Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Doesn't dry out my skin — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “doesn't strip at all — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
    • “Leaves skin soft, doesn't dry out face. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
  • Pleasant Scent Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Smells amazing — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “smell is divine — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
    • “Fruity fragrance, smells like apple/grape, refreshing. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin version of chugging water — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
    • “feels like a moisturizer — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Gentle on Skin Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Perfect for sensitive skin — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “calms my skin down — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
  • Fragrance and Scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like alcohol — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “strong citrus smell — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Too perfumy notes — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “smells medicinal — 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”
  • Price Point Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “expensive for what it is — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”

Questions and answers

Biore or Grown Alchemist: which is better?

Grown Alchemist performs better for hydration and gentle formulas on this page, while Biore offers better cleansing efficacy and price points. Every product on this page for both brands lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

What is the difference between Biore and Grown Alchemist?

Grown Alchemist scores better for hydration, texture, and being gentle on skin, while Biore offers superior cleansing efficacy and a more affordable price point. Reviewers often mention Grown Alchemist for its pleasant, hydrating cleansers, though it can have some performance and packaging issues.

Biore or Grown Alchemist: which cleanser is better?

Biore does better for cleansing efficacy, while Grown Alchemist offers more hydration, moisture, and gentle formulas. Reviewers note that Grown Alchemist provides hydrating and gentle cleansers, though some mention performance and packaging issues.

Which is more affordable, Biore or Grown Alchemist?

Biore is more affordable than Grown Alchemist.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Biore or Grown Alchemist?

Grown Alchemist does better on hydration and non-stripping formulas, but neither brand page specifically claims to cause fewer breakouts than the other.

Which brand is better for sensitive skin according to their brand-focused routines and fit levels?

Biore fits sensitive skin better than Grown Alchemist, as sensitive skin is one of the specific skin types the Biore brand fits best according to its brand-focused routines, and its Makeup Remover Perfect Oil achieves a High Lovi fit level for sensitive skin.

How do the foundations and ownership histories of Biore and Grown Alchemist compare?

Biore was founded in 1980 in Japan and is owned by Kao Corporation, whereas Grown Alchemist was founded in 2008 and has been independently owned since 2024.

What do reviewers commonly say about the cleansers of Grown Alchemist versus Biore?

Reviewers commonly mention that Grown Alchemist offers hydrating, gentle, and pleasant cleansers, though they also note performance and packaging issues. Meanwhile, reviewers indicate that Biore provides better cleansing efficacy.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

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