SK-II vs Grown Alchemist
SK-II and Grown Alchemist are esteemed skincare brands cherished for their distinct botanical and biotechnological approaches. SK-II offers luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, clarifying toners, and restorative masks anchored by pitera, while the other is loved for its cleansers and serums, as well as its formulas. The former suits dry skin and acne-prone skin best, whereas the latter suits sensitive, dry, and combination skin best. They differ primarily in their ingredient philosophies and targeted solutions for specific skin concerns.
SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.
en.wikipedia.orgdiscoversk-ii.wixsite.comglossy.co
This page compares some of the most popular SK-II and Grown Alchemist products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular SK-II vs Grown Alchemist products
People Say
Improves skin texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
- “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
- “Smoother skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
- “silkiest cleanser — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
Balances and hydrates Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
- “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
- “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
- “Leaves skin soft, feels moisturized, does not dry out skin. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
- “Skin version of chugging water — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
Radiance and glow Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
- “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
- “Skin looks brighter — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
Effective cleansing and makeup removal Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “Doesn't dry out my skin — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
- “Gets everything nice and clean — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
- “doesn't strip at all — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
- “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
Gentle formula Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “Perfect for sensitive skin — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
- “calms my skin down — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
- “Great for sensitive — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
Pleasant scent Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “Smells amazing — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
- “smell is divine — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
- “Subtle rose fragrance, spa-like scent, not overpowering. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
High price point Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
- “expensive for what it is — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
- “A bit pricey — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
- “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
Unpleasant or strong scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
- “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
- “Too perfumy notes — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
- “smells medicinal — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
Lack of results Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “Nothing to brag about — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
- “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
Not for makeup Not notedOften Mentioned
- “Isn't going to be your makeup remover — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
Questions and answers
SK-II or Grown Alchemist: which is better?
SK-II helps better with skin texture and radiance, while Grown Alchemist offers effective cleansing and gentle formulas among the products on this page.
What is the difference between SK-II and Grown Alchemist?
SK-II generally achieves a High fit across many skin types and products on this page, while Grown Alchemist mostly reaches an Average fit, with reviews noting that Grown Alchemist offers gentle and hydrating cleansers but faces some performance and packaging issues.
Which is more affordable, SK-II or Grown Alchemist?
Grown Alchemist has a high price point, whereas price information is not mentioned for SK-II.
Which causes fewer breakouts, SK-II or Grown Alchemist?
SK-II has products on this page with a Superior Lovi fit for acne-prone skin, such as the Genoptics Ultraura Essence, whereas Grown Alchemist only shows an Average fit for those skin types.
Which brand is better for improving skin texture, SK-II or Grown Alchemist?
SK-II is better for improving skin texture because the products on this page help improve skin texture according to reviewer themes.
Do SK-II products or Grown Alchemist products have a more gentle formula?
Grown Alchemist does better for a gentle formula, according to reviewer feedback on this page. Reviewers mention that Grown Alchemist offers gentle cleansers.
Which brand offers better radiance and glow, SK-II or Grown Alchemist?
SK-II offers better radiance and glow than Grown Alchemist. The products on this page help improve skin texture and radiance with key ingredients like Pitera, while every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.
Research behind their key ingredients
The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer
Final report on the safety assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, and Sodium Benzoate
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Efficacy of olive leaf extract-containing cream for facial rejuvenation: A pilot study
A Rose Extract Protects the Skin against Stress Mediators: A Potential Role of Olfactory Receptors
Three clinical studies showing the anti-aging benefits of sodium salicylate in human skin
Development and efficacy assessments of tea seed oil makeup remover
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Effects of fermented tea seed oil on the skin lipid barrier and microbiome of sensitive skin
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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