🇮🇪Ireland

Dermalogica vs Grown Alchemist

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

Dermalogica and Grown Alchemist are skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily regimens. The American brand founded in 1986 provides targeted serums, nourishing moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and purifying masks formulated with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and salicylic acid to suit oily and combination skin best. Conversely, the other is known for its cleansers, serums, and formulas that suit sensitive, dry, and combination skin. While both share a focus on skin health, they differ in their ingredient philosophies and ideal skin types.

Dermalogica is an American skincare brand founded in 1986 and owned by Unilever since 2015.

en.wikipedia.orgcosmeticsbusiness.com

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

Popular Dermalogica vs Grown Alchemist products

People Say

DermalogicaGrown Alchemist
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry skin — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “blends seamlessly — Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50”
    • “Absorbs quickly... not greasy — Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream”
    • “Skin version of chugging water — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
  • Exfoliation and Cleansing Sometimes 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”
    • “Perfect for sensitive skin — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “gentle enough for daily use — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “skin feels smooth as silk — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “fine lines have visibly softened — Dermalogica Phyto Nature Lifting Eye Cream”
    • “creamy without being greasy — Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance”
    • “Smooths out fine lines — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
  • Soothing and Calming Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “helps calm and nourish my skin — Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream”
    • “The redness is better — Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream”
    • “calms my skin down — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
  • 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”
    • “hefty price tag — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Scent and Fragrance Dislike Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like puke — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “smells like medicine — Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50”
    • “Too perfumy notes — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “smells medicinal — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
  • Packaging and Pump Issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Leaky pump — Dermalogica Precleanse”
    • “pump dispenses too much — Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel”
    • “spout is too big — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “tube cracks easily — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”

Questions and answers

Dermalogica or Grown Alchemist: which is better?

Dermalogica provides more options and generally scores higher for hydration, moisture, and skin smoothing across the products on this page. Reviewers frequently mention intense hydration and soothing moisturizers for Dermalogica, whereas Grown Alchemist is noted for gentle cleansers but has fewer overall offerings.

What is the difference between Dermalogica and Grown Alchemist?

Dermalogica provides a much wider range of products that achieve a Superior Lovi fit for many skin types, whereas Grown Alchemist only offers a small selection of cleansers and serums that reach an Average or High fit. Reviewers also note that Dermalogica is better for hydration, moisture, skin texture, and smoothing.

Dermalogica or Grown Alchemist: which cleanser is better?

Grown Alchemist provides better results for exfoliation and cleansing on this page, while Dermalogica offers a wider variety of cleansers with high Lovi fit levels for most skin types.

Which is more affordable, Dermalogica or Grown Alchemist?

Grown Alchemist is generally more affordable, whereas Dermalogica has a high price point reported by reviewers across the products on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Dermalogica or Grown Alchemist?

When it comes to causing fewer breakouts, the products on this page for both Dermalogica and Grown Alchemist generally help keep skin clear, though Dermalogica offers a much wider range of targeted blemish-fighting treatments. Reviewers sometimes note that Dermalogica products can cause reactions, while Grown Alchemist has fewer options overall.

Dermalogica or Grown Alchemist: which brand offers better hydration and moisture performance?

Dermalogica offers better hydration and moisture performance, as reviewers mostly note its intense hydration and soothing moisturizers. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin are key ingredients across the products on this page, which helps support skin moisture.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

How do the founding years and corporate ownerships of Dermalogica and Grown Alchemist compare?

Dermalogica was founded in 1986 in the United States and has been owned by Unilever since 2015, whereas Grown Alchemist was founded in 2008 and became independently owned in 2024.

Dermalogica or Grown Alchemist: which brand has more reported packaging and pump issues?

Dermalogica is the brand with more reported packaging and pump 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?

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

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play