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RoC vs Grown Alchemist

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

RoC and Grown Alchemist are distinct skincare lines, with the former being a French brand founded in 1957. The former brand is fondly loved for its expertly formulated serums, eye products, moisturizers, cleansers, and more, all enriched with proven ingredients like glycerin and retinol, while the latter is loved for its cleansers and serums, as well as its formulas. Both suit dry skin best, though the former also suits mature skin and the latter suits sensitive and combination skin. They differ in their standout products and targeted benefits, with the former providing deeply nourishing care that addresses aging and dryness through glycerin, which significantly increases skin hydration and barrier function, and retinol, which significantly reduces fine wrinkles and increases collagen.

RoC is a French skincare brand founded in 1957 and owned by Bridgepoint Group plc since 2024.

en.wikipedia.orgprnewswire.combeautymatter.com

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

Popular RoC vs Grown Alchemist products

People Say

RoCGrown Alchemist
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Skin version of chugging water — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
    • “doesn't strip at all — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
    • “skin is no longer dry — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream”
  • Wrinkle and Fine Line Reduction Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “wrinkles look less deep — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “Fine lines definitely softer — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “diminished my forehead lines — RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum”
    • “Smooths out fine lines — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Formula Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs nicely — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “Absorbs easily and quickly — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly without residue — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream”
    • “Very light weight — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
  • Gentle on Sensitive Skin Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Perfect for sensitive skin — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “calms my skin down — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
    • “doesn't leave my skin feeling tight — RoC BARRIER RENEW® GEL-TO-FOAM CLEANSER”
  • Pleasant Scent Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Smells amazing — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “smell is divine — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
    • “smells amazing — RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Daily Serum”
  • Cleansing and Makeup Removal Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Doesn't dry out my skin — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “Gets everything nice and clean — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “lathers a lot — RoC Daily Resurfacing Disks”
  • Strong Fragrance and Scent Issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like perfume — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “smell is too strong — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum”
    • “perfume smell is too strong — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream”
    • “Too perfumy notes — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
  • Price and Value Concerns Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “small bottle — RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Daily Serum”
    • “expensive for what it is — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
  • Packaging Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “tube cracks easily — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “Tube oozes product — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “pump stopped working — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum”
    • “tube cracks easily — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”

Questions and answers

RoC or Grown Alchemist: which is better?

RoC outperforms Grown Alchemist for wrinkle and fine line reduction as well as lightweight and non-greasy formulas, whereas Grown Alchemist is better for hydration, gentle care on sensitive skin, and pleasant scents. Reviewers note that RoC products on this page help reduce wrinkles and provide fast-absorbing serums, though they can sometimes cause skin irritation and strong fragrance issues. Meanwhile, Grown Alchemist offers hydrating and gentle cleansers, but users report some performance and packaging concerns.

What is the difference between RoC and Grown Alchemist?

RoC focuses on anti-aging and wrinkle reduction with key ingredients like retinol, whereas Grown Alchemist stands out for hydration, gentleness, and soothing cleansers. Reviewers note that RoC helps with fine lines but may sometimes cause skin irritation and strong fragrance, while Grown Alchemist offers fragrance-free formulas that are gentle on sensitive skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

RoC or Grown Alchemist: which cleanser is better?

For cleansers, Grown Alchemist is generally better for hydration, gentleness, and pleasantness, while the products on this page for RoC achieve High Lovi fit levels across nearly all skin types, including dry, sensitive, and oily skin.

Which is more affordable, RoC or Grown Alchemist?

Reviews note that RoC sometimes faces price and value concerns, while Grown Alchemist has no reviews mentioning affordability issues on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, RoC or Grown Alchemist?

Grown Alchemist is generally better for being gentle on sensitive skin, while the products on this page for RoC include options that achieve High Lovi fit levels for acne-prone skin such as the Barrier Renew Gel-to-Foam Cleanser and Barrier Renew AM Moisturizer SPF 30. Reviewers often mention skin irritation and burning with RoC, whereas Grown Alchemist is noted for hydrating, gentle cleansers.

Which brand is better for sensitive skin, RoC or Grown Alchemist?

Grown Alchemist does better than RoC for sensitive skin because Grown Alchemist is noted as gentle on sensitive skin, whereas RoC reviewers often mention skin irritation and burning. The products on this page for Grown Alchemist also feature fragrance-free formulas.

Does Grown Alchemist or RoC have a better selection of fragrance-free products?

Grown Alchemist has a better selection of fragrance-free products on this page, as every product it lists is fragrance-free. In comparison, while RoC also offers several fragrance-free options, a couple of its products do contain added fragrance.

Which brand is better suited for reducing wrinkles and fine lines?

RoC is better suited for reducing wrinkles and fine lines, as its retinol-based products focus on mature skin and wrinkle reduction. Topical retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

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

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