🇮🇹Italy

SK-II vs Grown Alchemist

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

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

SK-IIGrown Alchemist
  • 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 generally does better for improving texture, radiance, and hydration across the products on this page, whereas Grown Alchemist stands out for gentle and pleasant cleansers. Reviewers note that Grown Alchemist often has a high price point and a lack of results.

What is the difference between SK-II and Grown Alchemist?

SK-II has a High or Superior fit across many products for skin types like dry, acne-prone, and combination skin, whereas Grown Alchemist offers fewer products on this page with mostly Average or High fit levels. Reviewers note that SK-II is better for improving skin texture and radiance, while Grown Alchemist is recognized for effective cleansing and gentle formulas.

Which is more affordable, SK-II or Grown Alchemist?

Grown Alchemist is noted for a high price point among the review themes on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, SK-II or Grown Alchemist?

For acne-prone skin, the Genoptics Ultraura Essence from SK-II has a Superior Lovi fit level, whereas the products on this page from Grown Alchemist have an Average Lovi fit level.

Which brand has products that are fragrance-free, SK-II or Grown Alchemist?

Both SK-II and Grown Alchemist feature products on this page that list no fragrance in their ingredients.

How do the Lovi fit levels for dry skin compare between SK-II's Facial Treatment Essence and Grown Alchemist's Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser?

SK-II's Facial Treatment Essence has a High Lovi fit level for dry skin, and Grown Alchemist's Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser also has a High fit level for dry skin.

What are the main review themes where Grown Alchemist outperforms SK-II?

Reviewers note that Grown Alchemist outperforms SK-II for effective cleansing and makeup removal, gentle formulas, and a pleasant scent.

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