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Avène vs Grown Alchemist

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

Avène and Grown Alchemist are two distinct skincare lines with different strengths for diverse complexions. The French brand founded in 1990 relies on glycerin to provide gentle moisturizers, protective sunscreens, targeted serums, and soothing cleansers that suit oily, acne-prone, and combination skin best. Meanwhile, the second brand is celebrated for its restorative cleansers, serums, and overall formulas designed for sensitive, dry, and combination skin. While both offer effective solutions, their key difference lies in Avène utilizing glycerin for barrier function and hydration versus the specialized formulations of the other.

Avène is a French skincare brand founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com

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

Popular Avène vs Grown Alchemist products

People Say

AvèneGrown Alchemist
  • Gentle and non-stripping Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “Doesn't dry out my skin — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “Perfect for sensitive skin — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
  • Deeply hydrating Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Restores moisture barrier — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “Leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “Skin version of chugging water — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
  • Pleasant scent Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Smells amazing — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “smell is divine — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
  • Effective oil control and cleansing Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Gets everything nice and clean — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “Keeps me matte for hours — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Hydrating and lightweight Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Very light weight — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Smooths fine lines and improves texture Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “I've noticed a definite improvement in the fine lines around my eyes — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
    • “skin feels smoother — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
    • “Smooths out fine lines — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
  • Strong fragrance Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “smell is too strong — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Too perfumy notes — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
    • “smells medicinal — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
  • High price Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Its a bit pricey but so worth it!! — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “Tiny tube for the money — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “Tube is quite small — Avène Soothing Radiance Mask”
    • “expensive for what it is — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
  • Product separation and packaging issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Tube squirted water everywhere — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Tube cracked on the side — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Cap leaks in bag — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
    • “tube cracks easily — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”

Questions and answers

Avène or Grown Alchemist: which is better?

For shoppers looking at the products on this page, Avène features a wider variety of specialized treatments and targeted options for specific skin types. Grown Alchemist also offers gentle hydration, but Avène provides more diverse routines and targeted care across its extensive range.

What is the difference between Avène and Grown Alchemist?

Avène and Grown Alchemist are both skincare brands featured on this page, but Avène features a much wider variety of products including sunscreens, serums, and masks, while Grown Alchemist offers a more limited selection focused on cleansers and a smoothing serum. Reviewers note that Grown Alchemist delivers a pleasant scent and effective oil control and cleansing, whereas Avène tends to have a high price and occasional packaging issues.

Avène or Grown Alchemist: which cleanser is better?

For cleansers on this page, Avène features options with a High Lovi fit for oily acne-prone, acne-prone, and oily skin, while Grown Alchemist offers Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser with a High fit for sensitive, dry, and mature skin.

Which is more affordable, Avène or Grown Alchemist?

According to the review themes on this page, Grown Alchemist is more expensive while Avène has a lower high price. Reviewers on this page sometimes note Avène for its high price point.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Avène or Grown Alchemist?

According to the brand-focused routines on this page, Avène fits oily acne-prone skin and acne-prone skin best, while Grown Alchemist does not list specific fit levels for acne-prone skin. Reviewers sometimes note effective oil control for Avène products, whereas Grown Alchemist does not highlight oil control as a review theme.

When was Avène founded and who owns it compared to Grown Alchemist?

Avène was founded in 1990 in France and is owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre. In comparison, Grown Alchemist was founded in 2008 and has been independently owned since 2024.

How many Avène products on the page contain fragrance versus Grown Alchemist?

On the Lovi page, 7 of the 15 Avène products list fragrance, whereas every Grown Alchemist product lists no fragrance.

Which brand has better reviewer ratings for oil control and cleansing?

Grown Alchemist has better reviewer ratings for effective oil control and cleansing among the products on this page.

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?

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