Elemis vs Grown Alchemist
Elemis and Grown Alchemist are respected skincare brands offering cleansers, serums, and moisturizers enriched with nourishing ingredients like glycerin and shea butter. The British brand, founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019, features gentle and deeply hydrating formulations that suit dry, balanced, and sensitive skin best, while the latter also suits combination skin. Both cater to sensitive and dry skin through standout items like eye treatments, facial cleansers, and smoothing serums, though they differ in their specific product ranges and targeted concerns.
Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.
elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org
This page compares some of the most popular Elemis and Grown Alchemist products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Elemis vs Grown Alchemist products
People Say
Cleansing and Exfoliation Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “melts waterproof mascara — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “non-stripping formula — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
- “Doesn't dry out my skin — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
- “Gets everything nice and clean — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
Texture and Application Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
- “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
- “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “silkiest cleanser — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
- “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “Skin version of chugging water — Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum”
- “doesn't strip at all — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
Scents and Fragrance Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “Smells amazing — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
- “smell is divine — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
- “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
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”
- “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
Irritation and Breakouts Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “blurry vision — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “Too perfumy notes — Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser”
- “doesn't remove mascara — Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser”
Questions and answers
Elemis or Grown Alchemist: which is better?
Elemis stands out for its texture and application, offering luxurious moisturizers and smoother skin texture, whereas Grown Alchemist is noted for having no fragrance in its products.
What is the difference between Elemis and Grown Alchemist?
Elemis offers a wide selection of products with Lovi fit levels ranging from Superior to Low, whereas Grown Alchemist features far fewer items on this page with mostly Average or High fits. Reviewers frequently note that Grown Alchemist does better on scents and fragrance because every product on this page lists no fragrance, while Elemis includes fragrance in most of its formulas.
Elemis or Grown Alchemist: which cleanser is better?
Elemis and Grown Alchemist both offer multiple cleansers with varying Lovi fit levels across skin types, but reviewers note that Grown Alchemist cleansers are particularly hydrating, gentle, and pleasant.
Which is more affordable, Elemis or Grown Alchemist?
Grown Alchemist is noted by reviewers for a high price point, while Elemis also features a high price point.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Elemis or Grown Alchemist?
Both Elemis and Grown Alchemist perform equally regarding irritation and breakouts. The products on this page from both brands are unlikely to cause severe breakouts when used appropriately for your skin type, though individual reactions may vary.
Between Elemis and Grown Alchemist, which brand offers products completely free of fragrance?
Grown Alchemist offers products completely free of fragrance, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, Elemis includes fragrance in the majority of the products on this page.
How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Elemis and Grown Alchemist compare?
Elemis was founded in the United Kingdom in 1989 and has been owned by the L'Occitane Group since 2019, whereas Grown Alchemist was founded in 2008 and became independently owned in 2024.
What are the primary positive and negative review themes reported by users for Elemis skincare products?
Users frequently report positive feedback for Elemis skincare products regarding hydrating moisturizers, smoother skin texture, and lightweight, absorbing eye products. On the negative side, reviewers mostly mention a high price point, while sometimes noting a strong fragrance and skin irritation.
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
Bacterial cellulose membranes as drug delivery systems: an in vivo skin compatibility study
Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study
Topical beta-carotene protects against infra-red-light-induced free radicals
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
Comparative measurement of hydration effects of herbal moisturizers
Topical Almond Oil for Prevention of Pressure Injuries: A Single-Blinded Comparison Study
Skin recovery by Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract: Redox control of Nrf2 signaling
Formulation and evaluation of exotic fat based cosmeceuticals for skin repair
Nanocomplex of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and hyaluronic acid for a skin delivery
Development and efficacy assessments of tea seed oil makeup remover
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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