Behind the Brand: Grown Alchemist

Grown Alchemist is a waltz between nature and chemistry- very sexy. They turn to ingredients in centuries-old skin care regimes like ylang ylang, argan, and ginkgo and pair them with peptides, antioxidants, and proteins. Ethical, good-for-the-earth kind of skincare is on the rise but sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between the real stuff and products that are “clean” in name only.

That’s why we think Grown Alchemist deserves the class superlative of “Most Radical Integrity” in clean beauty. Founded by brothers, Jeremy and Keston Muijs, Grown Alchemist is as much about science as it is about the other parts of beauty. And, because they take their science so seriously, that also means they exclude the chemicals and inorganic stuff that your body isn’t jazzed about. 

We talked to Jeremy Mujis about what sets them apart from other brands, just how clean their ingredients are, and why he presses on with their innovative beauty. We also included some of Neighborhood Good’s favorite picks from Grown Alchemist that you should have in your life.

Jeremy and Keston Muijs, brothers and Co-founders of Grown Alchemist.

Where did the inspiration for the name Grown Alchemist come from?

The name Grown Alchemist encapsulates the duality of our brand, one that is built on biology, then backed by science. As a brand, we have one foot firmly planted in the natural world utilizing the power botanicals we use in our formulations, and the other rooted in the alchemy of science in order to harness the potency of these naturally occurring ingredients. This duality makes us who we are as a brand. 

“The name Grown Alchemist encapsulates the duality of our brand, one that is built on biology, then backed by science.”

What has it been like to see the company grow and evolve over the years?

I have to say it’s not been easy to navigate the business challenges over the years but it’s absolutely rewarding to see our brand ethos and our holistic approach to beauty resonate with so many people from all walks of lives. 

Age-Repair Eye Cream: Tetra-Peptide, Centella by Grown Alchemist - $69

Why We Love It: The peptides in this eye cream are the building blocks for collagen, which keeps skin bouncy and firm. That’s some science-y science.

What does “clean beauty” mean to you?

Clean beauty is sustainably produced products which are plant-based and free of harmful toxins and carcinogens. It’s compatible with the body, not tested on animals, and features recyclable packaging. 

To achieve full optimization of anything we consume either topically or orally, our body must first recognize the ingredients. Simply put, our body isn’t designed to easily recognize ingredients such as silicones, petrol, and fertilizers, to name a couple, which are commonly found in the beauty industry. These types of ingredients can have profound impacts on our body over time such as disrupting our hormones, affecting fertility, speeding up the ageing process, and decreasing our mental health. 

“Simply put, our body isn’t designed to easily recognize ingredients such as silicones, petrol, and fertilizers, to name a couple, which are commonly found in the beauty industry.”

Purifying Body Exfoliant: Pearl, Peppermint, Ylang Ylang by Grown Alchemist - $34

Why We Love It: The peppermint perks up your skin and your senses as its other active ingredients clear away dead skin cells and daily grim.

Can you tell us about the three tenets, Cleanse, Detox, Activate, of your skincare system?

Our products work in synchronicity. Restoring skin function, detoxing the skin and then activating skin function using the latest cell-communicating ingredients. 

We distinguish ourselves from other brands in the market through one key focus: restoring skin function. The skincare industry has conditioned consumers into thinking that the answer to amazing skin is all about a magical ingredient. Naturally, as a beauty brand we do believe in the power of science and active ingredients to visibly transform skin. But without a healthy, capable skin cell nothing really happens. It’s just a waste of powerful ingredients. 

So unlike other brands, natural or otherwise, we spend the majority of our time and energy enhancing the skin’s capability through detoxification; a function-restoring process that is just as much about what we add back to the skin as which toxic ingredients we leave out. Once we restore skin function, we then focus on activating it.

“We distinguish ourselves from other brands in the market through one key focus: restoring skin function.”

Age-Repair Moisturiser: Phyto-Peptide, White Tea Extract by Grown Alchemist - $99

Why We Love It: The white tea extract in this moisturiser doesn’t just smell good, it delivers a burst of antioxidants to revive and tone your skin.

How do you stay motivated when the going gets tough, as a business owner?

I think you must love what you do. Sometimes the very thing that keeps you moving forward to look back at why you started. That’s what helps us to continually strive to be the best in beauty and how we uniquely meet our customers’ needs.

Shop Grown Alchemist at our Chelsea Market and Legacy West locations or online. Remember, if you have any questions about these products, just hop in the chat box on our website to talk to a local Storyteller and get the scoop.