There’s no doubt that seeing your derm or esthetician for a professional chemical peel is one of the best ways to quickly achieve glowing, healthy skin. But what if you don’t have the time (or money) to get a chemical peel?
Fortunately, brands like Dr. Dennis Gross are making it possible to achieve these skin-transforming results from the comfort of your own home with at-home chemical peels, like the iconic Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads.
But are Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads right for you? To help you decide, we’ll give you all the details on the key ingredients in these pads, as well as the research that supports (or doesn’t support) their use in skin care.
We’ll also share some Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel reviews so that you can get an idea of what customers really think of this product.
What Are The Different Types of Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel?
There are three different types of Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads: Universal Daily Peel, Ultra Gentle Daily Peel, and Extra Strength Daily Peel. Below we’ll give you the details on each one.
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel
The Universal Daily Peel is recommended for those with normal or combination skin. The key ingredients in Step 1 include denatured alcohol along with four AHAs and one BHA.
The key ingredients in Step 2 include sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) along with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and retinol.
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel
If you have sensitive skin, the Ultra Gentle Daily Peel Pads are for you. The key ingredients in step 1 include witch hazel, lactic acid, mandelic acid, and willow bark extract, and the key ingredients in step 2 include sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), sodium hyaluronate, and colloidal oatmeal.
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel
Recommended for those with normal, combination, or oily skin, the Extra Strength Daily Peel Pads combine denatured alcohol with five AHAs and one BHA in Step 1. Then, Step 2 includes sodium bicarbonate, resveratrol, retinol, and ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
What Are The Key Ingredients in Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel?
In order to determine how well Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads perform, we’ll have to evaluate the key ingredients in this formula. Let’s get started.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
The brand uses a variety of AHAs, including glycolic, lactic, mandelic, tartaric, and citric acid, in the Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads.
AHAs exfoliate the skin by targeting corneocytes (dead skin cells that make up the stratum corneum) in a process called corneocyte desquamation. By enhancing their breakdown and increasing the separation of skin cells, the rate of cell turnover is increased, leading to smoother, brighter skin and a more even complexion.
According to a publication in the journal Molecules, AHAs can be used to easily peel all types of skin with minimal risk.
You can find AHAs in all three types of Dr. Dennis Gross peel pads — Universal Daily Peel, Ultra Gentle Daily Peel, and Extra Strength Daily Peel.
Salicylic Acid
The BHA that you’ll find in the Dr. Dennis Gross peel pads is salicylic acid. One way that salicylic acid works is by softening and dissolving keratin. Keratin is a protein found in the skin that acts as a “glue” to keep cells together. This allows salicylic acid to exfoliate the skin and slough off dead skin cells, promoting a healthier, more even complexion.
Salicylic acid also has the ability to penetrate deep into pores, where it helps to loosen clogs and allows oil to flow out more freely. Thus, salicylic acid is known to break down blackheads and whiteheads.
Denatured Alcohol
While there are beneficial key ingredients used in Dr. Dennis Gross skincare products, we noticed that some product formulations contain ingredients that could be potentially harmful.
For example, the Dr. Dennis Gross peel pads (the Universal Peel and the Extra Strength Peel) both contain very high concentrations of denatured alcohol. In fact, there’s more denatured alcohol in these formulations than any other ingredient (except water). So why is this a problem? Let’s discuss the pros and cons of denatured alcohol.
On one hand, alcohol functions as a penetration enhancer by disturbing the skin barrier so that key ingredients can penetrate deeper into the skin. It also helps to remove excess oil and temporarily tighten skin while giving products a weightless feel and quick-drying finish.
On the other hand, alcohol-based products can cause excessive skin dryness. Over time, this can cause the sebaceous glands to compensate by producing even more oil, leading to clogged pores and acne.
Furthermore, alcohol disrupts the lipids that make up the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of skin), according to a publication in the journal BBA Biomembranes.
While there are some benefits of denatured alcohol, we don’t believe the benefits outweigh the risks, which is why we don’t recommend Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads.
Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
Lastly, we’d like to point out that Step 2 of all Dr. Dennis Gross peel pads contain a high concentration of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to “control the alpha hydroxy acid activity”. Basically, Step 2 neutralizes Step 1 because Step 2 is alkaline (baking soda has a pH of 9).
However, you don’t need a special solution in order to neutralize an AHA, you could just use plain tap water.
In addition, baking soda is typically too alkaline for skin to tolerate since the skin’s normal pH is about 4.5 to 5. This alkaline pH can lead to disruption of the skin barrier, causing redness, dryness, breakouts, and signs of sensitivity.
Which Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads Are Best?
We introduced three different types of peel pads — Universal Daily Peel, Ultra Gentle Daily Peel, and Extra Strength Daily Peel — which may leave you wondering: which Dr. Dennis Gross peel pads are best?
After evaluating the key ingredients in both steps of these peel pads, we would have to say the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily peel pads are best, simply because these peel pads do not contain denatured alcohol (and the other peel pad formulations do). However, keep in mind that the Ultra Gentle peel pads still contain baking soda and fragrant essential oils, which have the potential to aggravate the skin.
How to Use Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel?
For optimal results, use daily in the morning and in the evening. Massage Step 1 onto clean, dry skin until the pad is dry. Wait two minutes. Repeat with Step 2.
Where to Buy Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel?
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel and other Dr. Dennis Gross skin care products are sold on the brand’s website, as well as many third party online retailers, such as Sephora, SkinStore, Dermstore, Nordstrom, and many more.
How Much Are Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads?
All three types of Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads cost $88 USD for a pack of 30 pads.
Is Dr. Dennis Gross Cruelty Free?
Yes, Dr. Dennis Gross is PETA-certified cruelty free.
Our Verdict
Overall, we don’t recommend Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads due to the high concentrations of denatured alcohol and sodium bicarbonate in these formulations.
Pros
- AHAs and salicylic acid (BHA) are beneficial key ingredients
- Many positive Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel reviews
- Dr. Dennis Gross is cruelty free
Cons
- Peel pads contain high concentrations of denatured alcohol
- Peel pads contain high concentrations of sodium bicarbonate
- Peel pads contain fragrance
References:
BBA Biomembranes, May 2012, pages 1410-1419
Molecules. 2018 Apr; 23(4): 863.
