Acne Eliminating Gel

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Acne Eliminating Gel is a treatment. Our analysis of its 40 ingredients (28 low-risk) rates it Excellent (89/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Treatments
Ingredients
40
Low-risk
28
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United States
Status
Discontinued
Data updated
Jun 2026

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 6/7
Good for dry skin
Saccharide Isomerate Ethoxydiglycol Sodium Hyaluronate Glycerin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Zinc PCA
Caution for dry skin
Vitex Agnus Castus Extract Glycerin Salicylic Acid Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Polysorbate 20 Alcohol Denat. Octoxynol-9
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 5/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Vitex Agnus Castus Extract Salicylic Acid Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Alcohol Denat. Retinol
Sensitive Skin 7/13
Good for sensitive skin
Glycerin Potassium Gluconate Ferulic Acid Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Tocopheryl Acetate Farnesol Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Caution for sensitive skin
Glutathione Ethoxydiglycol Glycerin Salicylic Acid Citric Acid Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Sodium Benzoate Potassium Sorbate Alcohol Denat. Farnesol Phenoxyethanol Octoxynol-9 Retinol

Ingredients list

40 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (9)
All40 Skin Conditioning23 Fragrance11 Humectant7 Solvent6 Hair Conditioning6 Masking6 Chelating Agent5 Viscosity Controlling5
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
4
B
Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Water
(Solvent)
4
Alcohol Denat.
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling)
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
1
PVM/MA Decadiene Crosspolymer
(Binding, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Dimethyl Isosorbide
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
2
A
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
3
B
Potassium Hydroxide
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
3
B
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
B
Carnitine
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Vitex Agnus Castus Extract
(Cosmetic Astringent)
1
Glutathione
(Fragrance, Reducing)
Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
1
A
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing)
1
Phytic Acid
(Chelating Agent, Oral Care Agent)
4
B
Glycolic Acid
(Exfoliant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
2
Ferulic Acid
(Antioxidant, Preservative, Uv Absorber, Antimicrobial)
9
A
Retinol
(Skin Conditioning)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
(Antidandruff Agent, Antimicrobial)
CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA FLOWER EXTRACT
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
B
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
(Skin Conditioning)
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
4
Farnesol
(Fragrance, Deodorant, Masking, Solvent, Soothing)
Allergens
Allergens
Sodium Pantothenate
(Hair Conditioning)
1
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
(Skin Conditioning)
1
B
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
1
A
Phospholipids
(Skin Conditioning)
3
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning)
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
1
Saccharide Isomerate
(Humectant)
1
A
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
Soy Isoflavones
(Skin Conditioning)
3
Zinc PCA
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
1
A
Ethoxydiglycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Humectant, Perfuming)
7
Octoxynol-9
(Emulsifying, Surfactant, Cleansing)
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Potassium Gluconate
(Chelating Agent, Skin Protecting)
2
A
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Pentasodium Pentetate
(Chelating Agent)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
3
A
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking)
3
A
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative)

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

Browse similar treatment
No close formula match yet — browse other products like this

Key ingredients

Antioxidants
Shields skin from free radical damage.
AHA
Exfoliates skin for a brighter complexion.
BHA
Unclogs pores and reduces excess oil.
Retinoid
Visibly reduces the signs of aging.
Vitamin E
Protects skin and soothes irritation.
Niacinamide
Strengthens, smooths, and brightens skin.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hydrates by attracting and holding water.
Azelaic Acid
Gently exfoliates and reduces inflammation.

Benefits

Redness ReducingSoothes visible redness and calms irritation.
BrighteningRestores radiance to dull, tired skin.
Good For Oily SkinBalances oil and helps reduce shine.
Barrier RepairStrengthen and restore your skin's natural barrier.
HydratingBoosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Reduces Large PoresMinimizes the look of enlarged pores.
Scar HealingImproves the look of marks and scars.
Anti-AgingSoftens lines and helps skin look youthful.

Concerns

Contains paraben
Contains eu allergen
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
Retinol — higher EWG
Octoxynol-9 — higher EWG
May not suit dry skin
May not suit sensitive skin

EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent, Hair conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AstringentHair conditioningSkin conditioningSoothing
PVM/MA Decadiene Crosspolymer
Binding, Film forming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 BindingFilm formingViscosity controlling
Dimethyl Isosorbide
Solvent, Viscosity decreasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 SolventViscosity decreasing agentViscosity controlling
Potassium Hydroxide
Ph adjuster, Buffering agent
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B Ph adjusterBuffering agent
Carnitine
Antistatic agent, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Antistatic agentHair conditioningSkin conditioningSufactantFoam boostingViscosity increasing agentViscosity controlling
Vitex Agnus Castus Extract
Cosmetic astringent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Cosmetic astringent
Glutathione
Fragrance, Reducing
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 FragranceReducing
Bisabolol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragranceSkin conditioningSoothing
Niacinamide
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningSmoothing
Phytic Acid
Chelating agent, Oral care agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Chelating agentOral care agent
Ferulic Acid
Antioxidant, Preservative
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 AntioxidantPreservativeUv absorberAntimicrobial
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antidandruff agent, Antimicrobial
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antidandruff agentAntimicrobial
CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA FLOWER EXTRACT
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragranceSkin conditioning
Sodium Pantothenate
Hair conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Hair conditioning
+ 11 more — see the full ingredients list above
Salicylic Acid
Antiacne agent, Antidandruff agent
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B Antiacne agentAntidandruff agentCorn/callus/wart removerDenaturantExfoliantFragranceHair conditioningSkin conditioningKeratolyticMaskingPreservative Good for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Alcohol Denat.
Antifoaming agent, Antimicrobial
Causes moisture evaporation - prone to dry out skinRead moreShow less
EWG 4 Antifoaming agentAntimicrobialAstringentMaskingSolventViscosity controlling Bad for Dry SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Glycolic Acid
Exfoliant, Ph adjuster
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B ExfoliantPh adjusterBuffering agent Good for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Retinol
Skin conditioning
Potentially a skin irritantRead moreShow less
EWG 9 CIR A Skin conditioning Bad for Sensitive Skin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A CIR B Skin conditioning Good for Sensitive Skin
Farnesol
Fragrance, Deodorant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 FragranceDeodorantMaskingSolventSoothing Allergens
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B AntimicrobialAntioxidantAstringentEmollientHumectantMaskingOral care agentSkin conditioningSkin protectingTonicUv absorber Good for Oily Skin
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant, Skin conditioning
Potentially comedogenic - can block poresRead moreShow less
EWG 3 AntioxidantSkin conditioning Bad for Oily Skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin conditioning, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningHumectant Good for Dry Skin
Octoxynol-9
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Higher-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 7 EmulsifyingSurfactantCleansing
Citric Acid
Chelating agent, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Chelating agentFragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Apply after toner and before moisturiser — thinnest to thickest.
  • 2 Morning only: Apply as the last step of your AM routine, after moisturiser, and reapply every ~2 hours of sun exposure.
  • 3 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Often avoided
Retinoids (Vitamin A) (Retinol)

Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.

Use with caution
BHA (salicylic) (Salicylic Acid)

Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.

This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

Retinoids (Vitamin A) 0.01–1%

Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.

Retinol

Niacinamide 2–5% (up to 10%)

Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.

Niacinamide

BHA (salicylic) 0.5–2%

Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.

Salicylic Acid

AHA (acid exfoliant) 5–10% (OTC)

OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.

Glycolic Acid

INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.

From the community

0
Reviews
0
Saved by users
0
In collections

Ratings & reviews

Write a Review
0.0
from 0 ratings

Used this product? Rate it in 10 seconds

Alternatives