Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel is a treatment. Our analysis of its 44 ingredients (27 low-risk) rates it Excellent (85/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Treatments
Ingredients
44
Low-risk
27
Fragrance
Contains fragrance
Origin
United States
Data updated
May 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 7/9
Good for dry skin
Simethicone Copper PCA Sodium PCA Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Zinc PCA Lactic Acid Lecithin
Caution for dry skin
Salicylic Acid Alcohol Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Achillea Millefolium Extract Polysorbate 20 Polysorbate 80 Alcohol Denat. Octoxynol-9 Lecithin
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 5/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid Alcohol Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Alcohol Denat. Retinol
Sensitive Skin 9/19
Good for sensitive skin
Resveratrol Sodium Bicarbonate Ascorbyl Palmitate Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract Ubiquinone Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Achillea Millefolium Extract Tocopheryl Acetate BHT
Caution for sensitive skin
Ascorbyl Palmitate Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract Salicylic Acid Menthone Glycerin Acetal Citric Acid Alcohol Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Benzoic Acid Achillea Millefolium Extract Sodium Benzoate Lactic Acid Alcohol Denat. Phenoxyethanol Linalool BHT Benzyl Salicylate Octoxynol-9 Retinol Malic Acid

Ingredients list

44 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (9)
All44 Skin Conditioning28 Fragrance13 Masking13 Antioxidant7 Astringent6 Ph Adjuster6 Buffering Agent6 Humectant6
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
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
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
3
B
Potassium Hydroxide
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
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
3
B
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
4
B
Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Mandelic Acid
(Antimicrobial)
3
4
B
Malic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
2
A
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
salix alba bark extract
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Soothing, Tonic)
2
Menthone Glycerin Acetal
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Refreshing)
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
3
B
Achillea Millefolium Extract
(Antidandruff Agent, Cleansing, Masking, Refreshing, Skin Conditioning, Soothing, Tonic)
1
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
(Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning)
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
Soy Isoflavones
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Copper PCA
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning)
3
Zinc PCA
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
2
3
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient)
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
2
Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling)
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
3
B
Polysorbate 80
(Denaturant, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming)
5
Linalool
(Fragrance, Deodorant, Masking)
Allergens
Allergens
7
Benzyl Salicylate
(Fragrance, Uv Absorber, Masking)
Allergens
Allergens
3
A
Benzoic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Preservative, Bulking Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
3
A
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking)
1
A
Sodium Bicarbonate
(Abrasive, Buffering Agent, Deodorant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Phadjuster, Skin Protecting)
1
Resveratrol
(Antioxidant, Skin Protecting)
9
A
Retinol
(Skin Conditioning)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
ASCORBIC ACID
(Antioxidant, Buffering, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
1
Ubiquinone
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Ascorbyl Palmitate
(Antioxidant, Masking)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
A
Phospholipids
(Skin Conditioning)
Retinyl Palmitate
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Miscellaneous)
3
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning)
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
Raphanus Sativus Root Extract
(Astringent, Skin Conditioning)
1
B
Sodium PCA
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
6
A
BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking)
7
Octoxynol-9
(Emulsifying, Surfactant, Cleansing)
1
Simethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
2
A
Tetrasodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent)

My Ingredient Notes

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

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Key ingredients

Antioxidants
Shields skin from free radical damage.
AHA
Exfoliates skin for a brighter complexion.
Exfoliators
Removes dead skin cells to smoothe texture.
Retinoid
Visibly reduces the signs of aging.
Vitamin C
Brightens, evens tone, and supports collagen.
BHA
Unclogs pores and reduces excess oil.
Vitamin E
Protects skin and soothes irritation.
Zinc
Helps control oil and supports healing.

Benefits

BrighteningRestores radiance to dull, tired skin.
Scar HealingImproves the look of marks and scars.
Anti-AgingSoftens lines and helps skin look youthful.
Good For Oily SkinBalances oil and helps reduce shine.
Dark SpotsFades dark spots for even skin tone.
Reduces Large PoresMinimizes the look of enlarged pores.
Skin TextureSmooths rough patches and refines texture.
Acne FightingFights acne and helps prevent breakouts.

Concerns

Contains paraben
Contains eu allergen
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
Benzyl Salicylate — higher EWG
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
Potassium Hydroxide
Ph adjuster, Buffering agent
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B Ph adjusterBuffering agent
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent, Hair conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AstringentHair conditioningSkin conditioningSoothing
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antimicrobial
Malic Acid
Fragrance, Ph adjuster
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3–4 CIR B FragrancePh adjusterBuffering agent
salix alba bark extract
Astringent, Hair conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AstringentHair conditioningSkin conditioningSoothingTonic
Menthone Glycerin Acetal
Flavoring agent, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 Flavoring agentFragranceRefreshing
Achillea Millefolium Extract
Antidandruff agent, Cleansing
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B Antidandruff agentCleansingMaskingRefreshingSkin conditioningSoothingTonic
Soy Isoflavones
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Copper PCA
Humectant, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 HumectantSkin conditioning
Zinc PCA
Skin conditioning, Humectant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 Skin conditioningHumectant
Lecithin
Skin conditioning, Emulsifying
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 2–3 Skin conditioningEmulsifyingSurfactantAntistatic agentEmollient
Disodium EDTA
Chelating agent, Viscosity controlling
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Chelating agentViscosity controlling
PARFUM
Fragrance, Perfuming
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragrancePerfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A FragrancePreservativeAnticorrosiveMasking
+ 9 more — see the full ingredients list above
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
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
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
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Lactic Acid
Exfoliant, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B ExfoliantFragranceHumectantPh adjusterSkin-conditioning agent -humectantSkin conditioningBuffering agent Bad for Sensitive Skin
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
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
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking, Perfuming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 MaskingPerfumingSkin conditioning Good for Sensitive SkinGood for Dry Skin
Alcohol
Antifoaming agent, Antimicrobial
Causes moisture evaporation - prone to dry out skinRead moreShow less
EWG 2 Antifoaming agentAntimicrobialAstringentMaskingSolventViscosity controlling Bad for Dry SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Polysorbate 80
Denaturant, Emulsifying
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B DenaturantEmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Linalool
Fragrance, Deodorant
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 5 FragranceDeodorantMasking Allergens
Benzyl Salicylate
Fragrance, Uv absorber
Higher-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 7 FragranceUv absorberMasking Allergens
Benzoic Acid
Fragrance, Ph adjuster
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A FragrancePh adjusterPreservativeBulking agentMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Retinol
Skin conditioning
Potentially a skin irritantRead moreShow less
EWG 9 CIR A Skin conditioning Bad for Sensitive Skin
+ 5 more — see the full ingredients list above

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, Retinyl Palmitate)

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, Retinyl Palmitate

Vitamin C (ascorbic) 5–20%

L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.

ASCORBIC ACID, Ascorbyl Palmitate

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, Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Malic 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.

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