Alpha Beta On The Spot Eliminator
The Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta On The Spot Eliminator is a treatment. Our analysis of its 62 ingredients (42 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta On The Spot Eliminator is a treatment. Our analysis of its 62 ingredients (42 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Alcohol Denat.
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Hamamelis Virginiana Water
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
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PVM/MA Decadiene Crosspolymer
(Binding, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Dimethyl Isosorbide
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Potassium Hydroxide
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Carnitine HCl
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Gluconolactone
(Fragrance, Humectant, Solvent) |
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Phytic Acid
(Chelating Agent, Oral Care Agent) |
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Glycolic Acid
(Exfoliant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
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Vitex Agnus Castus Extract
(Cosmetic Astringent) |
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ganoderma lucidum extract
(Skin Protecting) |
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Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
(Anti Seborrheic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Oral Care, Skin Protecting, Uv Absorber) |
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Tetrahydrocurcumin
(Antioxidant) |
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Glutathione
(Fragrance, Reducing) |
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Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Farnesol
(Fragrance, Deodorant, Masking, Solvent, Soothing) |
Allergens
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Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
(Antidandruff Agent, Antimicrobial) |
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Sodium Pantothenate
(Hair Conditioning) |
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Retinol
(Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
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Saccharide Isomerate
(Humectant) |
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Ferulic Acid
(Antioxidant, Preservative, Uv Absorber, Antimicrobial) |
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Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Oily Skin
|
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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Mannitol
(Binding Agent, Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Binding, Masking, Moisturising, Skin Conditioning) |
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sh-Oligopeptide-1
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Viscosity Increasing Agent) |
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PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
(Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Sensitive Skin
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Centella Asiatica Extract
(Cleansing, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing, Soothing, Tonic) |
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Phospholipids
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
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Soy Isoflavones
(Skin Conditioning) |
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CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA FLOWER EXTRACT
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Zinc PCA
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
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Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
|
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Ethoxydiglycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Humectant, Perfuming) |
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Stearic Acid
(Fragrance, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Stearic Acid., Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Refatting) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
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Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Sodium Citrate
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Chelating, Masking) |
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Calcium Gluconate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent) |
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Potassium Gluconate
(Chelating Agent, Skin Protecting) |
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Cyclodextrin
(Absorbent, Chelating Agent) |
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Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
(Chelating Agent) |
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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
(Fragrance, Moisturising, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
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Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
(Astringent, Fragrance, Oral Care, Tonic) |
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Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
(Flavouring, Fragrance, Oral Care, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
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Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
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 →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
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.
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.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
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
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
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
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.
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