PRODUCT REVIEW: DR. DENNIS GROSS SKINCARE ALPHA BETA EXFOLIATING BODY TREATMENT PEEL - BEST EXFOLIATING BODY TREATMENT, BEST KP TREATMENT
DR. DENNIS GROSS SKINCARE | ALPHA BETA EXFOLIATING BODY TREATMENT PEEL
I’m no newbie to acid wipes. I use them nearly every day as a natural deodorant in my underarms. If you haven’t caught my blog article on the Glycolic Acid deodorant hack, you can check it out here.
One of the most popular acid wipes is the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Peels. I’m a big fan of the Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel for Sensitive Skin — the version without drying denatured alcohol.
(I review them just below.)
The Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel for Sensitive Skin are simply among the best glycolic acid treatments for face. They really get the job done — and because they’re alcohol free, they’re also irritation free.
So, I’m excited to try out Dr. Gross’ new version of his iconic Alpha Beta peels — for the body. There are numerous exfoliating needs that are specific to the body that aren’t an issue on the face, among them ingrown hairs and razor bumps, KP or chicken skin and even eczema.
And the new Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment Peels claim to address some of these as well as body blemishes and uneven skin tone.
The formula in the Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment Peels is powered by an acid complex of glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids — just like the Alpha Beta peels for the face.
Regrettably, they also contain a high concentration of denatured alcohol at ingredient no. 2! Sure, there are multiple soothing actives, including Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin and Phospholipids that will help to tamp down irritation and nourish skin.
There are several intriguing actives, too, including the Retinol alternative Bakuchiol and both Copper PCA and Zinc PCA. If you’re looking for a serious dermatological exfoliating treatment for the body, these are quite effective — unless you experience sensitivity on your body.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Dr. Gross Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment Peel for $58 here.
Dr. Dennis Gross | Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel for Sensitive Skin
One of my absolute fave exfoliating treatments is Dr. Gross’ most famous product — the Alpha Beta Daily Peel. As popular as these daily AHA/BHA wipes are, I hadn’t really paid much attention to them until this year. Why would I avoid such a functional product from one of my go-to dermatologist brands? Because most of them (there are multiple versions and strengths) contain denatured alcohol — which is used to break down the actives and enhance penetration into the stubborn skin barrier that’s built to not let anything get past it. As helpful as it is at enhancing penetration, alcohol also compromises the skin barrier.
Given my militant Skin Barrier Defense Policy™, I prefer to avoid alcohol in my skincare whenever I can. Often that means I use alternatives that may not be as effective. It’s just me! You do you.
So, while eschewing this iconic product for years, I suddenly discovered that the version called Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel for Sensitive Skin contains nary a drop of alcohol. The two-step treatment takes just a few minutes each morning to literally reboot and light up my complexion.
The Dr. Gross Alpha Beta peels all contain a combination of AHA’s and BHA’s in varying intensities.
As I shared in a recent blog, AHA’s are a group of natural acids commonly found in fruits and foods. They include Glycolic Acid (derived from sugar cane), Lactic Acid (derived from milk and tomato juice), Malic Acid (derived from apples), Tartaric Acid (derived from grapes), Citric Acid (derived from multiple citrus fruits), and Mandelic Acid (derived from almonds).
There’s an excellent article with a thorough breakdown of each of the six AHA molecules on the Paula’s Choice website titled, Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) for Skin: What They Are, How They Work.
The two-step peels come in separate packets containing pre-soaked pads infused with exfoliating AHA/BHA acids, anti-aging actives, and soothing botanicals that resurface, calm and nourish the skin.
My version, the Ultra Gentle Daily Peel for sensitive skin (or those of us who prefer to avoid alcohol) contain a complex of three acids — Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid and Willow Bark, a natural form of Salicylic Acid or BHA. The acids are concentrated in step one, the first of the two pads.
Along with the triple acid complex are several effective buffers that help ameliorate the intensity of the acids on the skin without compromising their efficacy. They include Cucumber Fruit Extract, Green Tea Leaf Extract, Coconut Oil and Rosemary Leaf Extract.
Approximately two or three times per week, immediately after showering, I take one of the step one wipes from the packet and sweep it over my entire face and neck. Over the two minutes it takes for the formula to work, I choose the day’s dope statement T-shirt, jeans and, of course, the perfect cap to top it all off — and return to the bathroom sink.
I like to think of step two as the deactivator. But that’s a bit of an oversimplification. Dr. Gross says this, “Step two controls the alpha hydroxy acid activity and delivers antiaging actives while nourishing and soothing skin to keep it balanced, soft, and luminous.”
Removing the second soaked pad, I sweep it over the same areas where I applied step one — across my forehead, around my eyes (not too close!), over and along the sides of my nose, cheeks and chin. Since turning fifty, I try to never neglect my neck. So the skin on my neck gets all the same TLC and daily treatments that my face gets.
Step two of the Alpha Beta Daily Peel is infused with calming actives, hydrating botanicals and humectant Sodium Hyaluronate that helps skin hold onto its water and moisture content. There is also a treasure trove of antioxidants in the form of vitamins and botanical extracts, including Green Tea Leaf Extract, Resveratrol and Vitamins A, C and E.
But perhaps the most interesting — and certainly the most boring — of the ingredients in the step-two formula is Colloidal Oatmeal. Produced by finely grinding and boiling oats, the form of oatmeal has been used in skin care for decades to soothe sensitivity and ease inflammation. The entire Aveeno brand got its start in 1945 with a product made from Colloidal Oatmeal and it’s found in nearly all their formulas today.
My skin care muse Paula Begoun says this about Colloidal Oatmeal:
“Research shows avenathramides, potent types of antioxidants found in oats (and colloidal oatmeal), can help soothe skin. A high concentration of beta-glucan and starches in colloidal oatmeal also mean it has water-binding properties and is an effective skin protectant. In fact, the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes colloidal oatmeal as a skin protectant, allowing it to be listed as an active ingredient on skincare products.”
Skin care isn’t always sexy.
I gladly employ step two as the perfect skin soother and think of it as the kick-off to the rest of my morning skincare routine. There’s a reason that the Dr. Gross’ Alpha Beta Daily Peel has become a staple in so many individual regimens — and why there are options for individual skin concerns. I only wish I’d started using them sooner. If you’re looking for an easy, effective exfoliating treatment that gets the job done without irritating the skin, you should check these out. Don’t wait like I did to discover them!
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Dr. Gross Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment Peel for $58 here.
The Ingredient List of the Dr. Gross Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel for Sensitive Skin:
so, Lactic Acid 
exf|h|buff, Mandelic Acid exf|amic, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract so, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract so|emo, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract aox|so, Achillea Millefolium Extract so|surf, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract so|perf, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil emo|perf 0 4, Rose Extract, Soy Isoflavones aox, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract aox|so|amic, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract abrasive/scrub|h, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Extract perf, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Extract perf, Coriandrum Sativum (Coriander) Seed Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Seed Extract perf, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract emo|so, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Copper Pca h, Zinc Pca aacne|h, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Polysorbate 20 emu|surf 0 0, Alcohol Denat 
amic|solv|vc, Disodium EDTA chel|vc, Potassium Hydroxide buff, Phenoxyethanol pres, Sodium Benzoate pres, Water solv, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Polysorbate 20 emu|surf 0 0, Sodium Hyaluronate sii|h 0 0, Colloidal Oatmeal so|aox|emo|abrasive/scrub, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract aox|so, Centella Asiatica Extract so|aox|h, Retinyl Palmitate cci 1-3 1-3, Tocopheryl Acetate aox 0 0, Ascorbyl Palmitate aox 0 2, Soy Isoflavones aox, Phospholipids sii|emo, Resveratrol aox, Ubiquinone aox, Achillea Millefolium Extract so|surf, Raphanus Sativus (Radish) Root Extract, Copper Pca h, Sodium PCA sii|h 0 0, Zinc Pca aacne|h, Lecithin emo|emu, Octoxynol-9 emu|surf 0-1, Simethicone emo 0 1, Tetrasodium EDTA chel, Polysorbate 80 emu|surf 0 0, Sodium Bicarbonate abrasive/scrub|buff, Phenoxyethanol pres, Sodium Benzoate presThe Ingredient List of the Dr. Gross Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment Peel :
Water/Aqua/Eau, Alcohol Denat. (SD Alcohol 40-B), Glycolic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid*, Squalane, Glycerin, Hexylresorcinol, Olive Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Bakuchiol, Bromelain, Papain, Phytic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Soy Isoflavones, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Phospholipids, Copper PCA, Zinc PCA, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Maltodextrin, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower/Leaf Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Flower Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid.
