Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta® Pore Perfecting Cleansing Gel for dry skin
Mandelic Acid
Glycolic Acid
Willow Bark Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceAverage
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for dry skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate suitability for your dry skin, as Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate provide humectant action to attract moisture.
- The cleansing gel effectively removes impurities with Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate and Mandelic Acid, but it lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients for optimal hydration of dry or flaky skin.
- The product is safe for your dry skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Bisabolol.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin clean. Start using it daily right away since your skin is not sensitive.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow with your toner and moisturizer afterwards.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Apply this cleanser on slightly damp skin for a comfortable and refreshing wash. This helps maintain your skin's natural moisture while cleansing away dirt.
- Avoid getting the cleanser directly into your eyes to prevent any irritation. Do a simple patch test before your first use to ensure your skin likes it.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly praised for its deep cleansing abilities and pore refinement, leaving skin feeling soft and balanced, particularly for oily and combination skin types. Many users report smoother texture and reduced breakouts. However, a small number of users with sensitive or dry skin experienced irritation or purging, and some found the price point high for a cleanser.
Highlights
Deep clean Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft and supple”
- “cleans deep without drying”
- “face feels balanced”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “pores look smaller”
- “skin texture is smoother”
- “helped with blackheads”
- “glass skin effect”
Helps acne Sometimes Noted
- “cleared my cystic acne”
- “keeps breakouts at bay”
- “great for hormonal acne”
- “reduced blemishes”
Luxurious lather Sometimes Noted
- “lathers beautifully”
- “a little goes a long way”
- “feels silky on skin”
- “rich foam”
Expensive price Sometimes Noted
- “pricey for a cleanser”
- “too expensive to repurchase”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “good but costly”
Can be drying Rarely Noted
- “dried out my skin”
- “left dry patches”
- “too strong for twice a day”
- “skin felt tight”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me whiteheads”
- “caused a bad breakout”
- “skin reacted poorly”
- “too active for my sensitive skin”
Scent dislike Rarely Noted
- “smells like chemicals”
- “scent is off-putting”
- “weird smell”
- “fragrance is too strong”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, drdennisgross.com, cultbeauty.com, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the Alpha Beta® Pore Perfecting Cleansing Gel work for dry skin?
This cleansing gel works moderately well for your dry skin because glycerin and sodium hyaluronate draw in moisture, but a cleanser of this type needs richer softening and sealing ingredients to lock in hydration and prevent dryness.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate make this cleanser a moderate fit by drawing moisture into dry skin. However, dry skin needs additional softening and sealing ingredients like ceramides and rich moisturizers to lock in hydration and prevent flaking.
What does Mandelic Acid do for dry skin?
Mandelic acid helps keep dry skin smooth and hydrated while improving overall texture. When combined with nourishing ingredients like Centella asiatica, it can also significantly improve skin firmness and reduce crepiness without causing excessive irritation.
What does Glycolic Acid do for dry skin?
Glycolic acid helps smooth and soften dry skin by speeding up the shedding of older surface cells. Because it can also cause the skin to lose more moisture, dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid alongside it to keep the skin comfortable.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser goes as the second step in your evening routine after removing makeup, and in the morning before applying a hydrating toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen. While it provides moderate suitability for dry skin by attracting moisture, a cleanser of this type for dry skin needs extra softening and sealing ingredients to lock in hydration.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine alongside retinol, applying it first to wash your face before putting on your retinol treatment. A cleanser for dry skin needs extra softening and sealing ingredients like ceramides, oils, or rich butters to lock in moisture and prevent flaking when using strong treatments.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser works for your dry skin, though it needs extra softening and sealing ingredients to keep flaky skin fully hydrated. You can use it as part of your regular morning and evening routine.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleansing gel is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry skin, and reviewers rarely mention any. It contains acids that help clear pores, but dry skin needs richer creams with softening ingredients and heavy sealants to lock in moisture.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin around your eyes to prevent dryness and irritation. To properly care for dry skin in delicate areas, a product of this type needs rich softening and sealing ingredients that lock in moisture.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (farnesol) and drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Treatment with 45% mandelic acid peel showed nearly equal overall efficacy as 30% salicylic acid peel in patients with mild-to-moderate facial acne vulgaris, but with fewer adverse effects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Chemical peels using 35% glycolic acid, 20% salicylic-10% mandelic acid, and phytic acid reduce acne scores by 70.55%, 74.14%, and 69.7% respectively, and significantly decline the postacne hyperpigmentation index in Asian patients with mild to moderate acne.
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019Commonly used chemical peels showed no significant differences in effectiveness for acne vulgaris in most comparisons, though combined salicylic and mandelic acid peeling was superior to glycolic acid and glycolic acid was superior to placebo, based on twelve randomized controlled trials.
BMJ Open, 2018Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010
Why other cleansers fit dry skin better
Phytosphingosine increased filaggrin metabolism and skin hydration in human skin by stimulating filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to natural moisturizing factor formation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Propanediol, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Disteareth-75 Ipdi, Glycereth-7 Caprylate Caprate, Sodium Chloride, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Mandelic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Willow Bark Extract, Phytic Acid, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Citric Acid, Farnesol, Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract, Sodium Pca, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tremella Fuciformis Extract Mushroom Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Bisabolol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Alcohol, Sodium Phytate, Jasmine Leaf Extract Flower, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract Grape Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Stem Extract Flower Leaf Lavender Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Clove Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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