Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta® Pore Perfecting Cleansing Gel for mature skin
Mandelic Acid
Glycolic Acid
Willow Bark Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceAverage
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for mature skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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 cleansing and exfoliation suitable for normal skin, with glycerin and sodium hyaluronate providing hydration while mandelic acid and willow bark extract gently refine pores.
- While beneficial for general skin health, the formula lacks specialized ingredients to directly target your primary concern of wrinkles and fine lines.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, featuring soothing agents like Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract with no harsh or prohibited ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser as part of both your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily since your skin is normal and not sensitive.
- Apply this first in your routine before using your toner, moisturizer, and SPF.
- Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water. Avoid rubbing your skin too hard.
- Apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin for the best fresh feeling. Make sure your face is clean of heavy makeup first.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area while washing. Do a quick patch test before your very first use to be safe.
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 Dr. Dennis Gross Pore Perfecting Cleansing Gel work for mature skin?
This cleanser works fine for mature skin by offering gentle cleansing and pore refinement, though it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target wrinkles and fine lines. To better support mature skin, a cleanser of this type needs high-quality hydrating ingredients and specialized components that effectively address wrinkles while keeping the skin soft and balanced.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for mature skin?
Mandelic acid, glycolic acid, and willow bark extract help refine pores, while sodium hyaluronate and glycerin provide hydration. To better fit mature skin, a cleanser of this type needs specialized ingredients that directly target wrinkles and fine lines.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
What does Mandelic Acid do for mature skin?
Mandelic acid helps make mature skin firmer and smoother while improving elasticity and reducing the look of fine lines and uneven tone. It is typically very well tolerated and may improve overall texture and hydration in dry or fragile skin over a few weeks of regular use.
Facial Plastic Surgery, 2018Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025
What does Glycolic Acid do for mature skin?
Glycolic acid helps smooth mature skin by encouraging fresh skin renewal and supporting firmness. It may also help improve signs of photoaging and increase moisture levels over time.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the cleansing step before toners, treatments, and moisturizers. While it gently cleans and hydrates, a product for mature skin of this type needs specialized ingredients like firming peptides and antioxidants to directly target fine lines and wrinkles.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it before your retinol treatment in your evening routine. Because this cleanser lacks specialized ingredients for mature skin, a routine for this skin needs firming peptides and antioxidants to help smooth fine lines and target wrinkles.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in your morning and evening routines. To properly care for mature skin, this product needs added anti-aging ingredients like peptides or antioxidants to actively smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts on mature skin, as it features gentle exfoliating acids and soothing plant extracts with a low complaint rate for clogged pores. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients for deep wrinkles, mature skin needs a cleanser that also includes firming peptides and antioxidants.
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 since facial cleansers with acids may cause irritation there. Mature skin needs hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and soothing botanical extracts to keep the body and face feeling soft and smooth.
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, 2017A 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, 2010Treatment 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 novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 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 mature skin better
Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.
Scientific Reports, 2024
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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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