Thursday, December 13, 2012

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare review: Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution and Clarifying Colloidal Sulfur Mask


          The cheerful orange and simple white packaging of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare products channels the do-it-yourself ethos of the clinically-inspired treatments within. You may be familiar with the Alpha Beta Daily Facial Peel which is a mainstay of the line. Dr. Dennis Gross (an NYC dermatologist) formulated this product to improve upon too-harsh chemical peels that caused 'over-exfoliation' and inflammation. The Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare line continues to formulate clinically inspired products for at-home use. I have two of their newest products to share with you today: Dr. Dennis Gross Clarifying Colloidal Sulfur Mask and Ferulic Acid + Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol Brightening Solution.

           Dr. Dennis Gross Clarifying Colloidal Sulfur Mask is a facial mask designed for those with acne, blackheads, and larger pores. The mask is formulated to absorb excess oil and acne-causing bacteria. Sulfur has natural anti-bacterial properties and is often found in natural anti-acne masks. Bentonite absorbs excess oil, while prickly pear calms redness and irritation. The mask can be worn for a duration as short as 10 minutes, or overnight for the best effects. There is a peculiar pump dispensing mechanism; you press down the big white top, and product is ejected through a hole in the middle. It's nice that the mask has a dispenser so that one doesn't have to repeatedly dip fingers into. This prevents potential contamination of the product. The consistency of the Clarifying Colloidal Sulfur Mask is quite smooth and lotion-like. It dries quickly on the face, but remains comfortable and not 'too drying' as some anti-acne masks can be. Overall, it worked nicely; it shrunk a lingering spot and my skin looked clearer afterwards. In general, I think sulfur masks are effective options for acne-prone skin.



            Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution is a 'professional strength' serum meant to combat uneven, sun-damaged, or dull skin. Retinols are Vitamin A related compounds that are thought to promote proper differentiation of skin, thereby improving skin quality and reducing discoloration; they're found in may clinical treatments and over-the-counter serums such as this one. The innovation in this product is the combination of Ferulic Acid with Retinol; they work together to correct 'hyperactivity' without lightening normal skin pigmentation. The fluid-like delivery system was designed to be fast absorbing. I found that the Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening solution feels watery, unlike the more viscous feel of typical serums. It seems to absorb upon contact with skin, so I try to pat it in quickly. It's mostly unscented, though I detect a transient trace of a fish-oil like scent. I've liked it so far and have found that it is brightening, though at this point I cannot judge its ability to even tone, since those kinds of results take weeks to produce. However, judging from a number of customer reviews I've read, long term users seem to be pretty pleased with the results.

          Dr. Dennis Gross Clarifying Colloidal Sulfur Mask ($42 for 1.7oz.) and Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution ($85 for 1 oz.) can be purchased at Sephora or Dr. Dennis Gross online. Overall, I had a good experience. They seem to be effective and agree well with my sensitive combination skin. Thanks for reading! Have you tried Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare? Do you like to incorporate retinol-containing serums or clarifying masks into your routine?

Love, Dovey.

Dr. Dennis Gross Clarifying Colloidal Sulfur Mask Ingredients: Water, Colloidal Sulfur, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Zinc Oxide, Bentonite, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Opuntia Tuna Flower/ Stem Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Bisabolol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Farnesol, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol.
Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Serum Ingredients: Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Ferulic Acid, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Rhizome/Root, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Arbutin, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Retinol, Hexylresorcinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Quercetin Caprylate, Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates, Ubiquinone, Phospholipids, PVM,MA Decadiene Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Urea, Potassium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol.
Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to Cute and Mundane for consideration by PR. The ideas and opinions in this post are genuine and my own.

8 comments:

  1. I'm interested in that brightening serum! I just started testing out the new Embryolisse one, and when I'm done I might take a look at this :)

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    1. Hi Sunny, Thanks for the comment, I love a good brightening serum too :-)

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  2. i was just wondering if the product (sulfur mask) has any kind of smell.

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    1. Hi Anonymous, there is a smell from the sulfur, which is typical of such masks!

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  3. I'm intrigued by this serum. I like the way it's packaged and I like how it looks very effective. Thanks for the review... I'll have to check it out :)

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    1. Hi Rainy Days and Lattes, I'm glad you liked it! I'd love to hear what you think if you try it :-)

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  4. I've been wanting SKinceuticals C E Ferulic for a LONG time now but can't seem to muster the courage to pay that much for a serum I will need to replenish every 1-2 months...maybe I'll give this one a try first!

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    1. Hi Becca, Thanks for the comment! I feel you--- Serums do tend to be quite an investment!

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