Retinol is one of my favourite skin-care ingredients. It's an ingredient that can do it all, whether it's diminishing dark spots, treating and preventing acne [1], or handling anti-ageing concerns. As someone who deals with two of those three issues, retinol is a must in my skin-care routine. Dark spots and acne have always been an issue for me, so I'm always on the hunt for effective treatments and products that work for me and my reactive skin. As a long-time user and fan of the bestselling Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel [2] , the newer Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Overnight Texture Renewal Peel [3] caught my attention. The treatment aims to face dark spots, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and smooth out uneven texture. It was exactly what I needed.
I put the Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Overnight Texture Renewal Peel pads to the test for two weeks, and I was pleasantly surprised at how gentle the process was and the results it produced. I used four of these pads spaced out evenly between 14 days, and it gave my skin an instant glow while gradually evening out my skin tone and texture. It's a great way to supplement your skin-care routine [4], especially if your skin needs a boost in treating stubborn dark spots and uneven texture [5] . Keep reading for my in-depth review of the product and my results.
What is the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Overnight Texture Renewal Peel?
The Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Overnight Texture Renewal Peel [7] ($78 for 16 treatments) is a one-step peel pad that you use right after you cleanse your skin at night. It's an overnight treatment that you don't wash off, but rather keep on like a serum. It contains powerhouse ingredients like retinol, bakuchiol, ferulic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid. It also contains rambutan, which targets the appearance of fine lines and improves skin elasticity. The peel incorporates a solid mix of skin-saving, nourishing ingredients as well, like hyaluronic acid, cucumber extract, linoleic acid, squalane, glycerin, and more. It's great for all skin types. You can use this twice or three times a week, depending on how your skin can handle it. If you have sensitive skin, you can use it once a week and assess it accordingly.
How the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Overnight Texture Renewal Peel Felt
After I cleansed my skin at night, I swiped the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Overnight Texture Renewal Peel [8] ($78 for 16 treatments) all over my face for a few minutes. It doesn't feel like a traditional peel. Even though it has retinol and AHAs, I didn't feel a tingly sensation that makes it feel like it's working. It just felt like a regular serum going onto my skin. The pad has a textured feel providing some form of physical exfoliation as well. To really get the picture of how gentle the formula felt, the pad felt more abrasive on my skin compared to the retinol peel. I suggest gently swiping the pad across your face with a light hand rather than scrubbing it in with pressure.
After running the pad over my face several times, there was still some product leftover, so I just brought it down to my neck, chest, underarms, and the rest of my body until it dried out.
How I Used the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Overnight Texture Renewal Peel
When I looked in the mirror, I noticed an instant glow and radiance on my face. I didn't realise the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Overnight Texture Renewal Peel [9] ($78 for 16 treatments) would work so quickly. It was a subtle change in the right direction. I use this peel twice a week at night as directed, once on Sundays and once on Wednesdays. I chose those two days to space out the treatments evenly. After each treatment, I followed it up with a hydrating serum on top and a thick moisturiser.
My Results Using Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Overnight Texture Renewal Peel
The next morning, my skin looked radiant with a bit more even tone and overall brighter skin. My skin felt and looked smoother as well. I didn't have any flaky skin either.
After using the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Overnight Texture Renewal Peel [10] ($78 for 16 treatments) four times over two weeks, I noticed my dark spots looked more faded and lighter. Any hyperpigmentation clusters were slowly breaking up and forming smaller patches. The texture of my skin was a lot smoother too. In fact, the number of breakouts and bumps I had previously significantly reduced once I started using these pads.
I highly recommend this to anyone who needs to give their skin a subtle yet effective push. With consistent use and time, the peel does wonders for your stubborn problem areas while being gentle. No wonder it has nearly five stars on Sephora!