Index / Dr. Dennis Gross / Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads
Dr. Dennis Gross

Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads
Masks & Peels

About this product

Two-step exfoliating pads combining alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, and antioxidants in individually wrapped packets designed for daily or weekly chemical exfoliation.

Best for

Oily skinCombination skinAcne-prone skin
Masks & Peels

The Guru Index verdict

79%

Approved

Approved · 79%
12Reviewers
10Approved
2Mixed
0Skip
#4 in Best Masks & Peels

What the gurus are saying

Gurus are nearly unanimous in praising these pads for delivering visible results (smoother texture, brighter skin, and a polished base for makeup) with the two-step system and individual packets earning particular praise for convenience and foolproof dosing. The consistent complaint is the high price point ($92–94), though experts counter that the product lasts months even with weekly use and the results justify the investment. One reviewer found them useful mainly for travel and preferred alternatives for regular use.
Synthesized from 12 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

Vitamin CRetinoidSalicylic acid (BHA)AHAVitamin E

Full ingredients

Water/​Aqua/​Eau, Alcohol Denat (Sd Alcohol 40 B), Glycolic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Salicylic Acid*, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Soy Isoflavones, Copper Pca, Zinc Pca, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Alcohol, Polysorbate 80, Fragrance (Parfum), Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Resveratrol, Ubiquinone

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
Approved
"I do have my Dr. Dennis Gross exfoliation pad. So if I have an event or something like that that I want to go to, or just even if I'm a little bit dry and flaky, I do this in the morning. You do the first pad for like 3 minutes and then you neutralize it with the second pad. Your makeup, if you wear it, will go on so smooth."
All 2 takes from Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert
Want to know what’s in my Travel Bag?🧳 🎙️Watch my IG Live Show to find what I pack as a healthy
"I do have my Dr. Dennis Gross exfoliation pad. So if I have an event or something like that that I want to go to, or just even if I'm a little bit dry and flaky, I do this in the morning. You do the first pad for like 3 minutes and then you neutralize it with the second pad. Your makeup, if you wear it, will go on so smooth."
Want to know what’s in my Travel Bag?🧳 🎙️Watch my IG Live Show to find what I pack as a healthy
"I do have my Dr. Dennis Gross exfoliation pad. So if I have an event or something like that that I want to go to, or just even if I'm a little bit dry and flaky, I do this in the morning. You do the first pad for like 3 minutes and then you neutralize it with the second pad. Your makeup, if you wear it, will go on so smooth."
Approved
"For $92, you can get Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads, which come in these little packets. Easy for travel, easy on the go, and easy to put in your bag. It gives you baby smooth skin the next day. Totally something perfected for texture, dryness, and beyond."
All 3 takes from Dr. Shereene Idriss
Sephora Sale Faves For Every Concern from a Dermatologist! (Skincare, Makeup, & Haircare) Dr. Idriss
"For $92, you can get Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads, which come in these little packets. Easy for travel, easy on the go, and easy to put in your bag. It gives you baby smooth skin the next day. Totally something perfected for texture, dryness, and beyond."
Top Derm Picks for Sephora Holiday Savings Event 2025 | Dr. Shereene Idriss
"Dr. Dennis Gross has the alpha beta peel pads, glycolic, lactic, malic, and salicylic acid in a pad that helps to smooth and refine your texture. Great for while you're on the go. It comes in these individual packets, so you're not going to have any leaky mess in your carry-on."
Glycolic Acid vs. Salicylic Acid: Is it for Your Skin Type & Concern? | Dr. Shereene Idriss
"Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta peel pads for 92 bucks, it's really expensive and you hold on to those pads for real life because you do not want to lose them, but this has glycolic acid, lactic acid, and malic acid in it as well as salicylic acid. So those are combo acid pads that are great for travel or if you go to the gym and you're on the go and you want to use something without having to worry too much about containers or you don't have the time to sit around with a mask."
Approved
"I love peel pads like the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel. I've been using that for a long time, over a decade at this point. I always kind of go back to that. If you want that manual exfoliation, I'm all about a peel pad. I would just try it out like once or twice a week to start and then move into as many times a week as you can."
Approved
"Dr. Dennis Gross's standout product would be their Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads, which are a two-step AHA BHA peel pads pre-dosed with those exfoliants as well as antioxidants and people just love them. They retail for 94 bucks, so they're kind of expensive, especially if you're going to do it on a daily basis. I've tried them and they're quite nice. The brand was co-founded by Dennis and his wife Carrie in 2000 aiming to make clinical grade skincare accessible with science-backed products inspired by his dermatology practice and pioneering work on chemical peels."
Approved
"I think that one of the best alpha hydroxy peeling products that exists and it has been on the market for a long time are the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads. They come as a two-step system. This is sort of their like original strength. They also have a stronger strength and then they have a more gentle version, but the stronger one has seven acids. This one has five acids. Their more gentle version has three acids. So you could kind of cater it based on what your skin can tolerate. And the first step has all the acids which you put on, you let it dry down and then you have a neutralizing step with a bunch of antioxidants which is also a really helpful thing when it comes to fighting hyperpigmentation because oxidative stress breeds melanogenesis. It makes you produce pigment. And so when you can stop that process in its tracks by both exfoliating and then calming the skin, you're going to be in a really good spot. I find these incredibly convenient, very satisfying to use. I love that there's different strengths, so it caters to a lot of different skin types and tolerances. But the other thing I like about this is there's quite a bit of product. So when you're swiping it over your face, there's leftover juice in there. And I will always bring that onto my neck, my decollete, the back of my hands."
Top Pick: alpha hydroxy peeling products
All 6 takes from Dr. Sam Ellis
Anti-aging Skincare: When to Spend and When to Save | Dr. Sam Ellis
"The Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads are super convenient. I always think it's worth it to pay for convenience, and these are peel pads you can take on the go. They're not going to go bad because they're each individually wrapped. They also have multiple acids in them that are going to exfoliate your skin and brighten your skin. It's got retinol, it's just such a good formula overall. The results are very tangible when you use them. Even though these are expensive, they also last a really long time. I use these one to two times a week and a box this size can last me like six plus months. If you want to invest in your skincare, these are the types of products that are worth the investment."
10 Anti-Aging Skincare Routine UPGRADES! | Dr. Sam Ellis
"The Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads, I absolutely love them, and I think I love them the most for the convenience of it being like an individually wrapped pad you can go in and apply. There's always a little extra on there so I like to bring it down onto my body. To me this is just like a really nice blend of acids that is also super effective for the skin."
Dermatologist's Guide to Skincare in Your 40s: Skincare Recommendations, Anti-Aging Treatments...
"One of my favorite all-around exfoliants are the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads. The reason for this is they're sort of individually wrapped and kind of like foolproof because they give you a measured dose, you're not going to overdo it with these. Start by exfoliating just once a week. On the night that you're exfoliating you're going to skip your retinoid so you're not going to be using two irritating products at the same time. You should notice within a few weeks of starting to exfoliate that your skin just has a better glow and more radiance to it."
Dark Spots GONE: My Ultimate Routine for Hyperpigmentation & Radiant Glowing Skin | Dr. Sam Ellis
"I think that one of the best alpha hydroxy peeling products that exists and it has been on the market for a long time are the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads. They come as a two-step system. This is sort of their like original strength. They also have a stronger strength and then they have a more gentle version, but the stronger one has seven acids. This one has five acids. Their more gentle version has three acids. So you could kind of cater it based on what your skin can tolerate. And the first step has all the acids which you put on, you let it dry down and then you have a neutralizing step with a bunch of antioxidants which is also a really helpful thing when it comes to fighting hyperpigmentation because oxidative stress breeds melanogenesis. It makes you produce pigment. And so when you can stop that process in its tracks by both exfoliating and then calming the skin, you're going to be in a really good spot. I find these incredibly convenient, very satisfying to use. I love that there's different strengths, so it caters to a lot of different skin types and tolerances. But the other thing I like about this is there's quite a bit of product. So when you're swiping it over your face, there's leftover juice in there. And I will always bring that onto my neck, my decollete, the back of my hands."
Dark Spots GONE: My Ultimate Routine for Hyperpigmentation & Radiant Glowing Skin | Dr. Sam Ellis
"The first step has all the acids which you put on, you let it dry down and then you have a neutralizing step with a bunch of antioxidants which is also a really helpful thing when it comes to fighting hyperpigmentation because oxidative stress breeds melanogenesis. It makes you produce pigment. And so when you can stop that process in its tracks by both exfoliating and then calming the skin, you're going to be in a really good spot. I find these incredibly convenient, very satisfying to use. I love that there's different strengths, so it caters to a lot of different skin types and tolerances. There's quite a bit of product, so when you're swiping it over your face, there's leftover juice in there. And I will always bring that onto my neck, my décolleté, the back of my hands. If you struggle with hyperpigmentation in other body sites like armpits, groin, elbows, knees, absolutely take whatever is left over on that pad and put it on that spot as well. These are not the cheapest thing you will ever purchase, but they are so good. I never worry about recommending these because they are just amazing and everyone loves them."
Dark Spots GONE: My Ultimate Routine for Hyperpigmentation & Radiant Glowing Skin | Dr. Sam Ellis
"It caters to a lot of different skin types and tolerances. The other thing I like about this is there's quite a bit of product. When you're swiping it over your face, there's leftover juice in there. I will always bring that onto my neck, my décolletage, the back of my hands. If you struggle with hyperpigmentation in other body sites like armpits, groin, elbows, knees, absolutely take whatever is left over on that pad and put it on that spot as well. These are not the cheapest thing you will ever purchase, but they are so good. I never worry about recommending these because they are just amazing and everyone loves them."
~Mixed
"These are great for travel. I don't think I'd use them on the regular, but if you're traveling, maybe you try these. I guess these are a like, but not a fail, not a fave. They're okay. And I would say I would rather use the exfoliating milk marble by Dr. Edm as opposed to these pads, but they are good for travel."
Approved
"The Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads are like a two-step peel that exfoliates, brightens, and smooths the skin. It helps reduce fine lines, enlarged pores, and any uneven texture you may have. The key ingredients are a perfect blend of your AHAs, it has glycolic and lactic, and then your BHA, which is your salicylic acid."
Approved
"There are four AHAs here so there's glycolic, lactic, citric and malic acid and then it has that salicylic acid that BHA and then in this one here there's a retinol there's antioxidants and a lot of other great anti-aging ingredients but also common ingredients as well like green tea to really calm the skin barrier and with these pads you really do see instant results your skin is immediately brighter it's softer it looks more rejuvenated and of course with consistency these can really help to soften fine lines improve that uneven skin tone but it can also help to stimulate new collagen as well. These are meant to be used every day but again I only use this maybe once or twice a week. Also don't forget to apply your sunscreen on an everyday basis and reapply several times a day especially if you're outside because glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid specifically can really make your skin more sensitive to the sun so make sure that you're wearing sunscreen no matter what. These are truly some lovely hybrid formulations that can target multiple skin types and skin concerns."
All 2 takes from Sincerely Miss Ash
TOP 5 ANTI-AGING SKINCARE PRODUCTS THAT DELIVER RAPID RESULTS - SKINCARE I'VE TESTED THAT TRULY WORK
"This is going to do a really good job to remove all of that gunk and the dryness and it's going to give that nice brightness to the skin. Peel number two has retinol in it, ascorbic acid, there's Resveratrol, there's a lot of antioxidants in here that can improve texture and tone but also signs of aging as well. When you're done with this your skin just glows, your skin just looks incredible. I use this at night time. These are meant to be used every day if you can, and of course the more consistent you are with these the better, but you may not want to use this every day. I feel like exfoliating maybe once or twice is sufficient enough. If you're looking for a good exfoliating product that also targets signs of aging and that uneven skin tone then I would look into this. There is a gentle, there is an extra strength, but my skin does the best with the universal."
5 POWERFUL HYBRID CHEMICAL EXFOLIANTS - ANTI-AGING, COLLAGEN BOOSTING, IMPROVED TEXTURE & TONE!
"There are four AHAs here so there's glycolic, lactic, citric and malic acid and then it has that salicylic acid that BHA and then in this one here there's a retinol there's antioxidants and a lot of other great anti-aging ingredients but also common ingredients as well like green tea to really calm the skin barrier and with these pads you really do see instant results your skin is immediately brighter it's softer it looks more rejuvenated and of course with consistency these can really help to soften fine lines improve that uneven skin tone but it can also help to stimulate new collagen as well. These are meant to be used every day but again I only use this maybe once or twice a week. Also don't forget to apply your sunscreen on an everyday basis and reapply several times a day especially if you're outside because glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid specifically can really make your skin more sensitive to the sun so make sure that you're wearing sunscreen no matter what. These are truly some lovely hybrid formulations that can target multiple skin types and skin concerns."
Approved
"This is definitely one of the OG exfoliating pads that we find at Sephora. I love it. I use it myself regularly. It's something that I love incorporating into my skincare routine once a week, twice a week at most to help remove dullness, improve skin turnover, help to brighten the skin. The ingredients really do all those things, especially for those who are struggling with uneven skin texture, skin tone dullness, and hyperpigmentation. If you have sensitive skin it's not the best thing for you, but if you have fairly normal skin looking for a good exfoliating regimen to add into your routine to address those anti-aging concerns, this is definitely one that I would recommend. Ingredient-wise it contains a blend of glycolic and lactic acid, the most popular used alpha hydroxy acids that are great exfoliants to target uneven skin texture and skin tone. It also contains green tea extract along with chamomile, so anti-inflammatory soothing, calming ingredients to really reduce some of the irritation that chemical exfoliants can bring on."
All 2 takes from Dr. Jenny Liu
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"This is definitely one of the OG exfoliating pads that we find at Sephora. I love it. I use it myself regularly. It's something that I love incorporating into my skincare routine once a week, twice a week at most to help remove dullness, improve skin turnover, help to brighten the skin. The ingredients really do all those things, especially for those who are struggling with uneven skin texture, skin tone dullness, and hyperpigmentation. If you have sensitive skin it's not the best thing for you, but if you have fairly normal skin looking for a good exfoliating regimen to add into your routine to address those anti-aging concerns, this is definitely one that I would recommend. Ingredient-wise it contains a blend of glycolic and lactic acid, the most popular used alpha hydroxy acids that are great exfoliants to target uneven skin texture and skin tone. It also contains green tea extract along with chamomile, so anti-inflammatory soothing, calming ingredients to really reduce some of the irritation that chemical exfoliants can bring on."
Sephora Savings Event 2023 Dermatologist Top Picks | Dr Jenny Liu
"It comes in a peeling pack pad as well as a neutralizing pad that's prepackaged and it contains a blend of Alpha and beta hydroxy acids so five different acids along with 12 other antioxidants that really work to help improve uneven skin texture, uneven skin tone, appearance of pores, and congestion. It's a great chemical exfoliating peel that you can do at the convenience of your home. The ingredients are worth highlighting: glycolic acid, which really helps with skin juvenation, fineness, fighting lines and wrinkles, along with lactic acid as well as green tea and resveratrol, which are great antioxidants that also support our skin. I love that this comes in additional strength Extra Strength, which is actually what I have at home and really is my personal favorite, but I find the universal one to be more gentle, especially if you are new. There's also a lower concentration gentle formulation that's better suited for those with more dry and sensitive skin. You just follow the instructions with the peeling pad, and after a number of minutes you will neutralize with the neutralizing pad, so it's very user friendly. I recommend using this once a week at most twice a week, really a great part of the skin cycling trend to help you get fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin texture and skin tone."
Approved
"You can exfoliate one to three nights per week with something like the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads or the NeoStrata Resurface Smooth Surface Glycolic Peel, and you could use this as an alternative to your retinoids or you can alternate between an exfoliating product and a retinoid."
All 2 takes from Dr. Mamina
From 20s to 50s, Anti-Aging Skincare Routines Best for YOU
"You can exfoliate one to three nights per week with something like the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads or the NeoStrata Resurface Smooth Surface Glycolic Peel, and you could use this as an alternative to your retinoids or you can alternate between an exfoliating product and a retinoid."
How to Fade Your Acne Scars
"I really like the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal peel pads as well because that has both glycolic and salicylic acid."
~Mixed
"Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel has two parts: first one exfoliates, you wait 2 minutes, and then there's a neutralizer. It's a nice daily peel to use just to make sure that you're doing a chemical exfoliant, which is much better than a physical exfoliant. I was getting weird rashes around my mouth or nose area, and I started using these and it helped it go away."
Approved
"The Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal peel pads is basically a two-step chemical peel system that you could do at home. In the first step you're using a blend of five acids, glycolic acid, citric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid, along with chamomile for its anti-inflammatory effects. You do that first with a peel pad pre-soaked in the serum, wait two minutes, and then you go ahead and use step two which has more of the hydrating soothing ingredients. It also has retinol as well as green tea extract for that anti-inflammatory benefit. This is one that I tend to recommend patients to use at home during the summer time. It's a bit more of an intensive process, there's a lot of acids in there, there's even retinol in there. I don't think this will replace your daily retinol use. You'll just use this on a day that you'll skip your retinol."
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