Retinol Serum with Ferulic Acid.

Retinoids

About this product

A lightweight retinol serum formulated with ferulic acid, AHAs, and BHAs, designed to reduce signs of aging and address pigmentation concerns while minimizing irritation.

Full ingredients

Water/Aqua/Eau, Propylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Ferulic Acid, Retinol, Saccharide Isomerate, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Phospholipids, Quercetin, Caffeine, Ubiquinone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tetrapeptide-21, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Citric Acid, Soy Isoflavones, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates, Lecithin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Disodium EDTA, PVM/MA Decadiene Crosspolymer, Urea, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Hydroxide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Polyacrylamide, Polysorbate 80

Guru Score

90%

Yay

4 experts · Moderate agreement

4Gurus

4Yay

0Mixed

0Nay

What they liked

Ferulic prevents purging
Gentle and hydrating formula
One pump covers face and neck

What they flagged

Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

What the gurus are saying

Ferulic acid in this serum appears to cushion retinol irritation without dulling its strength, though some people still experience mild purging. Gurus praise how gentle and hydrating the formula feels even with regular use, and note it plays well layered under or over other products, making it a practical choice for those stepping back from stronger prescription retinoids or targeting pigmentation. One guru has been using it for months with no purging at all and plans to repurchase.

Synthesized from 4 expert reviews · most recent take September 2026

Best for

Mature skin

Type

RetinoidsDrops & dropper

Key actives

Retinoid Hyaluronic acidAHAVitamin EPeptides

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Amazon → Google →

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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 Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dimma Umeh

532k subs

✓Yay

"There are retinol serums. Actually, the best retinol I've ever used in my life is a retinol serum from Dr. Dennis Gross. It is really, really good. And there's something that they put in it that actually combats that very bad side effect that retinol gives you sometimes."

Top Pick: retinol

All 2 takes from Dimma Umeh

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"You know how normally a retinol would make you purge. The ferulic acid in this just makes sure that that doesn't happen or tries to ensure that that doesn't happen. Some people still get purging with this regardless. I did not experience that at all. And the ferulic acid does not in any way make the retinol itself less potent or not as powerful as it should be. This is my favorite retinol hands down and I'm going to repurchase once I'm out. I've been using it for about 4 months now and I still have a lot of product."

HOW I GOT CLEAR, EVEN SKIN | 5 Skincare Rules for Acne-Prone Dark Skin

Sincerely Miss Ash

195k subs

✓Yay

"The first time that you use this you do see that instant brightness if you had any dry flakiness honestly I feel like that's completely gone it improves texture it helps with skin tone if you have that unevenness and then of course signs of aging. The more consistent you are with this the better off but it is a product that you do see instant results and in terms of brightness and I just absolutely love this for the face the neck and the chest the tops of the hands and my elbows and my knees. This is very saturated with product and it's also very concentrated as well. We have the 0.5% retinol there is bakuchiol which is a plant-based alternative to retinol so it does very similar things to what retinol does but it's not as irritating and as harsh there's ferulic acid in here which is an antioxidant rutin which is great for signs of aging. I feel like rutin ferulic acid and bakuchiol are three ingredients that Dr. Dennis Gross tends to put in a lot of their products and I just love these three ingredients for signs of aging."

Nipun Kapur

408k subs

✓Yay

"I'm using this is the Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol Serum I spoke about it in my 2023 favorites. I just took one pump and I am just going to dot it all over my face. I take it on my neck and then I will just do this. You can apply it after yes you can."

All 3 takes from Nipun Kapur

LAYERED - Skincare Live - How to layer Retinol | Nipun Kapur

Top 5 high end retinols worth your money | Nipun Kapur

"I repurchased this particular Retinol Serum because I looked at the formula and I fell in love with the formula. Obviously you get retinol, you get ferulic acid which is an antioxidant, and retinol and antioxidant combined gives you brightness, glow, fading away of dark acne spots, marks, pigmentation along with all the benefits of retinol. It also has niacinamide in high concentration, it has mandelic acid and lactic acid. Mandelic acid, lactic acid, it exfoliates your skin. I've been using it a few times and it brightens, exfoliates and does all the beautiful things that retinol does. The product is quite expensive, but the results that you get every single morning you are feeling more hydrated, your skin is feeling plump and your lines just look smoother and extremely flattened out."

Skincare that is worth your money! | Nipun Kapur

"I started with Dr. Dennis Gross and I repurchased Dr. Dennis Gross with their new Retinol Serum with Ferulic Acid, retinol, retinol esters, they have AHAs and BHAs. I've actually stopped using tretinoin and I'm using that right now because I'm loving the way that formula is so gentle, so hydrating, and so beautiful."

Hyram

4.34M subs

✓Yay

"The Dr. Dennis Gross one is definitely on the bougie side but they have some really good products. From what I know, the Dr. Dennis Gross one is a pretty strong intense retinol, so if your skin is already used to retinol or you know that you don't have sensitive skin, those are great."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Retinoids

Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.

Source: DermNet

Alpha hydroxy acids

Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Urea

Urea both holds water in the skin and gently loosens dead surface cells. At higher strengths it has good evidence for very dry or thickened skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol Serum with Ferulic Acid?

A lightweight retinol serum formulated with ferulic acid, AHAs, and BHAs, designed to reduce signs of aging and address pigmentation concerns while minimizing irritation.

Is Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol Serum with Ferulic Acid worth it?

Yes. All 4 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 90%.

What is Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol Serum with Ferulic Acid's Guru Score?

Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol Serum with Ferulic Acid holds a Guru Score of 90%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 4 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.