Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol Serum with Ferulic Acid.

Retinoids

About this product

A retinol serum from Dr. Dennis Gross that pairs retinol with ferulic acid, an antioxidant, and is designed to address signs of aging, uneven tone and rough texture.

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

What the gurus are saying

Retinol without the usual fight is the draw here, with gurus crediting the ferulic acid for easing the irritation retinol can bring, though purging still happens for some people. They also report instant brightness, smoother texture and more even tone, enough that tretinoin got set aside for it. The catch: it's called a strong, intense retinol, so it suits skin already used to retinol.

Synthesized from 4 expert reviews · most recent take September 2026

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.

Best for

Mature skin

Type

RetinoidsDrops & dropper

Key actives

Retinoid Hyaluronic acidAHAVitamin EPeptides

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Sephora → Amazon → Google →

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Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

What the experts use it for.

The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.

Calming retinoid irritation2 experts

“And [...] there's something that they put in it that actually combats that very bad side effect that retinol gives you sometimes.”

Dimma Umeh, watch at 20:05

Dark spots and post-acne marks1 expert

“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.”

Nipun Kapur, watch at 5:24

Dull skin1 expert

“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.”

Sincerely Miss Ash, watch at 2:05

Rough or uneven texture1 expert

“It really helps to improve texture and tone and then obviously with consistency it can really help to soften fine lines.”

Sincerely Miss Ash, watch at 4:42

Fine lines and wrinkles1 expert

“It really helps to improve texture and tone and then obviously with consistency it can really help to soften fine lines.”

Sincerely Miss Ash, watch at 4:42

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

544k 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

WEEKLY VLOG: REORGANIZE MY PANTRY WITH ME + TRICHOLOGIST APPOINTMENT + OFFICE & BATHROOM ADDITIONS

"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

196k 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."

Nipun Kapur

413k subs

✓Yay

"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."

All 3 takes from Nipun Kapur

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

"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."

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."

Skincare that is worth your money! | Nipun Kapur

Hyram

4.33M 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 retinol serum from Dr. Dennis Gross that pairs retinol with ferulic acid, an antioxidant, and is designed to address signs of aging, uneven tone and rough texture.

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.

Who is Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol Serum with Ferulic Acid best for?

Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol Serum with Ferulic Acid is generally suited to mature skin.

What is Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol Serum with Ferulic Acid good for, according to the experts?

In their reviews, experts say Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol Serum with Ferulic Acid is good for calming retinoid irritation (2 experts), dark spots and post-acne marks (1 expert), dull skin (1 expert), rough or uneven texture (1 expert) and fine lines and wrinkles (1 expert).

Is Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol Serum with Ferulic Acid good for calming retinoid irritation?

2 experts who reviewed Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol Serum with Ferulic Acid say it is. Dimma Umeh put it this way: “And [...] there's something that they put in it that actually combats that very bad side effect that retinol gives you sometimes.”