5 TO TRY FROM DR DENNIS GROSS

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Today we're talking about the results-driven, active-based skincare line designed by dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross. The brand has a large product range and it's definitely more on the premium side of things, so I thought today we'd break it down and run through my 5 top picks (in no particular order)...

First up, a very underrated product from the line: the Hyaluronic Marine Meltaway Cleanser* | £32. This a completely oil-free first cleanse. I have no idea how they do it, but this works! This is a pretty multi-functional product, which makes it great for when you're travelling or otherwise on-the-go. I prefer to use this on dry skin, massaging it in over the top of my makeup at the end of the day, before removing my face with a damp cloth and doing a second cleanse. However, it can also be used as a makeup-removal milk, so you can pop a bit on a cotton pad and use it to remove your makeup, and you don't actually have to rinse it off. It's effective against complexion makeup and even heavy eye makeup, plus contains added ingredients like hyaluronic acid, to attract water, soothing aloe extract and marine algae, rich in minerals and nutrients.

If you're familiar with the brand, I'm sure you'll know of my next pick, though I feel like this version of it is less popular! I lean a lot less on exfoliants in my routine these days now I've found retinoids that work for me and have discovered effective tyrosinase-inhibitors, so my preference is for the Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel Pads* | £89 (for 30). I don't use these daily; 3 times a week is plenty for my skin (I primarily use these when travelling), but I like how these glycolic-free pads slot in alongside the rest of my routine. The first step of this single-use peel system contains gentle exfoliants in lactic acid (which has hydrating qualities), mandelic acid (effective against acne and discolouration) and willow bark extract (a precursor to the oil-soluble, spot-fighting salicylic acid). There's also Zinc PCA and Copper PCA to soothe any inflammation. Then, a couple of minutes later, you can apply the second neutralising step, which contains soothing and hydrating ingredients like colloidal oat, hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica. This smooths and resurfaces my skin without irritating it or making it impossible to use any other actives in my routine. It delivers the results but leaves my skin feeling calm and happy afterwards. What's not to love?

A pleasant surprise for me was the C+ Collagen Perfect Skin Set & Refresh Mist* | £33. This is great for if you want effective ingredient in your skincare routine but you're having a morning or even a life stage where you don't have much time to dedicate to that. This can be spritzed onto damp skin, you can apply your sunscreen afterwards and you're good to go. It provides lasting hydration and soothes the skin (with ingredients like glycerin, cucumber, Sodium PCA and aloe) but it's not sticky or tacky. In terms of ingredients, we have Ascorbic Acid (pure form Vitamin C), 3-O Ethylated Ascorbic Acid (a more stable derivative) and Vitamin E to help boost the antioxidant potential of the overall formula and stabilise the Vitamin C. Antioxidants protect the skin from free radical damage from our environment, plus Vitamin C has a brightening effect, evening out the skin's tone, and in its pure form can boost collagen production (which depletes as we age). There's also niacinamide in here which helps strengthen the skin's lipid barrier (by increasing production of its ceramide component), regulating oil production in the skin and preventing the spread of discolouration through the skin. All in all: this is a powerhouse mist that provides so much more than hydration. It not only gives you glowing skin in the immediate, but it lays the foundations to keep your complexion radiant in the long term.

Finally, I have some serums, the first of which is the B3 Adaptive SuperFoods Stress Rescue Super Serum* | £75. This is a light, milky, hydrating and calming serum, making it perfect to use after some of the more heavyweight actives in this line. It contains a skin-friendly concentration of niacinamide to support the skin's barrier function, squalane to replenish lost oils, linoleic acid to strengthen and protect the skin, licorice extract to gently brighten, anti-inflammatory extracts such as ginger and a bunch of powerful antioxidant extracts like turmeric. This is what I go for when my skin is feeling a little unhappy but I still want to add some benefits without the use of strong actives. It's one of those products that went down without me even really realising, because I'd just reach for it whenever I wasn't sure what my skin needed.

The other serum I want to shout out is the Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting & Refining Serum* | £68. This is a supercharged active for when my skin is breaking out, congested or I have those red under-the-skin bumps I want to hurry out of my system. This is a light serum formulated with glycolic, mandelic, lactic and salicylic, which probably isn't going to be for sensitive skin and it's not something I'd use even every other night; it's for problematic skin days or (if you're more acne-prone) incorporating once a week within a simple routing alongside a nice, replenishing moisturiser. I'll use this in the evening and by the following morning, I notice significantly less red, angry inflammation, smaller whiteheads are gone and my complexion feels smoother and looks more radiant. It's pricey but there are few products I've seen such quick, transformative results with.

Have you tried anything from Dr Dennis Gross?

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