Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel versus Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish .
Published on August 08, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA, BHA, exfoliants, retinoid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Exfoliator
Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.
Price
Ingredient Info
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel 44 ingredients
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish 55 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel 44 ingredients
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish 55 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Concerns
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel 44 ingredients
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish 55 ingredients
Water • Alcohol Denat. • Glycolic Acid • Potassium Hydroxide • Hamamelis Virginiana Water • Salicylic Acid • Polysorbate 20 • Lactic Acid • Mandelic Acid • Malic Acid • Citric Acid • Salix Alba Bark Extract • Menthone Glycerin Acetal • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Achillea Millefolium Extract • Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract • Soy Isoflavones • Copper PCA • Zinc PCA • Lecithin • Disodium EDTA • Alcohol • Polysorbate 80 • Parfum • Linalool • Benzyl Salicylate • Benzoic Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Sodium Benzoate • Sodium Bicarbonate • Resveratrol • Retinol • Ascorbic Acid • Ubiquinone • Ascorbyl Palmitate • Phospholipids • Retinyl Palmitate • Tocopheryl Acetate • Raphanus Sativus Root Extract • Sodium PCA • BHA • Octoxynol-9 • Simethicone • Tetrasodium EDTA
Water • Glycerin • Glycolic Acid • Hydrated Silica • Polylactic Acid • Coco-Caprylate • Lactic Acid • Cetyl Alcohol • Stearyl Alcohol • Polysorbate 20 • Sodium Hydroxide • Acrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer • Dimethicone • Jojoba Esters • Cetearyl Alcohol • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Polyisobutene • Phenoxyethanol • Ascorbic Acid • Salicylic Acid • Cetearyl Glucoside • Dehydroxanthan Gum • Caprylyl Glycol • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Chlorphenesin • Tocopheryl Acetate • Carica Papaya Fruit Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Alpha-Arbutin • Glutathione • Kojic Acid • Niacinamide • Retinyl Palmitate • Azelaic Acid • CI 19140 • CI 73360 • CI 77713 • Butylene Glycol • Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract • Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract • Glycine Soja Oil • Impatiens Balsamina Flower Extract • Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract • Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract • Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Extract • Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract • Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract • Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract • Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract • Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract • Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract • Curcuma Longa Root Extract • Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract • Tocopherol
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterDr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel contains this as ingredient number 1.
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous AHA with research to back up its benefits. Its main role is to peel the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Glycolic Acid has shown to boost collage production, a protein that helps skin stay firm. Overall, Glycolic Acid helps with improving uneven tone, rough patches of skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. It also increases skin hydration by playing a role in creating molecules that create hyaluronic acid naturally.
When applying Glycolic Acid, it is normal to feel slight stinging. The pH value and concentration of glycolic acid play a role in the effectiveness of the product.
Recent studies have shown Glycolic Acid may protect the skin against UV damage. However, you should always wear SPF, especially when using exfoliants.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidDr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel contains this as ingredient number 3.
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish contains this as ingredient number 3.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.
Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.
In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidDr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel contains this as ingredient number 6.
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish contains this as ingredient number 20.
Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel contains this as ingredient number 7.
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish contains this as ingredient number 10.
Lactic Acid is an AHA that is derived from fermenting lactose, a carbohydrate from milk. It removes the top layer of old and dead skin cells and helps increase cell turnover.
Benefits of Lactic Acid are that it can help to reduce large pores and reduce the effects of aging. Some potential downsides are that it can be bad for dry skin, cause irritation, worsen eczema, and worsen rosacea.
Not only does it help exfoliate the skin, it helps strengthen the skin's barrier. When applied, lactic acid helps the skin create ceramides.
Lactic acid is an over-the-counter chemical exfoliant that comes from the fermentation of lactose — a carbohydrate found in milk.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidDr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel contains this as ingredient number 8.
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish contains this as ingredient number 7.
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract is from the Roman Chamomile flower.
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract helps soothe the skin and contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel contains this as ingredient number 16.
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish contains this as ingredient number 52.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel contains this as ingredient number 28.
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish contains this as ingredient number 18.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.
Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.
Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.
The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.
Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidDr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel contains this as ingredient number 34.
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish contains this as ingredient number 19.
Retinyl palmitate is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the superstar class of anti-aging ingredients that include tretinoin and retinol.
This particular ingredient has had a bumpy year with its rise and fall in popularity.
First, Retinyl palmitate is created from palmitic acid and retinol. It is a retinol ester and considered one of the weaker forms of retinoid.
This is because all retinoids have to be converted to Tretinoin, AKA retinoic acid. Retinyl Palmitate is pretty far down the line and has to go through multiple conversions before its effects are seen.
Due to this long and ineffective conversion line, the benefits of Retinyl Palmitate are debated.
Studies show Retinyl Palmitate to help:
Dermatologists say this ingredient is ineffective because it isn't used in high enough concentrations in cosmetics.
This ingredient used to be found in sunscreens to boost the efficacy of sunscreen filters.
The downfall of Retinyl Palmitate was due to released reports about the ingredient being correlated to sun damage and skin tumors.
While there is a study showing this ingredient to cause DNA damage when exposed to UV-A, there is no concrete proof of it being linked to skin cancer. It is safe to use when used correctly.
All retinoids increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun in the first few months of usage. Be especially careful with reapplying sunscreen when using any form of retinoid.
Currently, this ingredient is still allowed in cosmetics all over the world. In Canada, cosmetics must have a warning label stating the product to contain Retinyl Palmitate
Fun fact: This ingredient is often added to low-fat milk to increase the levels of Vitamin A.
Learn more about Retinyl PalmitateDr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel contains this as ingredient number 38.
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish contains this as ingredient number 33.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateDr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel contains this as ingredient number 39.
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish contains this as ingredient number 26.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel 44 ingredients
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish 55 ingredients
Usage
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When to use
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel 44 ingredients
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish 55 ingredients
Reviews
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Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel 44 ingredients
Urban Skin BrighterDays Dark Spot 8% AHA Polish 55 ingredients
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Our Dupe Finder has found 2 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel.
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