Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Pore Perfecting & Refining Serum Versus Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum
Updated on August 20, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens and fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Pore Perfecting & Refining Serum 55 ingredients
Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum 31 ingredients
What's inside
What's inside
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Pore Perfecting & Refining Serum 55 ingredients
Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum 31 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Carnitine Hcl
HumectantSalicylic Acid
Masking
Farnesol
Perfuming
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Adipic Acid
BufferingFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Phytic Acid
Siraitia Grosvenorii Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Bisabolol
Masking
Pentasodium Pentetate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Isopropyl Jojobate
EmollientJojoba Alcohol
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingOctoxynol-9
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRose Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coriandrum Sativum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, Butylene Glycol, Mandelic Acid, Carnitine Hcl, Salicylic Acid, Farnesol, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Adipic Acid, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Phytic Acid, Siraitia Grosvenorii Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Bisabolol, Pentasodium Pentetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hexylresorcinol, Quercetin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Panthenol, Urea, Isopropyl Jojobate, Jojoba Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Retinol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Hydroxide, Octoxynol-9, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Rose Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Triethyl Citrate, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Coriandrum Sativum Seed Extract, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
4-Ethylresorcinol
AntimicrobialHexapeptide-2
Bleaching
Rice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-4
Disodium EDTA
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Tranexamic Acid, 4-Ethylresorcinol, Hexapeptide-2, Rice Amino Acids, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Zinc Gluconate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Hydroxide, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyquaternium-4, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlycolic Acid is arguably the most famous AHA with a ton of research to back up its benefits.
Its main role is to remove the top layer of dead skin cells, allowing newer skin cells to emerge.
Specifically, AHAs work by breaking down the structural "glue" holding the old skin cells in place. Getting rid of the old skin cells allows skin to regenerate newer skin cells in its place. A build up of dead skin cells can lead to tired and dull looking skin.
Due to this, glycolic acid helps with:
Fun fact: Glycolic acid increases skin hydration by playing a role in creating molecules that create hyaluronic acid naturally.
When starting 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. Concentrations between 5-20% glycolic acid have been shown to be effective in clinical studies.
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 AcidHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseUrea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Learn more about UreaWater. 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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterIngredient Ratings
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When to use
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Pore Perfecting & Refining Serum 55 ingredients
Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum 31 ingredients
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