What does the number-one peel brand at Sephora, Kim Kardashian’s glowy skin and the back of a cab (more on this later) have in common? They’re all tied to the success of Dr. Dennis Gross’ cult-classic Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel ($88 for 30), a safe-for-at-home blend of five AHA/BHAs plus antioxidants and vitamins to sweep away dull, dead skin.
But the power of the Peel wasn’t always an at-home staple. At the height of harsh, mono-acid peeling in the late 90s (a la Sex And The City), Dr. Gross was the first to put the power of an in-office low-concentration blend of acids on the map. Once word spread, his best customer (who also happened to be his wife) couldn’t even get in for her usual appointments. Her request: an at-home version of the peel she could apply herself. And so our long-time favorite Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel, ideated in the back of a New York City cab (naturally, where all of our million-dollar-ideas come to us), was born.
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Today, the brand sells one of these peels every three seconds, and is behind some of the best complexions in the business. On the long list of celebrities who count the peel as a skin-care staple: Chrissy Teigen, Kim Kardashian West, Selena Gomez, Constance Wu, Lily Aldridge, Olivia Culpo, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Lea Michele and Elizabeth Lail.
Using the two-step exfoliator is easy. First, pick your concentration—the brand offers the original, Extra Strength (their best-seller), and an Ultra-Gentle option—then start on a clean, cleansed face. You’ll tear off the top of Step 1 first, then massage the skin-perfecting square all over your face until the pad is dry. Wait two minutes before doing the same with Step 2. Don’t rinse, and before you know it, your soft, supermodel skin will begin to reveal itself.
