Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® On The Spot Eliminator 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Gel vs Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® On The Spot Eliminator 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Gel scores 8.8/9.8 and Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum scores 9.1/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
Head to head
Alpha Beta® On The Spot Eliminator 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Gel
1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum
Score comparison
These two are neck and neck — just 0.3 points apart.
Scores last verified: July 2026
Attribute battle
Hydration Efficacy
Farmacy WINSIrritation Risk
Farmacy WINSActive Ingredient Strength
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare WINSIngredient Transparency
TIEFormulation Safety
TIEIngredient face-off
15% overlapOnly in Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® On The Spot Eliminator 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Gel
47 unique
Shared ingredients
8 in common
Only in Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum
32 unique
Why these two are neck and neck
These two serums take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.
Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum scores 8.6 here versus 7.7 for Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® On The Spot Eliminator 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Gel. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.
Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum brings Ceramide Np, Tocopherol, and Retinol as actives, while dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® On The Spot Eliminator 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Gel relies on Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Carnitine Hcl, and Gluconolactone. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Best for your skin type
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® On The Spot Eliminator 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Gel is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Butylene Glycol
- Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water does the heavy lifting
Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
- Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations
Value comparison
Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum comes in at premium pricing with a 9.1 score, which is solid value at that tier.
Our verdict
It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® On The Spot Eliminator 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Gel or Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum?
Based on ingredient analysis, Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.
Do Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® On The Spot Eliminator 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Gel and Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum share ingredients?
Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.
What's the main difference between Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® On The Spot Eliminator 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Gel and Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum?
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.