Dr Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion

Our #2 Choice

Dr Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion is a hypoallergenic gel-cream that contains intriguing ingredients such as sodium hyaluronate, Japanese marine algae, and aloe extract to plump and balance the skin while smoothing out fine lines. But does this product have what it takes to be truly effective?

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Editor's Rating: Good

Introduction

In our search for the best hyaluronic acid creams, we were looking for quality ingredients, efficacy, transparency, and customer satisfaction. We wanted to make sure that the products we reviewed actually do what they say and that the manufacturers can back up their claims.

What immediately drew us to this brand is that they are cruelty and paraben free, and the name of the brand, which refers to one of its co-founders, indicates that scientific research has gone into their products. This gave us the confidence that this cream is safe. Whether it is effective remained to be seen, so we delved deeper into its ingredients and formulation.

The good news is that this cream is hypoallergenic, and it also includes sodium hyaluronate, which is the highly-absorbable salt form of hyaluronic acid. The brand’s claim that this product is oil-free isn’t necessarily a plus: it is a myth that oily skin doesn’t benefit from using products with oil in them. For example, jojoba oil actually helps to balance your skin’s natural oil production, unclog pores, and improve conditions caused by oil buildup, such as acne. There is no reason to shy away from using this type of oil, and many manufacturers incorporate it into their products, which is something to consider.

On the downside, the website provided no scientific evidence to back up the claims made about the ingredients, and they also didn’t list how much of each active ingredient was included in the formula. From a brand that claims that its products are created based on research and evidence, we expected to see some of this data so we could read about it for ourselves. This lack of transparency makes us wonder which (if any) of this brand’s claims are actually true.

Additionally, a few reviews mentioned that this cream irritated their skin, and others said that it dried out their skin. Results are different for each person, but this is still discouraging.

We took all of the above into account when writing this review. Continue reading to decide for yourself whether or not this is the cream for you.

Ingredients

This product has a unique formula which includes Japanese marine algae, sodium hyaluronate, and aloe extract. Upon further inspection of the ingredient list, we saw that it also contains collagen amino acids. Collagen is a protein which is vital for maintaining firm, supple skin. Amino acids are the building blocks of peptides, which make up proteins. While we were happy to see this ingredient included, and we appreciated that the manufacturers tried to make it more highly absorbable by providing the amino acids (which have a smaller molecular weight than collagen), it wasn’t listed high on the ingredient list which means that not enough of it was used, which is possibly the reason it wasn't listed under key ingredients.

Key ingredients:

  • Japanese Marine Algae - rich in amino acids, moisturizes and enhances elasticity.
  • Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid) - a humectant that hydrates and plumps up the skin.
  • Aloe Extract - moisturizes, calms, and soothes the skin.
Our main concern with these key ingredients is that, like many brands, we have no clue how much of each one was included in the formula, or what the overall percentage of active ingredients is. We can only infer the quantity by observing each ingredient’s place in the list, but there are so many ingredients in this formula that this only confused us further.

This lack of transparency also extends to any scientific research we were hoping to see backing the ingredients. This brand boasts a scientific approach, but where is the scientific and clinical proof? Are we just supposed to blindly rely on whatever the manufacturer tells us?

How To Use

For AM/PM use, smooth over clean, dry skin.

Price

A 1.7oz jar will cost you $60, quite reasonable when compared to similar products.

Guarantee

On the product page, it says you can get a full refund within 30 days, no worries. However, when we looked further into the return policy, we discovered that this only applies to unopened or gently used items. This doesn’t allow you to try out the product and make sure it works for you. A brand that is confident in its product would provide a money-back guarantee for a more extended period of time, during which you can use the product consistently to ascertain whether it is actually effective. “Gently used” means you can’t properly test the cream, as skincare products need to be used a few times before the effects are fully seen.

Conclusion

This is a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer with a unique combination of ingredients. It is cruelty, paraben and phthalate free, meaning its ingredients are safe and ethical. We liked that it includes sodium hyaluronate and collagen amino acids, which work well together to hydrate and firm up the skin. However, we don’t know how much of these ingredients were used in the formula, and we wanted to see more information and evidence backing up the benefits provided by this cream. The lack of transparency coming from a self-proclaimed scientific brand was frustrating and disappointing, and the reviews mentioning skin irritation were also slightly disconcerting.

The price on this cream is comparable to similar items on the market, and it does have some good reviews. Unfortunately, the return policy is not enough to guarantee customer satisfaction. For these reasons, we decided to place this item as #2 on our list.

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Alexia Cook

Alexia Cook, Senior Editor

Alexia Cook is a licensed Master Cosmetologist and Esthetician with over 20 years experience. She received her degrees from Boca Beauty Academy in Boca Raton, Florida. Starting at a young age, she has always been interested in treating skin to bring out its true beauty. She knows that the basis of gorgeous skin is by adopting a proper skincare routine and using top quality products. Her passion for helping people find effective skincare products led her to the role of Editor for My Beauty Care Center™. In her free time, she is an avid traveler and loves learning the beauty of different cultures.