So many serums come across my desk, and the ones grabbing my attention right now are the ones going beyond the usual hydration-and-glow promises—I’m in my firming era. And one firming serum I’ve been loving since it launched in August is Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare’s DRx BioRejuvenation Serum Collagen Amino Acids + G.N.A. ($89). Developed by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross, whose namesake skin-care brand has become known for translating in-office treatments into at-home formulas, this serum has a pretty impressive ingredient lineup for addressing not only firmness, but a long list of other concerns.
The Benefits of This Firming Serum
One part of my face I wasn’t studying in the mirror five years ago was my jawline. My dermatologist told me years ago that I had a strong one (I thank my dad’s German roots), and the skin was pretty taut. Fast-forward and it’s the first thing I see when I brush my teeth in the morning.
This formula pairs collagen amino acids, the building blocks commonly found in collagen, with what the brand calls G.N.A. (glutathione, niacinamide and adenosine) to help firm things up. Together, they support the skin’s cellular energy cycle, help defend against oxidative stress, and improve the look of firmness and elasticity. The serum also includes peptides, multiple forms of hyaluronic acid, squalane, bakuchiol, retinol and vitamin C, giving it some added skin-smoothing, hydrating and antioxidant benefits.
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“This product provides 12 collagen amino acids at a scientifically precise ratio to visibly lift, sculpt and tighten your skin,” says Dr. Dennis Gross. “For the first few weeks, you will see and feel hydrated skin and a smooth, healthy glow and your texture will show improvement. Then, after that first month, that’s when the magic happens. You’ll begin to see your skin looks visibly tighter, more lifted and more sculpted.”
He’s not wrong. I didn’t expect a significant boost in hydration, but I felt it. I also noticed an improvement in firmness, particularly around my mouth and nasolabial folds. The texture is another selling point: It’s super silky and absorbs quickly. I used three pumps on my face and neck in the morning before moisturizer. The brand says you can use it morning or night, but I chose morning because the texture layered nicely with my daytime moisturizer and the antioxidants make it a nice complement to sunscreen.
As for the clinical data, the brand reports that 84 percent of participants in an eight-week study saw visibly firmer, tighter and more resilient skin. In a separate 12-week study, 90 percent said their skin felt firmer, tighter and revitalized, while 96 percent said it looked rejuvenated.
The Bottom Line
This is a heavy-hitting serum with an impressive ingredient lineup for the person who wants actual results from their at-home skin-care routine. It also works really well as an adjunct to in-office treatments like lasers, microneedling and more (once the skin has healed, of course).
