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The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA for mature skin

The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA

Superior

  • HighNormal Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best products for mature skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers excellent exfoliation and benefits for wrinkles and fine lines, as the 10% mandelic acid promotes collagen production and decongests pores, which is ideal for your normal skin type. Glycerin further supports skin balance by providing humectant action.
  • Tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract offers soothing properties, complementing the exfoliating benefits for your skin.
  • The product is safe for your normal skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Use this exfoliant product in your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well. Always apply SPF the next morning to protect your skin.
  • Apply this exfoliant product after cleansing and toner, but before your moisturizer. This ensures the best absorption into your skin.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant product into your face, avoiding any rubbing. Let it absorb for a minute before moving to the next step.
  • Apply this exfoliant product on completely dry skin to get the best results. This helps your normal skin accept the product smoothly.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area while using this exfoliant product. Do a patch test before your first use and avoid mixing it with strong acids.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviews

This serum is widely praised as an excellent entry-level exfoliant, particularly for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin who find other acids too harsh. Users consistently report a slow but steady improvement in skin texture and clarity, with a significant reduction in closed comedones and hormonal breakouts, though the oily consistency is a polarizing feature. Based on a very large amount of data, this should definitely be taken into account.

Highlights

  • Gentle exfoliant Mostly Mentioned
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin”
    • “gentle enough for sensitive skin yet noticeably improves texture”
    • “no stinging or burning sensation”
    • “best non-irritating AHA for sensitive skin”
  • Improves acne Often Mentioned
    • “completely clears closed comedones and acne”
    • “skin is much softer and even”
    • “less texture in the morning”
    • “pimples and acne dry out quickly”
  • Oily residue Often Mentioned
    • “sits on top of the skin and does not absorb”
    • “feels oily for hours after applying”
    • “ends up on my pillowcase”
    • “texture is a bit too greasy for my liking”
  • Fades dark spots Sometimes Noted
    • “dark scars are clearer within 2 weeks”
    • “helped fade acne scars very well”
    • “pigmentation memudar (faded)”
    • “evened out my skin tone”
  • Hydrating effect Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves my skin radiant and clear”
    • “feels moisturizing, not stripping”
    • “gives a nice glow to the skin”
    • “didn't make my skin feel dry or tight”
  • Slow results Sometimes Noted
    • “not a miracle worker overnight”
    • “takes time to work”
    • “results are slow and steady”
    • “need to be consistent for weeks”
  • Initial purging Rarely Noted
    • “woke up with a cluster of small bumps”
    • “caused a bit of purging at first”
    • “broke me out initially”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “has a slight chemical smell”
    • “smells a bit like vinegar”
    • “scent is not the best”

Sources: lovi.care, theordinary.com, sephora.com, influenster.com, amazon.com, target.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA one of the best fits for mature skin?

This product is one of the best fits because its mandelic acid helps smooth wrinkles and fine lines by encouraging collagen production, while glycerin and sodium hyaluronate keep mature skin balanced and hydrated. Tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract also helps calm the skin, and the formula is safe and gentle for regular use.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for mature skin?

Mandelic acid is a great fit because it boosts collagen and smooths out fine lines, while glycerin keeps your skin hydrated and balanced. Tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract also helps calm your skin, and the absence of harsh ingredients makes it safe and gentle.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Mandelic Acid do for mature skin?

Mandelic acid helps make mature skin firmer and smoother while improving elasticity and reducing the look of fine lines and uneven tone. It is typically very well tolerated and may improve overall texture and hydration in dry or fragile skin over a few weeks of regular use.

Facial Plastic Surgery, 2018Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for mature skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps mature skin by deeply boosting moisture, improving elasticity, and smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Regular use keeps the skin looking plump and soft while supporting overall firmness and hydration.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Skin Research and Technology, 2024

Where does it go in a skincare routine for mature skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, starting at once a week. The routine places this step in the evening for extra safety around sun exposure, and you can carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well.

Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this exfoliant and retinol in the same routine, but it is best to apply them on alternate nights to help prevent dry or irritated skin. When using both, always apply your exfoliating treatment first on clean skin, followed by your retinol and a hydrating moisturizer.

How often should I use it?

Start using this treatment just once a week in your evening routine, and carefully use it more often only if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results. The mandelic acid and soothing plant extracts help smooth fine lines and keep your skin calm with a low risk of irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?

This product helps clear out pores and smooth out wrinkles on mature skin with mandelic acid. Initial purging is unlikely to be a major issue, though reviewers do occasionally mention an oily residue.

Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • Topical Tasmannia lanceolata extract reduced skin roughness, increased firmness, dermal density, and thickness of stabilized stretch marks compared to placebo in 29 women over 8 weeks, alongside increased pro-collagen I, elastin, and TGF-beta concentrations in ex vivo human skin explants.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
  • Topical application of 1,3-propanediol at various concentrations, alone or combined with butylene glycol and/or glycerol, increased skin hydration and reduced trans epidermal water loss in 30 healthy female subjects over an 8-hour period, with the 15% concentration and the addition of glycerol providing greater benefits.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
  • Treatment with 45% mandelic acid peel showed nearly equal overall efficacy as 30% salicylic acid peel in patients with mild-to-moderate facial acne vulgaris, but with fewer adverse effects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Chemical peels using 35% glycolic acid, 20% salicylic-10% mandelic acid, and phytic acid reduce acne scores by 70.55%, 74.14%, and 69.7% respectively, and significantly decline the postacne hyperpigmentation index in Asian patients with mild to moderate acne.

    Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019
  • Commonly used chemical peels showed no significant differences in effectiveness for acne vulgaris in most comparisons, though combined salicylic and mandelic acid peeling was superior to glycolic acid and glycolic acid was superior to placebo, based on twelve randomized controlled trials.

    BMJ Open, 2018
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
  • A mixture of propanediol, xylitol, and caprylic acid demonstrated in vitro antimicrobial activity against C. acnes and S. aureus, reduced 5-alpha reductase expression, and decreased skin oiliness, porphyrin, and inflammatory lesions in participants over 28 days.

    Molecules, 2021
  • Sustainable cosmetic products formulated with renewable PDO-based emulsifiers showed equivalent performance in sensory and moisturization evaluations compared to those formulated with petroleum-derived PEG-based emulsifiers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017

Ingredients

Propanediol, Water, Mandelic Acid, Glycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract Fruit, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

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